Picnic in the Park
June, so far, has been a bit cool and damp.
But on 8 June the Community Council worked with the whole of
Pontyclun to create a little ray of sunshine when several hundred families came
to enjoy the ‘Picnic in the Park’. I thank everyone who came to create this
event which showed the truly friendly spirit of Pontyclun . Recently, I asked
what made Pontyclun a successful town – this event provided a large part of the
answer.
This picture shows the egg throwing competition organised by
Cllr Carole Willis, and Ysgol GGG Llantrisant, as part of a wide range of traditional family
games.
I thank the wide range of groups who contributed so much to
this fantastic community event.
Pontyclun Environment
Group
This wonderful group of Pontyclun residents do so much to
support our local environment. They arrange litter picking days. They organise
nature walks. They established and maintain the walk along the River Ely from
Brynsadler with hidden pebble beaches
and some of the most natural woodland in Pontyclun. At the Picnic they helped
children make bird feeders for their gardens.
You can contact the group through Sarah Jenkins; e-mail srj555@hotmail.co.uk
Pontyclun Road
Runners
This group were brilliant contributors to Picnic in the
Park. Many members came along to provide enjoyable run-based activities for children – including the bean bag relay I
remember from my primary school. There was a 1.5 k run around the rugby field.
On the very same day Pontyclun Road Runners provided around thirty marshals for
the Pontypridd Park Run. You can join
this group by visiting https://www.pontyclunroadrunners.co.uk/contact-us/
Pontyclun Community
Garden
This is another inspiring group who contributed to the
Picnic. These volunteers provide a community garden within Pontyclun Park. They
have created attractive growing beds where they have cultivated vegetables,
shrubs and flowers. Members of the public are invited to come pick the
vegetables for free – so many people respond to this invitation with a
gobsmacked “you must be kidding me”; but it is true. To join the garden group
e-mail ‘pontyclungarden@gmail.com’.
Bethel Baptist Church
Church members provided a wonderful musical and melodic
accompaniment to the Picnic. They also provided a lounge for those who needed a
quiet moment.
Macmillan Fundraising
Support
Our inspiring Macmillan Fundraising Support had a stall at
the Picnic showing how Pontyclun is a community that wants to give to those in
need as they fundraise for a new care
centre for with cancer – Y Bwthyn
Citrus Arts
Performers from Citrus Arts came along to share circus
skills among the children at the Picnic.
Miskin Cricket Club
The ageless Keith Davies of Miskin Cricket Club came along
to introduce bat and ball to the youngsters in the park.
Walking Rugby and
Football
The ageless stars of Pontyclun walking rugby and football
groups shared their skills with the children in the park; the children shared
their pace and agility. You can join the walking rugby and football groups by
contacting ‘cafe50@pontyclun-cc.gov.uk’.
Pontyclun Pentanque
The Petanque Players of Pontyclun came to share the game of
petanque, boule to some of us, to the picnicers in the park. You will find the Petanque players regularly
at Pontyclun Rugby Club.
Jo Cox
We were inspired to introduce Pontyclun’s Picnic in the Park
in 2018 by the events in memory of the
murdered MP, Jo Cox. Jo had always held that in every community “there
is more that unites us than divides us”. She was killed for holding that
belief. Our picnics have shown that in Pontyclun there is real joy in coming
together on a summer’s day to meet our neighbours, introduce ourselves to each
and enjoy the company of all others, no matter what their age or background.
In Defence of
Politics
Jo was killed for being a politician. I have been elected
politician since I became a a member of Pontyclun Community Council in 2004. I have
not experienced the threats of violence and abuse experienced by so many other
politicians – but people often step back with dismay and puzzlement when I
introduce myself as a councillor.
I was once a lecturer in politics, explaining that politics was the process of resolving the
differences of opinion and interest in any community. I would argue that
democratic politics was the mark of civilisation as we seek to resolve those
differences through dialogue, persuasion and compromise – rather than force and
oppression. The politician seeks to be bridge, the person who forges compromise
and decision amidst disagreement and division.
I fear for the future as democratic politics is denigrated,
all politicians are demonised, the institutions of democratic government – be
they local, central or European – are cast aside. The end result is fascism:
the end of politics, the oppression of individuals and minorities.
Pontyclun’s Picnic in
the Park shows other ways forward: hope over fear, cooperation over
competition, solidarity over division, togetherness over separation. We showed that there is more that
unites than divides us.
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