Pencoed, Composite c.1955

Photo ref: P222052

Born in lletai avenue, the street our playground, bottle of water and jam sandwiches were our picnic to take up to Penylan mountain in school holidays. No watches but we always seemed to know when to come home, out all day but parents not worried. Because we were safe! Bonfire behind Trinity vestry (no health and safety). Policemen John and Hopkins kept us all in order! Trinity Sunday School, Cinema on ...see more

I remember the Monument as we used to call this area (not the Square) very well. We used to catch the bus to Ogmore Grammar School as it then was, at the small car parking area to the right of the pub in the picture. The white shop to the left of the pub was Mr Workman the butchers shop and you can see him in his white coat in the window. Immediately opposite was a small newsagents. and tobacconists then a ...see more

During the early sixties I was friendly with the daughter at the Mardy, which was the big house left of the the picture, now I believe a hotel. She knew the old couple who lived at The Court very well. They were a Mr and Mrs Evans, always known as Evans the Court, and Mrs Evans family had formerly owned the entire old house in the centre of the picture; She was very pukka, and as a young woman had been a keen horsewoman ...see more

The furniture lorry parked in the field, which is where the Co-op is now, was driven by my farther David Thomas (Dai Cowboy). He worked for WM Flay and Sons, they were a transport company based in Whitchurch, Cardiff. They carried mainly for Christy-Tylers, who were based on the Bridgend industrial est.