Listen to Len (Need help?)I've lived in this street for seventy five years. My wife and I married, and I went in to her father's shop which was also in Clive Street. We were there for forty one years.
Up until the last four years we never had a problem. We never had a break-in, we never had a burglary. Within that last four years, we had four break-ins.
One night at 2 o'clock in the morning, one of the neighbours rang me and asked me if I was having roof repairs done. I said 'pardon'. There's too men taking slates off your roof. Well, I didn't know what to do!
We went out one week. This was before all these problems, and took the kiddies to the Whitsun treats from the church.
When we came back, we pulled up outside the shop, and there were three people in there. My wife had forgotten to lock the shop door.
I walked in and I knew them. They said "Len, where you been? We've been waiting here for half an hour." I explained what had happened. I had a check around and nothing was missing. One of the chaps who was in the shop was notorious, but nothing was gone.
People were very loyal in those days. We used to do them favours, let them have stuff on the book as we used to call it. We helped them out quite a lot. They respected it - they looked after us as well as we looked after them. Those were the good old days.
your comments
Michael Griffiths, Cambusbarron, Stirling
I spent 5 days in Grangetown between 4-8 August 2008. Although many of the streets and most of the houses are the same, the people have changed, not because they are older but because Grangetown is now mostly inhabited by immigrants. Ferry Road is completely transformed being rebuilt with superstores and warehouses, and the Sports Village. Thankfully the path that went from Ferry Road under the railway viaduct and on to Penarth Road is still there. Although the paint works and Lovers Lane have gone due to the regeneration. My cousin Val Davies still lives in the same house with her family, and I was pleased that my old friend Alby from the 50s still lives in the same street. I was a stranger to most of the Grangetown inhabitants this week, but I felt really at home again just meandering through the streets thinking back to the 40s, 50s and 60s where I lived before joining the Royal Navy. I thought of many of my old school friends like Alec Leitch, Jimmy Lloyd and Guy Peake who have contributed to this site.
Even though I have revisited to reminisce and saw the transformation of what is now called Cardiff Bay it is wonderful to have good memories of the past in the old community known as Grangetown.
Marie Garland nee Turnbull from Canada
I used to live as a little girl in Clive Street and went to Grange council school. Yes, doors were left open in those days, there was a war on, people looked out for each other. After I married in 1956 I went back to the same house to live with my aunt and uncle. I have fond memories of Clive Street, and returned there on a visit in 2006.
Amanda, Cardiff
Bernard Butler mentioned his mum who used to work at the Clark's Pie shop. I guess you are mentioning Alice, Bernard, who I remember working in our bakery (my great grandmother Mary started Clark's Pies). Alice called into the bakery a few weeks ago, told us she is in her 90's now and she hasn't changed a lot from how I remember her approx 40 years ago! She came and had a look round with my Dad Dennis and even had a go on some of our machinery
Cynthia Lawrence
I am beginning to research my family history, many of whom lived in Oakley Street, Hewell Street, and Holmesdale Street. They were in residence from the mid Victorian to the Edwardian period. The family names were Hillier, Spencer and Llewhelyn. Does anyone know if there are any old photos of this area and, more importantly, how much of this area still remains.
Michael Griffiths Cambusbarron Stirling
Is The Veteran, Len Smith the shopkeeper from Penman's shop near the Nash, where we used to buy our school tuck?If so I remember he was married to Doreen Penman and we all used to go into the shop for our sweets before school in the morning and afternoon. I was known as Chico in the 50's & 60's, and always enjoyed getting my sweets at Penman's.
Michael Griffiths, Cambusbarron, Stirling
I lived in Holmesdale Street and attended the Nash which I left in 1960 and I consequently joined the Royal Navy in 1963 never to return to a permanent address in Grangetown. I still visit my cousin Val Davies who lives in Amherst Street from time to time and reminisce the old days. The old house is gone now, thank God. However it is good to know the houses still in the old part of Grangetown have bathrooms and inside toilets, and have mostly been modernised. My greatest pleasure when I visit Val is that the Clark's pie shop is still on the corner of Bromsgrove Street and Paget Street. When I looked in the shop in 2001 they were still using the same oven to warm the pies that they used when I was a boy in the 1950's. I suppose change, especially for the better is generally good but the Millennium Stadium cannot replace the old Arms park of the 50's & 60's.
Bernard Butler, Rugby, Warwickshire
Wholesale changes in Grangetown. The demolition of Knole Street (where I was born), Oakley Street, Hewell Street, Nash school area, Ferry Road Gas Works Site etc. The buildings on The Marl, the Lord Windsor Pub in Holmesdale Street. I attended Grangetown Council School - that's still there but for how much longer. The best thing to survive is Clarks Pie Shop where my Mother used to work and as kids some 50+ years ago was the highlight of the week to have a pie/pastie. Before the shop opened there we used to cycle in convoy to Cowbridge Road West with our shopping bags and all the orders of the neighbours. I have many fond memories of Grangetown right up to leaving at the age of 26 - and the link continues to this day.
Guy Peake
I was brought up in 109 Clive St and went to the nash. I was the errand boy and went up to Ferriers in North Clive Street for the shop supplies. It was the sought of area that people left their doors open and you just called and walked in every one new every one and helped every one.
