It has been suggested recently that Chepstow has 'lost its energy' and that the town is not the vibrant community that it once was. I beg to differ! A huge number of events take place throughout the year!

The Drill Hall in Chepstow has been a fantastic project, now running for five years and a tremendous success. There are cultural and social activities almost every day, films are shown every week throughout the winter in a town where there is no cinema, and now there is to be a monthly satellite connection with the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden: the first show broadcast direct to the Drill Hall will be on April 29. The Chepstow Drill Hall is the one of the biggest and best community projects Chepstow has ever known.

The Chepstow Festival, running every two years, is enormous and includes almost every organisation in the town.

ComBaT (Communities of Bulwark and Thornwell) goes from strength to strength. It now includes local voluntary groups Chepstow Rugby Club, Thornwell Football Club, Garden City Community Group, 1st Bulwark Scouts, Action 50 plus, Transition Chepstow. This year it is holding a Community Day at the Rugby Club on May 5 to include bands, disco, all-day barbecue, stalls, stands and many other attractions.

Castell Roc will be bigger and better this year and will span five days.

Chepstow Castle is a superb asset which draws many visitors to the town, and its attraction has been greatly enhanced since last summer by the addition of the great canopy designed by Architen Llandrell, and which Cadw has permitted to be put up for a period of 5 weeks each summer. There are no less than twelve visiting open air theatre shows in June and July.

Chepstow and District Rotary Club is again organising a Summer Community Concert on July 3 ­in Chepstow Castle. The programme includes many school groups, choirs, the Chepstow Community Big Band and the Beachley Army Wives Choir.

Thornwell Football Club is again holding its annual Community Fun Day on May 25 at the Tenby Lane Football Ground, and this year it will be bigger and better than before, six funfair rides, tug o' war, train rides, four or five bands on stage and the Widders Morris dancing group.

The Town Council plays an essential part, enhancing the town centre with fabulous floral displays, and putting Bands on the Bandstand every Sunday afternoon throughout the summer.

While it is disappointing that big events like Hoggin' the Bridge and the Food Festival have either moved away from the town centre or been cancelled, Chepstow as a community is far from sleepy, and the 'buzz' is in no way missing!

– Marian Lewis, Chepstow.