Lance Simcox spent his childhood in Ceredigion but left Wales in the 1960s and now lives in Derby. He went to Penuwch Primary School and he's pictured above in 1953, aged 11 (front row, second from the right). Let us know if you remember Lance - but first, read his memories.
"My parents moved to Wales from Birmingham in 1945, when I was 4 years old, to Dihewyd, an area inland some 8 miles from Aberaeron... just in time for the big snow of 1946-47... it covered the telegraph poles in our little valley.
In 1948 my parents again moved, this time further inland to the village of Penuwch, where I attended the local - what was then known as the CP school - until the age of 11 when I took my 11+ and went to Tregaron Grammar, which was reputed to be the most modern school in Wales at that time.
I moved back to England because of the lack of work in Wales in the 60s, having married and needed to find employment so as to provide for my family... a very sad day for me.
I was brought up as Welsh, spoke the language fluently, although now, I am ashamed to say, through lack of use, it has virtually gone. I am known as "Taffy" because I still have traces of that wonderful accent. I am proud of my Welsh upbringing, to be asociated with such a proud and independent land and people.
I often think of my school days and wonder whatever happened to my school friends... Aberystwyth too holds many fond memories for me in my youth." Lance Simcox
Lance's strange encounter on Penuwch's old Roman road I Miss Aber
your comments
Vanod James from Aberystwyth
Hello Lance, I am Vanod James (Nee Williams). I was born at Glanrhyd,Penuwch, a sister of Eunice and Ceri (the twins that you went to school with).I remember your mother well and all the others at Penuwch at that time. I've also got very happy memories of Penuwch and loved to visit there but sadly there are not many people left there that I used to know. There is something about Penuch that never leaves you and the memories are very magical. Kindest regards - Vanod James.
Sun Mar 29 19:58:25 2009
Gareth ap-Sion from Penarth,Cardiff
I enjoyed the various stories of those who lived in Penuwch in the 30`s and 50`s.Blaenwaun was mentioned several times;my mother Rachel Mary Jones (nee Evans)lived there from c.1908-1934 with the Rees family.Mum just died recently aged over 100yrs.and I`m trying to find out as much as possible about her family.Please help.
Sun Feb 1 14:27:10 2009
Peter Henley from Bow Street
Does anyone remember the factory that made polish in Tregaron? I believe it burnt down. Where was it and does anyone have any adverts of it etc.? I worked with a former employee , the late Dai Pugh who became a taxi driver with Gwalia Garage in Aberystwyth when I was there.
Fri Oct 3 15:49:54 2008
Rhobert Evans in Exile
Very interesting article. Brings back memories, although, I unfortunately left at a very young age. I have not seen those names of children, farms and villages for a long time. We were all Welsh except one Polish family who had integrated.My memories are few and very dim. I do remember the coronation in the barn/cowshed and I think there was also a day of games. My father hurt his back. Canu calennig (1st January, 1954) we all got lost. Watching a man at school, I knew who he was at the time, playing a stringed instrument with a saw.Waiting for Santa Claus at school (December 1953).%! 0DHarvesting hay, loose, in the farm across from the school.Snow.Was there a Sunday School trip to Rhyl?Rhob
Mon Sep 22 07:36:51 2008
Wendy Dando, Blaenwaun Penuwch
Further to all above interesting comments, thought I would add mine. My Husband John and I moved into Blaenwaun Penuwch in October 1988. I was aware that a Simcox family lived in this house, so found this fascinating. I have loved living here in Penuwch, having moved from Kent, but my husband came originally from Clydach in South Wales. I should love to hear any more details about the house if anyone can let me know the history and enlighten me.
Fri Nov 9 11:05:49 2007
Raymond Campbell
I am the Raymond from Tanfalier mentioned by Lance from Derby. However, to set the record straight I was not a WWII refugee but was born in 1946. My maternal family are Welsh and owned Tanfalier for many years. When I lived at Tanfalier I attended primary school in Penuwch. Memories of my school days there are ghastly. I’m unsure of who was in charge of corporal punishment but it seemed to me that there was a perverse pleasure in administering it. Rest assured that the brambles from the hedgerow, with which I was beaten across the palm of my hands on numerous occasions, certainly had my name upon them. Other childhood activities of wandering across fields with my dog, riding horses, milking cows, churning milk for butter and feeding chickens bring fond memories. Being dragged to Chapel twice every Sunday did not! All in all, I have to say that my best ever memory of that time was the road out of Penuwch. Regards to all survivors,
Tue Oct 30 08:38:51 2007
Gordon Hughes(Curly), Worcester
Does anybody remember "Di Griff" one time "music teacher" at Dinas sec. mod. school, Aberystwyth about 1949-53?
Thu Jan 18 16:04:01 2007
Valmai Davies New Zealand
1953 was the year we sat the 11+. We also went to the 'Gwersyll yr Urdd', Llangrannog Camp. We spent 1 week there instead of the usual 2 weeks because of the Queen's Coronation. The camp is still there and very much modernised today.
The school went to see the coronation on television at Cwmrefail, a farm between Penuwch amd Llangeitho. It was the first time for me to see any programme on TV and of course never forgotten. (By the way the television was in the cowshed, cleaned of course as the cows are not housed over summer).
Tue Aug 29 11:24:22 2006
Lance Simcox, Derby
Hi Eirlys.... just read your comments below, BBC have my email address if you enquire with them and we can go from there? It's so good to have this response off you, how I miss my home...
Mon Jul 31 12:53:28 2006
Eirlys Panteg
I have just been informed of your whereabouts, have looked at the photo and the memories keep flooding back.
b/row. Eirlys Sian Mair(Pantgwyn) Sali/Fanw (Trafle) Valmai my sister, Ceri, Eunice. David (Post)
OLwen (Bryngwyn)dec'd.Uned(Tynant) Bronwen. Margaret(CrossWinter) Raymond,(Tanfalier) Geraint(Moelfryn) Elwyn(Pencarreg)_Byron (Rhydlas) Alun(Tynbanadl)
Dafydd (CrossWinter) Goronwy. Ieuan(Maesnewydd) Dai(Pantddafad) & Evan Tom. Lance & Robert. I would be prepared to send you a letter to update you.
Thu Jul 6 09:50:02 2006
Lisa Morgan-Davies from Cardiff
I felt I had to write as my mother-in-law, Eirlys Davies (nee Evans) is the little girl by the headmaster. It is really interesting to see this photo and has sparked many giggles for us to see Eirlys so young. I can confirm however, that Eirlys is even prettier today! Thanks again for posting the photo.
Thu Jul 6 09:45:44 2006
Ray Hobbs, Nottingham
Jason you mention Tomi Jones or Tomi Dyffryn in your comment, Do you by chance know how he can be contacted. I am sure he would be a most interesting person to be in touch with.
Tue Feb 14 22:29:59 2006
Jason (in response to Ceredig's query)
There is an Evans family at Plas Newydd in Penuwch - they own a farm and much of the land in the village. I know of only one Roderick and that is John Roderick Rees of Bears Hill (formerly a drovers' inn) - he is a poet and a horse lover. I am not aware of any Hughes in the village at this time. The best person to speak to about the history of the village is Tomi Jones (or Tomi Dyffryn). Hope I've helped.
Mon Feb 6 12:36:21 2006
Ceredig Davies from Aberystwyth
I am researching my family history in the Penuwch area. Interested in any Hughes, Evans or Rodericks in the area. Willing to share any info. If you can help, email us at wales.mid@bbc.co.uk and we'll forward your message to Ceredig.
Tue Nov 9 23:41:51 2004
Lance from Derby
Hi Valerie (Handley nee Morgan),
Yes I remember you well...as I recall, you are younger than I..& lived around the bend from the shop? I recall the beautiful hair ribbons too... ah! where did it all go?? By the way, you have my address wrong, I lived in Blaenwaun, near Troed yr Rhiw, the one time petrol station, and Bears Hill (Plough) where Eril Rees Lived? Maggie Rees's son? Jack Rees the teacher, Bard and Poet lives there now I believe..Ceri and Eunice, the Williams twins lived nearby too in Glan Rhyd...I often think of those two...and then there were your relations I think?, Valmai and Eirlys...there was Tom and Mair Lewis..and Rhees, their elder brother, John Jones Tegfan Norie & Tom Jones's son, Tommy Griffiths Ty Croes,His mother was Norie's sister, Anthea Eary HenBantFach & her brother George, & and of course, Sian and Robert Evans the headmasters son and daughter. There is an interesting story attached to Robert and I that I will perhaps relate to you sometime......and so on and on, I sit quietly at times recalling those wonderful golden days of my childhood even though I am English born, I class myself as Welsh, for I harbour much love & I am so very proud of those folk above and the district of Penuwch that gave me my start in life...
Reymond,(I don't recall his surname) whom was slightly older than you and I, lived in Tanfalier,if I recall correctly, a WWII child refugee from London..
Whatever, if you would like to get in touch with this site, their address is wales.mid@bbc.co.uk - they have my e.mail address, you could perhaps mail me and we can go from there if you so wish?
Look forward with anticipation to hearing from you.
Lance.....
Fri Nov 5 13:43:16 2004
Neli Jones
I remember Lance in Tregaron Secondary School, as being musical myself, I remember that he was a lovely boy soprano!
Mon Jun 7 12:24:17 2004
Ray Hobbs from Nottingham
How interesting to see this article, not just about Penuwch school which was my first school in the early 1930 when I attended with my brother who was a couple of years older than I, but also about Lance living in Tanfalier. My family history shows that descendents of mine lived there in the late 1700s and certainly up to around the 1850s.
We lived in the dwelling Tynewydd in Bethania at the time we were at school in Penuwch and my father was known well only by the fact he had a big lorry to do his business as a coal mechant and Haulier for the quarry. Lorries were very few in that area in those days. and whenver he passed th school all the children would run to the raiings and wave and cheer as he wnt past. Slates and sand boards to learn on in those days.
Lovely memories
Tue May 25 12:45:39 2004
Valerie Handley (nee Morgan), Cardiff
I enjoyed reading Lance's memories of his schooldays in Penuwch.
Like Sian, I also have the Penuwch School photograph in my album. I remember Lance and his family. I think they lived in Tanfalier. I lived at Penpistyll, Penuwch
(that's me in the photograph third row up, fourth from the right!) Although I moved to Cardiff in the 60s I still go back to visit family and friends in Aberystwyth and
Penuwch. If Lance would like to get in touch I might be able to help him get in touch with some of his old mates.
Thu Apr 22 11:35:13 2004
Sian Lewis from Ceredigion
I have the photograph of Penuwch School in my album. My brother is the small boy sitting next to Lance, my father is the head master in the photograph and I am in the back row. I enjoyed reading Lance's memories. I left Penuwch in '54 but last saw Lance on Crosville bus in Aberystwyth c1960.
Fri Jul 11 12:46:18 2003
Use these boxes to add to Lance's story or tell us about your schooldays.
The story of a boy who moved to Ceredigion as a four year old, learnt to speak Welsh fluently and settled down to life in the county - before work took him away from the area and the language. 
