NEW FEATURE: The Generation Game

I like to keep myself busy readers of the blog and I have once again been scouring the best YouTube has to offer.

I've been all nostalgic this week and came across some children's TV programmes of my generation and thought about a new feature for the blog...The Generation Game.

Basically, I'll be putting some favourites of yester-year, from varying generations, a look back at a simpler time!

If you remember any of the classics, please feel free to leave your comments about your memories.

They don't make the like they used to eh!

EVENT - Ospreys Skills Night

A reminder to all people in the community and especially the children, the stars of the Ospreys and Wales will be at Ystradgynlais RFC tonight for Top Sports' annual Skills Night.

The event is now in it's third year and has been very well received in previous years. So come along and see the players and join in with the fun.

There will be plenty to do, with free T-Shirts from Top Sports and a free raffle where the top prizes include signed Shane Williams and Ryan Jones boots.

A warm welcome will be received to all.

‘Awards for All Wales’ grant for 'The Children of Craig-y-Nos' Project

The Welcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL has received a grant of £5000.00 to create a print on demand book entitled ‘The Children of Craig-y-nos’ which will also be freely available as a downloadable pdf file from the Centre's website.

The book will be the first ever collective history of patient and staff experiences in a tuberculosis sanatorium. The Adelina Patti Hospital (Craig-y-nos Castle) served for nearly forty years (1922-1959) as a tuberculosis sanatorium mainly for children and young women at a time when the incidence and death rate of TB in the industrial areas of South Wales were higher than anywhere else in Britain.

The project was begun by artist and writer, Ann Shaw, herself an ex-patient, who will be co-authoring the book with Dr Carole Reeves, Outreach Historian at the Centre. It is not only re-uniting people who shared their formative years in the sanatorium but is opening a community dialogue about the impact of tuberculosis on families in the Swansea valley.

The project has collected over a thousand photographs, memorabilia, and seventy-five oral history interviews. There have been two well-attended photographic exhibitions in Ystradgynlais and Brecon, and a 2008 summer exhibition will be held at Swansea Museum.

An online exhibition is at (http://www.childrenofcraigynos.com/).

A patient / staff reunion at Craig-y-nos Castle in September 2007 was attended by 120 people. Information pours in on a daily basis and the Craig-y-nos blog (http://craig-y-nos.blogspot.com/) now has over 600 pages of text, images, podcasts and videos. The project will make available an important educational and heritage resource created by the people who experienced it.

Dr Carole Reeves, who applied for the grant and has worked on the project with Ann Shaw since its inception, said: ‘We are thrilled that “Awards for All Wales” has recognised the importance of this community project. The book will be a permanent memorial to “The Children of Craig-y-nos” and an important medical and social history of tuberculosis in the area. Because the sanatorium records have been destroyed, we are re-constructing forty years of missing Welsh history.’

For further information on Awards for All Wales or to obtain an application pack please call: 01686 611 740 Or visit the website at: http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/

GWYL YR YSTRAD 2008

The date for Gwyl yr Ystrad 2008 has been set and already preparations are under way.

Tom Addey of Communities First said,

"We hope to continue introducing new talent from the area as well some well established bands and some new artists. There are also plans to ensure that there is something for everybody to enjoy and by keeping the young children entertained all day, it will allow the Mum's and Dad's to relax further and enjoy the days festivities. The success of previous years has been mainly due to the fantastic support from the local community and hopefully this year will be no different.

There is a great deal of work involved and we are looking for Volunteers to help and assist with the event, we would remind everybody that they would not be needed to work the entire day but 2-3 hours would be much appreciated."

For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering at the Gwyl, please contact:
Thomas Addey on 01639 845051
or call in to the Communities First Office on the square in Ystradgynlais.

Top Sports Presents Ospreys Skills Night

Next week, Tuesday 29th April, Top Sports brings their annual Skills Night with the Ospreys to the Upper Swansea Valleys.

This years event will be hosted by Ystradgynlais RFC and will feature Ospreys, Wales and British Lions Stars, along with Ospreys mascot Ozzie The Osprey.

There will be lots going on at the event, which kicks off at 5 pm, where the Under 8's - Under 11's will be shown various skills by the Ospreys stars. At 5.45 pm, the under 12's - 16's will get their chance to mix it with the players.

Along with the skills training session, Top Sports will have over 100 T-Shirts to give away, with each person at the event receiving a free raffle ticket, with top prizes of signed Shane Williams and Ryan Jones boots and Samurai T-Shirts.


As usual YstradTV will be covering the event, with highlights to be shown right here on the blog. Above is last years highlights of the event held at Abercraf RFC.

If you would like more information on the event or would like to help in any way, you can contact Julian at Top Sports on 01639 844747 or call into the Top Sports shop.

Congratulations

On Wednesday night, YTV was at Stradey Park to witness a great game of rugby. The West Wales Tovali Plate was contested between Ystrad RFC and Cefneithin RFC with a very free flowing, easy on the eye game.

In one of thr last games at the great famous Stradey Park, before it is demolished, Ystrad really were up for the occasion. Team manager, Anthony Buchanan returned to the place he spent so many years, to lead his home town club to victory for the 1st time in 70 years.

Both teams had great support and it really was a great occasion.

Highlights of the game will be on the blog shortly, with the full match available on DVD soon.

Picture courtesy ofour friends at Riley Sports Photography. More pictures to see at www.rileysportsphoto.com (click on link on left).

Charity Fundraiser

Tomorrow night at Ystrad RFC, there will be a fancy dress disco, "Ystrad Does The Movies".

Due to the success of last years fundraiser, "Give Kip A Chance" and the Ty Croeso fundraisers, Ystrad RFC is raising money for Morriston Hospital's ITU & Renal Unit, Cardigan Ward.

This years campaign centres around the charity fancy dress disco, to be added to money already raised during the Easter weekend.

Due to the theme of the disco, the Blue Velvet team has teamed up with YstradTV to film this years campaign video.

We at YTV like to do what we can, so try and do your bit for the cause and help raise money.

We'd also like to say a big well done to all those involved in the fundraising activities and keep up the good work!

(You can see all the videos by Ystradgynlais RFC on their Blue Velvet Blog: www.ystradbluevelvet.blogspot.com )

PRESS RELEASE

GWYL YR YSTRAD 2008
(15 – 21st June)

The date for Gwyl yr Ystrad 2008 has been set and already preparations are under way. We hope to continue introducing new talent from the area as well some well established bands and some new artists. There are also plans to ensure that there is something for everybody to enjoy and by keeping the young children entertained all day, it will allow the Mum's and Dad's to relax further and enjoy the days festivities.

The success of previous years has been mainly due to the fantastic support from the local community and hopefully this year will be no different.

There is a great deal of work involved and we are looking for Volunteers to help and assist with the event, we would remind everybody that they would not be needed to work the entire day but 2-3 hours would be much appreciated.

For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering at the Gwyl, please contact:

Thomas Addey on 01639 845051
or call in to the Communities First Office on the square in Ystradgynlais.

Good Week For Welsh Sport

It's been a great couple of weeks for Welsh sport and last week was a cracker!

The week began with the announcement that Sean Edwards had signed a new contract with the WRU. With much speculation about the Englishman's future, following the great success of the Six Nations, Edwards finally signed his new contract, meaning he will lead Wales into the 2011 World Cup along with the big boss man, Warren Gatland!

Saturday kicked off with the Ospreys convincingly defeating Leicester to lift the EDF Trophy! It was a great way to bounce back from their dissapointing loss to Saracens the previous week.

Then, with the final whistle of the rugby still ringing, the city's football team, Swansea City, clinched promotion to English footballs 2nd tier, with a rousing 2-1 win away at Gillingham.

Guillem Bauza scored 2 goals in 2 minutes just before the half time whistle, resulting in the Swans clinching promotion. They now go into tomorrows game with Yeovil, needing a point to be confirmed as Champions!

I'm going along tomorow to witness what I hope will be an historic day! So good luck to the Swans!

Also tomorrow night, the legend that is Joe Calzaghe, fights Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas! Again, I've booked my seat for the fight, via Setanta Sports and am predicting a Knock Out Win for Joe!

All the best to all our sports stars this week!

Welsh Entertainer Gives Newskool Her Support

YstradTV would like to thank welsh entertainer Toni Carroll for her contribution and support for their project "Newskool".

This week YstradTV were in Ysgol Ynyscedwyn running their media production worskshops. As always the Primary School had chosen a topic to report on and this week it was "Being Welsh".

Our roving reporter interviewed Toni Carroll on how important welsh language and culture was to her. We asked Toni what she thought of the "Newskool" project:

"I think it's a wonderfull project. Its great that there are opportunities like this for children. I wish there had been more opportunities like this when I was younger."

The Talent's Back

Many call it trash TV, but you can't argue with it's popularity! Saturday night saw the return of the brillian ITV show, 'Britain's Got Talent'.

Yes, Mr Simon Cowell is a clever chappy, cashing in on anyone who has an ounce of talent, purely as they will have signed away any rights the moment they entered the competition. Such is the desire of many a brit in seeking fame, the show gets countless applications, all for the chance to perform for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.

But despite all this, I love the show! I'm too young to remember the oldies like Opportunity Knocks and such like, but I used to love watching the Royal Variety Performance as a child. They don't make wholesome family programmes like they used to and Britain's Got Talent, certainly does its bit for good old fashioned family TV!

Here's a clip from Saturday's show, involving a lady and a dog named Gin. It's a bit different to the usual singing and such, and was quite amazing, I felt, to watch.

Film Review with Alexandra

21

‘21’ , a film inspired by a true story demonstrates how some of the brightest young minds in America took Vegas for millions.

The story follows Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgees) a shy, geeky MIT student who needs £300,000 for college tuition; the answer to his money problems…Blackjack.
Tutored by Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey) , a team of five students, including the sexy and smart Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth) learn the art of card counting.

Combined with an intricate system of signals and clever disguises , the team pray on some of Vegas’ biggest Casinos. Armed with fake identities and the know how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favour, they walk away every weekend with thousands.

Though counting cards isn’t illegal, the stakes are high and the challenge becomes not only keeping count on the cards, but staying one step ahead of the casino’s menacing enforcer Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne)

In what evidently becomes a game of cat and mouse, the plot is consistent and keeps the viewer intrigued at all times. Bosworth, who until now hasn’t stood out in a role, is a true leading lady with an air of femme fatale. Spacey as always is truly lovable as the bad guy, and the introduction of Jim Sturgees is the icing on the cake for a great cast.

If you’re a fan of the Ocean’s Trilogy, then ‘21’ is a definite must see.

Alexandra Rating: 4/5

Francesca Marches On

Third week in and Ystalyfera girl, Francesca Jackson is still flying the flag for the valley's in BBC One's 'I'd Do Anything'.

Saturday saw Francesca belt out the 'Dirty Dancing' classic, 'Time of Your Life'. However, the song didn't go down well with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, who said he would be nervous about having her in the lead role following her performance.

Francesca was visibly upset, and understandably so, by the comments, but with the results based on public votes, she showed she is going down well with the viewers and was overjoyed on the results show on Sunday when told she was through to next weeks show.

Remember to support Francesca on Saturday night, live on BBC One.

Local Man Fights On Sky Sports One

Ystrad door man, Darren Morgan, more commenly known as 'Daz' locally, put a valient effort in his quater final bout of Sky Sports One's 'Prize Fighter' on Friday night.

The competition, the brain child of boxing promoter Barry Hearn, saw 8 heavyweight boxers slug it out in one night of boxing.

Each fight, consisting of 3 round bouts, with the winner progressing to fight later in the night, saw some good entertaining fights, with the winner to receive £25,000.

Daz fought in the last of the quater finals, squaring up agianst tournament favourite David Dolan, with the draw being drawn live on Sky Sports One show, SoccerAM.

Unfotunately for Daz, he was unlucky to be counted for a knock down in round one, with replays showing he did infact duck the punch and slip on the canvass. Morgan, with former World Champion, Enzo Maccaranelli in his corner, came back and unleashed a fury of punches on Dolan. With the favourite rocked and poised to go down, the second round bell interveined on wat looked like the end.

Unfortunately, this was the best action for Morgan, who lost a whopping 3 stone for the competition, who was beaten by the score card, ending his hopes of the £25,000 prize!

Dolan went on to the final where he was beaten by competition winner Martin Rogan.

Local Girl Requires Sponsorship

A local girl, Kelly Jones, 22, from Cwmtwrch is currently searching for sponsorship in her bid to get to the finals of Miss Universe UK.

Kelly is one of 40 finalists, but competition rules state, to get there she requires sponsership and to do a fundraising event to raise money for the Joshua Foundation.

Kelly is 22-years-old and studying Social Work at Swansea University. She lists her hobbies as dancing, swimming, keeping fit and having fun.

The reason she applied for Miss UniverseUK was to lift her spirits because she lost her brother in December. However, without a sponser she cant go to the final.

If anyone would like to sponsor Kelly, or if they know of any prospective sponsors, you can contact Kelly by email at schoolgirlsa9_2000@hotmail.com or phone her on 07969108646.

Her story has also been in the Evening Post to try to help her find that sponsor, she so desperately needs!

www.ystradtv.co.uk LAUNCHES!

Regular readers to YstradTV's blog, may have noticed that our main website, http://www.ystradtv.co.uk/ has been undergoing a bit of a facelift, with the 'Brand New Website Coming Soon' banner!

Well, the wait is over!

Today, our brand spanking new website, updated and looking very nice, I must say, was launched!

Thanks to the great work done by Toby at Vibration13 ( http://www.vibration13.com/ ), our web designers, our site has had a radical facelift and is looking very slick!

So check it out today, add it to your favourite pages and keep looking out for updates to the site!

Remember the name:

www.ystradtv.co.uk

Newskool - Glanrhyd

YstradTV's new and exciting project, Newskool rolled on after the school holidays. YTV was at local primary school, Glanrhyd CP School for their news broadcast today.

As always, we were made very welcome at the school and the children were a joy to work with. The pupils were filming their news bulletin on Sport/Healthy Living and for their broadcast wanted to interview a professional athlete for their piece.

Ospreys Back Row, Filo Tiatia, was good enough to take time out of his busy schedule to speak to the pupils all about his healthy lifestyle for his chosen profession.

Pictures of the film shoot will be on our website, http://www.ystradtv.co.uk/ shortly, with the site due to be launched in the very near future.

YstradTV would like to say a huge thank you to Filo and all the children and staff at Glanrhyd CP School. It was a pleasure to work with everyone involved on the day.

Francesca Update

Well, two weeks down and after a jittery first week resulting in the sing off, local girl, Francesca Jackson, is through to week 3 in BBC One's, I'd Do Anything.

The talent show aims to find Nancy, the lead role in the hit musical Oliver and with two fellow hopefulls out, the competition gets less in quantity, but greater in talent!

We at YTV wish Francesca all the luck in thw world and every Monday we'll be updating readers of the Blog with the video of her Saturay performance from BBC on YouTube.

Remember to support Francesca on on Saturday and help 'Make Nancy A Valley's Girl!'

Support Local Talent

Francesca Jackson, a former Maes-y-dderwen school pupil has won a place on the BBC's new reality programme "I'd do anything".

Francesca battled it out against thousands to join 12 other hopefulls in a bid to become the next "Nancy" in the musical "Oliver" in the West End. She will be appearing this Saturday on the live show to sing against her competitors and face the public vote.

Brought up in Ystalyfera, Francesca is no stranger to winning lead roles. She starred in many local productions with The Glantawe Theatre Company from an early age. She also took the lead role as Nancy in the comprehensive school production!

We wish Francesca all the luck in the world!

Remember to Vote for Francesca in the live shows on BBC One on Saturday night to show your support and 'Make Nancy a Valley's Girl'!

EVENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

News that Powys is to receive more than £500,000 to fund local transport schemes has been welcomed by the county council.

The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that the council will receive a £530,000 transport grant to fund two ‘Safe Routes in Communities’ schemes.

Local authorities make competitive bids each year for Transport Grant capital funding to support the cost of local transport schemes.

The new allocation will fund the Forden Community Path near Welshpool and the Tawe Uchaf Trail at Ystradgynlais.

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “This is excellent news for the county. The allocation will fully fund these two important walking and cycling projects and builds on the important work already undertaken in other parts of Powys."

Last year the county received a £400,000 transport grant that funded three safe routes to school schemes and provided a major boost for the Powys north-south quality bus corridor.

EVENT

On April 19th 2008, Ystradgynlais RFC is to host its annual Charity Fundraiser Fancy Dress Disco at Ystrad Rugby Club.

This years theme is 'Ystrad Does The Movies' and all funds raised will go towards the Morriston Hospital ITU and Renal unit, Cardigan ward.

YstradTV is currently in pre-production stage with Ystrad RFC's weekly flagship show, 'Blue Velvet' on the production of this years video for the cause, which is due to be aired right here on the blog in the run up to the event.

YstradTV is commited to helping local organisation in any way possible.

Snap Shot 2 - The Screening!

Last week, YstradTV hosted a private screening for the young teenage directors of the second Snap-Shot short film, 'Changes'.

Again, the small intimate screening was well received by the group and their families, who enjoyed the final short film at the YstradTV Centre and had these words to say about the projects:

"I really enjoyed working with YstradTV and I thought the films we made were really good."
Bailey

"It was really funny to watch and I learnt a lot about filming."
Cerys

"It was great making the film seeing your face on the screen was fun."
Rowan

"I really enjoyed the filming. I thought it was funny watching it when it was finished."

Aled

April Fool!

The April Fool prank seems something of a rareity these days? Many an April the 1st goes by with not so much as a joke let alone a prank.

I heard some good ones from years gone by, such as my father, who was caught out listening to a radio station that claimed the Mexican Wave was to be banned for all non-Mexicans. My old man phoned the station, like many others, to air his outrage at this discusting decision by the powers that be! Then he found his rant playing on the said radio station!

What joy! He feels like a fool, everyone laughs and he sees the funny side!

If, in good taste and not malicious, the April Fool, I feel, can still be a good laugh...which brings us to yesterdays post on the Blog.

Sorry to dissapoint the people who did get in touch with us, some deciding to email rather than leave a comment (I suspect this was due to suspicion of the date), but YstradTV is NOT to launch its own channel on Sky. It was all an April Fools joke.

But I would like to add, if there is indeed a wealthy person out there who would like to invest in such a channel, Im sure it would be ver well received!

Thanks for the laughs!

YstradTV Gets Channel On Sky!

What an unbelievable year! First YTV secures funding, thanks to Communities @ One and following the success of the projects done to date, YTV has been backed by an anonymous wealthy man from the community for its very own channel on Sky!

The anonymous backer said of the approval for the new channel, YstradTV (to be launched on Sky channel 170, April 19th):

"I got involved with the companies Newskool project this year and it really inspired me to get involved! I feel the initial investment in the company to launch the channel will prove a great asset to the Upper Swansea Valley Community and give local talent a chance to shine!"

The channel will primarily showcase local talent in a similair way to that of YouTube, but with classic programmes from yesteryear and up and coming new material widely expected to be confirmed in the near future, the YstradTV channel surely is a great step forward in new media for the community.

YstradTV Project Co-ordinator, Daniel Davies added:

"YstradTV is for all the community to use as there is a great amount of unearthed talent just waiting to burst out. If anyone has an idea or a video they would like to air on the premiere of the channel on April 19th, please leave a comment on this post in the comment section or email us at ystradmediatrust@googlemail.com."

We are also encouraging the community to leave comments on what they think about this new venture and on what they would like to see on the new channel.

YstradTV launches April 19th at 12.00 pm on Sky channel 170.