Blaenavon events

Events - Spring Festival 2006

Blaenavon Spring Festival Friday 31st March - Sunday 2nd April 2006 Come and join in with all the fun and festivities in the Town Centre. Flea Market Art Exhibition Literary and Music events Street Entertainment Craft Exhibition download event programme here
Chapels and Churches TourFriday 31st March 1.15pm-2.00pm Starting at Bethlehem Court Take a tour and learn about the history of the chapels and churches of Blaenavon. Starting at Bethlehem Court, the tour will visit Bethlehem Chapel, Horeb Church and St Peter’s Church. For more information please contact The Revd Dr Jason S. Bray on 01495 790292.	Nigel Jenkins at Broadleaf Bookshop Friday 31st March 1.00pm-2.00pm Broadleaf Books Co-editor of ‘Encyclopaedia of Wales’, Nigel Jenkins has worked as a journalist and has written for the stage. His travel book ‘Gwalia in Khasia’, an account of Welsh missionaries among the Khasi people of north-east India, won the Arts Council of Wales’s Book of the Year award in 1996. Nigel will be signing copies of his latest work and available answer questions.
Watercolour Demonstration Friday 31st March 2.00pm-4.00pm Busy Bees, Park Road David Bellamy will be demonstrating how to paint and landscape in watercolour. David Bellamy has written 11 books illustrated with his paintings, and runs a number of courses and painting holidays each year. He has presented his own series on HTV Wales and formerly lived in Pantygasseg above Pontypool. He is best known for his landscapes of wild places, including mountains and deserts. Parking on street for this event is limited. Additional car parking is available at Lion Street, Market Street and Broad Street Car Park in the town centre, a short walk away. Booking Essential please call 01633 648812 or email: amy.taylor@torfaen.gov.uk.	Poetry Reading Friday 31st March 2.00pm-3.00pm Blaenavon Library Robert Minhinnick is an acclaimed author and editor of Poetry Wales. He won the Forward Prize for his poetry and Wales Book of the Year for his essays. His most recent Work ‘To Babel and Back’,is on the long list for Welsh Book of the Year. Christopher Meredith was born in Tredegar and now lives in Brecon. He has been a steelworker and a schoolteacher and now lectures at the University of Glamorgan. Last year he published a translation of the Welsh-language novel ‘Melog’ and a second collection of poetry, ‘The Meaning of Flight’, also long listed for Welsh Book of the Year.
A Social History on Barrel Organs. Friday 31st March 3.30pm-4.30pm Blaenavon Library Loathed by much of the Victorian Establishment, the barrel organ still sounds cheerily subversive and remains a favourite with political cartoonists. With tapes and slides, former East End organ grinder, Nigel Winfield, explains the human movements behind mechanical street music.	The Industrial Heritage of South Wales Friday 31st March 6.00pm – 7.30pm Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall In the ‘Burning Ashes of Time’, Photographer Pat Aithie explores the links between Wales and the Yemen, built up through a shared history of coal and seafaring. For over a century, Welsh steam coal was bunkered at Aden on the Arabian Peninsula, meeting the needs of the British Empire east of Suez. Illustrating her talk with photographic slides, Pat uncovers a story that takes in not only coal, but coffee and spices, oil and incense, as she leads us through the remote mountain passes, deserts, ports and cities of Yemen, she reveals a wealth of detail and insight on a country with an ancient culture and history, a country inseparably bound up with our own.
In Search of Owain Glyndwr Illustrated Talk Friday 31st March 7.30pm-8.45pm Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall An illustrated talk by Chris Barber based on his fascinating book which tells the dramatic story of this great Welsh patriot, the last true Prince of Wales. Chris is the author of 25 books and is also well known for his beautifully illustrated lectures.	Blues Night Friday 31st March 8.00pm – Late Blaenavon Rugby Club Blaenavon’s own ‘Black River Blues Band’ and local poet Ioan Pearce reading from his new book of verse. Free Entry. Tickets available at Browning Books and Blaenavon Rugby Club.
Inside Out! Flea Market & Collectors Fair Saturday 1st April 9.00am-3.00pm Band Hall & Outside in Broad Street From antiquarian books to antique clocks, Beswick to banjos, copper to coins, barometers to bed warmers, furniture to fishes, toys to toasting forks, china to silver, glass and much, much more. Other stalls to be found within the town, just look for the Inside Out Flea! Various street entertainment acts will also be performing. For further information please contact Jonathan Harris on 01495 791025.	Chapel and Churches Tour Saturday 1st April 10.00am-11.30am Starting at St Paul’s Church Take a tour and learn about the history of the chapels and churches of Blaenavon. Starting at St Paul’s Church the tour will include Bethlehem Chapel, Horeb Church and St Peter’s Church. For more information please contact The Revd Dr Jason S. Bray on 01495 790292.
Craft Exhibition Saturday 1st April 10.30am-4.00pm Bethlehem Chapel Schoolroom Blaenavon Townswomen Guild will be holding a craft exhibition at Bethlehem Chapel Schoolroom.	Children’s Storytelling Saturday 1st April 11.00am-12.00pm Red Rooster, Broad Street Bring your children along and listen to Daniel Morden as he reads traditional stories from his books ‘Weird Tales from the Storyteller’ and ‘So Hungry’.
Cookery Demonstration Saturday 1st April 11.00am-4.00pm Morris Butchers, 24 Broad Street Come along and see cookery demonstrations using local meats and local cheeses.	Creative Writing Workshop Saturday 1st April 11.00am-12.30pm Cordell Museum, Lion Street Why not come along and try your hand at creative writing. Join local poet John Greeves in a warm and supportive atmosphere. All welcome including beginners. Just bring along a pen and paper.
The Floristry Commission Saturday 1st April 11.00am-12.00pm Blaenavon Library, Lion Street Claire Peate Cardiff based writer will be giving a presentation on her latest novel ‘The Floristry Commission’. This will be followed by a question and answer session and book signing.	The Smile of a Ghost Saturday 1st April 12.00pm-1.00pm Blaenavon Library, Lion Street Widely praised for his portrayal of modern-day exorcism in the ‘Merrily Watkins’ novels, Phil Rickman will be giving an “in conversation” about his latest novel ‘The Smile of a Ghost’ and will be taking questions and signing copies of the book.
Children’s Storytelling Saturday 1st April 2.00pm-3.00pm Red Rooster, Broad Street Enjoy another chance to bring your children along and listen to Daniel Morden as he reads traditional stories from his books ‘Weird Tales from the Storyteller’ and ‘So Hungry’.	Poetry Reading and Discussion Saturday 1st April 2.00pm-3.00pm Community Heritage Museum, Lion Street Join local poet John Greeves as he reads some of his poetry and enjoy a discussion and open mic session. A fantastic opportunity to share your own poetic creations with this eminent local poet.
African Drum Workshop Saturday 1st April 2.00pm-3.30pm The Doorway, 69/70 Broad Street Have you always fancied having a go at the drums? Well here’s your chance! A drum circle is a fantastic way of experiencing the pleasure of making music and generally having fun. Time will fly as you enjoy the power of African Drumming, led by local percussionist and educator David Powell. No experience necessary, just bring an open mind and a sense of humour.	Star Wars Extravaganza Saturday 1st April 3.00pm-7.00pm The Queen Victoria Inn Buy, swap or sell memorabilia. Watch, look and listen to all things Star Wars!
Welsh Women Conquer the World Saturday 1st April 6.00pm-7.00pm Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall A historical look at Welsh women’s developments in politics and a light-hearted journey with Welsh women travellers with Ursula Masson and others. Ursula Masson is a lecturer in History at the University of Glamorgan, teaching British and Welsh History in the modern period, and specialising in women’s history.	Festival Quiz Night Saturday 1st April 7.30pm-11.00pm Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall The Quiz will start at 8pm. Please arrive early to register your team (maximum of six per team). Booking prior to the event is suggested. Please call 01633 648812 to book. Free entry. With Classic Welsh films of the Silent screen. Paul Shallcross, Wales’ leading silent film piano accompanist, presents a selection of silent films shot in the principality during the first decade of the 20th century!
Family Fun Day Sunday 2nd April 10.30am-Late Blaenavon Rugby Club Enjoy a family day out at Blaenavon Rugby Club with bric-a-brac stalls, bouncy castle and dancing by Alison Lee School of Dance. Anyone wishing to book a stall please call 01495 790446 or 01495 790175. Painting competition all entries to be at the Rugby Club no later than Friday 31st March. Open to three age groups aged 7 and under, aged 7 to 11 and aged 11 to 16. The theme for the poster should be 1. Rugby, 2. My Town or 3. Easter. All entries to have name address and age on reverse of painting. No identification on front. Prizes will be given to every entry.	The Dawes Decades Sunday 2nd April 2.00pm-3.00pm Blaenavon Rugby Club The Third Golden Era of Welsh Rugby took off with the Grand Slam of 1970-71. Team captain John Dawes then led the British Isles to victory over New Zealand, and was captain of the Barbarians in their celebrated win two years later. More Triple Crowns and Grand Slams followed with Dawes as Welsh Coach. In conversation with his biographer, the broadcaster David Parry-Jones, John Dawes discusses the highs and lows of an illustrious career, including the controversial Lions tour of New Zealand in 1977. Expect candour and insight from a man who knows the pressures to be faced by captain and coach in a country of high expectations.
Poems and Pints Sunday 2nd April 7.30pm-Late The Queen Victoria Inn Come along and read your own work in a relaxed, informal setting while enjoying a pint or two of real ale. All welcome.