Melincourt, West Glamorgan

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 score!

Resolven holds many very happy memories of a loving family and a happy, friendly place.

Visits to Melyn Street

Two of my father's cousins lived in Melyn Street, namely Ambrose & Dorothy (brother & sister). I visited them more than once with my family and it was always a lovely time. Ambrose would walk with us around the village and point out all the places of interest and mainly where all our relatives had lived in years gone by. Great Grandfather was a head master and so on, so many I could never remember them, thus it was always new when we went back next time. My youngest daughter was doing French & German at Uni and Ambrose tried to teach her welsh. Today I still have the book he gave her to help her learn welsh. Sadly they have passed away but we all treasure the memories we have when staying with Dorothy & Ambrose.
1940 to 41 I lived with my Aunty in Abergwynfi, so I saw more of them as a small boy. Lovely times as my Aunt Emily had the Fish & Chip shop in Jersey Road and I was well rewarded for helping to 'de-eye' the potatoes. Her fish cakes were the best. Great days!

village

very nice place to live on the left is the shop by the bus stop and railway crossing

The Signal Box

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