A long way from

Tony O’Neill’s autobiography – out now!

If you or your family lived in South from 1938 onwards you, or someone you know, could be in this book. Most of the stories in the early part of the book concern the time Tony lived in Splott or Canton in but he got about a bit and played rugby for a few Cardiff & District clubs so older Cardiffians may have met him on the field. More likely, they may have met him in the Old Arcade, Model Inn, Queens Hotel, Marina Ballroom, Paget Rooms, No.7 Jazz Club etc. He also lived in Llandough and Porthcawl and worked in Bridgend, as well as travelling throughout South Wales as an Internal Auditor with British Road Services and later in his own accountancy business.

This is what Paul Flynn, Labour MP for Newport West, author, former columnist for the South Wales Echo and former prefect at St. Illtyd’s has to say about the author and the book: “A valuable addition to the folk . A joyous romp through Cardiff of the past. Authentic, haunting, very funny anecdotes and tales of the raw and tender drama of a simpler age of hope and innocence. Tony has a perceptive eye for the telling details of character and place that illuminated and magnified the joie de vivre of both our early lives. From the unpromising chaos of his dysfunctional boyhood and boozy rough early manhood, Tony emerged relatively unscathed into a life of successful satisfying normality. A great read.” (“Can’t say fairer than that, can you?” Tony O’Neill)

Now for the content of the book: Tony describes his working class childhood in Cardiff during World War 2 and growing up in the post-war years. In a life which saw many changes his story encompasses religion, his wayward schooldays, his family roots in the Irish enclave of Newtown, his working life and his involvement as a trustee and prolific fundraiser with a national children’s charity. He tried backpacking at age 61 and travelled around Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Australia, India, Fiji, Borneo, and Myanmar. He was still travelling at the age of 77 but his rucksack had been retired. He’s got new wheels – one set on a suitcase and another on his camper van! He writes in a style that makes for easy reading – a book you can dip into and out of because there’s no plot to follow but once you pick it up you’ll find it hard to put down until you finish the 322 pages.

Can’t wait to order?

Unsigned copy: from www.lulu.com at £13.38 (20% discount from RRP £12.99 plus p&p £2.99) Signed copy: send cheque for £12 (inc. p&p) payable to W A O’Neill to 24 Swan Close, Moreton-in- Marsh, GL56 0BE. e-mail: [email protected] Phone: 01608 650370 Mobile: 078 4521 7081

Webpage (for excerpts, reviews & photos etc.) – tonyofsplott.wix.com./alongwayfromsplott