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Tondu
Tondu maps
Historic maps of Tondu and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Tondu maps
Tondu area books
Displaying 1 of 2 books about Tondu and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Tondu
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Tondu.
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I Too Remember Tondu Primary School
I was born in October 1948, and lived in Bryncethin. For some reason I still cannot fathom even at my age, why kids from Bryncethin were sent by bus all the way to Tondu Primary School, when the one at Brynmenin was in fact closer, the bus to school as far as I remember drove past the Brynmenin school on the way to Tondu. I guess being born in 1948, I must have attended Tondu from around 1954 until I too with a mushy brain failed the 11+ and was sent to Bryncethin Secondary in about 1959 -60. I stayed there until I left to join the army boys school in 1964, I stayed in the army of 16 years before coming to Australia. My fondest memory of Brynmenin was was walking down into Aberkenfig at lunchtime with the boys and buying 3d of chips and always asking for the free "scraps" of batter. On the way back we would go into one of the shops opposite and buy... Read more
Tondu Primary School
I am not quite sure of the date I moved to Tondu Primary School from Laleston Juniors near Bridgend after moving to Sarn, however, I think it was around 1955. The headmaster was a Mr Richards who I understand was renowned for making/carving Welsh love spoons. My form teacher I remember was also a Mr Richards, Tom, and I have fond memories of Mr Richards reading every Friday afternoon a chapter from 'King Solomon's Mines' and to this day this has remained my favourite book. Class mates included Barry Davies, Dai Collier, Jeff Hart, John Rigers and many more I could mention, a close-knit gang that continued together as a group when we went on to Bryncethin Secondary Modern, that is those who failed the 11+ exam, while those with a little more grey matter than those previously mentioned would go forward to the Grammar School. I too remember the Tondu Brick Works as a going concern, and often would see the workmen, covered in red dust, taking... Read more
Penybont Carnival Display Band Mid 1970''s
Growing up in Aberkenfig was good fun. I attended Tondu infants and Junior schools, later on Ynysawdre comprehensive school. Along with quite a few of my friends, I was a member of Penybont Carnival display Band. Our jazzband went to a good many places I wouldn't have had the chance to vist otherwise. We even competed in the world championships in London! We practised in St. Roberts church hall Dunraven Street during the winter months and at Pandy Park in the summer. At that time, the band had been in existance for about 30 years and was run by Mr. M. Harding and Mr. Hegarty. Our uniforms were red tunics, tall red hats with a white feather, black trousers with a red stripe down the side, white gloves and white daps.
Saved by The Police
One day I went to Porthcawl with my friend, we had a lovely day there except that I lost one of my shoes in the sand. My friend's dad was staying at a caravan down there so we went to visit him, he made me a sort of mule type shoe to get home. We were getting the bus and I was so worried about my mum telling me off on the way back. We had to change buses in Bridgend and my mule broke. I panicked and could not find my bus ticket so I got off the bus and started to walk home to Caerau - bad idea, it was so scary walking past Glanreed Hospital as it was so dark. I got to Tondu and I asked for the police station like my dad always told us to do if ever we were in trouble. The policeman was on his rounds but his wife took me in and gave me a drink and sandwiches. When the husband... Read more
Brick Works
My husband Stan Waite worked at Tondu brickworks. Our Sunday School used to pick wild flowers for the anniversary of the church. We had a picnic in the park and caught the steam train home.
Living in Tondu as A Child
My brother and myself came to Tondu in about 1955 from Brighton, Sussex, when my father who worked there had to come home because his father was very ill (my father's name was Robert Leonard Thomas and his father's name was Essex Thomas). We both went to the school by the side of the brickworks. We lived along where the old people's home is and opposite there was the woods where houses are built now. My brother & myself would go down through the wood and go up to the brickworks, I think it was still in production then, there was always that distinctive smell about the works. Opposite the house was an area of Japanese knotweed. and me and my brother would thrash down every bit of the weed then a couple of days it would have grown back. Then we moved to Croeserew. But I still have an aunt living next door to the old people's home, called Hetty Kendal.
Mid Glamorgan memories
Upbringing
I went to school first at Tondu infants and then to the Primary school, I remember when we had the school photographs taken in the play yard (where are they now?). I had a really great and happy childhood there living with all the family at 15 Dunraven Street, and friends nearby. It was a great occasion when Franky Vaughn visited the boys club there and when the fair arrived at the field by the welfare hall. There used to be a truly marvellous scapyard around behind the old police station, I think it belonged to the Baker family who also had a shop at Bridgend road. If my memory serves me right, we had a street party at Dunraven Street, but that's quite a vague memory now. Also I remember when my father - Johnny Warner - worked on the railway at Tondu, as my elder brother did, and my father used to ride his pushbike to and from work, I would know more or less the time he finished... Read more
