David Davies Memorial Trusts

At the last meeting of the Trustees, the eligibility criteria was relaxed. Any former mineworker who was working in the mining industry on 1st January 1985, or the dependant son or daughter of such an individual, may now qualify for financial assistance in pursuit of approved studies. 

The new dates for next years holiday season at Court Royal will be announced soon. The CISWO office has been recieving a high quantity of calls in relation to bookings for next year, but unfortunately we are unable to accept them until after the dates and price structure has been finalised. It is hoped that the new listings will be in the post for all those on the Court Royal database within the next week. It is anticipated that there will be a large take up again this year so we ask everyone to get their forms in early!
 
 

 
The contest held on Saturday 17th September at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl was for brass bands graded in sections 2,3 & 4 and from a coal mining community. It was funded by the South Wales Miners Trust Fund Scheme. The audience were treated to a most enjoyable day. Each band had to play a 20 minute own choice concert programme. The music varied from traditional brass band music to arrangements of popular music and classical pieces. 12 bands entered the contest, all of which at one time were connected with the mining industry.
 
The results were
1st Lewis Merthyr
2nd Treherbert
3rd RAF St. Athan Vol (this band qualifies as CISWO fund the boysvillage at St. Athan)
4th Ynyshir
5th Blaenavon Town
6th Gwaun Cae Gurwen
7th Crosskeys
8th Ammanford
9th Briton Ferry
10th Ogmore Valley
11th Oakdale
12th Ystradgynlais
The most entertaining band of the day was Ynyshir, whose programme was themed on music from western films, The good, the band and the ugly, magnificent seven, and the band wore check shirts, blue jeans and stetsons rather than the normal uniforms. They won £200 and the CISWO Trophy
The best instrumentalist of the day was Josh Pegg, who played the xylophone solo in the Lone Ranger, Josh plays percussion with Ynyshir and was presented with the Secretary's Rosebowl, which was presented by Andrew Morse of CISWO
There was an award for the Youngest player of the day this went to Gwen Flower of Ystradgynlais band aged 9. Gwen was presented with the Evan Richards Memorial Shield, Evan was a music tutor at Parc Primary School in Cwmparc, he passed away last year aged 90, and was still teaching at the school, on a voluntary basis.
Lewis Merthyr, based in Porth, won £600 and the South Wales Miners Challenge Cup, valued at £6000, and an invite to compete at the Welsh Open Entertainment Championships next February, the trophy was presented by Mr. Tyrone O' Sullivan a Trustee
Treherbert, won £400 and the Wales TUC Challenge Cup and was presented by Amarjite Singh, Vice President of the Wales TUC
RAF St. Athan won £200 and the Madeleine Moon Cup (Madeleine Moon is the MP for Bridgend and donated a new trophy) Mrs. Moon presented her cup
There were also awards for the highest unplaced 3rd section band, this went to Ammanford and the highest unplaced 4th section band, this went to Oakdale.
 

 
Donate A Day!
The government has launched a new initative to 'donate a day', do you have any spare time available?
Would you like to learn new skills and meet new people? Would you like to enhance your CV?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then maybe you should consider volunteering. Working within the miners welfare network in South Wales, CISWO currently offers support, guidance and knowledge to over 300 volunteers who devote some of their time into acting as a trustee.
There are numerous opportunities throughout former coalfield areas, with a range of tasks being undertaken on a regular basis and where another helping hand is never ignored. Most welfares operate volunteer banks with many people giving their time to roles they enjoy, take a look at a full list of current welfare charitable organisations in the miners welfare section to see who's closest to you!
Contact CISWO on 01443 485233 and ask for Andrew or Rhys to discuss the type of opportunities available in your area.

 
Miners Reunions!
 
Court Royal will be hosting two dedicated miners reunions weeks in March, from the 14th to the 21st and the 21st to the 28th former mineworkers from Abernant Colliery, Blaenant Colliery, Brynlliw Colliery and Tower Colliery will be invited along to Court Royal for a weeks long stay to catch up with their old colleagues.
 
NUM South Wales Area Secretary and Court Royal Trustee Mr. Wayne Thomas said 'this is a great opportunity for the men who worked together to get back together and share the camaraderie we all enjoyed back in the heyday of the industry. I would urge the men from these collieries to get in touch soon as spaces are limited.'
 
The Reunion weeks are charged at £50 per person, this includes travel, bed, breakfast and evening meal.

 
CISWO & NUM Trustee Nominations - Recently CISWO has contacted all charity trustees in relation to the CISWO & NUM nominated trustee positions. We have highlighted all those trustees who's term of office is due to expire and require re-nomination. Please get in touch if you require further information in relation to this matter. Also, please remember, by becoming a registered user of this site you will be able to download guidance and forms direct from the resource section.
 

Land Registry - In partnership with the development team from Land Registry, CISWO has organised several days of meetings with trustees from local welfares in a bid to get all miners welfare land in South Wales registered. To date, the process has gone extremely smoothly and CISWO would like to extend its thanks to all those that have attended the meetings. Over 75% of welfares in the region have begun the registration process and it is hoped that all welfare land will be registred by year end.
Land Registry UK based in Swansea, have kindly agreed to the registration of all miners welfare lands at a cost of £40 per welfare, offering incredible savings on what is thought to become a compulsory exercise in the near future. Trustees have been grateful for the guidance and advice on hand from the development team, plus the need not to employ the services of a solicitor. For those still to begin the registration process please call Rhys for further informaion, 01443 485233.
 

CISWO CHOSEN CHARITY OF THE MONTH - CISWO was grateful to receive a charity broadcast from the BBC in March. A trustee of the charity and a trustee of the Court Royal Miners Home were invited along for interview on the Roy Noble show, along with featuring on the welsh language sister station. The BBC also produced a short segment on the Court Royal Miners Home administered by CISWO which aired in both media during March. To listen again, please visit the Charities section on the BBC Wales’ website.
 
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/info/sites/charities/pages/201003_ciswo.shtml