Chastons Of Blackwood

My Brother also worked at Chastons from leaving school as an apprentice motor mechanic. He was born in 1942 so it would have been around 1957 when he started....he was Aubrey Thomas, I also remember Tony Gore, Trevor Ruck, Jerry Bray, Lionel nicknamed Omo and several others who all went round in a gang together but not sure whether they worked at Chastons or not. Tony Gore was a great friend and came to our house many, many times, Years later when he was working for the ambulance service and I was working in Tredegar, he kindly walked me home through a snow storm when the bus couldn't go any further and we were stuck in Markham. Lovely memories......

Nice to read your comment. I remember the name Aubrey Thomas, your brother, very well, although sadly can't recall what he looked like after all this time. Jerry Bray too. He had a group called The Vampires I believe? He too joined the Monmouthshire Constabulary, there were four of us, me followed by AlanThorne, then Jerry, and I believe, John Gilbert. I remember Omo too, a tall lad. I'm afraid neither Tony Gore nor Trevor Ruck ring a bell. I've got a couple of photos somewhere, one showing a group of us on a trip to Blackpool, the other was taken with a line of us in overalls opposite the garage.

Hello Again, The Vampires played for my 21st Birthday Party in Cefn Fforest and I am actually in touch with Robert Ovens who plays guitar for them. Robert is 72 yrs old now and they are still playing...you can watch them on Youtube. I well remember Jerry and also Mike Davies and I vaguely remember Alan Thorne. I would love it if you could post the pictures of the Chastons boys...have many memories of the guys there and would love to see them again. Many times I have walked past the open double doors and been wolf whistled by them....gave my morale quite a boost I can tell you.....Ha Ha ha.

Good afternoon. I've been looking for the photos,and so far found one of them. The other one I last saw less than two years ago, so it can't be all that far away! I've also asked whether I can post photos on this site, but haven't received a reply. Prior to 1958 I was to the right of those double doors you mention, working on commercial vehicles with Windsor Griffiths.

Hello xpc61,
No idea what your name is hence your own salutation.(ha ha ) Do you have an e-mail? I would be quite happy to give you mine and then you could upload the photos to that. I would just like to see the photos if at all possible.
Thanks,
Anwen Parry

Oops expc61...forgot the email....anwen@uwclub.net Thanks

Does anyone know of a Mr Butler, pre-war, the Chaston's car body/coach work builder. He re-styled Captain Kelly's old Bentley, which had been sitting unused in the shed at Ty Newydd Bedwellty until young John Chaston bought it in 1937?

Chasons holds many memories for me as my father, Jack Jones worked in the body shop from his discharge from the RAF in circa 46 to the closure. In fact I went to the paintshop to buy the oak dad had laid down, from Lynne Jones, for £5. I is has now become furniture in people's homes in Porth having gone to the Cymmer School woodwork dept, where I was community tutor. I am younger than Jerry Bray and co but got into the Stute and other venues to see them, and it was Chastons gave me the opportunity of my first "late dance" - the Nashville Teens at where other than the Stute. Dad would have been 101 on April 8th 2020 but passed away at 92. I have a huge list of names, I met and considered friends (albeit of my father's) including (many as honorary uncles) Colin Evans, Ray Davenport, Howell Woodward, Paul Kingston, Lynne Jones, and others. There are also names I have forgotten, the workshop foreman, Doug the paint shop foreman. My dad also had a stream of apprentices who I knew, but whose names elude me. My first (1/3) of a car came from Roger Williams dad's apprentice. It was a 1949 Morris Minor bough between myself, John Meudell (of the chemists) and Ian Gardner whose dad Rhyd worked at Switchgear I have loads of memories of the place as I would visit as often as I could.

when Jerry Bray, (who I recall lived in Bevan Crescent) was a copper, and my Triumph 2000 was nicked from outside Bedwellty Road ( where I was visiting) in 1974, ) he found it for me and returned it undamaged.

What about Carol West from Bedwellty Grammar who went to work there about 1962. I still have fantasies about her. let me know if she lives yet. If she's not I will abruptly discontinue my fantasies as that would be weird wouldn't it?

Jerry Bray at one time drove an Austin Metropolitan. I wonder if he still has it?

Chastons holds fond memories for me also, my father, Arthur Woods, worked there from the mid-50's until 1966. we live in 27 High street, one of the "Chastons Cottages" and moved to Bevan Crescent when he finished in Chastons.
All those names bring back floods of memories as I also used to go into the garage "to see my Dad" and met many of them. Doug Price even sprayed my now wife's car for her as a favour to Dad c1980.
I remember Jerry, as a police officer, stopping Dad in Argoed one Saturday night on our way home from Tredegar for allegedly having a light out and took great pleasure grilling Dad for the offence (covered by his police helmet and turned-up coat collar) before saying "Never mind Arthur" and then showing his face. I'd never heard my father swear like that before!