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Banwen memories

Here are memories of Banwen and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Banwen or a Banwen photo.

 

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Memories of West Glamorgan

The Signal Box

The Viaduct c1955
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My uncle Emlyn Rees was a relief signalman who used to work the box shown in photo in G149038. He lived in Hendy, about 2 hours travel time from Glynneath. My father (his brother) used to take to visit and my uncle used to let me pull the levers, a big  thrill as a ten year old. We lived in Rhigos, the next village up the line.
Robert Rees

Dad's Train

The Viaduct c1955
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My father Hywel Williams was fireman on this line from around the mid 1940s until it was decomissioned in 1965. I wondered if he might just be on the footplate when this photograph was taken.

Family in Resolven

My father came from Resolven and my mother from neighbouring Glynneath. Although we lived in Birmingham when my brother and I were kids, we would often spend our summer holidays with my grandparents in Ynys Fach Avenue in Resolven. We loved going to the woods, and being taken on the bus to Neath for faggots and peas in the market. I remember the next door neighbours, the Hadley family, who were very friendly and kind people. Also I recall playing with other kids in the street, such as Peter Gay.

I can still picture being in Resolven during the summer of 1966, when England were playing West Germany in the football World Cup Final. The family, not being interested in football, decided that we would go to Porthcawl for the day in the Morris Minor (which didn't have a radio!). My brother and I were really unhappy at missing the game and I remember asking someone out of the car window on Porthcawl sea front if they knew the... Read more

Beazer Family

Does anyone remember Elkanah and Mary Beazer and their son Horace? The family lived in Resolven. My husband is compiling his family tree, and Horace was his grandfather, he also had a brother called Preston and a sister called Violet, also we think there was another brother, but we are not sure of his name. His grandfather Horace worked in the mines for years and then married Maria Cory. Anyone who has any information, we would love to hear from you. Vivien Saunders

To Peter Gray

Hi Peter,

My twin brother David and I used to play with you when we stayed at my grandparents in Ynys Fach Ave. This must have been in the sixties? You lived at the top of the road and we'd have good times playing together. We lived in Birmingham at the time. My auntie still lives in Ynys Fawr Ave and we usually visit once a year. I hope all is well with you.

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