Duport Steel works, better known as “The put anything into his mouth or spit anything Klondyke”, stood on this site. out.

fÑÉÇáÉÜxw uç YxÄ|ÇyÉxÄ UÜxãxÜç I turn and look out again over the estuary; Dick “the shop”, was just about opposite the

lying on the rock in the sun, my head on corner of Ropewalk Road and New Street

my small ruck-sack, I close my eyes. where my parents established a bakery during

Memories of Llanelli, as I knew it, came the war.

flooding back. Sitting up on my rock, a bit stiff now after my MEMORIES My earliest memory of the town is the long walk, I muse a little longer. It’s such a noise of the clogs as the wearers made nice day! their way in the dawn, down Ropewalk I look again towards Llanelli, and I think of the Road, to the change-over of shifts in the old wonderful glass covered vaulted roof of A small but important collection of memories. Morfa tin-plate works. The clip- clop was the market pavilion. They pulled it down in like heavy raindrops on a tin roof. You about 1969 I think. I’m told they were going to could tell if the worker was a man or a build another one on the same spot, give or A Bônau Cabbage Patch Supplement woman; the ladies made a lighter clip, the take a foot. It’ll cost quite a few million quid, men a definite clop! I would lie awake, so they tell me. Isn’t it a funny old world? wondering at this, my first introduction to Wherever I walk around Pembrey Mountain, the traditions and unique Welshness of 1969 was the year Pat and I took over the TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE my route always takes me to Burry Port Llanelli. My mother had been born in the Half Moon Inn in Als Square. There we made By Dennis Bates Harbour and then on through the windmill town, in the area known as Custom House the acquaintance of men like Jack “the Hat”, park, now defunct thank goodness; then on There are many places that can be quite Bank, part of Seaside. Bryn “Rabbits”, and many others. evocative to a person. Mine is a slab of home to Llanelli via the sea-wall that runs At that time, in fact, we lived in Southend- rock alongside the railway line in Pwll. along-side the main railway line. It’s there that But it’s time to leave my rock. Another day, on-Sea. I myself knew little of Llanelli. The I reach my rock. another walk. Another day of musing. Lord Some of the finest walking country I know outbreak of war however, brought the My rock is a warm brown colour, about seven knows what I’ll remember next time. of lies on the top and on both sides of family to the town and an area I have Pembrey Mountain and it has many feet long and slightly scooped out like a loved ever since. footpaths that sooner or later will present petrified hammock. It faces due south tilting a the walker with all manner of wonderful little so that on a warm summer’s day it Lying on the rock, the sun hot on my bared vistas. I have walked up the mountain on a catches the full rays of the sun. Sitting on the upper body, eyes closed to the glare, I PWLL IN THE PAST smiled as I remembered the quaint Welsh By Kay Pascoe (nee Rogers) balmy spring day, following a steep path rock, I can look across to Gower or watch that opened out into a fairy-dell of wild three cormorants (always three) standing on way of distinguishing peoples’ names with Quite recently I had the pleasure of flowers, bluebells, primroses, buttercups in the sand-bank with outstretched wings trying that of their jobs. discussing “Pwll in the Olden Day” with my profusion laid on a display that no to cool off in the heat of the day. Whatever the My first errand ever was to be sent, basin mother, Mrs Edwina Barney of Bassett gardener could match. The sun shafted tide is doing, in or out, there is always in hand, to Mrs Davis “the chips” in School Terrace, and her friend Mrs Edna Rees (nee through the newly opened canopy of something to see. Looking toward Llanelli I Road. Then followed instructions over the Davies), a native of Pwll, whose sister is Mrs leaves as if to spot-light this idyllic scene. am aware of the rounded shape of following months to other Morfa Avril Lodwick of Stepney Road. Mrs Rees left The path continued lined with these wild “Monument” hill overlooking the water park. the village on her marriage and is now living characters. Freddy Evans “the post”, Olive flowers until it led me to one of my “the shop”, Griffiths “the milk”, with his in Aberaeron where I too live. They are not favourite spots; Mumbles Head, horse and cart and milk churns with long contemporaries and indeed the three of us overlooking Pembrey. There I sat down, handled measures hooked over the rim. represent different decades of growing up in munched my chocolate bar, and looked Pwll from World War I to the 1950’s. There out over Carmarthen Bay. Mrs Pike “ginger beer”, Delaney “the was a lot of laughter, several dim memories, barber”, best basin crop in town; the other but enough sharp recollections to entice Many paths lead to unexpected places on horse and cart man, Nicholls “the fish”, others perhaps to submit their childhood the mountain. One I know cuts right with the power so they say, to heal warts memories. through the corner of a private garden, but by touching them with his phosphorous a polite knock and a request to follow the tainted fingers! Early Days path always leads to a smile, a Edna lived in Bassett Terrace and remembers conversation and permission to carry on. Garfield Ungoed, who had a parlour-shop Florrie and Jack Davies whose sweet shop The path continues through a farm and on the corner of Olive Street and was also a billiard hall. “There was little traffic” keeps company with a stream until the The monument is the form of a criss-crossed Ropewalk Road was always chewing, she said, “so we played on the road”. Among walker comes out by the Graig in Burry concrete billets and a plaque tells us that the what, no one knew; he was never seen to Port. the games was Whip and Top and ‘Ticker’ Edwina’s secondary education took place in Siop Watt: Now the Pet shop. This was a aforementioned shop. Salem was also used (Hopscotch). West End, in a building on the main road. general store but also a barbers and for the weekly Babies Clinic and both Edna She’s not sure whether there was an entrance unisex hair cutter. and Edwina remember ‘the posh prams exam or not but remembers a fair deal of Manchester House: Drapers outside’, ‘the tea and Marie biscuits’, ‘a lovely walking in all weathers. She has always Butcher : We all remembered ‘Pricey the nurse’ and Dr Reggie. Edna’s Auntie Katie spoken with a great deal of affection, of Mr butcher’ very well. sold the Cow & Gate milk. Rolfe as the teacher who most encouraged Billiard and Sweet Shop: Mentioned Edwina’s family were Libanus members. It her, especially her acting talents. Edna above. was always well attended, she recalled, and attended Stradey Central School as it was Two Shops: Kept by the Evans family (one full of characters: Mrs Lizzie-Jane Treharne, then called. “There was a bus stop outside later became Mr & Mrs Edwards’ grocer Mr Stan Bonnell, ‘Arweinydd y Gân’ and the Salem,” she recalls. (Salem was Bethlehem’s shop). The other, of course was the kindly Mrs Cunningham, who in my youth at little vestry building, which stood where the famous Chip shop where we, as young Christmas time, presented every child with a car lot near the Chinese Takeaway is now. people in 50’s used to congregate. Edna little hand made bag with coins inside. The proximity of Stradey Woods meant a More on this story later!) and Edwina recalled the spotless eating Both chapels encouraged the young to large play area to explore. The journey to Teachers, Misses Mattie and May Powell room with marble topped tables and the perform, with participation in ‘Ysgol Gwarter’, the brand new school meant a ramble lived near “The Travellers” – now ‘The ‘takeaway’ area to which residents of the Cwrdd y Plant, Cantata and oratorios being through ‘The Graig’ where there was a Sospan’ – and travelled with them to ensure village carried their own basins, duly regular occurrences. Both mentioned the cottage whose elderly resident gave the that the pupils boarded and alighted the warmed by Christmas Evans, owner, to be Reverend Gwyn Bowen of Bethlehem with children tart. Edna comments that her buses safely and behaved themselves en filled by golden chips and quickly taken affection, and the succession of Reverend mother was not too happy with the route. Both agreed that Stradey Woods was home. Jones’ with which Libanus was blessed: standard of hygiene in this home cooking! no longer “a large play area to explore” but an These were main road shops, but there Thomas, Trevor and Elfyn being among them. ideal venue for courting! Some things never For Edwina, the first school was next to were also places off the beaten track: the her home – The ‘Institute’. She remembers change! previously mentioned Siop Irons by the Pubs forays to the top of ‘Tyle Blue’ to a small When we touched on transport during the church, ‘Siop Billy Janie’ top road, Stepney The pubs, of course, played their part in the shop near the church, kept by the Irons discussion we got on to trolleys and trams. Road sweet shop (No 27?), a Stepney social life of the village but, unlike the family, selling sweets: half a penny for For me in the 50’s they were always ‘the Road butter shop kept by Mrs Peregrine, chapels, these were ‘men only’ domains. ‘cockle shells’, liquorice and sherbet. Both trolley buses’ and came as far as the and ‘Peter the Papers’ opposite the old They believe that all four were there in their remember playing in the shelter (just as I aforementioned shelter at Erw Fach and had Police houses next to Coleg Sir Gar. youth and Edna recalled that Sid and Gertie do) which was above where the Church overhead rails. This might be a fruitful area to There was nearly no need to catch a Hall is now – near ‘Tom y cobblwr’s’ shop. who kept the ‘Travellers’ also sold paraffin. explore, e.g. when did the trolleys stop? I trolley bus to town in ‘the old days’. My husband who often went for a pint with Teachers’ name and idiosyncrasies were remember talk of the very last night journey Hugh, my stepfather, to the Travellers in the remembered: Mr Edwards, Miss McVicar, when mementoes from the bus were given to Chapels 60’s recalls a group of World War I veterans Mrs Evans (mother of Gethin Evans, Pwll those who took the last trip. This must have Edna attended Bethlehem. Chapel life was who regaled other locals with their tales of Road) and Miss Griffiths. (Is this the same been in the late 50’s. so important in her youth that Salem ‘Wipers’ (Ypres in Belgium) and had special Miss Griffiths who taught me in the 40’s?). Shops chairs, which accommodated their injuries Another childhood memory both ladies I was amazed how many shops Pwll boasted sustained in that horrific war which they were remembered was the custom of inviting in the 20’s and 30’s. Here are the ones so lucky to survive. them, en route from school or playing, to Edwina and Edna told me about: view the corpses of the recent dead Siop Fach: I remember this; it’s now the site World War II whether they knew the deceased or not! of a brand new house. Both women were extremely interesting about Adolescent Years Siop in Thomas Terrace: once kept by ‘mam a the arrival of the evacuees. Edna says one tad Betty Harries’ it later became a branch of woman arrived with her child and promptly left the Co-op. because she took a dislike to Pwll! Imagine! Millinery Shop: This was at the bottom of Tyle Mrs Gwen Beynon of Bassett Terrace took in Catherine, kept by two sisters who sold a little orphan girl who stayed a long time and ‘beautiful hats and Easter bonnets’. vestry catered for the children of Erw Edna, then a teenager, recalls going with Mrs Siop Thomas: Grocery shop kept by Mrs Fach, as Bethlehem itself was a fair walk Beynon to collect her from the school. She Thomas, mother of Naughton Thomas of Pwll to attend Sunday school. She remembers was the last one to be chosen. Road. her teachers there: Davie Sammy Lewis, Edwina, with a baby of her own (me), was Fish and Fruit: Next to ‘Tom y Cobblwr’ by the Davies the Draper, and the formidable obliged to take in evacuees herself. Two little shelter. Watt Hoskins, owner of the girls from Swansea arrived to live with s and were visited by their mothers every little gay and a little more interesting for him. When he has a chance to have his pressure him in any way to stimulate intimacy. Sunday. My mother recalls having to give His boring day may need a lift and one of your evening meal, clear the dishes and wash Should your husband suggest congress then them rations of butter etc for their tea. “ duties is to provide it. up promptly. If your husband should offer accept humbly, all the while being mindful that They were Catholics” she recalls “and to help decline his offer as he may feel a man’s satisfaction is more important than a walked to the services in Llanelli (or Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip obliged to repeat this offer and after a long woman’s. When he reaches his moment of Llanelly as it was then). No Libanus or through the main part of the house just before working day, he does not need the extra fulfilment, a small moan from yourself is Bethlehem for them! your husband arrives. Gather up schoolbooks, work. encouraging to him and quite sufficient to toys, papers etc. and then run a dust cloth indicate any enjoyment that you may have Both Edna and Edwina could have gone over the tables. During the colder months of had. Should your husband suggest any of the on much longer, there were so many the year you should prepare and light a fire for more unusual practices; be obedient and areas left untouched. I thoroughly enjoyed him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he uncomplaining but register your reluctance by listening to them and hope their memories has reached a haven of rest and order and it remaining silent. will inspire others to add to the will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his It is likely that your husband will fall promptly recollections of ‘Gwyr y Bônau’. comfort will provide you with immense asleep, so adjust your clothing; freshen up personal satisfaction. Article submitted by Kay Pascoe (nee Rogers ) and apply night-time and hair care products. You may then set the alarm so that you arise Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival shortly before him in the morning. This will eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or enable you to have his morning cup of tea vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be ready when he wakes. THE GOOD WIFE GUIDE quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire This is an actual extract from a Home Economics to please him. Encourage your husband to pursue his textbook printed in the early 1950’s HOTELS & PUBLIC HOUSES OF hobbies and interests and be supporting Listen to him. You may have a dozen without seeming to encroach. If you have LLANELLI 1897 Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the important things to tell him, but the moment of little hobbies yourself try not to bore him night before, to have a delicious meal Als Square his arrival is not the time. Let him talk talk first, speaking of these, as a woman’s interests ready for his return from work. This is a The Half Moon Inn remember his topics of conversation are more are often rather trivial compared to men’s. way of letting him know that you’ve been Ann Street important than yours. Make the evening his. thinking about him and are concerned Beufort Arms, Bull Inn, Oddfellows Arms, At the end of the evening tidy the home about his needs. Most men are hungry Prince of ales Never complain if he arrives home late or ready for the morning and again think when they come home and the prospect of goes out to dinner or other places of ahead to his breakfast needs. Your a good meal (especially his favourite dish) entertainment without you. Instead, try to husband’s breakfast is vital if he is to face is part of the warm welcome needed. understand his world of strain and pressure the outside world in a positive fashion. and his very real need to be at home and relax. Try to make sure your home is a place Once you have both retired to the of peace, order and tranquillity where your bedroom, prepare yourself for bed as

husband can renew himself in body and spirit. promptly as possible. Whilst feminine

Don’t greet him with complaints and hygiene is of the utmost importance, your problems. Don’t complain if he’s late for tired husband does not want to queue for dinner, or even stays out all night. Count this the bathroom as he would for a train. But as minor compared to what he might have remember to look your best when going to gone through that day. Make him comfortable. bed. Try to achieve a look, which is Above: Beaufort Arms

Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or welcoming without being obvious. If you Biddulph Street have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a need to apply face cream or hair rollers Mermaid Inn cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange the wait until he is asleep as this can be Bridge Street pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in shocking to a man last thing at night. King’s Head Bryn Terrace a low, soothing and pleasant voice. Don’t ask When it comes to the possibility of intimate him questions about his actions or question Bryn Terrace Hotel, Britannia Arms relations with your husband, it is important his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is Bryn Road Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest to remember your marriage vows and in the master of the house and as such will Lord Nelson Inn so you will be refreshed when he arrives. particular your commitment to obey him. If always exercise this will with fairness and Bwlch y Gwynt Touch up our make up, put a ribbon in he feels that he needs to sleep Sea View Inn truthfulness. your hair and be fresh looking. He has just immediately then so be it. In all things be Cambrian Street been with a lot of work weary people. Be a lead by your husband’s wishes; do not The Cornish Arms Church Street Paddock Street MESSAGE FOR THE OVER 30’s We would leave home in the morning and Salutation Hotel, British Tar, Union Inn Rose & Crown play outside all day, as long as we were back Upper Church Street Park Street If you are under 30, you may not wish to when the street lights came on. No one was Ship Inn, Three Crowns Bristol Tavern, Ivy Bush Inn, Stepney Arms Hotel, read this BUT … for the rest of us it would able to reach us all day. Dafen Row Ty Melyn Hotel appear that we are awesome ! Marquis of Granby Inn Upper Park Street No mobile phones! Unthinkable!!

Dillwyn Street Swansea Castle People over 30 should be dead and here’s Dillwyn Arms, Duke of Wellington Pembrey Road We did not have Playstations, Nintynedo 64, why – X-Boxes. No video games at all. No 99 Dimpath Terrace Stag’s Head Inn Dimpath Inn Prospect Place According to today’s regulators and channels on TV, VHS, VCR’s, DVD’s, Dolau Road New Market House bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in surround sound, personal mobile phones, Sloop Aground, Smith’s Arms Railway Terrace the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s or even maybe the personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. Embankment Road Welsh Star early 70’s probably shouldn’t have We had friends! We went outside and found Dock Hotel survived. Glanmor Road them. We played rounders and sometimes the Trevose Inn Our cots were covered with bright ball would really hurt. We fell out of trees, got Globe Row, Dafen coloured lead-based paint. We had no cut and broke bones and teeth, and there was Globe Inn childproof tops on medicine bottles, door no litigation from these accidents. They were Hall Street or cabinets. And when we rode our bikes, just accidents. No one was to blame but us.

Black Horse, Castle Inn, George & Dragon, Old we had no helmets! (Not to mention the Red Cow, Prince of Wales, Union Hall Remember accidents?

King’s Square risk we took hitchhiking). We had fights and we punched each other Cornish Arms, Royal Park As children, we would ride in cars with no and got black and blue and learned to get Maliphant Row seatbelts or air bags. Riding in the back of Globe Hotel over it. a truck or on the trailer of a tractor on a Marine Street Above: Melbourne Inn warm day was always a special treat. We We made up games with sticks and tennis Albion Inn, Cambrian Hotel, Cardigan Arms, Station Road drank water from the garden hose or the balls and ate worms – and although we were Friend’s Inn, Glanmor Inn, Sailor’s Home, Ship Apple Tree Inn, Forester’s Arms, Melbourne Hotel, told it would happen, we were not put out, and & Pilot Inn, Trafalgar Inn tap and not from a bottle. Oddfellows Inn, Pemberton Arms, Railway Hotel, the worms didn’t live inside us forever. Railway Station Hotel, Rolling Mill, Vine Inn, Horrors! Waterloo Inn, Whitehall Inn We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s home Stepney Street We ate cakes, bread and butter with and knocked on the door, or rang a bell, or North Gate Hotel, Centre Hotel, Cambrian Hotel dripping on and drank lemonade and pop just walked in and talked to them. Some Swan Street with sugar in it, but we were never school children weren’t as smart as others. So Brecon Arms overweight because we were always they failed a grade and were held back to Swansea Road outside playing. repeat the same grade. Some were relegated. Boar’s Head, Lamb & Flag, Start Hotel Thomas Street Horrors! Crown & Anchor, Drover’s Arms, Farmers Arms, Hotel, Fountain Inn, Mason’s Arms, Rose & Crown, Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our Thomas Arms Hotel Actions were our own. Consequences were Above: Railway Station Hotel Tinwork Row, Morfa expected. The idea of our parents bailing us Market Street Anchor Inn out if we broke a law was unheard of. They Barley Mow Inn, Bird in Hand, Black Lion, Bush Tunnel Road actually sided with the law. Imagine that! Inn, Dynevor Castle, Greyhound Inn, Golden Vale of Neath Lion, Royal Exchange, Stepney Arms Union Square This generation has produced some of the Murray Street Bisley Arms best risk takers, problem solvers and Albion Inn, Bres Arms, Clarence Hotel, Victoria Road inventors ever. The last 50 years has been an Cricketer’s Arms, Malabar Hotel, Raven Inn, Greenfield Inn, Hope & Anchor, Union Inn explosion of innovation and new ideas. Queen Victoria Water Street New Dock Street Angel Inn, Square & Compass, Stevenson’s We shared one soft drink with four friends, We had freedom, failure, success and Bird In Hand, Harbour View Hotel, Marine Hotel Bottling Stores, Swan & Theatre Vaults, White Hart from one bottle, and no one actually died responsibility, and we learned how to deal Neptune Inn, New Inn, Northumberland Hotel, Hotel from this. We would spend hours building with it all. Any you’re one of them. Penrhos Inn, Rose & Crown, Steam Packet Inn, West End our carts out of old prams and then rode Congratulations! Three Mariners, Whitstable Inn, Princess Head, West End Inn them down the hill, only to find out we had New Street, Wind Street Please show this article to others who have Biddulph Inn Saddler’s Arms forgotten the brake. After running into the had the luck to grow up as kids before Old Castle Road bushes a few times we learned to solve lawyers, governments and ‘do gooders’ Old Castle Inn (Note: To save you counting them there are 120 – ED) the problem. regulated our lives for our own good.