DECEMBER 2006
JOE'S A KNOCKOUT!
Congratulations to former Oakdale Comprehensive School pupil and World
Super-middleweight Boxing Champion, Joe Calzaghe, on becoming the Welsh
Sports Personality of the Year at the Celtic Manor last Sunday night.
Joe now goes on to the final short-list of 10 for the BBC Sports Personality
of the Year Awards. The winner will be decided by a telephone and text message
vote and will be announced during the live televised ceremony from the
NEC Birmingham on BBC1 from 7pm on Sunday, December 10th. So remember all you
sports and personality fans to cast your vote for Joe, so that he gets the just
rewards for being the most successful Welsh and British World Boxing Champion
of all time.
NOVEMBER 2006
OAKDALE WINNER OF BBC COMPETITION
JAKE THOMAS
(BBC photo)
Congratulations to Jake Thomas from Oakdale Comprehensive, who fought off
strong competition from competitors from all over south east Wales to become
regional winner in a competition run by BBC Wales.
Jake joined the other eight regional finalists from across Wales at BBC Wales
Broadcasting House in Cardiff to put their stories before a judging panel.
Five winners - one from each region - were chosen and given a BBC camera for
two weeks and a mentor who will help them film and edit their story.
They'll be able to involve as many people as they like from their school or
college, and their report will be broadcast on BBC Wales Today and shown on
the BBC website.
Jake will report on the 100th birthday of Oakdale which was designed as a
model village when it was first built.
Emily Cole of Llanishen High School, Cardiff was the runner up.
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COUNCIL AID TO OAKDALE FIRM
A new Oakdale-based business has received a cash boost thanks to grant help from
Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The firm, Advance Windows, is located on Penyfan Industrial Estate and manufactures
a wide range of quality UPVC windows, doors and conservatories.
Owner Dean James successfully applied for an Economic Development Grant from the
council to give the venture a boost and he also received business advice and guidance
from Gwyn Jones of Newport & Gwent Enterprise.
OCTOBER 2006
THREE TREATED AFTER MUDSLIDE
Three people needed medical treatment after an accident following a 20-ton mudslide
on the new Sirhowy bypass.
Firefighters were called to the scene at the Pen Y Fan Industrial Estate, where two
cars collided just after 10pm on Sunday night.
The mudslide affected both carriageways of the road, Fire Service chiefs
said.
The three were given first aid and oxygen therapy, and one was taken to hospital.
The road reopened by Monday morning (Oct 2nd).
PICTURE
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LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR HELPS OUT
Oakdale businessman Glenn Dunn has backed newly formed rugby team Oakdale Juniors
by sponsoring their new kit. Glenn, one of the Directors of roofing company
D.W.T and owner of the hugely popular Harleys Lodge sports bar and restaurant,
both based in Oakdale, was happy to help out.
As one of four brothers all born and bred in Oakdale and who have represented
Oakdale R.F.C at all levels the Dunn brothers are well known in the local area.
Glenn felt it was something missing from the village for some time.
" When I played youth rugby it was a strong tradition in Oakdale and you played
for your village with some considerable pride, hopefully we can get that sense
of pride and community back" he commented" so far the Oakdale 12's have been a
huge success with over 30 showing an interest and large numbers turning up for
training each week, the problem I now have is Sean, the coach constantly nagging
me for more kits, mistakes have been made in the past but I am convinced that
the future success of Oakdale R.F.C lies with these youngsters."
PHOTO
SEPTEMBER 2006
TRIUMPHANT START!
Oakdale Juniors, the under 12's, played their first game on Sunday 17th.
It was a hard bruising encounter with Oakdale coming out winners 19 - 5.
Centre Mat Monk scoring the first try with a superb break from half way,
using his pace to finish off under the posts. Jake Thomas converted.
The second try was more of a team effort rounded off by Mat Williams a player
who hadn't picked up a rugby ball 3 months ago and shows great promise,
again the conversion was scored by Jake Thomas. After soaking up huge pressure
from the Steelers Oakdale rounded off a great team performance with a try from
number 8 and Man of the Match Rhys Dobbs.
Coach Sean Thomas was pleased 'The great thing about this team is we
have 27 players all from Oakdale, they have gone to school together and
grown up together and today it showed, they were under pressure for large
amounts of the game but their commitment and passion for the shirt was
unquestionable, they didn't give an inch I am very proud of all of them.
Club Chairman Ian Poulter commented, "I thoroughly enjoyed the game,
it was great, a breath of fresh air!"
To round off a great weekend for junior rugby in Oakdale Jake Thomas was
selected after the second and final try for the Caerphilly Dragons Squad,
on this performance others are sure to follow.
SQUAD PHOTOGRAPH
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SKATE PARK OPENS * UNDER 12s KICK OFF
The Oakdale Skate and Bike Park is to be Officially Opened by Don Touig M.P.
on Saturday 16th September at 12-00 noon. There will be Competitions, Displays,
Prizes and Refreshments. Also a wood carving by Alan Elliott which is quite
unique - a skate board carved out of a beech tree which will serve as a seat for six.
The Skate Park is considered to be one of the best in the County.
There is also a Dome shelter, only the second of its kind, the first being in Wembley.
One day later, on the 17th, Oakdale Under12 rugby team makes its debut at
the Recreation Ground v Newport Steelers. Kick off is at 11am and they would like to
see as many supporters as possible.
JUNE 2006
POT NOODLE AD ACCUSED OF RACISM
Two Oakdale brothers find themselves at the centre of a controversy about racism.
Martin and Colin Hayward were among 10 workers from the Unilever factory in
Crosspenmaen who spent eight days at Wakefield Mining Museum in Yorkshire and
Shepperton Studios in London filming a series of commercials for Pot Noodle,
which have been entertaining viewers, yet been dubbed racist by others.
As part of a rebranding process of the product, the latest set of adverts revolve
around the fictional "Pot Noodle Mine" in Crumlin.
Various miners (all with local accents) are seen extracting dry Pot Noodle in
large hunks from underground, and singing in male voice choirs when on the surface.
The strapline is 'Fuel of Britain, isn’t it'.
While the majority of people find the ads amusing some don't.
“I find the Pot Noodle advert a bit funny, but it does nothing to promote the
valleys of South Wales as a centre for high quality light industry.
It does give the impression that the Welsh are short fat hairy coal miners and that
the only way to get a job in Crumlin is as an extra in an advert” says one
correspondent on a Pontypridd website.
Builder Morgan Bevan, 29, from Bridgend, said on Channel 4 News forum:
"It portrays the Welsh as a bunch of over-cheerful simpletons who love singing and
mining.
It's racist and shouldn't be shown. Mining and male voice choirs are not all Wales
has to offer"
“I don't know about you lot but I find the Pot Noodle advert extremely offensive
and as a result I have made an official complaint to the Advertising Standards
Association” says another. The ASA has received 37 similar complaints.
Pot Noodle has also come under fire from many parents and nutritionists who say
that the Pot Noodles have very little nutritional value. Unilever is now
countering this with a large rebranding campaign featuring a new product logo,
reduced salt and fat levels, more vegetables and removal of artificial colours
and preservatives.
This, it is hoped will help reinvent Pot Noodle as a snack for all consumers instead
of its core 18-24 year old Male market.
The factory celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2004 and employs 260 permanent staff
and an additional 80 temporary staff when required.
Do you think the ad is racist? Have your say on the Forum
MARCH 2006
SOLAR ENERGY FOR NEW SCHOOL
The new Rhiw Sir Dafydd Primary - which is due to open on the site of Oakdale
Infants next January - is to get a share of Ł1.8 million to fit solar energy
panels on the building.
The cash has come from the Department of Trade and Industry's programme
to fit solar energy installation panels.
The solar photovoltaic system will be installed by Sundog Energy Ltd. It will
be incorporated into the new junior wing and will comprise an integrated
array of 288 tiles split across two roofs.
Councillor Allan Pritchard, chairman of the temporary board of governors for
the new school, said: "We are looking to make it an eco-friendly school and
minimise energy costs.
"We will also be using the surface water and drain water for flushing toilets.
"There is a higher capital cost but with long-term savings and it's more
friendly towards the planet.
"We were depending on this money to upgrade it."
Oakdale Infants School currently provides for 240 pupils. An extension to the
existing school has been designed by Caerphilly council to create a new
primary,and when the new junior wing is completed it will provide facilities
for a total of 540 pupils - many coming from the Rhiw Syr Dafydd Junior,
which will close next year.
FEBRUARY 2006
OAKDALE St JOHN'S OFFICER SAVES LIFE
A local mum-to-be resuscitated a shopper in a Gwent store three times in
20 minutes after his heart stopped.
Nurse Angela Jones, 29, from Pontllanfraith, described how the daughter
of the man she saved watched as she battled to save his life in Blackwood's
Asda store on Saturday. The man - thought to be in his seventies - had
collapsed near the tills after suffering a cardiac arrest.
"I heard the call go out for a first-aider and then a doctor or a nurse,
and I had to go and find out what was going on and if I could help.
"When I got there I saw a man had collapsed between the checkouts.
He was blue when I saw him, and there was no pulse and he wasn't
breathing," said Mrs Jones, of Newport Road.
Luckily for the man involved Mrs Jones - who was out shopping with her
mother - is a resuscitation officer at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital, as
well as being assistant commissioner for St John Wales in Caerphilly and
divisional officer in charge of Oakdale division. She immediately started
resuscitation .
"He started breathing again on three occasions but then collapsed."
Mrs Jones, who is three months' pregnant managed to keep the man
alive until paramedics arrived.
JANUARY 2006
WATKINS' BIG BREAK
Local rugby star MATTHEW WATKINS has edged out Ceri Sweeney in the battle for
the Wales number 12 jersey when Mike Ruddock's men begin the defence of their
Six Nations title against England at Twickenham a week on Saturday.
Newport Gwent Dragons player Sweeney was early favourite for the role in the
absence of banned Gavin Henson but with Sweeney released by Wales coach
Mike Ruddock to play for the Dragons against Munster on Saturday and Watkins
out of the Scarlets' line-up against Ulster it's obvious the former Newport
centre has won the vote.
The Oakdale-born centre impressed during the Autumn series and in the
Heineken Cup he has shown a sense of adventure which has earned him his first
start against England.
But it is in a fairly unfamiliar position at inside centre when his preferred
position is outside centre where he plays regularly for Llanelli Scarlets.
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WORK BEGINS ON BRIDLEWAY
Work has begun on the first stage of a new community Bridle path overlooking
the Sirhowy Valley.
Oak wooden bridges are being built which will enable both horse riders and
walkers to cross open water culverts around Oakdale old tip. The route, which
is 4 miles long, should be completed by the spring or early summer.
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OAKDALE GETS NEW CAFE.
Ex-miner Neil Matthews finally acheived a long-held ambition when he opened his
new café and takeaway on the Square on Wednesday. (7th)
Neilo's Diner was officially opened by Penmaen councillors Allan Pritchard and
John Evans.
Councillor Pritchard said: "It's been many a long year since we had a café in
Oakdale so there's been no focal point. This will be a meeting point for
villagers."
Mr Matthews, 41, who lives in Central Avenue, worked in Oakdale Colliery for
ten years until it closed in 1989, following in the footsteps of his father and
grandfather.
He then bought a catering trailer and worked on markets for two years and
also at Pen-y-Fan Industrial Estate.
He will be doing the cooking himself and will be open from 8am to 5pm.
"I have hired one local girl and my father, who is retired, and my sister are
also going to help out," said Mr Matthews.
Asked how he viewed his new venture he replied "It certainly beats working
down the pit".
