"My uncle, Trevor Lloyd Parry Jones was born in Pontyberim, the son of a doctor. Two brothers went to Harley Street and another to Carmarthen, all as opticians. 'Pop', as we called my uncle, joined the National Provincial Bank in Bridgend and played rugby for the 'Bridgend Wednesdays'.

After he left the Army in 1918 as a Captain who fought on the Somme, he returned to Bridgend, where he was married to the daughter of Rhys Williams, Penhenwernfawr, Llanwrtyd Wells.

The Bank transferred him to Llandusul, then asked him if he would like to start a Bank, as a Manager, in Newquay, the first Bank in the area.

As Manager at New Quay, 'Pop' became New Quay, involved with the Lifeboat, the Police, Regattas, the lot. Any important events, necessitating speeches etc., and 'Pop' led the way, but the stories of his early endeavours to get a Bank established in New Quay are hilarious.

He found a reluctance by the people to put their savings in the Bank. It was farmers, particularly, who had their money stashed away, so 'Pop' started to go around to each farmer, in turn, explaining the workings of the Bank, the safe deposit for their money and instant access.

On one occasion my father went to a farm with 'Pop', one evening and it turned out that 'Pop' needed help.

After explaining the workings of the Bank, the farmer dragged in a milk churn and, when the lid was lifted the money notes oozed out!

It took a considerable time to count the money but when the receipt was given to the farmer, he said, "Mr. Parry Jones, I am so impressed with the Bank, will you take another churn?" And in came another full churn!

Now, this wasn't the end of 'Pop's problem. He had told these people that the Bank held their money, but he, nor the Bank expected that every Friday, when the farmers came into New Quay, that they would want to see and count the money they had deposited.

I don't think the National Provincial country network had a Branch holding so much money in the safe! But 'Pop' got special permission to hold sufficient amounts.

After a while the Bank in London became worried; 'Pop' had to do something, so he delayed one, using his own money to satisfy another, slightly staggering payments and so on, and he was never found out.

So then came the War. Really, New Quay was too isolated to be much concerned.It took a day's journey by car from Cardiff, so one can imagine 'Pop's problem when he was asked to form a Home Guard there.

No one wanted to join. 'Pop' though had been a Captain in the First World War and had kept his service revolver and wore it on special occasions. He was now to be 'Captain Mainwaring of Dad's Army'. So he had to find a way of getting a detatchment formed. He did it through drink!

In the Black Lion's car park he formed them up, did a bit of drill and then into the Bar, to 'have a few', with a promise of a 'few more' if they were extra smart when the Commanding Officer came up from Cardigan.

All was quiet until someone on the pier claimed to have observed a German parachutist landing on the fields between Aberaeron and New Quay. The call went out, all over the place, for the Home Guard to report to The Black Lion.

'Pop' came up, brandishing his revolver and shouting at the top of his voice 'The Hun is coming; he will rape the women and kill the babies'. So, after a few pints, with the whole village watching, 'Pop' went to war in the lead car, shouting at the top of his voice and waving his revolver.

Germans? No, it was a farmer taking a white tin bath over his head, to water his sheep."

Owain's brother Michael adds some of his own memories: "The household rubbish was picked up by Horse and Cart by Will the Rubbish. It was then taken to the end of Rock Street where the cart was tipped up and the rubbish went straight into the sea.

There was never a boat used on a Sunday. The boats of the local fishermen were all old sailing boats and when the winds were favourable they used to sail but all the boats were fitted with the old Lister Diesel Engine.

There was no lobster fishing, the fishermen were purely mackerel and the boats used to leave the harbour at about 4 in the morning to be back at about 11 or 12.

The fishermen used to regulate their catch to a maximum knowing the approximate amount that could be sold to the awaiting vans that would then take the fish to the surrounding countryside, and enough being kept to sell locally.

The boats were fitted with four lines with one hook on each line two lines from the back of the boat and two lines on what were called spreaders which were sticks out from the centre of the boat which held the other two lines.

The lines has weights on them of about 2lbs. It was always understood that the boat had to travel at a speed of about 4 mph in order to catch the mackerel. What a change to today's method."

Article by Owain and Michael Williams