Jan shows presenter Matthew Richards around Pill
Local opinions of Newport on the BBC Wales Bus
Jan and Marsha O'Mahony discuss the Riverfont arts centre with presenter Matthew Richards
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I'm Newport born and bred. I was born in 1948, hated school and avoided it at all costs.
I started my working life in 1963. My claim to fame is that I had fourteen jobs that year; labouring, on the railways
Living in a close community someone was always offering me jobs. Just when one came to an end I'd start another!
I can't remember much about the 60s therefore I must have been there! I played in a rock'n roll band. I still play drums occasionally in jazz bands.
Working for the well known Robert Wynn haulage company gave me the chance to see a bit of the country before I reached a turning point in my life in the 70s.
I decided I wanted to be a press photgrapher. I taught myself everything I know.
A few lucky breaks later I found myself working a s a freelance photographer for many well-known newspapers.
I freelanced for the Borough of Newport throughout the decade and covered the whole of the Pill Redevemopment.
I used this collection of pictures to start the Pill Heritage Centre in 1996/7. We now have a thriving heritage and arts centre which welcomes locals and visitors alike.
It's a place for education and therapy and we're currently extending this to include arts and music. There's now a licensed reataurant too.
I enjoy working with the community. I'm passionate about my local area. Pill is where I'm from and I hate seeing it being neglected.
I'm one of those people who writes letters badgering people to improve the area!
I'm a regular contributor to the BBC South East Wales website and that's how I got involved with The View from Here.
Do you have a story for Jan to tell from Newport?
Send an email to theviewfromhere@bbc.co.uk or check out The View From Here programme webpage.
You can also contact Marsha O'Mahony in Monmouth.
