Down Memory Lane.....
Although I was actually born in Italy in 1953, where my father was stationed at the time, my parents moved back to Wales in 1955. Our first home was in Bargoed and then my mother Lina bought the Café in Nelson (opposite the Dynevor Arms pub - hereinafter to be referred to as Ricci's Café), where I lived from 1956 to 1971. My name is Cristina (generally known as Chris), by the way. During this period, I attended St Clare's Convent (Porthcawl), Bargoed Junior School, where I sat my 11+ exam, and then Lewis Grammar School for Girls in Ystrad Mynach, where I obtained my 'A'-Levels in 1972. All my spare time (homework and exam revision permitting) was spent in the café, where I served behind the counter and at the tables. Nelson was a small village of about 2,000 inhabitants at the time and I think I could safely say that I knew about 90% of them. Ray happens to mention the Davis family, whom I knew very well. Nell Davis worked in our shop and I was also friendly with Joey, who also attended Grammar School more or less at the same time as me. I have vivid recollections of the Co-op next door, Davies's electric shop next door on the other side, Fred the butcher, Parry the chemist, Price the barber (father of Graham), John Jones the newsagent (went to school with his daughter Pam), Vic the ironmonger, Maud's clothes shop, Les Goldsmid (haberdashery), Jones the petshop, etc, and the list goes on. We sold the shop in 1971 and moved to Bargoed, where I lived until I left for Reading University, where I graduated in 1976.
To cut a long story short, I'm now living in Italy, where I teach English Language and Literature at Parma University. I am married to Libero, a lawyer, and we have a daughter Elisa.
I would be delighted to hear from anyone who remembers me.
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RE: RE: Down Memory Lane.....
Cristina
My name is Denise Gittings, I am looking for the name of the
primary school in Nelson that I attended.
It was at the end of a road, close to the square, where the concrete wall was high and people played tennis against it or something.
My father was Albert William Gittings (Bill) he was the local policeman in Nelson.
Can you help me find out the name of my primary school
Loved your memories, I will print and send to Dad, he will be
80 in March 2010
Thanks Denise
Comment from Denise Gittings on Thursday, 16th July 2009.
RE: RE: Down Memory Lane.....
Hi Denise,
nice to hear from you. Although I never actually attended primary school in Nelson (I went to Bargoed Junior School), the only school that springs to mind is Llancaech Junior School in Commercial Street.
This is the school website:
http://www.llancaeachjunior.ik.org/home.ikml
When you say "close to the square" and refer to a "high concrete wall", are you perhaps thinking of the handball court near the former Police Station? I wasn't aware that there was a primary school there.
Hope this has been of some help to you. Are you living outside Wales now? What other schools did you attend after primary school?
I certainly remember your father. My mother (Lina) always spoke very highly of him. Sadly she passed away two years ago. Please give him my best regards - wonder if he remembers us!
Bye Cristina
Comment from Cristina Del Sere on Thursday, 16th July 2009.
RE: RE: Down Memory Lane.....
Hi Cristina, I still live in Nelson. I remember your mother, I'm sorry to hear she pased away. I remember my friends and I sitting in the doorway of your mother's shop in the late 1960s. We must have been making a hell of a racket because we were blowing on some cheap little plastic flute things that were all the rage that month. The noise was so bad she got a bag of sweets and threw them to us, so she could be rid of us...good memories. Lots of my family are still living here, we originally lived in 36 Commercial Street opposite where the old cosy cinema was, later the Queen of Heart, those houses were demolished in the later 1970s. My family name is Swattridge, so I don't know if you remember my family. I had sisters, Pauline, Penny, Pamela and Judith. My mother and father were Percy and Norah. My name is Jeremy, I'm younger than you, I was born in 1961. I'll ask my sisters if they remember you, I can't remember you myself, just your mother. My eldest sister Pauline is Simon Weston, the Falklands burns victim, maybe you possibly could remember us when we were kids. Jeremy and Simon, we were always in your shop, getting a packet of fags for my mam, I've probably asked you many a time for "Twenty number six please". Nice to read all these reminiscences Bye
Comment from Jeremy Swattridge on Sunday, 13th June 2010.
RE: RE: Down Memory Lane.....
Hello Cristina, I remember you and your mum at the cafe in Nelson. My grandmother lived in Commercial Street and I lived there with her until I was three years old, then I moved with my parents to the prefab estate. I am just a couple of years younger than you and one of my happy childhood memories is running to the cafe from my grandmother's house on sunny Sunday afternoons- she would give me a china bowl and tell me to get several scoops of ice cream and raspberry sauce for our tea! I also remember having lovely cups of hot milky coffe in your cosy cafe when the weather outside was cold! My name then was Fry, and my grandmother was Mrs Penn. Times were much gentler then and as you say we probably knew most of the people living in the village. It has grown quite a lot recently but I am sure you would recognise some folk if you ever return on a visit. It sounds like you have a lovely life in Italy. Regards, Alison
Comment from Alison Lewis on Wednesday, 17th November 2010.
RE: RE: Down Memory Lane.....
Hello Christina
I was so excited to see your post as I have lost touch with Nelson over the years. I grew up there and attended Lewis Grammar School at the same time as you. My father was also Italian (Angelo Madoglio) and he knew your mother well, so I am very sorry to hear that she has passed away.
Like everyone from that era I too have very fond memories of the cafe and I'm sure like a lot of others I outstayed my welcome many a time by making a coffee or a coke last for hours; whilst you were doing your homework in the corner. I was not that studious I'm afraid.
I moved out of the village when I married in 1974 and since my father died have rarely been back, despite living only 9 miles away. I now have two daughters and a new grandson. I work for an Australian Company running their European business so life is not dull!!
I also remember Denise Gittins really well, I believe we used to play together sometimes, and I think I once snogged Joey Davis lol. Does anyone remember swimming in the open air pool at the Welfare park?
Suzann Roberts (nee Madoglio)
Comment from Suzann Roberts on Friday, 24th February 2012.