FEBRUARY 2010
Oakdale teenager writes iPod app
AN OAKDALE SCHOOLBOY has developed a game called TWOOSH for the Apple iPod
which Apple has now made available for iPod users to buy.
Joshua Tucker, 14, of Cae Celyn, Crosspenmaen, created the application
after asking his friends about what they’d like to see in a game.
It took him just three days to design, using software bought from Apple.
TWOOSH was released on January 4 and sold 587 copies in the first month,
for which Joshua gets paid a royalty of approximately 50 pence a copy.
In a good week this can amount to hundreds of pounds.
One online reviewer describes the game as "addictive" and goes on "...such
a simple concept with leaderboards thrown in and social interaction makes
this app a must purchase."
Joshua is hoping that the game, in which the player has to dodge moving
objects using the touch screen to gain points and move up levels, will
be the first of many, and has set up a website which will allow other
people who want applications written for them to contact him.
(http://joshualeetucker.com/)
The Oakdale Comprehensive school pupil is planning to study software
engineering at college and software engineering or computer science at
university.
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Twoosh screenshot
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DECEMBER 2009
Oakdale policeman honoured
AN OAKDALE policeman’s achievements were recognised by the Prime Minister
during a reception for Christmas heroes at 10 Downing Street, after being
nominated by Islwyn MP Don Touhig
Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston, who was nominated for his work on behalf
of his fellow police officers, attended the reception on December 11 with
his wife Janet.
Mr Johnston has worked for Gwent Police for more than thirty years and is
President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales.
He was Basic Command Unit Commander in Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent before
becoming president of the association in March 2007.
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NOVEMBER 2009
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Graveyard 'vandal' given suspended prison sentence
Local residents were shocked to see the damage done to headstones
in Penmaen Graveyard on the morning of Thursday 24 September.
A reclamation contractor had innocently brought a JCB onto the
site to recover unwanted stones after being duped by one of the
offenders working in the graveyard under the Probation Service's
Community Payback programme.
Luckily, Roger Evans, the Oakdale & Penmaen Community Partnership chairman,
was passing the site just after the incident occurred and literally
stopped the machine in its tracks. He challenged the contractors,
asked to see their authorisation and then asked them to leave the site,
which they did. Following discussions with Mynyddislwyn Choir and
the Probation Service, he reported the matter to the Police, who
subsequently charged Simon Dickey with fraud by false representation.
Knowing the Probation Supervisor would be on holiday for a few weeks,
Dickey had forged letters from the Probation Service claiming he had
authority to dispose of the stones and would have been paid by the
contractor. This is a more serious offence than the criminal damage
which resulted from his actions.
Dickey appeared before Caerphilly Magistrates on 5 November and pleaded
guilty. He was sentenced to 16 weeks prison, suspended for 18 months,
placed on an Offenders Substance Abuse Programme, and ordered to pay
court costs of £85.
Probation sent in an extra team immediately to put right as much damage
as they could, and their regular weekend team continues to work long-term
on cleaning up the site. Blackwood Army Cadets, have also completed a
special clean of the two Commonwealth War Graves in the graveyard.
The Choir and Partnership were naturally upset by the damage caused,
but remain committed to the long-term improvement of the graveyard.
They wish to remind residents that this may involve the relocation of
some headstones and the removal of blank or dangerous ones, but it will
be done sensitively. Luckily, Blackwood Branch of Gwent Family History Society
made a complete record of the headstones earlier this year, and this will
help in restoring some of the damaged ones to their proper positions.
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Devastation at the graveyard
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OCTOBER 2009
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KILLER TO SERVE LIFE SENTENCE
THE man who murdered Oakdale driving agency boss Kingsley Monk,
has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison at a
hearing in Newport crown court.
Russell Leon Carter, 52, from Rumney, Cardiff, will be 82 before
he is considered for parole, the Recorder of Cardiff,
Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, decided today.
Father-of-two Kingsley Monk, 45, of Maesygarn Road, was killed at
the Driverline 247 recruitment agency in New Inn last October.
Carter, who has US/British citizenship, already had two armed
robbery convictions in the United States.
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SEPTEMBER 2009
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WATKINS RETURNS
OAKDALE-BORN WALES RUGBY international Matthew Watkins has returned to his roots
after a seven-year absence when he has been with Llanelli, the Scarlets and Gloucester.
Now living back in the village and playing for Newport Gwent Dragons
Matthew is hoping to become the catalyst which will bring more supporters
down from the Valleys to get behind the local regional rugby team.
Having played for Newport for five years at the start of his senior career
he made a late debut for the Dragons because of a hip operation
during the summer and, more recently, an abdominal strain.
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AUGUST 2009
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OAKDALE HOSPITAL CLOSES
OAKDALE HOSPITAL has finally closed its doors after serving
the community for over ninety years.
It was originally envisaged that the phased closure of the
14 beds in the hospital, opened in 1915, would be completed
in September 2009.
However, the date of closure was brought forward to August
as the hospital had only 4 patients.
All of the hospital staff have either chosen to move to other
posts of their choice within the borough or taken the
decision to retire.
Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust is currently working on plans to
hold a commemorative celebration at the Hospital.
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JULY 2009
PENMAEN WOODS WINS MAJOR AWARDS
THE ROGER LEWIS Woodland Garden (formerly known as Penmaen Woods)
is on a par with the country's finest parks, after receiving a
sought-after Green Pennant Award at two awards ceremonies in
Bournemouth and at the Royal Welsh Show this week.
Green Pennant Awards recognise and reward the best community run
parks in the country, and the local woodland stood out, after
impressing the judges with excellent facilities including well
managed green space, signage and amenities as well as the dedication
of the local people.
This year is a milestone year for the awards as the number of
Green Flag and Green Pennant Award winners has passed 1,000
for the first time.
The win comes at an exciting time in the development of the
Green Flag and Green Pennant Award scheme that is now run by
environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, GreenSpace and BTCV,
who have been inundated by applications as parks value the coveted award.
Community Partnership representatives Roger Evans and Geoff Jones
were presented with their award by the TV presenter Michaela Strachan
in the presence of 1,500 people at the official Green Flag Awards
ceremony held at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth on Wednesday.
They were joined by Steve Carter and Mike Perry for the Welsh Regional
awards which were presented by John Lloyd Jones, the Chairman of
the Countryside Council for Wales, at the Royal Welsh Show in
Builth Wells on Monday.
Phil Barton chief executive, Keep Britain Tidy said:
"I would like to congratulate this year's winners, who have worked hard
throughout the year to keep their parks to a high standard and ensure
they are pleasant and enjoyable spaces for the whole community."
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JUNE 2009
OAKDALE DRIVER SENT TO PRISON
AN OAKDALE man has been gaoled for 12 months after causing
a crash, which left his childhood friend with a fractured
pelvis and broken hip.
LUKE EVANS, 21, of Markham Crescent, appeared in Newport
crown court for sentencing after pleading guilty to dangerous
driving.
The court was told that Evans drove to Treowen with
Sarah Edwards to pick up his friend Stephen Challenger in the
early hours of September 20 last year.
Prosecutor John Probert said that Evans started driving at
'excessive speed' in the Kendon area, which has a speed limit
of 30mph.
Ms Edwards saw the speedometer reach 80mph and both passengers
asked Evans to slow down.
After Evans lost control of the car it came into contact with
the grass verge, ending up overturned on the other side of
the road.
Mr Challenger sustained a broken left hip, and fractures to
the front and rear of his pelvis and to his vertebrae, while
Ms Edwards suffered minor injuries and whiplash.
Mr Challenger subsequently spent five weeks in hospital
undergoing numerous operations.
Evans fled the scene but handed himself into police the
following day.
Mr Recorder David Miller said: "This offence is serious
not simply because of the excessive speed which has been
described as grossly excessive given the conditions and the
nature of the area through which you were drivng, but because
it was prolonged excessive speed."
Evans was jailed for 12 months and disqualfied from
driving for three years.
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MBE for Oakdale man
A FORMER Oakdale resident, Dr Roy Lurvey, who now lives in Cwmbran,
has been awarded an MBE for services to the community in Torfaen.
Dr Lurvey serves as the voluntary sector member on Torfaen
Local Health Board and is chairman of the board of trustees for
St David's Foundation Hospice care, which provides vital care and
support for people with terminal and life threatening illnesses.
Pupils take the plunge
PUPILS AT Oakdale Comprehensive school were among a group of
competition winners who met Olympic diver Tom Daley for lunch at
Heolddu comprehensive school.
Pupils were invited to choose to eat more healthy school dinners with
the Olympic diver. Tom made the headlines in August 2008 when he competed
in the Olympic Games, at just 14-years-old.
During his visit Daley also gave a diving masterclass at Heolddu
Leisure Centre.
School gets make-over
OAKDALE COMPREHENSIVE school has had a Dulux makeover, after winning a
national competition in the Sun newspaper.
The school won the competition for a makeover of the school hall.
Deputy Head teacher, Martin Davis wrote to The Sun urging them to choose the
school because it desperately needed painting and was of vital importance to
the community as it hosts assemblies, parents' evenings sports activities and
meetings.
The newspaper asked readers to nominate a project, which then went
to a public vote. Voters were encouraged to go online and vote for their
favourite project within their region and 11,000 people voted for Oakdale to
receive a makeover.
The Dulux team was accompanied by the Dulux official mascot, Dom, an Old English
sheepdog who proved to be very popular with the children.
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'Coalface' sculpture unveiled
A CROWD of approximately 400 people gathered on the Square on May 29th to
witness the unveiling of 'Coalface', a sculpture by Scottish artist
Malcolm Robertson, which was commissioned by the Oakdale and Penmaen Partnership.
The event, organised by the secretary of the Partnership, Granville Hale, took
place in bright sunshine, and was attended by many people who had travelled
considerable distances, as well as by local residents.
You can see pictures of the event HERE
New work for band
FOLLOWING the great success of 'Fanfare and March - Oakdale 2007' performed
by Oakdale Silver Band at the celebratory centenary concert held in October 2007,
Oakdale born Brian Moore has written another piece for the band.
Entitled 'Andante Festivo' it has just been recorded on the Band's fourth CD,
and should be available in June. Access to the CD is also available through YouTube
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MAY 2009
Arsonist escapes prison
AN OAKDALE woman has escaped gaol after a judge gave her a suspended prison
sentence for torching the home she shared with her husband.
After Joanna Hope pleaded guilty to arson in April the judge at Newport Crown
Court handed down a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Hope started the blaze that caused extensive smoke and flame damage to the
couple's home in Central Avenue after catching husband Paul kissing one of her
friends on a night out last December.
Judge David Morris described it as a "very difficult and troubling case".
He said: "It was an act of retaliation and revenge against your husband.
You left and did nothing, with no regard for the possible consequences to
occupiers of neighbouring homes."
He acknowledged Hope's repeated attempts to phone her husband on the night and
the fact she informed a relative of the fire.
Hope has since moved to Aberbargoed.
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Three-car collision in Brynhoward
AN 81-year-old man was cut from his car after it collided
with two parked cars and a telegraph pole in Brynhoward
yesterday. (Wednesday 13th)
He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Gwent Hospital,
but his injuries are not thought to be serious.
Traffic was diverted along Enterprise Way after police
closed the road.
Two women from Caerphilly council's meals-on-wheels
service were delivering food to disabled resident
John Watson's home and were in their van when it was
struck by another car.
Mr Watson's parked car was also involved in the incident.
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New homes given go-ahead
OFFICIALS from Caerphilly council have given the go-ahead for 30
new houses to be built in the village on land at the former
allotment site on Llwynon Lane, opposite the bowling green
The allotments were made vacant 12 months ago after they were
re-located to a new site 500 yards away.
The new housing development comprises 12 four-bedroom,
eight three-bedroom and four two-bedroom houses.
There will also be three flats arranged into a two-storey
block, while the rest of the properties are a mix of two to
four bedroom semi-detached and detached houses.
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Oakdale Artwork Unveiling
A PIECE of artwork named "Coal Face" will be unveiled
on Oakdale Square on Friday 29th May at 12pm.
The artwork, developed by Scottish artist
Malcolm Robertson, creates an important link to
encourage people to learn about their heritage and
history.
The Oakdale and Penmaen Community Partnership are
calling for local people to come along to see the
sculpture be unveiled on the village square.
There will also be music from local choirs and bands.
An important feature of the artwork is the
incorporation of multiple portraits of local miners
onto the various surfaces that make up the face.
The artwork has been developed through workshops with
Oakdale Primary School, Oakdale Comprehensive School
as well as the local community.
With funding from CCBC and Invest Wales, the artwork
will help to create a sense of personal pride for the
community and be the first element implemented of the
wider improvements planned for Oakdale Square.
The Oakdale and Penmaen Partnership are currently
investigating means of developing an outdoor
heritage museum on the square.
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NOT JUST MAYOR - BUT DEPUTY LEADER TOO!!
OAKDALE scored a notable double when Cllr. John Evans, Member
for the Penmaen/Oakdale ward was sworn in as Mayor of
Caerphilly County Borough Council on 30th April 2009.
His fellow ward councillor, Allan Pritchard, was also re-elected
Deputy Leader of the council and cabinet member for Human
Resources.
In a very moving ceremony, which was attended by members of
Cllr Evans' family, friends and dignitaries, Cllr. Evans said
"This is one of the best days of my life and one that my parents
and sister would have been extremely proud of".
Cllr. Evans went on to say "I will work hard for the people of
my ward and for the whole of the county borough and will do
my utmost to uphold the office of Mayor with dignity.
I will try to visit all parts of the county borough and visit as
many communities and organisations as I possibly can during
my mayoral year of office".
Cllr. Evans was nominated by Cllr. Allan Pritchard who informed
the full council that "between them, they had served the
Penmaen ward for a total of forty years and it was fitting that
his ward colleague was recognised
for his outstanding service".
Cllr. Evans nominated Cancer Research Wales as his charity for
the year.
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The ceremony was held at council chambers on 2nd April 2009. They were nominated
for the civic awards by Cllr Allan Pritchard and Cllr John Evans, Deputy Mayor.
FEBRUARY 2009
U3A COMES TO OAKDALE
BLACKWOOD U3A Branch is relocating its meetings to Oakdale Community Centre
this month.
U3As (University of the Third Age) are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning
co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities
for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest
groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun.
Starting Tuesday 17th March, there will be sessions on:
Tuesdays 2 - 4 History
Wednesdays 10 - 12 French for Beginners
Fridays 10 - 12 Painting & Drawing
If you'd like to join, just turn up to one of the sessions as shown.
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JANUARY 2009
SUSPECTED ARSON AT CHRISTMAS
FIRE CREWS were called to Central Avenue at 3.21am on Monday(Dec 29th)
when a fire tore through the top floor of a house while the family who
live there were away at a party.
Fire-fighters from Cefn Fforest, Bargoed and Abercarn, wearing breathing
apparatus, tackled the blaze using one main jet and two hose reel jets.
Investigation officers from South Wales Fire and Rescue service have
confirmed the cause as deliberate. The house was left badly damaged.
A woman was arrested by the police in connection with the incident,
and has been bailed pending further enquiries.
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