Cottage Homes Childrens Stamping Ground

A Memory of Candleston Castle.

I grew up in Merthyr Mawr Road Childrens' Home, named Preswylfa. Candleston and Merthyr Mawr sand dunes, scout's pool, and the dunes were our playground. We loved the old ruins where we would scare each other to death in the dungeon. The walk from Bridgend was only a few miles and we would walk to Ogmore Castle via the stepping stones when we had time. Many a hot summer we played until exhausted on the sand dunes at Candleston. We were safe, happy, healthy and it was the best time of our lives. We had no computers, no money, no video games, no mobile phones, but we were so happy and contented and there was no such thing as antisocial behaviour. We had the best upbringing ever and I thank Idris Jones and Joyce Jones the superintendent and wife who brought us up as decent citizens at Preswylfa Cottage Homes, Bridgend. Lots of kind regards and best wishes to everyone who were at Bridgend Cottage Homes, Preswylfa with me in the 1960s, you were my family and I always remember you all with great affection. My thanks also go to Eric and Olwen Jones, my housemother and housefather at the childrens' homes in Bridgend for ensuring I saw the value of a good education -I now practice law in Bath, and without them I would have never reached for the stars.
Stephen Joseph.