A 60's Lad In Hengoed

A Memory of Hengoed.

I started at Hengoed infants/juniors in 1960. I really enjoyed going to that school because I found the teachers so encouraging. I recall the headmaster was Mr Owen or perhaps Owens. I got the cane from him once I think and no doubt well deserved. I remember playing up on the "pitch" during break times, usually marbles.....we all had big bags of them. :-). I lived in Hawthorn Ave at the top of the hill straight up from the school, so and easy walk to school, but up hill all the way home. I had a brother Paul who was one year younger than me and a sister Helen, four years younger. My brother Timothy came along a little later, born in 1965. Me, my brother Paul and my friends would stop at the 2 shops about half way up the hill to buy some sweets, blackjacks or friuit salads or maybe a sherbet dab if we had a penny or two. We were lucky enough to have friends living more or less next door and we would spend hours playing down the graig, usually making bows and arrows or spears and then playing cowboy and indians.....got a bit dangerous at times though with those home made weapons, but we mangaed to survive in one piece. All in all a very happy childhood. We didn't have much like most around us, but we were happy with the simple pleasures. We left Hengoed around 1971 I think it was and moved to Bargoed. I was at Pengam Grammar at the time, but my heart remained in Hengoed.

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