Review of the year: 2017 - January to June

JANUARY

Big Pit launched its three-year mining craft apprenticeship scheme, as part of the Blaenavon museum’s plan to ensure its longevity with a number of the current guides approaching retirement age.

The scheme, which initially looked to recruit two apprentices, would train the candidates to not only become tour guides but also how to maintain the mine.

The new leader of Torfaen council, Cllr Anthony Hunt, announced his new cabinet in an extraordinary cabinet meeting.

Wales’ youngest council leader appointed his predecessor, Bob Wellington, as the cabinet member for collaboration and sustainability before he stood down from the council.

Staying with the council, the possibility of staff redundancies at three borough secondary schools was raised during the discussion of the planned 1,000 Cwmbran super college.

The sixth forms at Cwmbran High, Croesyceiliog and Pontypool’s St Alban’s were earmarked for closure as part of the plans.

FEBRUARY

The Welsh Government announced the colour-coded rating system for all of the schools in Wales, with Torfaen achieving nine green, 16 yellow, five amber and two red rating.

Coed Eva Primary School, still recovering from the fire on New Year’s Day in 2016, went from yellow to green, as did Llanyrafon Primary School while Crownbridge School also achieved green status.

A memorial was held to mark the 127th anniversary of the Llanerch mining disaster, where an estimated 176 men and boys died in an explosion.

Children from Garnteg and Victoria primary schools – some near to the age of the deceased – attended the memorial, held for the third year.

A fire in Cwmbran tore through a number of business on the Avondale Industrial Estate, including, Randomz Ltd, the Football Factory and Pinnacle Fitness gym.

The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service recognised the fire as an “unidentified cause”.

In sport, Pontypool RFC defied the odds to knock-out Premiership opponents Cardiff to reach the quarter finals of the WRU National Cup.

MARCH

Two members of the royal family visited Torfaen – both linked to charitable causes.

The Duchess of Cambridge visited Mamhilad’s MIST (Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service Torfaen) as the patron for Action for Children, while the Prince of Wales visited Blenheim Road Community Primary School in Cwmbran in conjunction with Size of Wales.

The 30th anniversary of the death of Cwmbran’s Daniel Morgan prompted calls for a “full and independent” inquiry from the new commissioner of the Met Police.

Mr Morgan’s body was found in the south London car park on March 10, 1987 – he was aged 37.

The £20million 1,000 place super-college in Cwmbran received approval from Torfaen council’s cabinet, posing a risk to the future of the three sixth forms at Cwmbran High, Croesyceiliog and St Alban’s.

There were 81 letters of objection and a petition with 960 signatures against the plan.

March also saw the anniversary of the death of Llantarnam’s inspiration Emily Clark, who beat a rare form of blood cancer on two occasions.

Donna Dunn, Miss Clark’s mother, said 12 more donors were found during the course of the year, showing her daughter’s legacy was continuing.

Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds paid tribute to the officers of the emergency services during the terrorist attack in Westminster.

The MP was not in London at the time but paid tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who was stabbed by Khalid Masood.

APRIL

Pontypool RFC bounced back from their first defeat of the season to claim the WRU National Championship title.

Pooler beat the visitors – Glamorgan Wanderers – 23-3 at Pontypool Park to win the game, and with two games to spare.

The son of Michael Jones paid tribute to the healthcare professionals who saved the pensioner’s life following a car crash in Pontypool town centre.

The 81-year-old was hit by a car in George Street and suffered a severe head trauma.

A baby shower was held for Cwmbran couple Sian Williams and Aaron Palfrey, after the pair conceived a set of identical triplets, despite odds of around 200 million to one.

MAY

Tributes were paid to the former chairman of Pontypool RFC Barrie Calder-Matthews, who died suddenly aged 73.

Club officials promised to keep the one-time firefighter’s legacy alive, after his crucial role in helping to keep the club alive during its troubles.

The planned local government elections resulted in Labour holding onto control of Torfaen council, losing just one of its 30 seats.

In Blaenavon, Cllr Phyllis Roberts was elected onto the town council, becoming the UK’s oldest mayor in the process.

Big Pit marked Dementia Awareness Week by launching a range of tours suitable for people diagnosed with the condition.

Also in May, campaigning for the snap General Election, called by Theresa May, were halting following the Manchester terror attack.

JUNE

Nick Thomas-Symonds was re-elected to sit as the MP for Torfaen, increasing his majority by more than 5,000 votes in the process.

The Conservatives came second, followed by Plaid Cymru, Ukip and the Liberal Democrats in the snap election.

Pontypool’s oldest building was to receive a £1.2million makeover in order to become six one-bed flats and a retail space.

The Market House was built in 1730 and was once the site of the corn exchange.

Plans were also unveiled for an urban village in Mamhilad, which would see 975 homes built as well as a primary school and leisure facilities.

The site chosen for the development was the Mamhilad Park Estates.

The next half of the Review of the Year - July to December - will be in next week’s Free Press.