Lasgarn View

A Memory of Garndiffaith.

I was fascinated when I saw the new development of Garndiffaith photo. This photo is of Lasgarn View, Varteg, which is just above the Garn.
I was born in Primrose Cottage in 1951 with my brother as we were twins. My name was Marilyn Jenkins, my twin was Mervyn.
We had so much fun in those days, when we moved to Lasgarn View. Wow, the back of the house lead onto Lasgarn Wood an imaginary world of climbing trees, hiding seek and some general play. We could stay out there all day in complete safety .
Our neighbours were Frisco Price in the same row lived The Kelhams? We went to the nursery in Garndiffaith, my brother Gwyn walked us down there every school day. We then went to Garndiffaith school before moving to Victoria Village when I was about 8/9.
The Coop was a very large company in those days with shops at the Varteg, Victoria Village, Abersychan and many more. On the Garn were the most Coop shops - an amazing drapery which had two floors of splendid items with pull out wooden glass fronted drawers stocking ladies necessities, a three storey furniture shop stocked with everything you needed for the home, a butchers, a shoe shop and a carpentry yard which was run by a Mr Rawlings? Bryan Hewitt was his apprentice. They also made coffins as the Coop had their own funeral business.
The offices of the Coop was situated in between the greengrocers and the carpenters yard. When I left school I went to work in the Garn Offices with Carol Meredith (? maiden name) who married Bryn from the Carpenters Yard. I used to have to go to this yard to collect chitties out of the Coop books I think (!) you walked up a few steps and at the top was a halfway door, so they asked me to go in. Being new, I didn’t have a clue, they was just about to put me in a coffin when I ran with all my might back to the office, terrified. I never ventured through that door again. It was always good clean fun though.
Carol worked downstairs in the main office and I worked upstairs. I used a comptometer - the name of the first calculator - adding up figures to enter into ledgers. A treat was to take these ledgers and or letters to the trustees concerned to have them signed off. I think one lived in the avenue - it was nice to get out of the office for a bit.
Mr Owen was the boss of the office a really lovely guy. There was also a man called Michael who worked below Mr Owens. I would walk from Victoria Village every day and this Michael would pass me in his car never ever offering me a lift!
Us girls in the top office were having a bit of fun one morning not neglecting any duties when Michael, who heard us laughing, ordered me in to his office to work on my own all day .
Why blinking pick on me ! Horrible man - a man I never liked - it takes an awful lot for me to dislike someone. I’m thinking his position went to his head 🧐
I loved every day in that office the best job ever.
Coops were famous for their dividends - giving back to customers a share of what they spent.
Each customer used these books when buying purchases. The customers books would come in on a Friday from every store every six months I think? We would work into the night and all day Saturday working out the balance of the goods they had purchased, dividing the total amount, giving back a percentage which was put back on their book to spend back in the Coop. Exciting times for lots of people as these were impoverished times, as in all communities.
My school friend Helen Jones worked there too, it was amazing times. She had a little scooter to run around on .
Those halcyon days ended when I stupidly got married - if only I knew then what I know now I would have joined a convent instead ha ha .
I missed it so much.
So thanks Carol and the other girls for making a young girl so happy 😂 just starting out on the journey of life .

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