Searching For My Father

A Memory of Nelson.

Now aged 70, this week with much interest I visited Nelson for the first time.

My name is Nicola Pugh.
I was born in London and adopted at the age of 5 months. The documents relating to my adoption were signed at the Royal Oak Hotel in Nelson, in the autumn of 1948. The witness was F. Hickson, a mining engineer.

My grandparents were Percy Pugh and Rachel Pugh, formerly Rachel Morris. They died in 1986 and 1990 and are in the cemetery at Llanfabon, as is my mother who died in 2002. I was pleased to see that it is a beautiful spot.

My mother was Margaret Pugh, the younger of 2 sisters. Beryl Pugh was 4 years older.

They lived in Dynevor Terrace, at number 5.
Percy was a coal miner hewer.

Margaret then married Michael Halpin in 1951. He was the village doctor, and they lived at a house called “Penybryn” in Shingrig Road with their subsequent children.

I wish I could have found Margaret before she died and I am sad that I couldn’t.
It has been a long and difficult search, taking many years.

I wonder whether there is anyone who remembers what happened during the cold winter of 1947/1948.

Does anyone know why Margaret went to London and why I was adopted? Does anyone know who F. Hickson was?

I feel that there is much to discover still, and that an event such as a baby would have been well known amongst the close-knit mining community at the time.

I was determined to find out who my mother was and I am similarly hoping to identify my father.
He may well have lived in Nelson too.

Thank-you to anyone who can help.