"I came from the Corporation Road area of Newport. Every Sunday evening (1937) before the war, a gang of us would walk down to Pill, to spend an hour in Mr Lee's Coronation Cafe, to play on a slot machine and buy lemonade etc. We were all about the same age 15. Was great. Then into Gran Thomas's sasperella bar.

"My sister and brother were married and lived in Pill. I met the very first love of my life in Pill. Her name was Doreen. Beautiful girl, but sadly I lost her when I went off to war in 1939. To me Pill was the most friendliest and happiest place to live in the whole world.

"Now at 84 years of age disabled and housebound I often sit back and reminisce about my young days in Pill and my beautiful young lady that I sadly lost. Beautiful friendly Pill. To me it was a paradise."

"I have lived in Pill for a long time and although being brought up in the Baneswell area of Newport I am very proud of Pill. I know times have changed but I also note that a lot of Pill born and bred people are all too quick to run down our community and instead of sitting at home and running our community down why not go out and get involved in the Pill activities that are currently taking place.

"There are lots of different activities and community events which need more help and less critisism such as the Carnival. I am the Secretary of the Pill Carnival and I will assure you that there is a lot more than 3 floats in the procession. The Carnival takes a year to prepare and although it is very hard work it is also very rewarding work and is only run by a minority of people within the Pill Community. The Pill Carnival Committee also tried last Christmas to entertain the Public with a Christmas Concert and a Childrens Christmas Party but there weren't many people who attended - but these people are the first to say 'nothing happens in Pill'.

"So I suggest to all the people who live in Pill and want to criticise our Community - get up and either do something about it or join in the community activities that are already going on in Pill. I would also like people to note that the Pill Carnival is a Community Carnival and receives no funding whatsoever from our Local Council and relies entirely upon fundraising from local firms and local people."

"I've lived in Pill all my life and used to love the place!! I lived in Alice Street until I was 10 then we moved to Charlotte Green where my parents are still living today. I will agree with my good mate C Ingles as Pill has gone to the dogs!! There's no community spirt these days whereas I remember the carnivals that went on for hours and hours and the fairground would take 3 days 2 set up. And the excitement in the air around carnival time streets would through parties everyone joined in in one way or another ... that's all gone now!! Yeah, we have the odd 3/4 floats and half a band but there's just no effort nowadays.

"And where I live (the basketball courts behind Kwik Save) I've seen everything from robberies to stabbings, gun shootouts, you name it!!! I have to bring up 3 kids all under 4 and you know I always loved my Pill but I'm frightened for my kids future because if it's like this now, what chance have my twin boys (1yr old) and my daughter (aged 3) got?

"My dad is Pill born and bred and was regular come a weekend in the Alex or the Gunners pubs having a beer. Him and my mum bought a holiday home to get away from the place!! It's not good at all, and you know when I get asked what area in Newport I'm from I always say town because when you say Pill these days you get tarred with the same brush!! And it ain't a nice feeling!! I totally agree we need to stand up, people of Pill and do something about it. Let's stop sitting back and watching these outsiders destroy any more of our Pill!!!"

"I was born & lived in Brunel St in Pill, Newport, just before the last war. One day, when I was about 18 months old, my Gran (pictured above with baby Ken) had just been shopping in the local shop and was returning the few yards to our house, carrying me on one arm & the shopping bag on the other.

"Suddenly the air raid sirens went off just at the same time a German daylight raider came over strafing the docks. My Gran, naturally scared, dropped the shopping, ran into our house to shelter under the stairs with me, only to discover that she had dropped me & not the shopping. I was discovered sitting rather sorrowfully in the road, unharmed!"

"I lived in Newport for the first sixteen years of my life and still have family there. I have been tracing my family history and my great-great grandfather, Charles White, had a confectionary shop in Pill. In the 1901 census their address was given as 79 Commercial Road, Newport, but I don't know if this was where the shop was. I would love to see any photos of the shop if anyone has any."

"I run local football teams in Pill, (Pill Hibs fc) We train and play from the Pill Millennium Centre and have done for the last ten seasons. In the last 3 seasons we have only just missed out on promotion to the Gwent fa leagues. This is partly due to not having enough changing rooms, especially for the referee which is part of the Gwent leagues criteria. We have asked the council on numerous occasions if they can help us with this and they agree but then nothing at all is done. Three years ago we fenced off the pitch as part of the league's criteria at our own expence. This also helped to keep stolen cars and motor bikes from using the pitch as a race track. Sport in Pill has always been hotly contested and will continue to be, but we need the help of the local council and the Pill community first leaders."

"I have lived in Pill all of my life. Proud of where I grew up but some times I don't like to tell people where I'm from because of the state of Pill these days. What has happened to the good old days in Pill where you walk down the streets without looking over your shoulder? My grandparents used tell me when you could leave your doors open all day and night. And even leave your kids out to play without watching them. What's happened to Pill? Where are all the old heads of Pill? We should get up and stand up - not shut up and put up. Pill will never die but it could if we don't react very soon. Let's do something together about our Pill and out Pill people before its too late. I hate seeing my home town like this. Come on Pill people, this is where you live. Don't turn a blind eye to what is happening around us, our kids and the future generation. P.S. Long live PILL."

He's particularly concerned about a local landmark:

"Have you seen the state of the Pill Millennium Centre lately? All the graffiti all over the place and the attraction of young thugs and drug users that go around the back of the place to score? Well I have. And I ain't too happing about it when I got my under-14's football members coming up to me and say there are junkies doing there business around by the tennis courts. I've even found used needles around the back of there on a good day. Well as far as the graffiti goes, it's like the council dont give a t*** about the place because it's still on the walls. And that how its been for months. I blame the council and the police for all this. Seems to me that they are just to damn lazy to get off their backsides and do anything about it. But if there is some kid riding a motor bike across the fields, then you will see the police. To me that's nothing. If the kids wants to hurt themselves on their motor bike let them. Cos it ain't nowhere as bad as seeing junkies scoring with their drugs behind the centre when all the kids can see whats going on. These people have no shame and neither does the council or the police. As long as they are not doing it on their path they just don't care. Well I do cos it me who lives here. The Millenium Centre is just 6 years old and the state of it makes it look 106 years old. Council and the Police need to clamp down on graffiti and all these worthless low life junkies. Because of them it's why Pill has got a bad name."

"Interesting to see in the Argus last week about the regeneration plans for the Old Town Dock area. For a long time this industrial wasteland on the edge of the river has been ripe for development. However, you have to be concerned about the plans that have been submitted. The developers seem to have a very different idea to the rest of the world as to the surrounding area - luxury waterside flats may look nice, but they aren't going to attract the right sort of buyers without the infrastructure improvements that 'luxury' flat dwellers require. Be honest - would you spend 200k on a flat in Pill? Without a Starbucks or Pret in walking distance....didn't think so. But you do get some wonderful views of a mudbank when the tide goes out..... Real homes, real jobs, for real people - that's what Pill needs, not instant profits for speculative property developers."

"I used to live in Coomassie Street and Courtabella Terrace. And when I look back I am filled with fond memories of Alexandra school, and playing in Alfie Porretta's scrap yard, of looking forward to the Pill carnival, where spirits were high and it was a fun time for families. I remember the Silver Jubilee in 1977, and every one pulling together for street parties. Pill was a wonderful area to grow up in. Although it has had its rougher parts the same as anywhere, people looked out for each other and doors were ofton left open all day. It is such a shame to see the state it is in now, and I hope one day it gets back to how it used to be."

"Where are you people from, did you realy live in Pill???? I was born in Pill 1950, had a lovely life ... Milman Street ... Had a lot of family around me. Went on the transporter bridge nearly every day, went to Alexandra school. Stop being wimps - things change, memories DO NOT!!!"

"I lived and loved Pill - born in Dolphin Street in 1947 where my parents had their own house for years, the front door was never locked (imagine that now)neighbours were always welcome.

"I have read so many of your letters about Pill and yes all are right very little money but a massive amount of respect and love not only for your own but for others. It was a child's paradise - my pals and I would set off to play over the dock steps and down towards Cashmores. We played in the mud and with all the old cookers and containers strewn about with our bottles of water and paste sarnies - fantastic. Again, imagine small children being able to do that to-day.

"My best memory of going to the Plaza Pictures was the bag of whelks we used to buy on the way out. Heaven help if you forgot your pin although one could normally be found about one's person! We also used to make a great game from running to the top of the rail bridge walk- way at the top of Frederick Street to catch ourselves up in the steam as the trains passed.

"What about all the pubs? One on every corner almost and the ol' sing songs and piano playing on a Saurday Night wonderful. I went to St Michaels School and discipline abounded but it never hurt us. I later married in St Michael's Church and have also had my children christened there, only to move away from Newport in the late 70s. My mam lived until 86 in Daniel Street, where I visited regularly but it made us so sad to see what has happened to Pill. I think they really were the 'Good Old Days."

"What a great place it was to grow up in the 1940/50s. The river bank at the bottom of our street (Brunel Street), going over the Transporter Bridge to the park to play rugby or BASEBALL - where else could you do that in the UK?

"Exploring the fields 'over the bridge', cycling down to Goldcliff, the lighthouse or to the woods at Henllys camping! Could kids do it now? I doubt it."