Howling Banshees

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 26 June 2008 12:41:12

Last night the charity FW works for held a fundraising evening at a local Workingmen's Hall. These, and the hapels, used to be a great centre for life in the Welsh vallies. The halls were built from subscriptions paid by the miners and almost every town or village with a colliery had them.

They were a combination of library and entertainment complex. You could go there to read books, newspapers, to see films, concerts and plays. They were also used for political meetings. In fact, they were very important in raising literacy levels among the working class families.

Like the miners that founded them many have no falling into disuse or been taken over by local councils and are no longer the focal point of local life. Many have lost their libraries and cinemas and no longer exist for their purpose.

The one in Blaenavon still has its cinema and, surprisingly, has been well looked after by the local council. It even has a bar for use by those their for entertainment or those who come in off the street. I really have to congratulate the council for doing something right in Blaenavon - after closing down the town's swimming pool last year without consultation.

The concert was very good with Contorian Cyfartha - a female choir, 2 school girls - one of whom has a very good voice for a 10 year old and David Johnson - a user of the charity's services - a good blues singer. I must admit that I had a very enjoyable evening, even if I did miss the football.

History Today:

1483 : Richard "Quasimodo" of York becomes king after declaring his nephews, Edward and Richard, illegitimate. They later died in mysterious circumstances in the Tower of London - not even CSI Vegas could solve this.

1857 : Queen Victoria awards the first Victoria Cross to 62 servicemen in Hyde Park. The medals are made from the bronze cannons siezed after the Charge of the Light Brigade.

1898 : Willy Meserschmitt is born. Altogether now... ACHTUNG SPITFIRE!!

1934 : Hitler purges his rivals, and his followers settle some old scores, during the 'Night of the Long Knives'. However mistakes were made as innocentpeople were murdered just because they had the same name as those on the list.

1945 : The charter of the United Nations is signed in San Francisco. About the only time they agreed on anything.

1977 : Elvis performs his last concert in Indianapolis - 2 months later he dies.