Days Gone by
I remember Splott, I grew up there, and my brother still lives there.
We were growing up very poor and scruffy, same as all the kids, one difference though, we were the Black Dixons. The other difference was we were not Catholic, so belonging to a small church showed us life beyond Splott.
But I can remeber some good times too, playing hopscotch, skipping, two balls, rat-a-ta ginger. Going to Splott Park with jam sandwiches and Corporation Pop (water), playing in the bombed houses daring each other to do dangerous things, going over the tide fields, and playing with the bombed planes, and picking blackberries. I never went on any of the street trips though, they were always on a Sunday, and one time I nearly went, because it was on a Wednesday, but the organisers gave our seats to a family of 'white children' instead. And all those people who called us names, who thought because they were white they were better than us, have achieved very little in life. At 64 years old, I have nursing qualifications which have taken me around the world. All our family have achieved good positions in our work. So Splott has mixed memories for me.
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RE: RE: Days Gone by
I lived in Grangetown, like Lavinia we never had much money my dad worked hard in Grange Clinic and down the Marl as caretaker, my mum did little jobs to try to help, but we always had holes in our shoes unless Dad could scrounge a bit of leather to repair them. I always remember Mum telling me about the night The Plymouth Arms pub was blown up by a dropped bomb, Dad had just got in from fire watch when it happened, Mum had a rice pudding in the hob oven by the fire and the door of the oven flew open and all the soot went all over the pudding from the blast of the bomb (we only lived a few doors from the pub). Mum wanted to get rid of it but Dad just took it off her, scraped the soot off and dished it up. I was only a baby then but it still makes me smile to remember. We didn't have much but we did have some good times, sadly Dad died when I was 10 so Mum managed to get a house exchange to Llanishen where we still live today with my own grown up family. We had Mum living with us till she passed on in 1984 at the grand old age of 82. I would like to think we helped her enjoy the rest of her years after the loss of Dad, he was only 52 when he passed away. Mum and my wife got on like a house on fire, as did our children, she thought the world of them as they did of her. Grangetown has changed a lot since those times as have a lot of places, but we still have our memories. Mum lived in Splott as a girl.
Comment from Ralph Spackman on Thursday, 5th November 2009.
RE: RE: Days Gone by
I'm trying to find my Godfather's family. In 1964 - 1965 I lived in Portmanmore Road, where sadly that family was gassed to death in their sleep; a mother-infant son, and daughter, and the grandmother. It was directly across from the fish-chip-shop that the Greeks owned. We were also outcasts because we were gypsies; my Godfather was George, he was black, my Godmother was Ann, she was white. Also Fritz, who was also black. My dad's name was Graham Evans, aka Mac, or Mac the knife. We were all very close; we stuck together. Please if you remember anything, or need to know more please contact me at lynette_carter15462@hotmail.com
My kindest regards
Lynette Evans
Comment from Lynette Carter on Sunday, 23rd October 2011.
RE: RE: Days Gone by
Hi Lynette
Not sure I can help you, but I was in Splott during the times you mentioned. We lived on Enid Street. My best friend was Anne Griffiths and she lived on Portmanmoor Road with her three sisters. Her Grandparents lived on Enid Street. I seem to remember the name Lynette (but it was a popular name) but not Carter. Do you have a maiden name?
Jacky
Comment from Jacky Towers on Wednesday, 21st December 2011.