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Ystalyfera, Canal and Waterfall c1955

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  Year: 1978 bora da
A memory of Trebanos, West Glamorgan

i've always as far as i can remember holidayed down in trebanws/pontardawe.went 2 trebanos primary and 1st year clydach.but even though i was only in the welsh skools 4 years i loved it.when i moved bak to glasgow i hated it i classed myself as welsh but now i am scottish[glasweigan]a weegie and proud of it but wales will always b in my heart

Posted: 13/01/2008 03:07 by Pauline Steele  

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  Skewen 1983/4
A memory of Skewen, West Glamorgan

I lived in Skewen from September 1983 to May 1984 - only a short time in my life but it made a big impression on me. My wife Fiona, new baby Siobhan and I rented a house at Caenant Terrace facing the railway and the mountain.  We had moved to Wales from the south of England and although our new environment felt strange at first and looked rather harsh with its heavy industry and mountains, we were struck by the exceptional warmth and friendliness of Skewen.
I remember arriving at Caenant Terrace in the rain - it seemed to rain most of our time there - but somehow this was all part of the cosiness we felt in out stonebuilt, centrally-heated and comfortable house in the heart of the village.
Our daughter, who turned one year old there, would stand up at the low window frame in our bedroom in the morning and stare out at the trains that hurtled past below.  She spoke her first word, "Bay-bee" in a good Welsh accent. Skewen folk loved babies and children so this was a good way to get talking to neighbours, or to people in the street and at the shops or up at the park.  
I wish I could remember the names of these people but we were only there a short time in our lives and it was all very casual. There was the man and lady at the upper cake shop who made a great fuss of Siobhan; ditto the two ladies at the lower cake shop; the friendly couple at the butcher's with an ornamental tiled frontage, where the delicious smell of casserole simmering wafted out on to the pavement; the lovely lady at the post office; the golfing man who ran the newagents; the friendly barber's where you could join in interesting philosophical debate and storytelling; the man from the mountain who invited us to Guy Fawkes celebrations there... and many more!
Our neighbours at Caenant Terrace had not had easy lives but they were a cheerful and hospitable lot.  The Thomas family next door to us were sociable and kept a beautiful home.  On our other side a lonely elderly, churchgoing lady lived in some poverty. Easter 1984 was a heatwave and we were all sitting out in our backyards.  We attended the Skewen Carnival shortly before moving away to the house we had bought at Alltwen.
I remember Skewen had a character very much of its own, quite distinct from neighbouring Neath. Skewen people were proud of their community but totally welcoming to outsiders like us, especially if you had children.
I should like to hear from any "Skewen people" who might find these memories interesting.  As I say, I only lived there 9 months but Skewen is definitely a part of me.

Last edited: 09/01/2007 19:21 by John Mcmillan  

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  Year: 1920s My GrandFather
A memory of Skewen, West Glamorgan

My Grandfather, who served in WWI, is buried in Skewen.  I have a picture of his tombstone, which is very pretty, but I don't know what Cemetary it is.  My Mom's Dad he was - he died when she was 3 years old form the Flu.  His name was Donald C. James (born 1894 - 1927).

Last edited: 05/11/2006 05:53 by Susie Somerville-Franz  

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Click to enlarge
Llansamlet, Heol Las 1938 (ref: 88274)
Year: 1930s My grandparents house
A memory of Llansamlet, West Glamorgan

My grandparents bought the second house in this picture (number 343) in the 1930s, so they were living in this house when the picture was taken (1938).  Their names were Daniel and Annie Owens.  When this photo was taken my mother, Gladys May Owens, lived here, she was 19.  If anyone knows anything about the family or knows who took this photo then I'd love to know.
Thankyou!
Jennifer

Last edited: 25/03/2008 09:06 by Jennifer Davies  

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  Visits to Melyn Street
A memory of Glyncorrwg, West Glamorgan

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!

Posted: 23/11/2007 21:09 by Frederick Thomas  

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