your comments
Terry Llewellyn from Loughborough
Hello Les Davis, it's me Terry Llewellyn. Remember the top quarry and the camp we made roasting potatoes? Remember ditto, Colin Pinch and Joe Micheal Davis? Give my regards to Andrew Gainor and Elaine. You were head boy in Cymmer Comp. Nice to see your messages Les. Take care.
Tue May 26 16:46:26 2009
Keith Jones Sydney.
Hello Deryl James, just been reading your letter. Yes it is that Keith Jones. I cane to Aussie in 1965 to play soccer. Terence sadly passed away not long ago. I keep in touch with Marilyn. David still lives in the "Cape". My brother Mike died about six years ago. Aunty Myra, Winnie's youngest sister, came to Sydney a few years ago and we caught up with her. I've still got four sisters in the Afan Valley - Susan is the only one still in the "CAPE". DERYL,I CANT BELIEVE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,i'm getting in touch with you. Hope you and all your family are keeping well.
Tue May 19 17:08:26 2009
Keith Jones Sydney.
Hello to Les Davies, nice to hear from you...This is a great site, and I love reading about Gwynfi exiles and other people from surrounding valleys. I was talking to Mike's wife Maureen last night. I still keep in touch with quite a few people in the 'CAPE' via the phone and email.
Tue May 19 17:05:23 2009
Deryl James London
Hello to Ron Lyttle, PorthcawlMemories...Great to hear from you.I will be in Cardiff... May 16/17th. Perhaps you could get in touch...
Thu May 14 10:01:30 2009
Ron Lyttle from Porthcawl
Hi to Deryl James. I was delighted to spot your name in your blog: talk about a blast from the past! We've not seen each other since about 1953 when I left the Cape. I have a photo of you at home...I remember your family with fondness: Dai & Cassie, Gwyn, Ivor-John & Winnie, Terence & David, Iris & Jack - such happy times at your house.
...I am a widower now. My mother & father are also gone so I rarely go up to the great old Cape (sadly). I'd love a chin-wag; call in if you're over in P'cawl or give me a ring.
Wed Apr 29 14:21:54 2009
Deryl James, London
Hello to Keith Jones of Sydney. Is this the Keith whose mother was sister of Winnie who married Ivor James, my eldest brother? I haven't been to the Cape for many years and have sadly lost touch with remaining family members.Often talk about you (and football with Iris shouting at the ref from the sideline!)Would appreciate any news of mutual friends and family.
Tue Apr 7 09:46:17 2009
Clive Davies - Melbourne ex Rhondda
My great grandfather, James Rees Davies, was a check weighman/rollerman/ropeman and was killed in the Great Western Colliery in Abergwynfi. He and his family were living in 'The Huts' Blaengwynfi. Any info on the Colliery, its records and 'The Huts' would be appreciated.
Thu Feb 26 11:57:27 2009
Les Davies, Perth (Ex Duffryn Rhondda)
Hello Keith Jones, Jackie English is my uncle and I was in the same class as Mike in Cymmer school. I don't think we've met Gordon Coleman but I don't live far from Belmont (Riverton) and I knew one of the Colemans in school. It's a small world isn't it.
Tue Dec 16 13:53:39 2008
Keith Jones of Sydney.
Hello Gordon Coleman, many years ago we were at a party at Mike and Lynn young's unit to farewell Mike's father Fred and Blod Jewel who were returning to the "cape". Jackie Rogers and Connie, Jackie English and his wife, Eddie Smout and Rosie, were there also. The singing and harmonising that night from the "Gwynfi" exiles would have got us top billing in the social club, without a doubt.
Mon Nov 24 12:53:24 2008
Keith Jones. Sydney
Hello Philip Jones, many thanks for your kind words. I still keep in regular contact with Maureen and my sisters. It was a massive shock when Mike died because he was still young, but the "cape" gave him a great send-off. He was very popular and well respected. We are all very well here in Sydney.
Wed Nov 19 15:28:57 2008
Gordon Coleman, Belmont, Australia
Just found out about this website - great to read the letters from Afan Valley people now scattered to the far corners of the globe. I lived in Tunnel Terrace, Blaengwynfi, until I came down under in 1968. You can take the boy out of cape but not cape out of the boy - hwyl.
Mon Sep 29 15:12:39 2008
Margaret Edwards
I was born in Duffryn Rhondda in 1960. I lived there until i was 18. I went to Duffryn Primary, and Cymmer Afan Comp. My dad still lives there. My grandfather worked at the colliery. Ben Dalton, what a wonderful man. I have very fond memories of growing up there. We used to take our cardboard boxes, and candle wax, and spend hours sliding down the mountain, took more grass home than was on the mountain...lol...I can still hear the shouting cos we were covered in grass and grass stains! What wonderful memories.
Thu Aug 28 10:40:24 2008
Phillip Jones,Cheshire
Special hello to Keith Jones. Keith I was a close friend of your brother Mike, and remember him with great affection. I played football for many years with Mike and spent many happy nights with him in the Social over recent years. Ken Williams is my Uncle (Ken the Pipe). I see Maureen regular when I revisit the Cape. All the best to your family in Australia.
Wed Mar 19 09:40:52 2008
Julia Mainwaring (nee Gowman)
I was born in Duffryn Rhondda - 22 Afan Road, and moved to 15 Blaenant Street when I was five. My father Bill Gowman worked in the Power House in the colliery for 40 years. My mother Edith was a nurse and her mother Mrs Jones (liberal) also lived in Afan Road. My father's parents and sisters also lived there. I loved Duffryn Afan Primary School. And on Sundays my father took me underground to feed the pit ponies. Poor animals, they only had two weeks of sunlight each year during miners' fortnight when most families went to a caravan in Porthcawl.
Wed Oct 17 10:40:18 2007
Kay from Neath
I was born in Duffryn Rhondda, grew up there - it's a really lovely family-friendly village. Sadly now, after losing both my parents who lived in the village all their lives at Blaen Nant St, I dont get to go up there much now...my Nan, who was Dad's Mum was caretaker of the primary school in Duffryn - her name was Edith Llewellyn. I have many lovely memories of my childhood and growing up there. My dad was born in Nantybar. I couldn't have been born in a nicer place.
Thu Oct 11 14:51:11 2007
H. W. Ellis Swansea
Hi Leigh Canham, enjoyed your letter on Blaengwynfi, I served in the Welsh Guards in the early fifties with a Ken Canham a great mate, I wonder if it could be the same one, he was one of a few brothers.
Thu Mar 15 12:41:35 2007
Pam Smith Duffryn Rhondda Port Talbot
I moved to Duffryn Rhondda on the 23 June 2003 and it is such a wonderful place to live I love the people the location just everything about Wales is fantastic I have only one regret and that's is we didn't make the move sooner, we moved from Mansfield nr Nottingham and when you have lived in a town all your life with nowhere to go and nothing to do unless you travel miles then you really appreciate everything around you and I would just like to thank evryone for making us so welcome.
Tue March 13 12.33 2007
Tue Mar 13 12:36:09 2007
Keith Jones. Sydney. Australia.
Just come across your site, fantastic. I was born in "the cape" in 1937 and lived there until 1965, when I emigrated to Australia to play soccer. My parents were Olly and Iris Jones, I still have lots of family and friends living in "the cape" as its effectionately known. Reading the emails I remember lots of the names and it was
great reading about where they are now.
The last time I was "home" was in 1998,and I love going back there. "Once a cape boy, always a cape boy".
Mon Feb 12 09:39:26 2007
Les Davies, Perth, W.Australia.
I grew up in Duffryn Rhondda, my grandparents lived in Gelli Houses. I went to both Duffryn and Cymmer primary schools and Cymmer Afan sec. Mod. Worked in Duffryn Colliery. Loved the Valley and the people. A truly beautiful place with the best people on earth. All my best wishes to my fellow Afan valley people.
Mon Jan 22 09:27:14 2007
Leigh Canham
The Afan Valley? God's country! I grew up believing that Blaengwynfi was the most beautiful place on Earth; who can deny it? If you walk up the Blwch and look down the Afan Valley and the opposite side to Cwmparc and the Rhondda Valley, or the other side down Ogmore Vale, the veiws are wonderful; you can feel the history poignently.
Both parents are from Blaengwynfi and I was born in Penrhywtun Hospital, Neath (the nearest maternity hospital, apart from Maesteg I think), in 1955. My parents moved to Cardiff when I was 3 months and I now live in Dublin. Mam is Sylvia James, daughter of Meredith (Jobie)! James and Ceridwen Williams and dad was Ken Canham, son of Jim Canham and Blodwen Waters. My uncle, aunt and cousin still live there, Marilyn James and Terrance (Jamsie) James and Nicola and her family. Hello to Bob Thomas, Glasgow. My mam remembers Ivor Thomas (knew him as Capers) and Betty Scotch. You've convinced me that I should go and visit soon!
Fri Jan 19 12:32:44 2007
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