Ystrad Mynach, The Village c.1955

Photo ref: Y29005

My mum was born on May 1st 1914 in Ystrad Mynach. She was called Bertha May. She was born in the vicarage of Holy Trinity Chuch where she grew up, the oldest child of the then vicar, William James Williams. She later had two brothers, Mervyn and Geoff. Tragically my grandma, Lilian Grace died on the 1st July 1920 when giving birth to her fourth child, and the little girl who was baptised after her mother ...see more

In the early ninties my son Dewi started going to the Boys Club as it was. Unknown to me and some of the other parents who took their children there the leader Mrs Hammond was coming to the end of her time there (she had been leader for many generations). As a group of parents we suddenly found ourselves without any management or leadership when she left. We suddenly had to either pick up the reines or ...see more

My paternal grandparents lived at 19 Brynmynach Avenue during the early part of 20th century. My grandfather worked at the local colliery until his death in 1937. Grandmother died in 1949 but two of her sons,my uncles, lived there until 1982. The family were Davies, David( Dai) and Annie. John and Dick were two of the sons. My father was Douglas. I was looking at some old cine films recently and we have one ...see more

I left Heolddu comprehensive school in Bargoed in 1985 and I went straight onto a YTS. I had to get a bus down to Ystrad to start my apprenticeship at ''Ystrad Mynach training workshop'' which was in Penalta Road. I started there around June of that year, I was on the upholstery section where I was trained to use staple guns that were attached to air compressors. I also went to the College one day a week, a Thursday to do my bricklaying course, good days, does anyone remember it?