Martin's Memories
Last updated: 24 November 2005
As a young boy in the 1950s, Martin Tither spent his summer holidays in Aberystwyth. He recalls those childhood days spent at the seaside and the important part played by the railways.
On this page, you can read Martin's memories of the train journey which marked the beginning of the holidays - or click on the links below for more recollections.
A young boy's fascination with the railways. The pier, the pleasure boats and the prom. Quiet Sundays and other signs of the times.
"My mother was Margaret (nee Clark) whose parents lived in Padarn Terrace, Llanbadarn Fawr. Her father was George/Jack, originally garden boy at the big house overlooking Clarach, above Llangorwen, who became a blacksmith at the top of Penparcau, Southgate now a car showroom. Also living in the house at Llanbadarn was my great aunt Lizzie.
From 1952 to 1962, the family (two adults, two - later three children plus golden retriever) travelled by train from Chesterfield. This meant changing in Birmingham from New Street to Snow Hill stations, a journey of around six hours, to pick up the Cambrian Coast Express.
As a child it seemed to take ages to make any real progress, but leaving Shrewsbury (where there was a bowl of water left out on the platform for travelling dogs) introduced a different feel.
Working our way up the Severn Valley, with its gradually encircling hills stitched by hedges, capped with trees, the changes were perceptible. The countryside became greener, rounder, softer. Tantalising glimpses of the river and promises of hills to come ensured an eyeful of cinders as we children craned out of the windows.
Many of the stations we rattled through then are gone now, those that remain are shadows of their former selves. And how we should be kicking ourselves for their closure, driven by the freedom that car ownership brought.
Most stations had goods traffic, with a variety of wagons awaiting collection. Getting to Moat Lane, and then working hard to get up over Talerddig and down into the Dovey (contemporary spelling) valley and Machynlleth, with its trace of the narrow gauge Corris Railway sweeping away.
Down to Dovey Junction where the train split, before the last haul over to Aber, breaking into the Rheidol Valley at Llanbadarn and down the bank, sweeping over the level crossing, handing over the tablet at the signal box and down along the flats via Plas Crug to come to a halt in the platform."
Written by Martin Tither who now lives in Peterborough.
For more of Martin's memories, click on the links below:
A young boy's fascination with the railways. The pier, the pleasure boats and the prom. Quiet Sundays and other signs of the times. Click here to go to our Mid Wales History section.
your comments
Nick Jones from Swadlincote.
How nice to read Martin's memories. It is with much the same feelings of my own, of my own happy childhood of Aber. I was born of Charles and Vega Jones (nee Hewitt) of High St. Aber. in Leicester in 1962. Christened in Penparcau the same year. With nearly all of my holidays spent in Aber. until the age of 13, when my beloved grandmother Ethel Jones of High St. sadly passed away. What character and charm Aber. has. I remember the walk up to Plas Crug down Smithfield and cutting through the allotments and over the railway lines to visit the cemetery to tend the grave of my Grandfather Stan! Jones of High St. Quite a well known character of the town i was told. (What on earth would health and safety made of that footpath over the railway line's ?) but what a vantage point for a young lad with the main and narrow railway gauge lines underfoot. My memories in brief:- the Maroons to call the life boat out, the Air raid siren to scramble the fire brigade, the Navy ships visiting the Bay with the rush down through the old grave yard of St. Michaels with the earie grave tombs and cast iron railings to see the visitng ships, the old life boat slip the castle the gap and the harbour, i could go on and on. Oh Aber. what a place for ever in my heart.
Wed Apr 8 09:55:45 2009
Steve Smith from Hersham ex Aberystwyth
All married couples leaving Aberystwyth by train got long whistles sounded for at least five minutes as the locomotive worked up the bank. Reminding my new father-in-law of this tradition, he went up to the cab and we were treated to a two-tone warble all the way to Ynyslas!A big SW (Sound Whistle) to the driver that day (Up Evening Mail 20.9.75). The guard came to find us and took us from Second to First Class. Maybe we got these 'extras' because my wife's Grandfather had been a well-known engine driver, until his death in the early 1960s.We thanked the driver at Shrewsbury (where we changed trains). He was a giant with a broad smile. Does anyone have a record of the loco number? 240XX it was. Call me sentimental...
Tue Oct 9 09:19:08 2007
Ian Brodigan, Norfolk
Used to travel down to aber regularly with parents from banbury by train in the late sixties to mid seventies to visit family in aber and borth later journeys by car which meant missing out on the chicken and stuffing rolls at shrewsbury station.Wasted many a bob or two down the kings hall arcade, and in those days aber had 4 cinemas on the same road the colliseum on its own and then 3 together further down the same road one of which was called the celtic, played many a game round the castle and fed the goldfish in the raised pond there played on the golf putting green many times,and always got a toy from the shop on the street leading down to the pier, and the penguin bar always did the best milkshakes anywhere,and as my father started as train driver at aber i rode the footplate on the train to devils bridge,(to the end of the platform anyway)more than once happy memories.
Tue Nov 21 09:33:27 2006
Christine Jones Llangollen
I remember Ken and Jean Hankey well. I had my wedding reception at Highbury, they were friends of my parents, The last time I saw him was at my mother's funeral.
I went to a little school near the station for a while, subdivided into Welsh and English children and it had a huge rocking horse.
Then to the National school, and then to the Convent in Llanbadarn Road before leaving for London.
Mon Oct 2 14:46:42 2006
David Hankey from Great Easton, Lancashire
I recall the days in the '50s and '60s with great fondness when my parents, brothers and I would travel by steam from Leicester to Aber every summer for our annual holidays. Halycon days.
We would travel to Birmingham and await the arrival of the "Cambrian Coast Express" from Paddington enroute to Cardigan Bay. My grandparents ran the "Highbury Hotel" situated on Marine Terrace a business which eventually was handed onto my aunt and uncle, Ken & Jean Hankey. Ken worked for many years at the Cambrian News. My grandparents retired to Queens Avenue in Aberystwyth and resided their until their deaths in 1980s. We spent many happy hours at Borth and Ynyslas Sands, Devils Bridge on the narrow gauge railway. We would hike up Constitution Hill and take bracing walks along the prom to the harbour, past the Castle and generally get invigorated by the fresh sea air. I hope one day to return and relive some of these treasured memories although I know Aber has changed like every other place.
Tue Mar 22 17:32:01 2005
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