BBC - South East Wales Streets of Cardiff - Cardiff 2005

your comments

Jackie Steven (Payne)
I grew up around the green in Highmead Road. We thought it was huge back then, we would play baseball, football, rugby, bull dogs all sorts of games it was fun but always came home smiling with a bruise or two. My mum worked in Ely Hospital just at the end of out road - good really as she was always nearby as she worked nights. I was the youngest of 7 children and my dad died when I was only 6 but my mum kept on working and this taught us all the ethic of 'if you want something you have to work and earn it - don't expect others to give it to you'. We all have children and owe our mum the world - I enjoyed growing up in Ely in the late 60s and throughout the 70s it never did me any harm coming from the estate. All of my family have gone on to leave the estate but we all look back to the house where we grew up, thankful for a humble but loving childhood. Thanks mum xx

Steven Colley, Ely
I can remember the early days of my childhood at Windsor Clive Juniors. All my friends (and not so friendly) pals followed me up to a brand new, purpose built school. It was 1964, the school was built in a field on the Drope. The road leading to school was country lanes which were littered with potholes and had hedge rows and trees either side (not the kind of place too be in late at night). The pub known as The Cavalier was not even a twinkle in someone's eye. The shops were nowhere to be seen. There was a bus service to the western cemetery which cost me one old penny one way from "the res" to school each day. Some days I wouldn't even have that so I'd walk, come rain or shine. The school, known as Glan Ely, was making its mark on Ely. I stayed there until my leaving day. I was 15, the first pupil to get a job before leaving and had to stand on the stage at "prayer" and announce my news to everyone. My first job was in Wiggins Teape paper mill in the shredders.

Mark Harris
It used to be a great place to grow up. Lived in Wilson Road which had some great footballers. We all lived over the rec with a football.

Keith from eastern side of Cardiff
I grew up in Ely during a time of poverty and depression -'50s-'60s and not so poverty stricken '70s. We all had a great communial sprit and we did not know we were poor because we were all in the same boat. Lisvane and Rhiwbina were distant far off lands. I remember the sound of halfpennies being vigourously filed down to a size where they would fit into the electric meter. I remember so well because I was one of the filers. I remember the electric man calling to empty the meter and counting out over 100 filed halfpennies. He gave them back to my mother to use again but not before she had taken out a five pound loan from Fred Barret the loan man to pay the electric bill. I remember the music teacher, E.R Phillips the head. He lent my mother a pound so I could go to France for a week. Hywel Dda school, a place where I was considered to be 'fussy' because of my fear of eating dead corpses (meat). Elyites were not allowed to be vegetarian. But all in all a good place to live and a time when we really did leave our back doors open.

Graham Brown
Looking for anyone from Redhouse Road in 1940-54, Grand Ave end. We lived at number 23 Browns.

Colin Coles, Ely
I lived in Highbury Road, Ely, before my teens and I went to Winsor Clive School. I can remember every Sunday I would walk to my grandmother's (on my own) who lived in the cottage next door to the Trahern Arms. The American army boys (men to me then) would throw chocolate, sweets and chewing gum to me when I waved to them as they went past in their big army lorries. I thought it was great as all sweets etc were rationed in them days. We then moved to Caerau Square and every Saturday morning we would go to the Saturday matinee at the Regent for a tanner and throw bits of rolled up pa! per at the girls in the front. I then moved to Lansdown Road school. Then in 1952 King George VI died and when Princess Elizabeth was crowned we all went to watch the coronation on neighbours' televisions.

John Evans, now in New Zealand
Just wanted to say I enjoyed reading through the messages, some names are familiar, I knew a Billy Quicke, Jayne Underhill, Bob Loosemore, ER Phillips. Lived in Cyntwell Crescent from 1957 and the house was sold after my dad died in 1991. I lived next to the Wheadons and so remember Billy very well. Went to Cwrt yr Ala then to Cyntwell High before we got moved out and merged with Glyn Derw girls so that Mostyn could have Cyntwell. Married (& divorced from) a Glyn Derw girl. Left school with bugger all exams - it was a crap school all in all despite some of the teachers really trying. Managed to get a BSc Hons and now live and work with children who have cancer in the South Island of New Zealand. I remember the drope and being able to walk to St Fagans. I also remember being knocked down by a car at St Fagans whilst running across the road where the bridge is to watch things we'd dropped in the river float by. Remember the number 17 bus to school if we could afford it and walking if we couldn't. I remember that Ely had some great people and some pratts, sounds as if it's still the same. I'll always remember that despite being in a large city we were lucky to be on the edge so that it didn't take long to escape it. Glad though that my kids are growing up here. How many now in the UK? 64 million? Only 4 million here and that's over 2 islands the same size overall as the UK.

Ivy Yeo nee willis from Ely Cardiff
I was born and bred in Ely untill the age of 12yrs. I was brought up in the Ely Homes, from 1942 till 1949. People used to think we were poor and they felt very sorry for us, but we were very happy kids. I had three brothers and 1 sister and we were all in the homes.We went without nothing. They were very happy times, and I know were much better off there than many kids outside.I went to Ely Council school, and we also had to go to St. David's Church, Ely on Sundays.I wasn't so fond of that tho. so they allowed me to go to Ely Gospel Hall instea! d. What a fabulous place that was. Can anyone remember Mr. Norman Rich, He was fabulous,? and told us so many stories. he brought the Bible to life for us kids.I can remember the war, and having to go down the Air Raid shelters in the middle of the night, which were over the Race-course. and when the war was over, we had a street party in Caurau Square. They were good days. I love Ely. When I got married I returned to live there , first in Sevenoak Rd, and then Cwrt-yr-Ala Rd I now live in the Heath, but have many,happy memories of Ely, and so does my brother.I know this site is not for making contacts and I'm taking advantage of that, but I have often thought I would love to meet the people I once knew, in and out of the Childrens Homes.

Norman, Ely
When crime gets commited in Ely the police try to investigate it but no one wants to talk to them. If you do talk to the police you are called a grass or have the family onto you. The cowards turn up at your house in a hoodey and smash your windows or damage your car. We all need to stand up and be counted and not to let these cowards intimidate us. Let's help the police to help us clean up our community for the majority of decent people who live here. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil to is that good men to do nothing. People think Ely has a community spirit because they stick together and don't help the authorities. You've got it wrong - we should stick together to rid our streets of trouble.

David Morgan
I left Windsor Clive Secondary Modern School in 1953 and Sid (also called Stan) Judd was a teacher there for about 2 years or more. Sid Judd was a Cardiff rugby player and he also represented Wales. He could pick up a rugby ball with one hand and I remember him being very quiet but always in control of his pupils. I followed his career in rugby after leaving school and later whilst serving in Cyprus my sister wrote and told me he had died of leukemia. What a shock! I thought he was indestructable. If anyone would like to post any stories about him please feel free so perhaps we can keep his memory alive for a little longer. I notice that there is a group photograph with Sid in the Windsor Clive section of this site so some may remember him from that picture.

Tom Storm, now in Surrey
I was brought up in Ely now known as Trelai. In the late 50's 60's and 70's I moved to Barry when I married and now live in Surrey. I am proud of being a Ely person and being Welsh but where I live now is far superior to where my roots are. I used to walk down Caerau Lane and the early days I use to be quite frightened of the gangs that use to hang around the shops. I have been back since and at night I still wouldn't like to walk around there. It has changed - Howell Dda school is still there but alas Cyntwell School is now a housing estate. My sister has even moved to Spain. I will always remember Ely though with the barrage balloon hangers and the Western Welsh bus depot. Alas these have gone - wow, how Time marches on.

Peter Sullivan from Ely
Are you aware that many of the places fondly mentioned here like The Rec, Horses field (Devils hill), the football field behind Llewellyn Ave, the Pethybridge road site etc, sadly look like being lost to the planners under the name of regeneration. We who still live at Ely are calling these plans 'degeneration'. For more details check out our website www.elygardenvillagers.co.uk. These green fields are the lungs of Ely - once lost they’re lost forever.

Ricky, Fife
I was `born in Dyfrig Rd in 38 (AA guns on the racecourse) and lived variously in Clarke Street, Cowbridge Road, Charteris Crescent and Archer road. Went to Ely Council (now Millbank). Same memories as above, plus a fire at the papermill, and a drowning under the bridge by Mill Road.We would go out at eight in the morning and come back at eight at night and no-one had to worry about us and nothing got damaged except our knees and elbows

Michael O'Neill, Birmingham
I write this time with a sadness in my heart. I was born in Ely in 1949 and often return home to visit my family. I was in Ely for a week in August 2008 and to my dismay I could not believe the amount of litter and broken glass on the pavements, empty beer cans discarded all over the place, and the smell coming from the drains. It saddens me that the residents of Ely should have to put up with the mess. From my boyhood and into my teens I will always remember how most people in Ely grew their own veg, and their front gardens were a picture, especially along the Grand Avenue. Why should these litter louts spoil it all and get away with their wrong doings? I hope it's cleaner when I return home for Christmas.

Nenna Williams, nee Owen
I have very fond memories of my childhood at Sevenoak Road.My friends and I used to go for long walks down the Drope, and take sandwiches and a drink and walk through Plymouth Woods to St Fagans, picking primroses and bluebells. I attended Windsor Clive School Grand Avenue. My family moved from Ely to Aberdare when I was 11, where I am still living.

A mother from ely cardiff
ELY, what's there to say apart from its children being born to children. As long as the kids got a pound for a bag of chips the parents don't give a damn where they are. Years ago neighbours were called auntie and uncle, today they are called (.......). Neighbours would come in at Christmas time etc, and we would all be one big happy family. The respect has gone, thank god I got old fashioned ways like my mum taught me, because believe me, my children would not be disrespectful to their elders. If only the parents that don't care where their children are (out of sight -out of mind) could see into the future and what lives that they have mapped out for them, who knows they could think twice. So to all the parents reading this, who don't give a damn about there children abusing others, because that's what they have grown up with, there's still time to turn things around. Children are not born bad, it's the way they are brought up. Every child needs a chance, so come on parents pull it together and support your child, who should be tucked up in bed, and not on a wet windy corner, causing aggravation. Love them, they are and should be your everything.

Maynard King, Caerphilly
Ely thoughts of when I was young.I went to Herbert Thompsons and that was in the late 60's we would go down Birdies Lane in our lunch break and play by the river and the old water mill that is no longer there.Then it was off to Glan Ely High teachers like Mr Bartly, Miss Alesburer, Killer Allan, if you steped out of line it was down to the head masters office for the cane(and the head was a women) but it made me have respect for society. I left school in 1972 and started work as an apprentice electrician now I am a senior technician I used to hang around with a group of lads. Dave Bellomy, Wayne Sellby, Carl Gibbs and Chris Palmer, what I am trying to say yes ely has its bad points now as it did then.But if the kids take advantage of all the oppertunites given to them they will progress and leave Ely and get on.you can take the person out of Ely but you cannot take Ely out of that person.I now have a very good life I have been married to a Fairwater girl Cheryl Bennett for 27 years and have two daughters 16 and 23 I take them back some times to let them see where I came from and how lucky they are, no I would not change how I was brought up and were as this has made me the man I am.But Ely is not the same and I could never live there now.!

Brenda Samuel now Landes, Israel
My father Moses Samuel, known as Mo by the staff, taught in Herbet Thompson Secondary schooi from the 1930s to 1964/5. He used to ride his bike to school every day,(smoking a cigarette on the way) to teach English and History. He was a bit absent minded. I remember one story he told us of a morning he appeared in class wearing one black shoe and one brown, much to the classes' amusement.I remember a note he received from one parent, "If you want to come and talk to us about our son's progress, we live near the river, please drop in". If anyone from Ely remembers him, I and my sisters would love to know.

Dawn, Caerau
I am an Ely girl, grew up in Seven Oaks Road not far from St Frances School. Ely is and will always be home to me. Growing up was great - you hear so many rumours about Ely but just remember it's always bad rumours, never when anthing good happens. The time that ruined Ely's image was when we had the riots which lasted quite a few days. No one ever really new what it was about. Then when we had that murder of Les Reed on Grand Avenue all because he asked youths to stop damaging the crossing. Don't get me wrong - I love Ely and have brought my own children up here too but we need to get the gangs of youths off the streets, give them something to do.

Alan David Pena, Brussels
I was born in Cardiff in St Davids Hospital on 1st of March 1949. We lived in Cowbridge Road West - I can remember the fields in front of our house (Ely Racecourse?) a river at the end of our street and barrage balloons in the air. I think there was an army camp nearby? I had to cross the fields to go to school; and also to see the doctor. His office overlooked the fields and he would tell me off for playing in the swampy areas of the fields. One day a horse followed me home from school all the way to my house. I was showing off to all the kids in the street when the horse kicked me. OUCH! I was rushed to hospital and came home with my leg in plaster.

Ashley
My name is Ashley. I've lived here since i was a baby. I don't like it up there but I live down by Trelai Park and it's the best side of Ely.

Angela Beavers nee Hill.Braunton, N. Devon
More memories of my time in Greencroft Avenue,Ely,1957-67. A school friend's parents, Mr and Mrs Griffiths, ran the White Lion Pub on Cowbridge Road and one day she took me through all the rooms above the pub where they seemed huge! Also on Cowbridge Road was Josephs Hairdresser- still there recently! Waldrons shop stood on the corner of Clarke St and Dyfrig Rd, where I would buy a quart of wine gums and a bottle of Tango pop with my pocket money. I remember the Whitsun treats with Ely Methodist church on the corner of Colin Way. Going to G.L.B- Girls Life Brigade and the Christmas fayres there. I was presented with a book for regular attendance at Sunday school. Is there still a dentist at Redhouse Crescent? Years later, I am married with three daughters who have visited my roots and my granddaughter is soon to follow.

Angela Beavers, nee Hill, Braunton, Devon
I lived in Greencroft Avenue, Ely, from birth, 1957-1967. My bedroom window over looked Millbank, my school. Teachers were Mrs John, Mrs Jones and Mrs Lewis. I remember nice neighbours, friends - one life long! Bluebells in the woods, trudging through deep snow at the racecourse. The park with the ocean wave, sniffing my daffodil on St Davids day until it drooped! Mr Thomas the milkman of Littlecroft Avenue and the high river at the bridge which gave me the creeps and still does. The Regent cinema on a Saturday morning where I won the raffle six weeks running. I still enjoy visiting Ely when I come to Cardiff. Fond memories.

CA Cardiff
Darryl from the Drope you're a prat mate, Ely and Grangetown-(still has some community spirit) are both intimidating places because of these idiots who think they have a right to everything, over the older people. What these younger people don't realise particularly the ones born from the late 80's onwards is that people years ago had nothing, much less than what young people have today and still didn't say they were bored or caused trouble. People years ago enjoyed what they had and made their own fun, they respected one another and their elders.I grew up at a time where I saw the cane in infants school and it was banned in junior school. Isn't it funny how the discipline and manners has spiralled downhill since then?

W.Ryall. (Reply to Michael Collins)
I'm Leighton Ryalls' grandson and when I saw the comment I rang him and told him . He seemed very happy to hear this he said he does remember you and the great times he had with you. He is married to Betty Gibbs, my grandmother. He has moved out of Ely now. He couldn't handle what Ely had become with the drugs and trouble. I live in Ely now but I'm used to it. If you do end up reading this he wishes you the best.

Dave Jenkins, Cardiff
Ely has always had a bad name, but the people were proud and hard working. I was born in Caerau lane then moved to old Caerau square, it became St Davids' crescent in 1963/4ish when I was six months old and lived there until 1987 and then moved away. Now back living in Radyr. Living in Ely was a great experience, street hardened and wise for the real world ahead. I remember skateboarding football, making fires, throwing arrows and air guns in the woods, riding my motocrosser over the horses field (I was no angel like the rest) and walking to school every day spending my bus fare in the shop on cola cubes. I was one of the 20-30 Ave boys hanging around the chippy, playing pitch and toss. Ely had a lot of old people all washing and sweeping the front down, Never done me any harm. I have no regrets but wouldnt go back!

John Ferguson from Lancaster
My father Thomas Ferguson came to Cardiff in the 30's as a Foreman at the then Thomas Owen Paper Mill; he retired as Chief Paper Maker in the late 60's. We lived at Bwlch Road in Fairwater but my father walked every day across the river Ely by means of a footbridge then down Mill Lane and into the mill (there was back entrance that many used to sneak out to place bets etc). I have many memories of the mill's sports and cricket ground in Ely and the Sunday matches there. Whilst we moved to Llandaff, as a boy, I still visited the river Ely and fished for trout near the broken down weir an indeed walking the river to St Fagans. An early memory is certainly walking on Ely racecourse with my father and being shown the huts where, during the war, the Home Guard were based and where he spent many a night on the guns; he frequently recalled the tale being on stand by one night for a major German bombing raid. They heard the bombers coming across the channel and then turning for Swansea which was severely bombed that night. After the war there was a thriving Home Guards Club in Ely. I still recall the fairs that were held on the racecourse. Does any one remember the TA Parachute Regiment jumping from the barrage ballon? I used to rush over the racecourse to watch the lads jumping (16th Independant Battalion) I later joined the TA. A painful memory was a Doctor O'shea who had a surgery just over the road from where Mill Lane joined Cowbridge Road - he treated me with a course of injections for whooping cough when I was a small boy. Oh, and who can forget spending many a Saturday afternoon playing in Ely woods.

Gwyn Williams, Cardiff
Life for me revolved around Herbert Thompson's School, Rugby mad teacher pop Davies, discipline teacher killer ALUN. For a school in let's say a little deprived area produced the greatest school Rugby teams played 22 won 22 - 415 pts for 6 against, Yes Brian Jones, John Javis, Gorden Smiths, would be internationals today. Birdies Lane, little hidden fighting ring, where me and John Price settled who's school champ. Swimming in the old mill pool, where Peter Cavanaugh pulled me out. Stealing apples from the vicarage St Mary's Church, Those were the days all clean fun. Before the days of drugs. Yes! The Regent picture house Mill Road, Saturday tanner rush, Bill and Oscar managers. So many memories all good. Yes I am a Ely boy and proud

Brenda Clarke, Cardiff
I was born in Bishopstone Road in 1950 and went to St Frances and then to the brand new Mostyn R.C.Had lots of good memories, my name was then Humphrys and my niece Susan Keepings and I rode to the new school on brand new bikes I always bought penny comics in Harry Jennings and on the way home called at a house in grand avenue for 8 iceballs for a penny. They were quite good times but you dont realize it at the time. We can only blame the fact there is no disipline today as people are afraid of being prosecuted and you are unable to touch anyone even in defence. I am glad that I grew up at that time and not now.

Terrence Chester (formerly Grand Ave, Ely)
Drugs are the blame for all crime! Simple! The police are so corrupt, nothing gets done in Ely!The kids start "shotting" / selling drugs at a young age, they get a taste for money and it becomes they're lifestyle! Just wait for the guns. By 2015, the streets will be filled, not just Ely.

John Harwood, Germany
I was born in Ely 1957 and lived there until 1980. I delivered papers for years for Dennis Stork in Wilson Road from '67 till '72. Ely was hard but fair. I went to St Francis and Mostyn. The res, drope, sandies - wonderful memories. Who remembers short back and sides at Harry Jennings, the broken biscuits at the Maypole? Billy Wheadon, Gary Cullen, the Stokes, Gary Kenny to mention but a few.

Richie Ferris, Caerphilly
RE-Roy Bailey Archer Rd - I remember the accident Tommy Brown had on a rope swing in Plymouth woods. Must have been really painful!! I was brought up in Pethybridge Rd 1944-67. Winter was always remembered for pouring buckets water down the gutter then sliding down from top to bottom. Can anyone remember the Welfare Hall youth club ran by Mr Bell from the Racecourse? He also used to run Caerau Ely football teams. We used to spend hours over Plymouth woods, St Fagans castle never paid to get in. We got once in Dawsons farm - he made us clean out the cow sheds. Great place to live then.

David Morgan of Peacehaven
Does anyone remember Ely racecourse? I lived in Pendine Road, Ely in the war years and there was a lot going on there which was kept from us. Also around 1951 a Horsa Glider made a forced landing there and only recently I have found a book that shows a pre war landing ground during 1913 with some of the early pioneers of flight giving airshows there. There was a newsreel made by Gaumont Film Co of the flying displays and the event was covered by the Western Mail. I wonder if that film still exists. We also had the sheepdog trials there just after the war and that event brought many people to the area by bus and coach and all the old farm lorries you can imagine.My brother Colin and I were always picking up spent amunition in the area by the pavilion and also a few mortar bombs, but these used to be confiscated by the Air Raid Wardens in fear of us finding a live one. Sometimes they would find their way into Herbert Thomson School where Mrs Woodcock would be amazed that some of us were still alive.

Derek and Carol, Western Australia
As kids we grew up in Ely, my brother Mervyn and 3 sisters. The street was used for all our street games against other streets playing dodge, soccer rat tat ginger etc. Also the woods provided us with many hours of fun swimming at the Drope, sandies, crossing the broken bridge and trying to catch the wild ponies. Always coming home smelling of smoke because we made fires to dry off our clothes from the days smimming. Also we supplied mum with chestnuts, blackberries and primrose plants. Fantastic childhood memories!!

Michael Collins, back in Cardiff after a 30 year a
I lived in Mostyn Road throughout the 50's/early 60's and attended St. Francis School. I can honestly say that I have nothing but fond memories of the area and the people that I grew up with. Times were hard in those days with very little money available and our only entertainment as kids was the fresh air of the fields, farms, and woods that were in abundance on our doorsteps. We learnt to swim at the Drope and helped out at Dawsons Farm washing milk bottles (and nicking the fresh laid chicken eggs when no one was looking, problem with that was t! he egg usually broke in your pocket by the time you got it home). As you can gather from this that life for us kids was pretty basic but we had no complaints about our circumstances we just got on with it and formed a bond between us. In those days we had little or no money other than for the tanner rush at the Avenue Cinema on a Saturday morning. With the passing of more than fifty years my memory has obviously been dimmed but I still vividly remember the 50's and friends such as Big Jim Mills, Leighton Ryall and, later to become his wife, Betty Gibbs. I hope that they also remember me.

Judy from Cambridgeshire
I was living in the childrens home in Ely in 1956/7 - does anyone remember it? I was lucky enough to be fostered out quite quickly but wondered if anyone has any memories of the home. I was in no 7 headquarters.

Stephen Tatnell
Does anyone know when the Air Training Corps started in Ely? Originally opened and started by Evan Roberts, the store which was on the corner of Kingsway/Queen Street. And how many cadets there were and who they were.

David Radford, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Ely was the centre of my universe. Cowbridge Road, later divided into East and West by virtue of its length, was the starting point of my explorations! My Dad used to take me on walks from there across the busy road and over to the tranquillity of Caerau, to the site of the old Roman fort and ruined church, high up above my world with views to the Garth Mountain. These walks turned out to be twice as long as intended: the short-cuts invariably failed! But I shall never forget the excltement of finding tadpoles, small frogs, newts, water cress or wild strawberries with him. We'd walk to Bonvilston or St Nicholas, up the Tumble, past the newly erected TV mast at Wenvoe. Another week it was The Drope with a huge bag of conkers gathered in season or there could be a visit to St Fagans and to the museum which was a special inspiration to me. Whenever I return to that old familiar road which later took me to Canton High (1953 to 1961) and to the world beyond, warmest memories of Ely, its environs, family and friends, of Cardiff, such remembrance of times past...

Leonard Day, Dinas Powys
I lived in Vachell Road from 1963 - 1981. In fact, my mother still lives in the same house ... I can't help feeling that the place seems far more brutal now than it once was - the harsh & unyielding railings that have sprung up along the alleyways testify to this, and I worry that it'll turn into some awful place where kids go round wielding guns, as they do in Liverpool, Nottingham & London. It's not there ... yet. Please keep it that way!

Alan Davies (Ely) Cardiff
Contrary to popular belief Ely has not just recently been a BAD place, even as a youngster just after the 2nd WW my brother Richard (Dickie) and all us from archer road,Jimmy Morgan Harry Ball, Connie Francis, were nearly always in trouble, for crossing (and getting fined)the railway line and putting half pennies on them to see if we could make them bigger.

Zoe & Caprice From Ely
We are both 17 year old's and we luv living in Ely, as we have lived here all our lives. We don't think there is anything wrong with all the gangs hanging round as we enjoy the company of more people when we go out on the weekendz. We dont think of it as gangs we think of it more as a street party. There is also nowhere else for us to go so we have to hang around the streets. We don't intimidate people - it's just they don't even want to walk past us so people get the wrong idea. So altogether it is a good place 2 live.

Paul Kiley from Tonteg
I lived in Deere Rd up until I joined the RAF in 1965 and went to St Francis RC from infants to leaving age. Pop into Harry Jennings for exchange of comics, and haircut(terrible) and then into the Matchbox for the Jubilees and Oxo crisps, and some broken biscuits if I had an extra thruppence. I remember the snow ball fights with the Windsor Clive lot which included the odd stone inside it. Adventures up the wreck, pitch& toss as a lookout, Dawsons farm ... making sure you were not caught across his land to enter Plymouth woods on route to St Fagans where the local copper would be waiting on the other side of the level crossing gates and would give you verbals and a clip across the ear if you talked back. I did - he gave. Into the big oak tree which had no centre at the bottom of the hill, and then over the wall into the Castle itself ... free. The tanner rush at the Avenue and Regent cinema on Saturdays, the Drope and Spillers hill & much more. Joined as an Air Cadet at RAF Llandaff (Western Centre) when it was a field with no runway, as it was a Barrage Balloon Centre, and then a TA Centre. As far as Ely was then it did have a few problems with gangs, but this is a part of growing up. Even though no GCE's were awarded at school, I can say that my educational qualification was a degree in the University of life ... Ely Certificate with Honours.

Jane from Ely
I've lived in Ely all my life there's good and bad like every area. Yes there are more problems now the police do not seem to be able to cope or maybe its because the judges are to soft. Theres only a minority that spoil it, but this minority have a great effect on Ely giving Ely the bad name. I have teenagers who are brill, brought me no trouble and doing excellent in school real achievers, its these children who achieve well that need to publicised more and prove Ely is not as bad as its made out. I hear now they are regenerating parts of Ely to cut crime by building more houses. Taking away the childrens fields I think this is a big mistake.If Ely do get bigger it will become a no go area it just would not cope.

Terence Scott-Thomas
What a brilliant site. I was born in Deere Road in 1934 and then moved to Moore Road where I lived with my family (Dad Charlie, Mum Gwladys, sisters Peggy and Bridie and brother Tony) until May '47 when we moved to Fairwater. It was a great place to live with bonfires at the junction of Moore Road and Curtis Road. The neighbors were all wonderful people. The Nashes, Browns, Cunninghams, Williams, Butts, Llewellyns,Cossletts and poor Mrs Frieling who I beleieve had the misfortune to marry a German well before the war started. The trips to Plymouth Woods, Sandies, Drope and even to Leckwith Hill to collect blackberries. As stated before they were good times because we knew no better. Len Fry the baker, Billy Cross the milkman etc. Happy memories. Jumping from the air-raid shelters to get away from Rumbelow and his dog. Watching the bombs drop on Cardff from the back bedroom window and seeing one bomber crash in Plymouth Woods, racing up there to collect shrapnel. What an amazing time.

nipper russ ely cardiff
Richard Davies? I knew Dicky in school, "Winsors" as we called it. Me, Dicky and Bernard (Stinker) Gee,used to go around together in the sixties and seventies. We hung out down the river, the broken bridge, The Drope, The Sandies, The Black Bridge and everywhere along the river. We also used to go up Devil's Hill, up towards The Wreck, where we used to play football, baseball and everything you could think of. In those days, the whole of Ely was sports mad. We spent many a time in Plymouth Woods with our air rifles, playing about until we got older and did the usual things. Going to The Res and St Timothy's for the weekly dance until we were old enough to go to the Top Rank in town. As time went by, we moved on and went our own way. But I still drink with Bernard Gee at the Copthorne Hotel. Dicky moved to Tenby, I haven't seen him much since then. So, if Dicky fancies a beer, that's where he'll find us, The Copthorne. Bye for now.

Lynda
I was born and grew up in Ely and many of my extended family still live there. I have very fond memories of street outings to Tenby, Caswell Bay etc. and great fun at street parties. The old Saturday matinee at the Regent cinema, catching tiddlers down Ely river and picking nuts/blackberries etc up the woods. There was real community spirit back then and it is sad to read some of the other comments which suggest that this has all but gone now. It certainly has changed a lot but you can't entirely blame the area for that - that's down to individuals. It's always been a poor council estate and it was tough for us growing up too. We never had much but we never got involved in gangs, drugs or vandalism - we were brought up to work hard, be honest and have respect for people. It's not fair to say that Ely kids don't have ambition - my brother and I did and so did a lot of our friends. OK, Glan Ely had its problems and you had to be pretty determined to get good qualifications but you could do it and you got a lot of support from the teachers for trying (Bunsen Jones and Keith Davies to name a few). Although I wouldn't want to live in the place Ely has become now, I am proud to be associated with the place it once was. A community of honest, friendly and hardworking people who have constantly had to battle with the bad press generated by a minority. Elyites can and do succeed in life - we certainly have!

Darryl, The Drope
I've lived in Ely my whole life and began to think Ely is an intimidating place. But it's just the people who are intimidated by the youth because they wear a hoody or because they smoke - it's unfair judgment. Grangetown is more ghetto than Ely - they have more crime and trouble. Police are pathetic because they tell us to move on from shops only for us to cause trouble elsewhere when we're in a place where we're trying not to cause trouble and find something to do. I don't know what the goverment are doing with their money cos Ely needs more facilities and amenities for young people.

Ian Thomas - Assistant Pastor - Ely Baptist
Whilst sometimes there is trouble, even in my road, on the whole the people are friendly and welcoming for an outsider like me who was told tales worse than they really are. I've been here 4 years now - with little trouble. Of course the demographics are changing as people buy their houses and care more for the area they are in. SO - if you are thinking of coming to Ely - ignore the bad news and input good news here!

David Morgan
Reading all these stories about Ely reminded me of my first day at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus waiting in line for a meal I got a tap on the shoulder and turned around to see an old Windsor Clive friend from Greenfarm Road who was a Fireman on the base. I can't help thinking how many Ely kids are dispersed all over the world and how about them writing in and telling us all about their lives now and where in Ely they were from. I know of some in the USA and Australia, as there was a lot of people emigrating after 1945. There must be loads of stories out there.

Derek Jeans, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
I am a Ely boy from the 50s ... what great times. My mother and father ran the Llewelyn hall there - he was a bingo caller there they started off by playing for a bottle of milk etc. All my brothers went to Cyntwell school - does anybody remember Eddy Avoth? He was a boxer lived near us ... my brother Alan used to hang around with him. Does anybody remember the music teacher at Cyntwell? We used to call him Plug - also there was a Dapper Davies. I heard the school got burnt down - is that true?We left for Ozz in 1969, but still got great memories of Ely.

Liz
Ely Good or Bad? To be honest we are never going to resolve that. What I can't abide though is talk about yobs, and disillusioned youth. Areas are not the sole cause. Yes, Ely more needs investment and adequate facilities but what is really needed is for the minority who seem to "give Ely a bad name" to get some moral fibre and a huge dose of respect. I have lived my whole life in Ely, I was blessed with great parents who taught me respect, both for myself and others. Respect to me was that I wasnt going to conform to the stereotypes given to people who come from Ely, I worked hard and achieved a university education - because I knew this was one way to break the stereotype mould. My parents also passed on their tremendous work ethic - if you want something, you work for it. You experience the joys of achievement and learn from failure but not to blame or hold anyone else responsible for your own failings. This is I believe is something that society as a whole can benefit from not just Ely. We as individuals make our own life choices - let's make the right one for a great community - a communty we know Ely can be.

Phil, Rhoose
I moved to Ely 50 years ago, a far different Ely to the present one. There were allotments in Deere Roa, the Brunos on Greenfarm Road, the 10a and 10b trolley buses ran then. How many remember the air raid shelter on Hywel Dda's top field?

Lesa from Newport
Further to the comments from another Ely boy I totally agree - I find Ely people the most honest, trustworthy and down to earth people that just get on with it. However, you do have to treat each other with some level of respect to receive this. Having grown up in Ely I feel really passionate about the area and would love to see more of the community invloved in the development of Ely. I also felt that if an old women fell over she would have to wait because she was in Ely. I think gone of the days when second hand computers were ok, only the best for Ely all brand new. Raise the level and aspirations of the young people and community. All young people make yourselves responsible for the development of the community and set an example for the others. And remember if you visit anywhere represent yourself and Ely in a positive light. Thanks for that - I feel fab now.

Jillian Smith, Heol-yr-odyn now Perth, Australia
I have been reading through the letters and part of me feels very sad of what Ely has become and people saying it hasn't changed! It must have, because my memory of my childhood was fabulous. We would spend hours up in the woods picking bluebells and then go and nob apples from the doctors house, or up Spillars Hill in winter racing down just hoping we wouldn't crash into the horses trough at the bottom. And no one has mentioned the fabulous humour in Ely - humour that can only come from poverty. Aren't we lucky we didn't know we were poor otherwise we wouldnt have been such natural comedians.

Jim Denning, Dinas Powys
Brought up in Ely, I remember the days at Herbert Thompson School - woodwork on Friday afternoons. The Regent Cinema with the 2d scramble on Saturdays. I joined the Cubs at the Glanely Hall (Next to the "RES") and went on to Scouts. Many happy memories of the 51st Group. After National Service went back to Scouts with the 24th Group and am still in it today at 76yrs. Ely was a place where it was good to live not far from the St Fagans Woods and and on to far to the Drope and the Ely River where in places it was good for Swimming. Near the racecourse which used to be full of football pitchs all occupied on a Saturday in winter. Cricket there in the Summer. Wartime memories Guns on the racecourse, the Airforce Camp in Caerau Lane (when it was a lane). Watching the air raids over Cardiff. Later walks over to "The Tump" at Caerau well out into the country in those days. Happy days.

Jackie - Ely
I was born and brought up in Ely and enjoyed my time at Glan Ely. I didn't belong to a gang and enjoyed playing baseball in the summer. Growing up in Ely didn't stop my progression - I have returned after being away for sometime but find the estate has changed. My own children grew up elsewhere and find the kids of Ely have little ambition. I wonder why?

Michael, Ely, Cardiff
I'm an Air Cadet in Ely - our Squadron is where the old RAF Llandaff Station used to be. The shooting range is still standing and still in use. I was just wondering if there was a runway anywhere in Ely?

Peter Smith, London
Lived in Cwrt-yr-ala Road from age 7 (1939). Remember swimming at the Drope and the Sandies - went to Windsor Clive and Landsdown Rd schools, also Reardon Smith Nautical College. Best mates Tommy Matthews, Billy Smith and Peter Williams. When we moved there the road had a pair of house a garden nursery and a big house called Woodlands in the first mile. I lived there till 1953 - my parents and sister (cherry) left later. I personaly had no problems. Remembering the war years seeing a dog fight with two Spitfires and a Heinkel, getting a tailfin from a German bomber from Emersons woods, seeing all the incendiary bombs and feeling the blast from the land mine in Canton.

Gareth Jones in Australia
I'm 50, was born in Ely (Caerau Lane), moved to my nana's in Deer Road - known locally as 'Peg' as she used to take in washing. My granda was Victor Jones and a local at the Dusty Forge. I went to Hywel Dda primarythen Cyntwell. Names I recall from the Hywel dda football team and mates are Alan Alder, Carl Hillburg, Alan Roberts, Jeff Purcell, Alan Gronow. Pierre Duval, John Morgan were guys I knocked around with on my road!!! I'm in Oz now but my best mate comes from Forge Place, Martyn Wood. Those of an older vintage will remember his dad who used to sell 'chipmunk oxo crisps' from his van?????? Happy days.

Lisa from Ely
I have lived in Ely most of my life. I'm 21 so of course I was in gangs a few years back. Ely has gone a lot quieter than what it used to be. I don't mind living there, wouldn't say no to moving out of Ely, but what can you do? Anywhere else is going to be just the same - Ely just gets bad reports from the press.

Suzanne, Ely
I love Ely, and I wouldn't move for the world!!!!! Big up the Ely Crew Massive!!!

Dave Martin, New Orleans, USA
Some of the comments are from people that can't call themselves Elyites. The first comers to Ely lived at the bottom of Ely - Penygarn, Pencader, Pengwern Road etc. They came from the Wood Street area. The only schools in Ely are Herberts and then St Francis. All those others from over the race course were second and third generation.

Ely girl
I have lived in Ely for 27 years - when I was younger there was none of these 15 to 20 boy gangs hanging round scaring old and young people. Yes, we hung around shops but we never got to the stage it is now. In the last year my family has had car windows smashed and panels on cars kicked in, been attacked due to the colour of our skin and now a car petrol bombed. I have children myself and they are afraid to go out due to all this. I used to be proud to live in Ely but not anymore, it's more like living in Brixton with gang wars, drug dealers and silly little idiots own think they run Ely.

Lady from Ely
I have lived in Ely for 18 years ... I think it is just like any other area in Cardiff. You have the bored youths and the alcoholics and people who are on the dole. But where else in Cardiff doesn't? If it wasn't Ely with the bad reputation it would definatly be somewhere else in cardiff. When I used to hang around the streets there was nothing for us to do but cause trouble - the youth clubs opened late and closed early and weren't even open on the weekends!

Michael O'Neill, Birmingham
Hello to the people of Ely, especially to my brothers and sisters that still live there and other areas of Cardiff. I was born in 1949 in Cambria Road ... I am one of 11 children and I'm the only one to leave Cardiff to work. I have been in Birmingham for 30 years plus but I return to Ely 3 to 4 times a year to visit. Loads of happy memories, Ely to me as a nipper was magical.

Tom
Yes, Ely has got a bad name for drug dealing, car robbing, houses gerrin robbed, the lot. Not all places are bad but gotta be said Ely ain't the best of places to live if you want to make somthing out of youself when your older. But I'm an Ely boy and I loves it here.

Emma Davies from Caerau
It's not a bad place to live, I've lived here all my life and so have my family. My mother's side are the Cullens and my dad's the Davieses. I've heard all the great stories of Ely and Caerau over the years from my nan and grampa and I loves them. Caerau is a great place and I am going to live here all my life!!!!!!

Heather Wallace (Anderson), Dundee
I was born and raised in Caerau and lived there until I was seven. We all came to Dundee where we have lived ever since apart from a spell when I was 16. I came back home to look after Gran Cousins, Lizzy Anne. My mother was born and raised in Caerau she was Violet Cousins married my dad a Scotsman John Anderson. Unfortunately dad passed away 2000 and mam in 2001. Missed more than they will ever know.

Avril Webbe
Born and bred in Caerau used to go to Hywel Dda, infact I remember Keith Twamley when you wet yourself in assembly! Funny times, love hearing from old pals again.

Keith Twamley, Caerau
Born and bred in Caerau, went to Hywel Dda, Windsor Clive schools, various jobs after leaving school, butcher (trained at Reads shop Caerau), fishmonger, (Howells store 20 years), pub landlord (Brains brewery, Ansells brewery) now a fishmonger (open market, The Hayes Cardiff). Now living in Caerau again, still a great place to live, love to hear from any old mates ...

Jim Morgan, Caerau, Cardiff
Many people criticise Caerau and Ely without ever setting foot in either. So who are they to do so without finding out for themselves?

Gazz, ex Glan Ely
Oh how times have changed living in Ely, people who went to the great Glan Ely school can share some great memories. Remember bunking off down the Drope, or if you were brave enough you would venture down the 5 mile tunnel - I think only once we ever made it all the way. The great teachers of their time, Lizakowski, James, the lovely Miss Andrews, Bartley the PE teacher, the school canteen where only the bullies made it to the front, the pinching of school books, and even the great great video robbery that took 3 years to save up for, still no one have been caught to this day! Oh there were some great days in Glan Ely, and the strike by all the kids for banning our badges, great days and some great legends; those of you shall be named and shamed; Jarvis - Elliot -Simpson - Hatim - Yobo - Horna - Millsy - Ansell - Fenton and all the ex-pats from Glan Ely. Wwonder what you're all doing nowdays?

Ged from Askern, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Now almost 60 years of age I have never been to Caerau, but have heard stories of it all my life. Gran (Florence) and Grandad (Thomas) Deere now sadly passed away came from Caerau, I think in the 1940s. Mum, Annie and all the family came to Doncaster too so Grandad could continue in the mines. Mam now bless her is in here 80s and still talks about Caerau with fond memories and of school and living in somewhere in Caerau she calls 'up the monkey' (seems this is long gone and was at the top of a hill with a few houses and a Pub). Before I get too old I! will have to make an effort and visit, as Tom Jones says, the old home town or in this case village.

Ricky Underhill from Caerau
Just to say Caerau is not as bad as all you people make out. After the fireman's death the main rioters of Caerau have been put away. Come up and have a look.

David Morgan, Peacehaven, East Sussex
I lived at Cwrt yr Ala Rd now Heol Trelai until 1957 and again in 1960 after demob. It was always a great place to live. I worked for the local milkman - we bottled all our own milk, we also sold fresh (that morning) milk out of the cow into the bottle from Emmersons Farm, now a school. When we moved to Cwrt-yr-Ala Rd there was a single decker bus service from Cardiff General Station to the Cwrt-yr-Ala estate at the end of our then country lane, now buried under or close by Heol Trelai where it meets the Cowbridge Road, by the old chapel opposite Greenfarm Road. I was a pupil at Windsor Clive school where I left at Christmas 1953 and remember the following teachers and staff. Bob Loosemore, "Streak" Dyer, TGE Thomas, "Danny" Rees (loved his Rhodian fags), Mr Hawkins (caretaker), ER Phillips Headmaster, and the previous head Mr Dyer. Lots of minor misdemeanours from the pupils and visits from the police but a good community spirit. I am still proud of being an Ely kid although I haven't lived there for 46 years. My Regards to all my old friends.

Billy, Ely
I have lived in Ely most of my life. I was shocked to see grown men drinking cans of lager in the middle of the day outside the shops in Wilson Road. What an embarassment - I think lager and beer should only be sold in pubs and not shops to stop this. Also I think the police are gutless and do nothing to help ordinary hard working people, and that they should do more to help and stamp theire authority on the street.

Gary from Fairwarter
Ely is not as bad as people make out. It is full of little kids trying to act like their older brothers and older friends. They're all big men when they're in a group but on their own they are nothing. Back in the day we use to batter Ely boys, us in Fairwater. Meeting at Birdies Lane - they are memories.

Another Ely Boy
Regarding the comments by Gary Duff about standing up to drug dealers, I completely agree. Name an area that doesn't have drug dealers? Name an area where young teenage girls are not falling pregnant? This is a worldwide issue - not an ELY issue. I've lived in Ely for all of my 22 years, and wouldn't prefer to live in any other area of Cardiff. Those who are intimidated and weak, get terrorised as they would in any other area. They hear kids laughing an enjoying themselves in the street and because one has his hood up in the brisk cold winter, he becomes a yob! Classic - at 22 I still put a hood on when need be. By day, I manage a bank, with 13 staff at my command yet by night I'm a typical mixed raced thug! Some achievement for a 22 year old yob! I've been branded a yob because my hood gets pulled up and as a youth I would play football all day long ... so what if my football hit a car...yob? I think not! Yes you do get your idiots in Ely, but yet again, what area in the world doesn't? Why remove funding from an already deprived area? Why not replace basketball hoops when they are broken? One idiot can create 5 more idiots simply by the council's decision not to replace such broken items as they will only be broken again, leaving kids bored with nothing to do, other than to create their own mischief. Ely is by far the best place for me in Cardiff - they achieve more than any other area in sports and the people (when you know them) are the best, loyal, trustworthy and bleeding honest.

Another Ely Boy - Ely
WHITEY - you were just unfortunate, are you the only one to have had your house broken into? NO, if you lived in another area of Cardiff would you be less at risk? NO. Forget what insurance companies think! You had every right to hit the traitor, whether 15 or 50, male or female, I praise you there, any real person would've done the same. As for Mr Reed, I was about 7 at the time and in school with his daughters, again as sickening as this was, let's cast your mind back to Grangetown petrol station, Clare Road station a few years back when an Irish fella was beaten to death also by youths. The area is fine, it's a minority of people that need to be addressed but, as the news and papers state, prisons are over crowded - where do the real people go from here without retaliation? It stems from childhoods - not being given a chance. Children with no chance need strong parents, not all kids are kept in line. Majority or parents are to blame

Ron Barry
I worked on diverting the Ely River just after WWII with the company John Morgan General Plant (the same company which helped build some of the flats in Westgate Street). We had to straighten out the bends which helped reduce flooding. I was a driver/excavator and had to help dredge the river, straighten the line the run and reinforce the banks by the papermills. This took about two to three years to complete from Ely down to Leckwith common. We had to take care with the water because of the pollution from the papermills and the discharge was a brownish colour and stank like creosote!

John Jones, the Caerau side of Ely
I was born in the house in Heol Carnau some 52 years ago, so I can say that I am truly an Ely boy. Being one of seven children and the forth of five brothers I found it quite easy growing up in my area. My father had to work very hard (naturally!) to feed all those mouths - we were truly a poor family having to use his old GKN overcoats as bed quilts. I found then as I do now that the majority of people who live both on the Ely and the Caerau sides are generous, genuine, salt of the earth people. The sad fact is that Ely has more than its fair share of bad apples, which is why we have this bad name attached to all of us. But in saying that, if I won the lottery I would still keep a place in Ely.

Jayne Hillard, Ely
Replying to Hillary Ford - the RAF station is still being used, or part of it is - it's where 30F Air Cadets are. We still can see the hanger runners on our base. We would love to hear more about our surroundings if you know any more.

Bill Quick in Swansea
I was born in Camrose Road and lived in Caerau/Ely for 24 years till 1981. I was one of seven children whose parents were hard working individuals and where all neighbours were known and supported each other. As a child I remember hardship and going to school with holes in my shoes and hand me downs to wear. I also remember the days when discipline was given out if you were naughty at school and you daren't tell your dad or you'd cop it again. Local bobby was always about and would give you a clip if you were uo to no good. I believe that's the real problem today - no discipline is taught to children. It was a hard upbringing but I am proud of where I come from and still vigorusly defend my birthplace on many occasions. Come on Caerau/Ely residents stand up and take back your community from the low life which seems to have infiltrated it.

Dave Edwards
I was brought up in Ely from a young age, I lived in Redhouse Road, my surname was then Maggs. Yes the area was a typical council estate, the Cardiff Corporation yard used to be at the back of us. I went to Herbert Thompsons, I do recall when hanging around the Cemetery and Trolly Bus Turn around - we used to nick the bamboo poles used to put the arms of the trollybuses on the wires when they came off. We would hide the poles up and the drivers and conductors could be heard swearing at us. I remember when the workmen were replacing undergound pipes in Plymouth Wood Road and in the 60s they used tar to cover them. We used to sit with the watchman by his brazier, and share his tin of tea. Someone mentioned the smell of cornflakes from the Hancocks brewery, and there was also the Rumney brewery, not forgetting the smells of the old Mothers Pride Bakery in Llewellyn Road. More later but Ely, as has been said before, has not always been as rough as I have heard.

Luc from London
I lived in Ely until I was 14. It had its ups and downs but all in all it made me the man I am today. I lived near the Ave (Grand Avenue). I remember the late 80s in Ely when we would have street parties and there was a strong community spirit. On the other hand things such as Ely riots showed how bad things really were. I went to school in Fairwater (Cantonian High) as my parents thought that this would best for me. At that time Glan Ely High had a bad reputation. Going to Cantonian High was the best thing that could of happened to me. I hope things in Ely are improving. I would like to go back there soon.

Saul
I enjoyed growing up in Ely in the late 1980's I also went to Mostyn and played soccer for Trelai Under 16's. I remember knocking around Snowdon Rd shops and kicking a football against the bookies shutters. Me and my mates i.e. Lucas, Erwin, Warner, Delroy, Pev, Simon Moore etc used to sneak into St Fagans folk musuem - ha ha ha. I also remember the riots of 1990 - me, Scanlon and Germaine Kadette all used to walk up the avenue and watch the latest developments. I also used to take a dinghy at sail from St Fagans to Ely Bridge. Ely is a top place and produces some fantastic people but most of these people know they have to leave this area to get on in life.

Dave Horne from Ely
Enough said about all the bad things in Ely - why don't we hear about the good things that came out of Ely? Nicky Piper, Sky Sports presenter and ex-British boxing champion; Steve Robinson ex world boxing champion; young David Cotterill, Premiership and Wales footballer; and the many more good people to go on and better themselves. Why can't we open our newspapers and read the good things instead of all the bad things that happens in ely? Kids hanging around shops and making nuisances of themselves is nothing new - in the 70 and 80s we were always sat on the railings of the Ave. No money in our pockets, we made our own fun - football, relego, or skateboards. So where are these kids today getting their money to smoke fags, dope, and drink? (Pparents take a long hard look at yourselves). Get me back to the white lion days where a fiver note, not coins would get you a hearty 5 pints of Allbright and enough for sausage in batter and chips, up Pete and Anne's on the Ave then a sit on the railings to enjoy our late night feast.

Valerie from Melbourne, Australia
I was raised in Ely in Narbeth Rd and then Wheatley Road. Lived there for about 18 yrs until I married an Ely boy from Phyllis Crescent. Like previous comments about the 40s and 50s, childhood was untroubled and carefree - playing on the street until dark was no hassle. I remember the bonfires on VE and VJ days when everyone joined in the celebrations and yes, no problems about scorched tarmac but some concern about fires being too big and threatening nearby fences. I remember the swings we made on the old-fashioned lampposts; tobogganing down Wheatley and Crossways Rds in the 1947 winter snows; standing for hours in the queue for bread at the bakery near the Avenue Cinema; buying 3p bags of 'scrumpy' at Western Avenue chip shop; the Saturday matinees at the Regent Cinema followed by a chip lunch next door. They say you are showing your age when you reminisce, but who cares when the memories are the good ones? Ely may have changed but for me it was a good place in which to grow up.

Justine, Hengoed
I have lived in Ely most of my life, and only just moved to Hengoed. I thought my childhood growing up in Ely was fantastic and I wouldn't have changed anyhting about it. Being only 21 I can't remember the 'old' Ely but the Ely I do remember was great. Obviously it has its bad points but what places don't? I think the government should spend more money on deprived areas such as Ely instead of wasting it on silly projects such as the Millennium Dome.

Brinley Davies, Penarth
I shall be 80 years of age in a few months and for 17 of those years I lived in Elford Road. From what I have gleaned from the stories I have read recently, Ely is a bit of a wreck, but it was not like that in my younger days. The shops were pristine, there were no cars, only a very few, and deliveries of vegetables, fruit, bread and cakes, even salt and vinegar, were made by horse and cart. The gardens were very neat and it was a pleasure to walk around on a Sunday afternoon with my parents to view the flower arrangements, and the impressive Italian style figurines that adorned a lot of them. Windsor Clive School was a great place to go to, as well as to play after school, but beware of Mr Rumblelow the caretaker, who, with his dog and walking stick, would frighten the life out of anyone caught on the premises after school hours - I know, I was one of them!! We took our lives into our hands when playing on the Air Raid shelters in the grounds, but at the shout of RUMBLELOW everyone fled like a flock of sheep being chased by a dog! The only way to escape was by squeezing through a gap opened in the railings, a hole dug underneath, or, by scrambling up and over the railings. These railings were about 6ft 6ins high, and had spiked tops! Then there were the teachers: Mr Dyer {Headmaster}, Mr Dyer teacher of Class X7, with his pinz-nez and wing collar (I cannot ever remember him smiling!), the infamous Mr Kennedy, who just loved using his swishey cane, and many others. Memories are flooding back, but I have already overrun my time allowed and will rest it there.

Natalia Bowen from Archer Road, Ely
I'm only 15 but I found these stories about where I live very interesting, although I hate it when people try to say that all Ely Kids are bad. We're not - my mum Linda Bowen grew up in Archer Road and has many times said that Ely has changed but not as much as people think!! The children still go swimming and fishing in Ely river and not every youth in Ely steals cars and break windows! Most of us actually have ambitions of our own.. :D

BA Russ
Many sportsmen from Ely made it to the top. Just a few names - Jim Mills rugby league, Colin Sullivan rugby league, Danny Wilson rugby union and league, his son Ryan Giggs soccer, Frank Wilson rugby league, Dave Cotterall soccer, Alex Finlayson rugby union, Bobby Tobin soccer, Paddy Hennesy baseball. There are many more if anyone would like to add.

Martin now living in Newport
The unfortunate thing about Ely was that there were a lot of children who were trying to grow up the right way. They had parents who cared for them and wanted the sort of lives they never had. A lot of my old friends from Glan Ely are doing really well and have grown into respectable adults ... I am doing very well for myself and living a good life. It would have been a lot easier however if I didn't have to live years of hardship stabilising a family when I should have been starting my career. Ely is full of heart and community, it is the idiots who have no brains but pure thuggery inside them that let the side down.

John Richard Stubbs
Growing up as a kid in Michaelston, going to school in Hywel Dda and Glan Ely gave me a good grounding in life. But what I liked about my childhood was the fact we had the town centre just a 19 bus ride away yet we had the the Drope over the back fields, with bird nesting, relego, going down the sandies in the river Ely, fishing and camping over the fields. I know its not very P.C. but do any kids go bird nesting any more? I doubt it - they are never off their Playstations! We also had the 2 mile tunnel to explore which ran from The Drope to Wenvoe - a very scary experience I can tell you. I remember walking through there one time it took about an hour, getting to the other end we heard some dogs barking which my mate said were devil dogs so we ran all the way back in about 10 mins !!!!! I now still live a 5 minute walk from where I was brought up and I have never had the inclination to move from my favourite part of the whole world.

Roy Bailey from Archer Road, Ely
After reading some of these stories which brought back some FANTASTIC memories of my childhood growing up in Archer Road, like swimming down the scuttle, trying to get that big boulder out that was submerged on the far side, or the black bridge, sandys and the drope sometimes making sure that any sheep were over the weir that had floated down river, or going to the Ressers on Sunday. As the Docks boys were coming up I ruined a couple of pairs of winkle pickers then despite the dampened newspaper in the point & St Davids on Thursday night. Or going over the wall of St Fagans Castle, & riding the horses {nicked from St Fagans) through Plymouth woods & that massive swing in the privies where Tommy Brown had his nasty accident. I remember there was a lot of respect then for the neighbours who we used to call Mr and Mrs or Nanna. Admittedly there were a few a***holes about, but they were sorted out by ourselves. In my opinion the top end of Ely in the 50s and 60s were "The good old days".

Pam Smith in Cardiff
I've lived on Llewellyn Avenue for 7 years now. For the first 3 years we had murder, things thrown at the car and windows regularly. We couldn't even go to the shop after 6pm without fear of having things thrown at us or abuse shouted after us as we walked down the street. This wasn't just us, this happened to most of the people living near the wall that seperates the street. My partner ended up hitting one of four boys who were threatening him with a large piece of wood, and we've had very little trouble since. My partner luckily only ended up with a caution. One of the boys apologised to us for calling my partner a name. Now, we have no trouble and the boys even wished us happy xmas. Unfortunately, while we are finally having a bit of peace, the people down the other end of the road are getting it now. Myself and a friend were stood outside a few nights ago when a couple of boys left the wall to walk down the road, next thing we hear is a car window going through. These boys had broken someone's back windscreen for no reason. As usual they were dressed in hoodies so no-one could see their faces. 2 nights ago someone's door was kicked in and a man had a large piece of wood put across his head. There were kids in the house, but these men didn't care. The police were called but when they eventually turned up they were from Llantwit Major and didn't know the area. That's why they'd taken over an hour to arrive. Supposedly all the police from Ely, Fairwater, Canton and Central police stations were in town that night. I'm proud to say that none of my 3 kids have a police record and would never dream of stealing or taking drugs. This seems to be an accomplishment to be proud of these days in Ely, which is a great pity, since from what I've read about Ely in the past, there was a good neigbourhood spirit where everyone looked out for all the kids in the street and gave them a clout around the ear if they got up to trouble. I love Ely now, and wouldn't want to move again. All we can hope is that the police and social services do the job they are paid for.

Samantha Smith (now Collins)
I was born in Ely. My life, friends and family were there for me whilst growing up. I moved to Chichester (West Sussex) when I was 26. I remember the Ely Riots, gangs everywhere, and wild dogs - no joke! I suppose I never knew it at the time, but yes, it was quite bad. Now looking from the outside, I can see that it has got worse since I moved away. No disrespect, I love Ely will all my heart, but getting out has done me real good. I know it does have a bad reputation, but if you live there and get to know the people, you can understand why people don't leave. Does anyone remember the discos at 'The Ely Wanders'? Or what about the discos at the Church of the Ressurection on "The 'AVE"? They were great days. Aaargh, my little boy is wrecking my house! Must be my Ely Roots eh? Love it xx

David Morgan, Cyprus
During the war (sounds like Uncle Albert) my brother Colin and sister Jean walked to Herbert Thompson School from Pendine Road. As we were experiencing air raids our mother came with us and as she had a sick father to look after she decided to take a paint brush and made a paint line on a low wall at the halfway point. We were told that if we were walking to school we were to return home if the air raid siren went off before we reached the paint mark, and to go on to school if the siren sounded after we had crossed. Needless to say it took us ages to get to school after that!

A Spanish Student
Hi! I lived in Archer Road, Ely, during July 2006. The first days I didn't know so much about Ely but people in the city centre and also my teachers told me that Ely was a dangerous neighbourhood. Life is really different than here, in Spain. During my month there I didn't have any problem but what I saw; most of the gardens were so dirty, people without their t-shirts drinking beer. One night, when I went out the bus I saw a police helicopter with its potent light searching for someone, I've never seen it before. But then I used to see this helicopter everyday. I also lived with a French student. One night some boys in Fairwater threw stones at this French student and his friends stones - they fought and finally all went to the hospital. May be racism, may be the drugs, the alcohol...Children from 9 to 13 throw stones at the French students who were 17, unbelievable! I don't know why but for the foreign students it's a bit difficult to live in Ely. Apparently Ely is a quiet neighbourhood, but only apparently. My host family told me not to go to the park in Ely, not to go to all the zones near where I lived. That's why I used to go to the city centre at night and when I came home I went with the eyes open like an owl and sometimes I had to run. That was my month in Ely; I hope to return in some years and see that it has changed. I couldn't see any interesting places in Ely, only what the bus showed me, because I was safe there. Now, at home, in Spain, I can say: I survived in Ely!

Anthony (Phelpsy), Ely
I spent most of my childhood in those horrible white cardboard looking houses on Mosten Hill and I'm currently living in Haverford Way. I wouldn't change where I grew up for the world! It was a tough childhood. I remember police charging through my streets with riot shields and the older lads throwing petrol bombs, that's just one small paragraph of many stories...only in Ely, aye!! Looking back on all the things that I've gone through and witnessed everyday I think it has made me a strong minded and determined young man which is a good foundation for success in life. Just escape from the bubble as I call it and meet new people. I don't socialise in Ely at all - just live here. However I'm proud to be an Ely boy!!!

Dave, Ely
I live on Caerau Lane. The place is run by 14 - 17 year olds. The police do nothing about it. They tell them to move off from the shops, but they just return. The police seem to have a laugh and a joke with the kids who are just terrorising what was a peacful area. They stand outside the local kebab and chip shop intimidating old folk and smashing footballs and other objects into the shutters.

Glyn Davies, now in Somerset
The racecourse and Ely woods (Leckwith woods we called it) were the Windsor Green kids' playground after the war - I was 9 then. I often wondered what the "Tump" was in the middle, later finding out it was an excavated Roman Villa...

Read more of Glyn's memories

Hilary Ford nee Payne
I grew up in Haverford Way in the 50s and 60s and remember climbing over the fence into the RAF station which stretched from Caerau Lane to Heol Pantyderi and passing the top end of Haverford Way. We kids loved the Civil Defence days when we would sneak over the fence to watch the soldiers re enacting mock wars and would be given apples and tomatoes and rolls out of their lunch boxes. Great days.

Richard Davies
Hi - just seeing if anyone knows my father Richard Davies. He grew up in Ely in the 50s 60s 70s on Glyndwr Road I imagine. Also if anyone knows his sister Sylvia Joseph, would love to let them know if anyone knows them ... I bet they got some stories to tell!

David
Can anyone remember the American soldiers preparing for the D day landings? Their camp was just over the road from Herbert Thompson School. The soldiers sat on the school wall and shared their Wrigley’s gum and Hershey’s chocolate with us just as they departed an act of kindness in those days. I left Cardiff in 1960 after my military service and I have fond memories of places like the Regent Cinema in Mill Road and the Avenue Cinema in Cowbridge Road, the one favoured was the Regent as there was a brilliant chip shop next door! On a more a sombre note I recall being sent home early from woodwork classes at Herbert Thompson School and walking along Heol y Felin I noticed all the houses had their curtains closed. I learned when I got home that King George VI had died.

Laura Hicks (former Ely resident)
I lived in Ely up until I was 13 or 14. It does have its bad points (like the druggies). But there are good points about it. When I lived there everyone knew everyone. It wasn't that bad. I attended Mary Immaculate or Arch-bishop Mostyn as it had be named previously. I still go back and forth Ely and it hasnt really changed too much. I spend most of my time in Cardiff though. I think community centres and such need to be established to keep youths from getting into trouble. People here seem to have different views because they live in different parts of Ely. There are some good parts, and some bad parts. All places have them... why should Ely be any different?

Anthony Ellis, Ely
I've been living Ely all my life, in the 6th form at Michaelston College (Formerly Glan Ely) doing A-levels. And by the way the Cav is called the Michaelston now and is not a gay themed pub ... It's cool to hear about Ely during the war and I'm gutted to hear there used to be a cinema on Mill Road and I missed it!! Yeah, Ely has a bad reputation but when you live here I guess you learn that it's bitter-sweet. I want to move away to go to University but not because of Ely being lame ... more for independence.

David Morgan
In reply to Doug Morgan's letter regarding The Drope, I remember swimming there, and the dangerous weir. I also fished there and remember a drowning as well. This was in the early 50's. I also recall the wartime Anti Aircraft batteries on the racecourse, and the Italian POWs clearing snow from the Cowbridge Road. I once observed a low flying German bomber above the rooftops of Pendine Road as it headed towards Thomas Owens Paper Mill - so low I could see the crew! They saw me standing in the doorway of my house.

David Morgan
At the end of the war in 1945 all of us children who had experienced the excitement of being at war were equally excited about being able to have our own bonfires and fireworks. We were well organised and gathered material to burn for some time prior to the night. The fire was always in the street, and it would burn well into the next day. The most popular fireworks were the penny bangers. 'Little atoms' were favourite with 'jumping jacks' a close second. The following morning was a good time as we would go and explore other streets fire sites and spent fireworks. The aftermath was almost every street had a large area of burnt tarmac which no-one seemed to mind.

Sue Towner, Melbourne, Australia
I grew up in Ely in the 50s and 60s and was gob smacked really how much Ely has changed. I've been away from Cardiff for 40 years but all I can remember is the best childhood ever. I remember all us kids getting together and going to the Drope to spend the day swimming in the river and trips to Barry Island and Porthcawl and going to the swimming pool there on really hot days. I left Ely to move to Gloucester in the mid 60s - I now live in Victoria, Australia.

martine jo and lauren from ely
we have lived in ely all our lives and we have never had any trouble with anyone ely is a gd place to live and we wud never move out of ely. anybody who has got a bad thing to say about ely needs to go and take a stroll in grangetown because that is much worse. we walk around ely all times of the night and we have no fear at all but if we were to walk round grangetown at night it would be a different story we would be walkin round in fear. The point we are trying to make is ely is'nt as bad as people make it out to be we love it and we will never move out of ely.

Michelle from Cardiff
I have lived in Ely all my life. The 70s/80s were fab. I now have 3 children of my own, and so help me if I could afford to move from the area - I would be gone in a shot. Gone are the days if you were doing anything silly the grown up walking down the street could give you a little telling off. You say anything to the kids today and all hell breaks loose. I wouldn't say anything to them personally as i wouldn't want no come backs on my children. I have brought my children up the way my parents did me, and hopefully they will see it through. I loved Ely as a kid, and have lots of lovely memories. If only my own could have had the chance to see what a community spirit is all about. I'm sure they would love it. Ely means nothing to me now. All it does is make me worry about my children having to live here.

Barbara Cook (Williams) now in USA
I lived in Haverford Way until I married. It was the first road to be built on 'the Racecourse' & we called it No. 1 Road until the council came up with a name. In those days, mothers didn't worry about their children playing in the street. There weren't many cars & everyone looked out for everyone else's kids. We didn't have much, but a sixpence bought a whip & top from the sweet shop, or we pinched pieces of plaster board from the building sites to use as chalk to play hopscotch on the pavement. I rememember Whitsun Treats at the Drope, where we picked blackberries and primroses, and taking the bus to Barry Island or Porthcawl. I remember street parties and the kind of camaraderie which is sorely missing these days. I'm grateful I have good memories of the place I was raised in. I still love it, and visit whenever I can. But mostly I write about it!

Liza Day From Nottingham
I grew up in Ely. It had its highs and lows for me. I went to Glan Ely high school and yes you were either in a gang or you were protected from the bullies. A few times I was bullied myself. It was rough back in the 60s & 70s, but it did have some community spirit depending on where in Ely you lived.

I lived in Windsor Green. Not sure what it is like there now, but us kids in the Green all played together. You did have the odd times where you got in to fights and you did get the gangs going around, but I can remember them being mainly up the top end of Ely where there were drugs being sold to kids.

I can remember on a saturday morning going to the cinema in Mill Road and opposite was a sweet shop we used to call Joey's where you would get your sweets and stuff and take them to the cinema with you.

I remember going across Cowbridge Road to go to the park which was good back then. I know times have changed, but if people are unhappy maybe they should do something about it and make a stand - get the community spirit back by getting to know your neighbours and getting rid of the scum that hang around.

Len Waith from Bendigo Vic Australia
I was born in Tiger Bay in 1936. I moved to Ely in 1939 but went back to the Bay till my teens. My first job was with Dixie Cars taxi service as an apprentice mechanic. I met such people as Joe Erskine, and Billy Boston - they lived near my grandfather.

But back to Ely - I went to Windsor Clive School, swam at the Drope and the Ely River at Plymouth Wood, went camping over to the dungons (old water work) over the Ely Race course when it was farmland. I loved every minute of my childhood even through the war. The street parties as the war ended and the dads came home - Ely was a great place to live even if it was a long way from Tiger Bay. I will be going back this year after 37 years in God's Own Country.

Sean Obrien from Ely
I am a twelve year old who currently lives in Ely. I think Ely is sometimes a good place but sometimes it is not so good as you can get stones thrown through your windows and people break into your homes and steal your stuff. I think police should be more alert and quicker to respond. Ely is not a quiet place because some people go around on their motor bikes through the streets. The good thing about ely is in some places it is quiet. If people do throw things at windows young people will think this is ok and do the same when they are older. Things need to change children should stop smoking, more activities for young people and more police in the streets.

Doug Morgan (Ely) again now in Brisbane, Australia
No one has answered re 'The Drope'. Perhaps someone worked at 'The Western Mail & Echo' as I did way back in the forties. I was a hand and machine compositor, eventually working at their Tudor Road factory as a monotype keyboard operator. It seems Ely has 'gone to the dogs' with unrest over the years. It was a safe place to be when I grew up there. You could go out without locking your door and no one would have any fear of burglary. I remember sliding down the hill towards St Francis School when the snow and ice came.

Bill in Caerphilly
My mother still lives in ely. she is in her 80s. her life is made a misery by drunks and kids on drugs. the police cannot do anything about the problem as their hands are tied in case they offend somebody in social services. if the police could treat these idiots like they were allowed to do 20 yrs ago, these scrotes would all be put into homes by now. there is only one way ely can go now and that is downhill.

Nicky from Cardiff
The trouble with Ely is that the sense of community has gone. Crime has gone up here due to the local drug dealers selling crack. I have 10 dealers names already given to the police but they never seem to do anything. The people of Ely need to open their eyes and get rid of the scum which is giving Ely a bad name and to be proud that we live in a fairly safe area compared to others places.

Jillian Coley in Canada
I moved to Ely when I was five yrs old and I had a fantastic childhood. We played rounders in the street, did shopping for the older people, got threepence for our trouble (if our mam allowed us to keep it). Every Saturday morning most of the kids had chores to do, mine was making sure the knocker was brassed and polished. We were poor but didn`t know it because most of the people in the street were in the same position. Everyone seemed to share, whether it be a loaf of bread or a bald tennis ball. My mam lived there for 53yrs till her death Aug 1st 2005. My youngest sister still lives there, and I will still be going back to visit every year. Ely brings back very fond memories.

Panda Hands from Ely
We used to all have parties in the streets. Now I don't even know who my neighbours are. My girlfriend would like to move to a more friendly neighbourhood but I would miss my mates.

Dave in New Orleans
I lived in Ely during the fifties sixties and seventies. I,m taken back at some of the comments. Nothing has changed much. Most of the people talk like this is a new problem but it's always been like that. Do you remember Phillis Cresent and the square? Now that was real poverty and crime. We never crosed cowbridge road unless we were in a gang looking for a fight. Given, there was little drug use, but that was more a question of supply. There was nothing to do other than go to the res on a sunday night (good old bob morgan) and st davids on a thursday night. Other than that it was roaming the streets and causing trouble , good old days huh

Kim Jury
In my opinion, police in Ely are totally useless and Ely is run by gangs in different areas which Ely police will not enter. We need a police force to come down on street crime and maybe make the streets safe, which is not happening at this time. The majority are being affected by the minority of yob culture.

Shane Hutchison - ex Ely boy
Most of my memories from growing up in ely are all bad ... i was removed from "that" environment, and because i was able to escape there, i was finally able to grow as a person! so, for all u doomsayers, yes, ely is a sh**hole, yes, ely has had a real bad rep, so much so that it's easier for people to say "typical" and do nothing about it! To those people i want to say this, "don't be so quick to judge, ok"! that noisy neighbour with the screaming kids, why are they screaming, eh? did u find out? or put up with it because u felt scared or afraid? maybe your intervention could've saved those poor abused children from a life of anger, hate and regret when they turn 16. When these kids are causing trouble out in the streets, just remember all those times you've done nothing! Ely has got a massive untapped natural resource, the youth! These children have so much natural ability, all they need is patience, understanding and guidance! Not to be given up at the first hurdle! You wonder why they all have low self-esteem, remember, it is easier for a child to throw a tantrum than explain why they are feeling so frustrated, all they need is the right people asking the right questions! Harvest our future, don't chuck them to the lions because you don't understand them, ok!! Trust me as a voice, these "yobs" need your help! They are not going to ask you for it mind, and if you don't offer that help, then your car is probably gonna get nicked. That neighbour of yours heard a noise, but he didn't do anything about it because it's not his problem! Community, not "them and us"!! You may ask, why us? A valid question yes, That yob you could've helped, he could be the next striker of wales, or wales's future "Prime Minister"! maybe, but if you continue this "them and us" attitude, you'll never know! Someone has to take the initiative - will it be the young people who cannot express their feelings and emotions unless it's through violence? What do you think?

Alan Freeman from Ely
I've lived in Ely all my life. I was brought up in Wheatley Road and then moved around Ely through my teens. I now live in Cambria Road and my mother still lives at her original address, Wheatley Road. People who don't live in Ely shouldn't knock it. There are so many hardworking families in Ely and 99% of the residents are decent, clean living people. Ely gets a lot of bad press which is totally unjustified. In my opinion, the police are half to blame for rising crime in Ely. They drive through the estate as though they are just out cruising. There have been gangs of youths standing on street corners who intimidate the officers into not stopping, so then the general opinion of the youths is "lets do what we want". All my family live in Ely and I can honestly say we are proud to be part of it. I am a sucessfull businessman who can afford to live anywhere I wish but Ely feels like home to me and always will be.

Whitey
While people on here (not just this page but others as well)are praising ely for its comunity spirit and youngsters with no place to go, lets all just take a deep breath to remember a man who was a real mate to me, and was murdered by a bunch of 16 and under animals on grand ave, Les Reed a man that was the salt of the earth. My house was broken into just after Les died, and i came home to find the front door kicked in and noises from upstairs, i told my wife to phone the police on her mobile while i went to find out who was in the house, i caught both of them in my bedroom with 2 holdalls full of my stuff, i got a slash across the face with a knife from kid 1, who then ran out of the house, the second kid tried to run past me and i punched him knocking him cold, I was the one that was charged with assault, the one that sliced my face was 14 the one i hit was 15, they got away with a slap on the wrist, i ended up with a record..WHERE IS THE JUSTICE ?????

Lisa Tuckwell
Reading all the comments brought such memories to myself. I lived in Ely for 25 years until I got married. Attended Glan Ely high the same as everyone else did - achieved as well as I should have. However not sure if it was the school itself. My background was not brilliant, all my family still live in Ely. However some like to say St Fagans, Drope etc. - if they have been lucky enough to move. All socially deprived areas have their problems and are all very much the same. Ely is ranked one of the 100 areas with high levels of deprivation. I know this as my experiences have lead me to work in a similar area to Ely with young peolpe. I love it, and it is not like a job. To be honest it is like working with me when I was younger. Yeah I was a nightmare, my background was rubbish, but I am a cracking person to know now. Some would not agree as I was so misunderstood. However I hope to contiune my work in Ely, working on some new intiatives. Look out - you may see some major changes that will put Ely on that map!

Jackie from Swansea
For Sandi. Hi yes parts of Swansea are pretty rough and have bad press. The area I am living in has a lot of poor, disadvantaged pupils. A lot like Ely. The kids I think are lot like me at that age. That's why I get on and relate to them. Glan Ely wasn't a good place for myself or my family. My sister didn't really go to school, didn't get any qualications - she is now starting nursing - nearly forty!!! My brother was bulllied so badly that It has effected his life even to this day. He got into a bad group of boys and never could say no. He has been in trouble a lot and I think still is. My house was broken in more times than I can remember. Once I actually caught two boys, grabed one, but police did nothing. I was beaten badly when doing my paper round on Grand Ave. For the money. Didn't let them have it as I knew I would have to pay the shop back. ended up with a huge black eye. anyway could go on for ages and can't, as I have lots of experiences to tell. How would I try and contact old pupils from around 1978 - 1984?

Phil Ash from Ely
I grew up in ely in the 60s and 70s went to cyntwell high and glyn-derw. i was married very young and moved to grangetown. we had a flat there for two years and then moved to a new council est. If people think ely is bad then live in grangetown! We had bottles through our windows fireworks through our letter box. One even landed on a copper's foot who we called out because of the trouble and he still did nothing. we moved to leckwith and ended up next to the neighbours from hell setting my works van on fire and selling drugs to kids. We, with the help of the police, moved back to ely in 1996 and we have been so happy since its just great to be back home in ely

Matt from Heol Trelai
All the above have been watching to0 many American police dramas. Ely may have a few rogues, but all the community spirit superseeds any of the TV drama dribble that has supposed to have been seen by the above. A lot of good has come out of Ely and it does not need people having a dig when most of the people doing the digging have had it on their toes.

Bill from Caerphilly
I used to live in Ely until 1982. My parents are still there, and they've had a lot of trouble with vandels and louts. It is not the Ely that I grew up in. I feel sorry for people who live there and want to move out, but cannot do so.

Denzil in Bargoed
Spent most of my life living in Ely, drinking in the Cav ( I hear it's a gay theme pub now ). Lived up the vallies for the last few years but hoping to get back there as soon as possible. yes it has problems but the sense of community still seems to exist which is something I have not found outside Ely.

Lenny Gough
My memoires were good ones, I went to Glan Ely high in the 70s sure there were bullies but you avoided them I now live in Australia.

Sandi - Childminder, Cardiff
In reply to Jackie mainly - My eldest son went to Glan Ely and had no trouble getting a college place (he went to St Davids) Mind you he has some strange so-called mates from work now (but tha'ts nothing to do with him living in Ely ;op) He didn't belong in any gangs and wasn't protected by them either. But yes mud DOES stick ufortunately. How does Swansea compare? (parts of that too have an unsavoury reputation)

Jerry Terrance, BG
I was part of a gang in Glan Cly but it was because there was nothing to do. We would meet at club x and go and cause trouble round the streets. I was even caught in Duff one night. Then I started to grow up and hang round with boys my age. They were better behaved and just a whole better than the rest. I still feel sore about what I've done but boys will be boys. Love ya Ely.

Lee (Merv, Beaky)
I am a youth worker in Ely and I was also raised here. A kid who I work with in the local high school came into my class the other week and said that he was completely fed up. I asked what was bothering and he replied ' everything'. I asked him to expand and he explained that it was the estate, he said that when he went home he could 'smell it on him!'. This shocked me as I thought about what this teenager was saying. He was being suffocated by the crime, poor housing, crappy environment and the 'playful' jibes of so called friends which included macho posturing and lyrical banter. This young person didn't see the sense of community which I know exists. He wasn't looking forward to the July Ely festival or the next Bling under 18 event. His world was much smaller than that and it wasn't a happy one. Yes, Ely has alot to offer, there is a sense of community and pride. Alongside this you have the biased press and the predjudice from other areas but Ely is no different to other large urban estates across the UK, there are real issues. These issues are a direct result of government policy both national and local and until people stand up and shout from the roof tops nothing is going to change. There are lots of people doing good work in the area on a shoe string but Ely is worth more than just a favour. Let the people who make the decisions really listen to what the people are saying and then direct funding and services appropriately. I feel better now, thanks for listening! Back to work.....

Jackie Jones- Swansea
I remember Glan Ely school was pretty bad, you either belonged to a gang and were protected by them, or you didn't and then you were beat up. At the time of the riots I was living in the next street to Wilson Road. I remember it being exciting as a 13 year old. I too caused trouble playing loud music to a couple with small children and then running off, only to return again to play the music louder. I ran over packed cars for a laugh, also took clothes of lines. All I deeply regret now. Once I moved everthing changed and am now a teacher dealing with the similar type of kids, which is a challenge- what goes a round, comes a round!!! I must say I couldn't get into college while I was living in Ely- I had to move to even be considered for a college placement. Sandi Haines is right - mud sticks!!

Gary Duff
I lived here in Ely back in the days when drug dealers ran the streets, kids of a young age were having babies and nothing was safe. We have to stand up to them and bring this place back to normality. I have already started to try and set up a place where the kids can go to interact and play safely.

Phil Hughes - Albany Road
I used to get drunk and cause trouble when I lived in Ely because everyone was doing it. When I moved I found peace and tranquility and I regret stealing peoples clothes off their lines and throwing bottles at passing cars. There is more to life, let's find it!

Doug Morgan (Ely) now in Brisbane, Australia
I remember the electric rocket guns at Ely Racecourse during the war - they made a terrific crack, crack as they went off. I also remember a bomb dropped at D R Llewellyn's grounds which were just near us - near also at Plymouth Woods. I also remember swimming at 'The Drope" Does anyone alive remember these places?

Dave Martin in New Orleans
I remember the smell of brewing beer from the Hancocks Plant in Ely. You could hear the roar of the crowd from the Arms Park at the Ely race course when the wind was right. I remember the hum of the trolley buses, or the cheer of the passengers on the Western Welsh bus going to Barry Island when the sea was sighted. The smell of beer and the singing on the last bus to Ely on a Saturday night - what a great place Cardiff was in the fifties.

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