HAPPY YEARS

General View c1950
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The four cottages in this photograph are of Bryn Terrace, formerly named Bryn Cottages where I lived at No 1 with my sister Beryl and our parents Ceinwen and William John Thacker. My grandparents Mary Ann and William George Davies lived next door at No 2, my grandmother's brother Evan Evans and his family at No 3, and David Morris known as 'The Powndyn' with his family at No 4. I was born in 1939 at No 2 in the parlour of my grandparents' house, but my family at that time lived at a cottage called YR ARCH which is situated behind the Farmers Arms pub close by. I have many happy and fond memories of living at The Bryn, as we called it for 25 years, with the advantage of great parents and outstandingly loving grandparents, with the added bonus of kind neighbours and loyal friends. I have been gifted with a good memory and although the war was nearly over, memories of growing all our own fresh vegetables, keeping chickens goats and pigs, and ration books are easy to recall. Times were tough for all parents living in the area still known as "the Graig", but the children were their main priority. The never ending warning of 'If you don't pay attention in school and pass your exams you will end up down the mines'.  This did spur me on, but where would this country have been without our miners, steelworkers and farm hands amongst others? Something that always stands out in my mind is the great affinity which existed between  the young and the old, and the built-in respect inbred into society at that time. Looking back it was a wonderful era in which to be growing up, and all my friends of that time I'm sure would agree. Perhaps that book which I've always fancied writing is not a lost hope after all!!
Ken Thacker