Penywaun

Penywaun is a village situated between Aberdare and Hirwaun, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales.

Background

The population of Penywaun is approximately 3,300. [http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/neighbourhoodcrime/downloads/example4.pdf]

Much of the local housing was built by the Local Council after the Second World War in several stages, starting with simple pre-fabricated houses.

In October and November 2006 a ballot was held to determine if tenants were happy with the Council's proposals to transfer its Council Homes to RCT Homes, a new not-for-profit local housing organisation. The result was a 55% turnout with 58% voting 'yes' and 42% voting 'no'. [ [http://www.rctbetterhomes.co.uk/home.asp Investing in a Brighter Future ] ]

The Charity Family Awareness and Drug Support - or F.A.D.S. - was launched in the village in June 2002. It was set up by a group of Penywaun parents. The founding members were parents who were either concerned about substance misuse or who were directly affected by their own children's misuse. [ [http://www.fads.org.uk/ FADS - Family Awareness & Drug Support ] ] FADS currently maintain an office at the Shopping Centre, in the centre of Penywaun.

A number of shops and businesses trade within the village, including a Post Office, a newsagents, a traditional Fish and Chips shop, and two grocery-type stores. Most of the retail space is located within a designated retail precinct (called the 'Shopping Centre'), although there is a grocery store situated opposite the Colliers Arms pub.

The 'What Shop' is a large retail unit sited above the village, near the main A4059 road to Hirwaun. Previously, it housed a Co-Op a supermarket (a branch of the Aberdare District and Co-operative Society).

chools

Penywaun is home to Penywaun Primary School with approximately 252 pupils on the school roll, aged 3-11 yearss. [ [http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/penywaunjun.pdf First Draft ] ] . The school is situated near Coed Glas, Penywaun.

Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun a Welsh Medium comprehensive school was opened in the village in 1995.

School children from Penywaun also attend Aberdare Boys' Comprehensive School, Aberdare Girls School, Bishop Hedley High School (a Roman Catholic secondary school in Merthyr Tydfil) and other local secondary schools.

The Aberdare College campus of Coleg Morgannwg situated in the next village of Trecynon is the principal provider for Vocational and Further Education courses for the village.

Culture

Saint Winefride's Church - see photograph - (Church in Wales) is situated in the centre of the village. St Lleurwg's Church in Hirwaun is the sister church within the ecclesiastical Parish of Hirwaun.

Penywaun Workingmen's Club and Institute was opened in the village 1959. Many successful singers and entertainers have performed at the Club over the years, including singer Tom Jones performing shortly before his rise to stardom in the 1960s.

The Colliers Arms, on Heol Caradog Street, is the only pub in the village.

Poet Derek J. Morgan lives in Penywaun and has been widely published in local newspapers and periodicals. Many of his poems concern life in the South Wales Valleys.

Politics

The current County Borough Councillor is Glyndwr Roberts (Labour) who was elected by a narrow margin (78 votes) on May 1st 2008.

Councillor Roberts is a long-serving Director of the Tower Colliery company which ran the last deep mine in South Wales. The mine closed in January 2008.

port, Leisure and Recreation

Penywaun Football (soccer) Club plays regularly in the Aberdare Valley Premier Division.

Penywaun is also home to an award-winning Tang Soo Do group which meet regularly at Penywaun Community Centre. [cite web|url=http://www.penywaun.net/2007/10/18/penywaun-martial-artists-tang-impress-the-chief-european-instructor-to-win-promotion/|title=Penywaun Martial Artists Tang impress the Chief European Instructor|accessmonthday=Dec 9|accessyear=2007|Author=Sian Moran]

There are two allotment gardening sites at Penywaun, which are managed by the local Council. Both are currently fully-occupied with a waiting list for new plots.

Rhydywaun Youth Club is situated within the grounds of Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun and is open for all young people on the estate between the ages of 11 to 21 on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening during term time.

Both Aberdare Park and Dare Valley Country Park are located within two miles of the village.

Notable people

*Kim Howells - Welsh Labour politician and MP for Pontypridd, born in Merthyr Tydfil, but raised in Penywaun
*Kala Morgan - International Wales footballer
*Dai Young (rugby footballer) - Welsh rugby union and rugby league player who lived in Penywaun for many years with his parents

References

External links

* [http://www.penywaun.net Penywaun Online, the local community magazine]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/penywaun/ Penywaun on Flickr, a photo sharing website]