Thursday, June 27, 2019

Summer in Pontyclun


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.


Egg and spoon race at Picnic in the Park

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 Environment group in action

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 Road Runners

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’.

Community garden


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.


Bethel Baptist singers


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

MacMillan cancer support banners and stall


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.

Paul Griffiths
Chair of Pontyclun Community Council

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