Caerleon Methodist Church
The church held a Christmas bizarre in December which was very well attended and greatly helped with the on going fundraising for the church’s refurbishment. Christmas services were also held including a Christmas morning service by the new minister Rev Richard Gillian.
Coffee mornings are held on the first Saturday of every month and include cake and fruit stalls. All are welcome and if you would like further information about services or events please contact Rev Gillion on 665642.

Carols around the Christmas Tree
This annual event on Caerleon Common organised by Caerleon Councillors, Cliff Suller, Gail Giles and Paul Huntley and led by Canon Arthur Edwards, has increased in popularity each year. More people attended this event on 14 December to sing traditional carols accompanied by the excellent Gwent Music Support’s Youth Band. Mince pies and coffee was provided in the Town Hall afterwards and particular thanks go to David, the Caretaker, and regular helpers Christine Suller, Helen Lofts, Dianne Huntley, Brenda Waters and all those who kindly gave their time.

Caerleon in Bloom
The busy and hard working CIB Committee will be meeting again soon to ensure that Caerleon has another year of beautiful flower displays with its tubs and hanging baskets. It is also planned to hold the CIB Competition again, which is free to everyone.
For further information please contact Cllr Cliff Suller on 221922 or CIB Secretary Anne Parker on 422693.

Caerleon’s Young People
Caerleon Youth Club’s Christmas Show
This was held on Monday 17 December at Caerleon Comprehensive School to an audience of families, friends, local residents and the three Caerleon Councillors, Gail Giles, Cliff Suller and Paul Huntley. There was no mistaking the enthusiasm and talent of the young people who performed in this entertaining show which captured the Christmas spirit with its two Santas and accompanying elves. The story was narrated by Bethany Poole:
Once upon a time there were two Santas, one good (Tim Smith) and one evil (Ben Wookey) - with 'good' and 'bad' elves. Following a trail of mince pies good Santa fell down the chimney (an impressive structure built by a supporting parent), and was "captured".

Children visiting Santa's Grotto soon realised that the Santa in attendance was not good Santa, but bad Santa. The Fairy Godmother (Charlotte Murray) saved the day by helping good elves (Emily Poole and Abi Pike) find good Santa, freezing bad Santa thus turning him into an 'angel' and the bad elves ( Sarah Morgan and Charlotte Herbert ) learnt the error of their ways at a yoga class.As always a happy ending was enjoyed by all, with the cast singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"
Congratulations to all the performers and Youth Workers Carol, Katie, Harriet & Andrew .

Caerleon Endowed Junior School
Christmas 2007 was hugely successful in so many ways. Each of three performances of the Peace Child was well received and nearly nine hundred parents, grandparents, Governors and Caerleon Councillors saw the productions. It is remarkable how the same script can be interpreted in so many different ways – there really are some creative and agile minds in the Endowed Junior. The Y6 performances of Hansel and Gretel played to enthusiastic audiences and both children and adults clearly enjoyed the whole experience.The retiring collections of £200 went to St Anne's Hospice

Carol Services

The Cluster Service in St Cadoc’s Church heralded the beginning of Christmas 2007 and was a wonderful prelude to the Festive Season. The ticket money was divided between St Cadoc’s Church and Gwent Music Support Service and both were sent cheques for £230.
Choristers sang at a Saturday evening concert organised by the Usk Brass Band and also travelled to Bridgend’s shopping outlet to sing for Christmas shoppers.
The Y6 choristers visited Abbeyfields Home to sing a medley of Christmas songs and we were made most welcome by the senior citizens and support staff.
Term ended appropriately with children and staff joining together for the Nine Lessons.

Caerleon Endowed Infants School and NurseryParents and Governors were provided with wonderful Christmas performances by all the children, who clearly enjoyed their carol singing and plays. They were particularly special events as Head Teacher, Mrs Linda Smith, has recently retired after 20 years in post. A large crowd of past and present colleagues and governors gathered on 11th December to wish her well in her retirement and pupils had the chance to say goodbye, too, on 20th December at a special assembly. Mrs Smith has been a very popular and successful Head Teacher who hands over a thriving school into the hands of Acting Head, Ann Sweeting.

Caerleon Lodge Hill Junior School
The children gave wonderful performances again during their Carol Service at St Cadoc’s which included the choir, musicians and narrators. The church was packed full with parents, families, Governors, Caerleon Councillors and Rosemary Butler AM. There was a selection of traditional carols, some sung by the young people and some together with the congregation. Canon Edwards led the service and prayers.

Congratulations and thanks to all the schools staff who provided not only all the fun for the children but also a wonderful start to the Christmas festivities for us all.

Caerleon W I
Caerleon WI held its Carol Service at St Cadoc’s Church on December 10th. It was very well attended and the visitors included Caerleon Councillors and Rosemary Butler AM. Traditional carols, and readings (by Jean Rideout, Kate Tobin and Mavis Butler) and a poem read by Eira Evans were accompanied by Caerleon Endowed Junior School Woodwind Orchestra, Lodge Hill Junior School Choir and prayers by Canon Edwards. Refreshments were provided in Caerleon Town Hall afterwards.

University of Newport, Caerleon Campus
The University Sports Centre has had a facelift with the refurbishment of its Fitness Suite. The £90,000 investment will thereby ensure that its customers can start 2008 with a bang!
The venue boasts state of the art equipment from LifeFitness and includes the installation of a wireless entertainment system.
New equipment features the latest treadmills, cross trainers, bikes and the introduction of ‘Summit trainers’ - the newest climbing machine from LifeFitness, whose users are really feeling the benefits. These are added to the excellent range of free weights and stretching area that already exists. The refurbishment has been designed to ensure the equipment is accessible for the able bodied and those with disabilities. In addition, all the kit is compliant with the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) accreditation.
Ryan Statton, Sports Facilities Manager said, “Following the investment in fitness consultants to support our customers earlier this year, the refurbishment represents another significant step forward in our bid to deliver excellent facilities and services for staff, students and residents of the local community”.
For further information please call 01633 432933.

International Women’s Day Dinner
This dinner is held each year by Rosemary Butler AM, in the University’s Caerleon Campus.
The 2008 dinner will be held on Friday 7th March and will be attended by up to 400 women. Tickets are always in great demand so early booking is recommended. For further information please contact Rosemary on 01633 222523.

Fairtrade City
After an in-depth assessment process, undertaken by the Fairtrade Foundation, Newport was declared a Fairtrade City in January 2008. It joins Cardiff and Swansea in achieving this accolade so far.

The award comes after 18 months hard work by Newport Fairtrade Steering Group and a high profile launch in September 2006. A range of promotional events was organised and the Group also contacted local retail and catering outlets to ensure that Newport has the 28 shops and 14 cafes, offering at least two different fairly traded products, needed to meet the Fairtrade Foundation’s strict criteria. A list of these outlets will be available in Newport’s Fairtrade Directory 2008, sponsored by Newport City Council, Newport Initiative and Voice Media. This will be launched during Fairtrade Fortnight which starts on 25th February.

Having obtained Fairtrade status, the City can’t rest on its laurels. It must now go on to establish Fairtrade firmly within the City and, hopefully, increase the number of outlets offering fairly traded goods. To this end, the Fairtrade Steering Group has exciting plans for 2008.
If you would like more details, or wish to get involved, please contact Helen Forshaw on 01633 423356.

For more information on Fairtrade:

Wales Fairtrade Forum: http://www.gwe.nu/fairtrade/
Fairtrade Foundation: http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

Caerleon Neighbourhood Committee Meetings are held three times a year and open to all. The next meeting is at 7pm on Tuesday 5th February at Lodge Hill Junior School. For further information or to discuss any local issues please contact one of your Caerleon Councillors:
Cllr Gail Giles on 421947, Cllr Cliff Suller on 221922 and Cllr Paul Huntley on 421449

Gail Giles 13 Hazel Walk Caerleon NP18 3SE