Nostalgic memories of Cefn's local history
Share your own memories of Cefn and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying all 8 Memories
The railway signal box at Pontllanfraith had Home Rule plastered on the side. My aunts Gladis Holvey and Gwen Durham and Dorothy - I am their nephew Phyllis's boy Roger, and the trips to Barry Island in Uncle's Fred's bus - he drove for Red and white and black and white - my cousin Stan
lovely memories
I attended Cefn Fforest infants and primary school 1939 to1946. The headmaster was Mr Watkins and teachers were; Mr Prothero, Mr Smith, Miss Gordan and Miss Richards (baby class) plus there were others that have sliped my memory. Doctors; Dr Mackensy and Dr Arthur and the District Nurses, Nurse Brown and Nurse Deal. The policeman was Sgt Church. I also remember the Whit Walks, I led them on a number of occasions carrying the cross from St Thomas church.
I lived at 106 bedwellty rd until I joined the Royal Air Force in 1952,I often went on the milk round, and even filled the milk bottles in the dairy at the back of the house.It was only milk floats in my day with the horses blackie, brenda and mirtle, but my favorate was stout the cart horse. I was in touch with your sister Pat a few years ago but the E mails stopped for some reason.I was also a friend of your brother Peter who passed away far to young.
I remember the shopkeepers; Rees Jones & Fred Palmer (the butcher) also Sgt Brace at the Police Station. I also have very fond memories of the Bedwellty Show and the ink stamps on your hand to let you back in and trying to imprint them on friend's hands who hadn't been able to go in! I remember frog spawn excursions to the Mansion Pond (my poor mother had to put up with jars of the stuff ...see more
My memories of Cefn Fforest were of Whitson marches in your new clothes and having sore feet where your new sandles rubbed your feet raw. Along with 'Thomas The Milk' was Pughs Farm who had a horse and cart delivering the milk - my parents would send me out to collect the milk in a jug - this was before the milk bottles came into being. Also the police station where Sgt Church and 'Brace the Bobby' put the ...see more
I can also remember a horse and cart going around Cefn Fforest from Central Ave selling
cockles and mussels. We played football in Bedwellty Rd near to what was known as
Rees Jones the grocers and the sweet shop known as Bizinni's? Cars and buses run
passed us but it wasn't that busy in the late 50s and early 60s. I bought a book from
Blackwood "Blackwood Yesterday" by Ewart Smith which shows all the districts ...see more
I am the youngest child of Thomas the milk and delivered milk on horse and cart from age 11 for 3 years and then went modern when the horse died. I remember Alastair Macsorley, his mum and the rest of the family, they lived opposite our dairy in Penybryn Avenue, after they moved Mr and Mrs Roper moved into their house, next door to Doll and Id Jones. My parents had a bungalow built on a piece of ...see more
I lived opposite Thomas the Dairy and sometimes I helped to deliver the milk driving the milk float pulled by a superb Welsh cob named Rob, well known and loved by all the local children and winner of many rosettes at horse shows, including the Bedwellty Show. I also remember the American soldiers arriving and being invited to play baseball with them in the "show". I often wonder how many of them survived the war and returned to the USA.