Well, what a summer it’s been!
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After the temperatures we’ve experienced, there were moments when we weren’t sure we’d ever feel cool again. But here we are, watching the leaves turn beautiful shades of golden brown and orange, and reaching for a jacket as the evenings draw in. There’s something rather lovely about that first chill in the air — it reminds us that the cosy ‘ber’ months are on their way!
Talking of summer, we rounded ours off with our Annual Food
& Drink Festival. We won’t lie, we were keeping a very close eye on the
weather reports in the run-up to the event and wondering whether the rain might
put a dampener on things. Thankfully, apart from a slight downpour, the sun
shone for us and we finished the day on a real high.
Our traders were, as always, absolutely outstanding,
bringing plenty of delicious food, drinks and community spirit to the event.
And once again, this wonderful community showed just how supportive it is — not
only of our events, but of the fantastic small businesses that operate within
our town.
A very special shout-out must go to our amazing volunteers.
They gave up their time, free of charge, despite the rather uncertain weather,
to help us set up and make sure everything went off without a hitch. We really
couldn’t do it without you, so thank you!
With our tummies still full of delicious food and perhaps
the odd cocktail or two, we’re now hitting the ground running with our Christmas
2026 preparations!
If you have a Christmas event taking place in the town,
please let us know. We’d love to add it to our Christmas Calendar and help
spread the word so everyone knows what’s happening and when.
Our own Christmas events will begin at the end of November
with the Christmas Tractor Run and Light Switch-On, followed by
our Christmas Fayre on Saturday 5th December.
We’ve got a fantastic day planned, with a full line-up of
choirs and bands to keep us entertained, along with more than 80 stalls packed
with Christmas treats, gifts and goodies for all the family. And, of course,
there will be a very special visitor dropping in to meet the little ones! There
will even be an opportunity to fly Santa’s sleigh — because
why should Santa have all the fun?
The Santa Fun Run will be back this year, dates and
details to be confirmed, so keep an eye out for details and registration
opening.
Before we get completely carried away with Christmas cheer,
though, there are a few important dates coming up.
Our Remembrance Services will take place
on Sunday 8th November. We’ll publish further details closer to the
date across our social media channels and on noticeboards throughout the town.
And, of course, Pontyclun Rugby Club will
once again be bringing its popular Firework Display back to
the town on Friday 5th November. Details about tickets and timings
will be shared soon, so keep an eye out.
Keeping Pontyclun Tidy
As always, we also want to say a huge thank you to all of
our wonderful litter pickers who continue to give up their time to help keep
our community clean and tidy.
From the Men’s Shed, Scouts and Brownies to
individual residents who simply see a problem and decide to do something about
it — your efforts really do make a difference.
One resident deserves a particular mention, having collected
an incredible 133 bags of rubbish since February during his
daily walk to and from work. That is an absolutely outstanding contribution to
our community and deserves a massive thank you.
At the same time, though, it’s difficult not to reflect on
the fact that there was 133 bags of rubbish to collect in the first
place. Litter continues to be an ongoing issue, and it’s something we are
continually working on. We all have a part to play in keeping our town looking
its best, so please remember: if you bring it with you, take it home with you!
And finally, if you have any good news, community
updates or upcoming events that you’d like us to share, please get in
touch. We’re always happy to help spread the word and celebrate the wonderful
things happening across our community.
You can contact us at community@pontycluntowncouncil.gov.wales.
Enjoy the autumn, stay cosy, and we’ll see you all next
month!
“October is a gentle reminder that change can
be beautiful.”
