Rachie - I Bob Un Sydd FFyddlon o Fargoed

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This is a twentieth century pageant of my hometown, Bargoed, in South Wales. In former days it had a colliery to rival any in the Rhymney Valley. The town has a population of about ten thousand. Up to the fifties there were many chapels and pubs, several Italian cafes, three cinemas, two dance halls, two snooker halls, a fine park and swimming baths, two secondary schools, choirs, scouts and boys brigade. The Central Hall near my home was a venue for music, drama and talks I heard Sir Mortimer Wheeler speak there and the Verdi Requiem was performed not long ago. Bargoed Rugby and Soccer were vibrant and I supported both. My grandfather, father and two Lewis cousins played Rugby for the town.

The video runs in chronological order - here are some timings and notes:
00:02 1905 Doris Hare (Actress - On the Buses) was born in Bargoed
00:18 1909 Record tonnage of coal was dug 4020 in a single shift
00:22 1910 Ruth St and Cardiff Rd completed but perhaps not their roads
00:26 1910 Wesleyan Chapel in Wood St built near our future home
00:38 1915 Bargoed Institute Venue for Dad's (Dai Porter) Snooker years later
00:40 1921 My family came to live above these shops twenty years later
00:44 1922 Italian-Welsh family Conti
00:50 1925 Ivor Bowen's never closed.
00:58 1928 Bargoed Hall close to where I lived in Cardiff Rd twenty years later
01:10 1942 Wartime Firefighters
01:16 1946 Postwar Rugby my grandfather is standing second from viewers right
01:22 1947 Neighbour Cyril Evans the Draper is standing front row 4th from right My cousin Griff Hughes of Ruth St is seated on a chair, 3rd from left.
01:24 1947 Along with 1962-3, the hardest winter of my lifetime, and just after the war!
01:27 1948 Snooker team. My father has silverware to his R. The front four played visiting professionals in exhibition matches. They were amateurs but standards were high in the Rhymney Valley League
01:31 1948 Giovanni Ricci taught me my first sentence in Italian bevi un litro di latte al giorno!
01:36 1950 Graham Moore future Cardiff, Chelsea and Wales soccer star on far left blond hair
01:37 1951 Conductor is cousin Griff Hughes. On back row 3rd from right is Cyril Evans, draper
01:44 1951 On the left of the May Queen is Maureen Sullivan. Gent in hat is Stephens the cobbler
01:48 1953 Coronation Pageant. On far left cousin Albert carries his sister Diane, Linda is standing.
01:54 1955 Junior Boys Staff. Far R of Head Teacher is Stuart Burrows, future International Mozart Tenor.
Head Bill Williams is father of Prof Phil. To his left Emlyn Evans who taught me in scholarship year 1952.
02:12 1957 Olivia, wife of Edgar Bowen the Bank is 2nd row, under the circle. Son Jeffrey was a friend.
02:14 1958 Front R in Lewis Pengam School uniform is Bryan Gough. To his R is Gaynor Morris daughter of the Park Keeper. Trumpeter Beverley Walters, also LSP, is to viewers R of post on 2nd row.
02:17 1959 The Golden Wedding of my Grandparents, David and Salome, at 24 Ruth St
02:24 1960 These lads were taught by Stuart Burrows, who became an international Mozart Tenor
02:27 1963 This is me at Leicester University about the time that my family moved to Cardiff
02:29 1965 Rugby Captain George Grist had been my contemporary at the Junior Boys School
02:34 1968 Barry Horseman, far L standing, no tie, was a classmate at Lewis School Pengam
02:38 1969 Cyril Evans is 2nd row 5th from viewers left. He lived at 40 Cardiff Rd next to our 39
02:47 1982 RFC Centenary Committee. Back far right is Dr David Williams (Cantab), son of Bill.
02:55 2000 Capel Cymreig Bethania was set back on High St on viewer L mid way between the two stills.
03:00 2000 Hanbury Rd Baptist fine late Victorian chapel. The best singing had been at Calfaria.
03:08 2000 The Mining Memorial
03:14 2000 The Park town high spot for many years, bordering on wilder mountain. Ah, memories!

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[carolhaughton60]

Hi, Mavis Rowlad, who is listed on the picture at 1.22 was my auntie and, I think she is with my mother, Rita Rowland, on the picture at 1.38.  Mavis was their accompanist and my mother was a soloist.

[VoceVersatile]

@carolhaughton60 Good to hear from you Carol. I'm glad you found your mother and auntie who were surely impressive musicians. Our neighbour Cyril Evans the Draper (40 Cardiff Rd) was a long-standing chorister.

My Dad is at 1.29 front, left of snooker cups. He was then individual champion of the Rhymney Valley. I have albums on iTunes as David Keith Jones.

[drychaf]

Da iawn, this is well done, showing just how 'llewyrchus' (prosperous) these Valleys were not so long ago. No youngster or visitor would imagine it if walking the region today. Your portrait is a model for others to emulate for other Valleys communities. I know there are books, but in hearing the voice/s, you bring the colour of life back to black and white photos. Diolch yn fawr.

[VoceVersatile]

@drychaf Diolch yn fawr iawn. I'm so glad you enjoyed this. I'm proud of my heritage. Hwyl fawr - David.

[Loverboy19691]

'' THE GLORY DAYS OF BARGOED'' by Andrew Dexter. (1) The glory days of bargoed is a memory of the past, in many years its seen decline and has become a ghost town fast, this town that i grew up in has changed so much indded, this former mining town in the valleys is so very much in need!

[carolhaughton60]

@VoceVersatile @carolhaughton60 My mum and dad sang with The WNO for quite a few years in the fifties, at such venues as Sadlers Wells. I went to Lewis Girls' Grammar and Lewis Girls' School from 1971 to 1976 and had friends in Lewis Boys' School, Pengam so we may have even crossed paths at some point!

Beth bynnag, diolch yn fawr iawn a pob hwyl i chi.

[VoceVersatile]

@Mair53692 Annwyl Fair - diolch yn fawr eto. I really appreciate your support, especially given your connection to and interest in Bargoed. Hwyl fawr - David.

[Mair53692]

@VoceVersatile Hiya David, I've been onto Amazon and put Gorau O Gymru into my wishlist, I just need to get my hubby to sort out the download bit for me!

Diolch yn fawr

Mair

[VoceVersatile]

@Mair53692 Thank you for your kind comment, Mair. I'm so glad the video strikes a chord with your roots, of which you are clearly proud. My cousin Griff Hughes once conducted this choir and can be seen in the photos. I left Bargoed 50 years ago but memories are undimmed and I also revisit. Best wishes - David.

[Mair53692]

I love this! I was born in Birmingham but my parents were from Bargoed. My granddad Ieuan Jones is in your picture of the Bargoed Male Voice Choir, and my dad Leslie Davies played Rugby for Bargoed too. My mam and dad came home to South Wales to be laid to rest in Gwaelod yr Brithdir cemetery. I love coming to South Wales to see my family, I think the Welsh are great!