Abergwynfi, St Gabriel's Church 1938

Photo ref: 88715

I was born in 1949 in Abergynfi at 3 Heol y Felin in my grandparents house (Edith and Len Radford). I lived there till I was 4 then moved to Croeserw until 1966, then moved to Nottinghamshire when Duffryn Rhondda pit closed. I have 17 years of good and fond memories when I lived down there.

I knew Gordon Speck's granddad and his second wife, also their daughter Helen. His granddad used to teach music and singing in the Westlyan chapel when I was a child, At 12 years old I was confined to bed for two years and it was Mrs Speck who started my love of reading, she came to vist and bought me a book 'What Katy Did' and from then on I worked my way through all the children's classics. Their daughter Helen ...see more

My memories relate to an era around the early 1960s. My father: Cyril Rex Speck, was, I believe, born and raised in Abergwinffi. His father, can't remember his name, owned a cafe: I think on Jersey Road; I remember playing outside and being able to see the steam trains in the distance. My grandfather's, second wife, was named Kate and she had a daughter named: Helen. Helen, married a chap named Clive and had, ...see more

I left Blaengwynfi in 1952 when I was fourteen. My father was Emlyn (Capers) Thomas and my mother was Betty (Scotch) Thomas. I had four brothers and a sister. I remember that I was one of the ball boys at the football pitch at the top of the mountain. When the ball was kicked out of the pitch we ran down the mountain and the ball usually ended in the church grounds. I would have a heart attack if I tried it now. Bob Thomas