Graig-Y-Merched
Hello Ystalyfera!
I have just discovered your site and I am ecstatic!
Having been born and brought up on Graig-y-Merched in the 1950s and 1960s, I have loved your photos. Having 'emigrated' to Baglan a mere 26 years ago (not through choice) they have brought back memories of some of the best times of my life.
I grew up with 4 older brothers, which made me the best fielder in cricket on the 'Graften', because obviously, as the only girl and the youngest at the time, I never got to bowl or bat! The 'Cae Slide' was the best place to go with some cardboard, and by the end of the summer holidays it was like glass!
I remember looking down on the Farteg and the viaduct and the hump-back bridge, to the left the Black Mountains and my dad used to say that on a clear day, right up the mountain you could see Swansea.
Playing over 'Garreg Fawr' with David, Cynwyd, Myra and Betty, our world knew no end!
It was heaven!
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Comments
RE: RE: Graig-Y-Merched
Hi Elaine,
How the memories flooded back when I saw your account of Graig Y Merched. My aunt Roberta, who worked in the Capitol Cinema, lived in front of you. I remember your family well. Hywel was one of our early heroes, because he played for Ystalfera RFC. Arwel Jones and I used to watch him and others box in the Smith Arms. I later played in the same team as Wyn when he returned to Ystalyfera. I also played on Ca' Sleid (we were always covered in green skid marks) and the Graften with Arwel Jones, David, Cynwyd, David Jonathan, Terry Richards, Keith Borsden, Eifion and Huw Collins, Eurof James, to name but a few. The summers then always seemed sunny, we were always playing outside, swings across the canal, fishing jam jars in the Tawe, playing football on Huw Mogans' field, collecting Windberries on the Darren, lighting fires on Mynydd Alltygrug - when it spread the farmers weren't too happy- and swimming in the baths. Tennis was a bit too sophisticated for us and it had rules, which didn't suite us at all. On the rare rainy days, we played undercover in the old tin works or Tai Beynon. I lived on Cyfyng Road, along with my sisters Non and Siwan and we went to the same chapel as you - Soar. I still remember the concerts that were performed there, in the large vestry on Gough Road. Shame about the split! I later went to Caersalem Sunday School with Eurof and Noir James, Brian Lauder, Huw Morgan and Tomos Davies, taught by John Harris who also previously went to Soar. Most of the lesson was spent discussing what we did the night before and a few minutes on learning the 'Adnod'.
We had poor money but a rich upbringing.
Comment from Huw Davies on Tuesday, 26th January 2010.
RE: RE: Graig-Y-Merched
Fancy meeting you here as they say! So nice to have a connection with home! Even though I'm only 15 miles away I feel as if I've been in another world for years. I have wanted to go 'HOME' for nearly 30 years but I know you want to go back to what you had then, not what there is now. How are Non and Siwan? I haven't seen them for such a long time. And what are you up to? Where do you live? I asssume Arwel and Wyn are still in Ystalyfera? We are all getting on now! I have fond memories of all the people you mentioned and of all the people we used to play with. I am a year or so older than you and a year or so younger than Non. I remember your Mam and Dad you probably remember mine. I am still very close to Betty Richards. What became of Eifion Collins? It seems such a long time since I heard about him! Didn't he move away when we were kids? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a 'reunion'? Maybe we could do something about it?
Comment from Elaine Lewis on Monday, 1st February 2010.
RE: RE: Graig-Y-Merched
I don't know if you can help me but my husband is researching his family tree, and his grandfather was born and raised in resolven. His name was Horace Beazer and his father was called Elkanah, his mother was Mary Ann, he had siblings one was called Preston and a sister called Violet I think there was another brother but am not sure of his name. His great grandfather was originally from the West Indies, and we would be interested to know if anyone remembers him, any information would be of interest
thanks
V. Saunders
Comment from Vivien Saunders on Saturday, 27th February 2010.
RE: RE: Graig-Y-Merched
Eifion Collins is alive and well and is now living in Cenarth Ceredigion ! No I didn't leave Ystalyfera until I went to College after leaving school in 1967. The family moved from Graig-y-Merched to Heol Allt-y-grug when I was about 13 ..and then to Gorseinon when I was at College in Barry. I , too , remember great fun when I was "up on the mountain " socer , rugby , picking windberries , climbing the ivy to cross the canal and off home ...... but it's a long long time ago !
Comment from Eifion Collins on Friday, 7th May 2010.
RE: RE: Graig-Y-Merched
Cofion cynnes at bawb sy'n fy nghofio i
Comment from Rosalyn Davies(Witt) on Saturday, 5th November 2011.