Thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to write. The positive feedback has encouraged me to make the site much larger than I originally intended. My e-mail address is below - please say if you don't want your e-mail or e-mail address on the feedback page. This World Wide Web certainly makes the World seem small - at least that's what the following e-mails seem to do !

Hi David
I wandered on to your site while i was doing a search on bedwas, I was born in Trethomas in 1946 and stayed with my aunt and uncle for a few years before rejoining my parents in kent, I spent every summer holiday visiting them and my heart is always in Wales. My aunt and uncle lived in Thomas street a realy lovely mining village not far from Bedwas colliery as im sure you know. My uncles name was Albert Wood and he worked at Bedwas for many years. I'd be interested to know if you've heard of him,also is the picture titled Caerphilly in fact Bedwas colliery (yes- David) as it reminds me of haunts i used to play as a child. Keep up the good work i think your sites well laid out write soon Terry

"DAVE Price" Djmp@tesco.net wrote:

Hi Dave,

Just seen your web site about Bedwas pit. Well done. Are you in contact with old miners from the pit?

I'm interested in a "John Henry Cornish Died Sept 7 1941 aged 66" I believe he was in charge of the pit ponies.

also do you know of anyone interested in the history of Bedwas that have an email address.
Regards

DAVE
(Knowle Bristol)

Mr Harris -I have just been looking at your web sit about Bedwas. My grandfather and father worked and lived in
Bedwas.I still have relatives in the region and was very interested in your presentation .My father would tell me stories
about the strikes and the mines. My brother and I lived in Bedwas for a time juring the war with my grandfather and
grandmother. I am now living in Canada. Thank you for the stories and photos

Neil Roberts sid@pipcom.com

David

I was surfing when I saw your site. I worked at Bedwas from 1968 to 1979 when I went to UC Cardiff. I then moved on
to the copper mines of Zambia and gold mines of New Guinea until I became Regional Director for the Department of Mines and Energy in Queensland, Australia.

Regards

Chris Skelding

From Adrian Cook" ad.cook@tesco.net

Hello David,

I just wanted to drop you a line to congratulate you on your Bedwas Colliery Web Site. My father worked there for 33 years, most of them as one of a small team of Carpenters, then later as Pitman. He worked in the collieryuntil it's final day. He still lives in Bedwas.

Looking at your photos brought back floods of memories for me, so I've hadquite a trip down Nostalgia Avenue this evening!

Please keep up the good work, sites like yours are what really makes the Web worthwhile.

With best regards,

Adrian Cook.

From "Clive Elsbury" clive.elsbury@one-name.org

David - a great site, well researched and wonderful photo's.

My Uncle, Frank Masters was, for many years a Winder at the pit and still lives in Coronation Street - he is 77 years old.

Best wishes,

dave
well done i saw your column in the caerphilly campaign, the web site is great my father roy honeyball was overman and mines rescue i believe, my uncles brian and dave worked on the coke ovens,all are still living in trethomas the local pub the pike which im sure you remember is at present run by my sister nicola.

mark honeyball
markhoneyball@markhoneyball.fsnet.co.uk

From Phillip Price

Dear David,

I worked at Bedwas Colliery for 8 years until its closure. I was transferred there from Bargoed Colliery in 1977 when Bargoed closed. I was an Overman for the last 5 years there. I worked underground for a total of 26 years. I recognise the deput in the picture as Dai Cowley, in South Wales all deputies were known as 'firemen'. This was an old term from years ago when the 'firemen' would ignite pockets of firedamp, seriously endangering their lives. This was the only way of clearing gas in badly ventillated parts of the colliery.

When I came to the colliery in 1977, the manager, Glyn Pritchard, persuaded all of us from Bargoed that there was 60 years of reserves iin the pit, and the youngest person in the canteen at the time would see out his working life out here. I was 23 at the time. The reserves are still there.

phil.price@mcnicholas.co.uk

From Steve Nicholas

David,

I came accross your website while looking for information about my family history, my ancestors (surname NICHOLAS) lived and worked in the Bedwas area for many years as far back as c1750. I know several ancestors worked as colliers and pitmen at Bedwas coalmines but I am not sure which one?

You have created an excellent site which I am going keep in my favourite website list ( Thanks Steve, the fiver's in the post - David. ) When I find infomation about the collieries in Bedwas, I will forward it on to you.

Keep up the good work.

steve.nick@ntlworld.com

Hi David,

My mother has just sent me a clipping from, I think, the Caerphilly Campaign, about your website.

My connection with the pit?

1. My grandfather, Norman Bowyer, worked there from the age of 14 to 48 and his death certificate is a legacy to what he
picked up there! Dust on the lungs.

2. My father, Derrick Parsons, worked there for some 10 years in the 50s and 60s.

3. I worked at the Plant as a summer job whilst a student for 3 summers in the 60s.

4. When I lived in Bedwas (Bryn Fedw from 1951 to 1959 before moving all the way to Trethomas), I spend hours playing
up the Pit with various friends. Happy days.

I believe your father taught me when he was teaching in Bedwas but I can't remember the years. But I do remember he was well -liked.


I'll look in again. Keep up the good work.

Cheers,

Derrick Parsons

dparsons@centrenet.co.uk

From: Walpcs@aol.com

cc D.Walters@lboro.ac.uk

Having heard the recent Radio 4 item on Bedwas Colliery ( and enjoyed it ), my brother David emailed your site address. I visited the site and was surprised and pleased with it's contents. We are Norman ALLAN Walters and David Walters, sons of Norman Arthur Walters, Manager and later Area Manager.

David now lives in Loughborough and I live in France. I married a local girl, Ann Hufton, daughter of Doug and Muriel who you should talk to before it is too late, we are all getting older!!!

Regards, Allan

From:
"Cheryl" <oohbetty@cprobert.fsnet.co.uk>

Hi David,
I currently live in Bedwas and have done so since I was 4 years old. As a child I used to play on the site of the old colliery! I always wondered what the foundations of former buildings were. Old tram lines and the railway track can still be seen. It was great to have a trip back in time. I have always had a fascination with history and I have always wanted to know about the old colliery thanks a lot for filling in the blanks!

From: "Russell Davey" <rcd@tesco.net>

Hi David

My name is Russell Davey I currently live in Bedwas and was given a printout of your site today by my father Dennis Davey who in turn was given it by another ex-miner Bill Hazel. I looked up your site and found it very interesting. I have some photos which may be of interest to you, two show the old offices shortly after they were gutted by fire 1986/87 and one that shows the remnants of the Coke plant after the stack was blown up. ( Thanks Russell, they are up on the page about the colliery site's future - David )

Cheers

Russell

From:
"Ruth Gow" <TheGow.Dwelling@ntlworld.com>

Hi David,

I came across your site by chance. The little girl who lives opposite my mum and dad in Bedwas had been looking for information for a school project and took the picture of my father over to him. The pit deputy in the picture is my father David Cowley. He transferred to Bedwas Colliery in the late sixties and worked at Bedwas until it closed. We lived in Bryn Dolwen at the time, my parents now live in Nursery Rise and (I won't tell my mother!) we used to go up onto the railway line to play and walk on the line from the pit down towards Bedwas churchyard and beyond.

I remember listening to the pit hooter, especially waiting for it to go off on New Years Eve at 12:00, always watching the big cloud of smoke and steam that used to go up frequently from the coke plant and I remember my dad being called out late one night because some boys had been riding the buckets at the top of the mountain and had got stuck.I have particularly fond memories of the christmas parties held at the pit for the children. My dad always took me and my brother and sister and as you can imagine the place would be full of most of our school friends. They were held in the pit canteen and the highlight was waiting for Father Christmas to come in with the sack of presents when our names were then called out individually.

I have not so fond memories of the times my dad was brought home after having accidents, one where he very badly damaged his hand.

My father has lots of anecdotes about the pit I will get him to put some down and e-mail you. He was amazed to see his picture onthe Internet!

Your father taught me history at Bedwas Comprehensive in the 70's and I remember his catch phrase "the world is round" well.I remember him drawing a perfect circle with chalk on the blackboard whilst saying it! I enjoyed his classes and I'm pleased to say I passed history!

I've had a great time looking at the site,I have fond memories of living in Bedwas. I hope you keep it updated.

Kind Regards

Ruth Gow (nee Cowley)

From:
"Myra Curnow" <myra@rcurnow.fsnet.co.uk>

Dear David

Many thanks for producing such an interesting and worthwhile Web Site.

I was born in Bedwas. My Grandfather came to South Wales from Cornwall and worked at Bedwas Colliery as did my Father Tom CURNOW (as Head Pitman) until his death at Bedwas Colliery in 1955 aged 55 years.

There is an enormous amount of sentiment attached to mining; my Father's main ambition in life was that none of his sons would work in the Pit - name me another occupation fraught with such dangers and the working conditions don't bear thinking about.

I was born 'on the Dole' in 1934 because my Father was handing out Union leaflets outside Bedwas Workman's Hall, so perhaps, because I remember the hardships my Mother and women of her generation endured, I don't have this romantic nostalgia towards the mining industry.

May I conclude with a tribute to your Aunt, Enid Harrington. She taught me and later my Daughter, Kathy at home. I cannot speak too highly of her kindness to my family and her commitment to the teaching profession.

Keep up the good work!

Myra Curnow

From "Murphy Family" <Salre@btinternet.com>

Hi David,

Thought you might like to know that it was my daughter Laura that gave the photo to Dave Cowley. (See e-mail from Ruth Gow above). She attends Bedwas Comp and is in Year 9 doing a project on the Mines in S Wales. Your site was a great help to her and it resulted in her getting 2 merits. Thanks.

The funny thing was that she had downloaded the photos and cut out the photo of Dave without us realising he was the kind gentleman who lived opposite us. It was only when we showed my Dad Alex who was involved in an accident at Bedwas Pit in 1963 when I was a few weeks old that we noticed. It made us all smile and the look on Dave's face when we took it over to him was brilliant, he was so surprised I think it made his day.

Thanks again and keep up the good work.

Annette

From: Roger Phillips <Pencoed@aol.com>

David,

Having just found your web site I have tears in my eyes, what a wonderful job you have done about Bedwas & Trethomas - I lived at the Church House Inn, Bedwas from 1941 to 1955, son of Betty and Glynn Phillips, I am now living in Canada.

From: Simon Grist
Maxi.Mus@btinternet.com

Just surfed u r web site, "BRILLIANT". I'm local lad from trethomas, taught by u r dad. Yes the world is round, "WHAT GOES ROUND , COMES ROUND " my mum worked at the coke plant, i played for CARDIFF CITY i signed when Jason Perry signed, ask his dad, we were the only 2 boys from the area to go all the way with pro clubs, my name simon grist. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

From: Stephanie Knock <grammak60@aol.com>

I have been searching for information on Bedwas Colliery for ages. Two of my grandmother's brothers, Frank and Archie Thomas worked there and were said to have been run out of town as they were 'management' during the strike in the 30's. I remember one of the women who was arrested. My father, Ivor Phillips taught in Bedwas and used to tell me of the fright he felt when he heard the Riot Act read. I remember Don Harris mentioned in your site. My Uncle Wally Smith was one of the men who took part in the first sit in strike. My husband's gramdfather was winder at Aberbeeg and his great grandfather was killed at Abercarn in October 1880. Any contact welcomed.

From Harald Finster, Aachen, Germany. <finster@atecom.com>

Hi David,

Just came across your site about Bedwas colliery. Coal mining in South Wales is a great topic and your site reflects this in a great way. Thanks a lot for it!

My first visit to South Wales was in the end of the 80ies. Lot's of the old mines were already gone, but there was still a lot waiting to be discovered. I found more time to visit the area in 1990 and managed to visit many of the still existing or even active deep mines (Depp Navigation, Penallta, Tower, Merthyr Vale, Britannia, Oakdale ...)

If you are interested, you will find a few pictures taken during my stay on:

http://www.finster-stahlart.de/MinesCokeplants.GreatBritain.SouthWales_main.html

Greetings

Harald

From:
Bobblins@aol.com

the comments of mr. lewis brought me great pride and also sadness. i cannot agree more with the comments of his final paragraph. many men and women worked hard and fair to provide a place for their families, and to provide a nation with coal. many suffered and so few prospered. returning myself to wales this past spring,( i was born nearby and left with my family as a child) i was saddened by the lack of interest shown in public places about the rich history of the coal mining vallies. i greatly appreciate the hours of work and dedication shown by people such as yourself to the task of recording and preserving the past. it is the shared past of the welsh people. unfortunately, so many of us were forced to leave out of economic necessity.again, thank you for our time and effort. i would like to receive the full version of mr. lewis' text.
regards,

gaynor harding (phoenix, arizona)

From:
richieh35nof <richieh35nof@netscapeonline.co.uk>

As others have written I have stumbled upon your site by a "Bedwas"search on the Net. Thanks for taking me back in time, the pictures brought it all back. I have strong recollections of being told that the tall chimney was to be blown up at lunch time whilst at school and was upset on leaving school to see that it had been done whilst I was in morning lessons...probably to keep children out of the way. I remember being taught by Don Harris in his last year or so before he left the school - I was surprised to see your dedication.

Keep up the good work

Richard Jones

From : "Mike Leggatt" <mike@leggattm.freeserve.co.uk>

Hi David

Like so many people who contact you I lived in the area was taught by your dad and worked for a brief time in the pit.

Firstly may I congratulate you on the quality of the site to date and secondly how warming it was to see comments from people who are being united by their memories of both the pit and that of your dad.

I note Mark Honeyballs sister Nicola now has the pike, hope she serves me one day. My first recollection of the pub was trying be served as a very spotty 16 year old to the amusement of Archie Hollifield and others.

It also served as a news letter informing me of the success of Geoffrey Grist making it as a professional footballer. Well Done!

I spend my life commuting between my offices overseas but how refreshing and uplifting it was to view your site and see these E Mails from people who some I have not seen for over 25 years.

Congratulations and keep up the good work.

Mike Leggatt

From:
ISSYC@aol.com

David,

It was really wonderful to look up your site on Bedwas Colliery. The photos and stories were very interesting. The site itself is very well laid out, well done.

I, like countless others, was also taught by your father. My main memory is of him reading Jerome K Jerome's, "Three Men In a Boat". Your father could barely read the story of them getting lost in the maze at Hampton Court because tears of laughter would be streaming down his face. I have read that
book many times since and your father's voice always comes alive in my head when I do so.

Congratulations on a very interesting and informative site.

Isabel Miles

From:
"terry" <terry.bretton@btinternet.com>

Hi David,

I must congratulate you on a great site the work and research you have put into this site is unbelievable. My interest in the bedwas colliery stems from the fact that i was born in trethomas in 1946 and moved away shortly afterwards to london. I still paid visits at least once a year to my aunties and uncles though so i still look on trethomas as a big part of my life. Im 56 now so nearly all my relations have passed on.I was born at 29 Thomas street Trethomas my uncle started down The mines when he was 14 in the early 1930s i think his name was Albert Woods and his wifes name was Phylis. Up one house lived Ted Howells and down a couple of houses lived a chap called Jackie Morgan. Both of these other chaps were miners also. Looking at all of your photos of the mines brought all the memorys coming back to me my heart will always be in Wales. Keep up the good work pal you are doing a great job.

All the best Terry Mooney

PS If you did know of my uncle or his neighbors id love to know about it thanks again

From: les.harber@bt.com

Just a short line, I have to agree with you when you say "little info seems to be written on the welsh coal industry", I have a website www.cwmtillery.com and the valley was covered with coal waste, pitprops, smoke filled air and a buzz of people years ago (not now). I am trying to build a record of what impact the industry had on Cwmtillery and South Wales as you with your valley. The info is out there because I am receiving regular photos and facts. hopefully the next generation will benefit from our hard work.
Take a look at the site, the coal industry pops up on most pages, if your interested.

Keep up the good work

Les harber
les@cwmtillery.com

From: Jennifer Hessar-Amiri <jhessara@mail1.jpl.nasa.gov>

Hi David,

What terrific memories you have brought back to me. My Dad came from Bedwas as did his Father and his Grandfather. I still have relatives in the area. My Dad worked in Bedwas Colliery for 40 years, although he retired 20 odd years ago. I remember him taking me up to the Cafe for Wagon Wheels when I was very little. I believe his Father Rufus Ridout or I should say Rideout worked as a pumps man. Recently my Father came to visit me in California and I was able to show him your Web site. He was very pleased and excited to see so much information had been collected by you. Thanks for the Memories.

Jennifer Hessar-Amiri
Institutional Business Systems (IBS) Division
818 354-5640

From: Jo Sullivan <josullivan@flagship-housing.co.uk>(Suffolk Heritage Housing Association, Framlingham.)

We have been admiring your site this afternoon - myself, Fiona, Lucy and Doug and are all quite in awe! We can see the likeness with ya grampa! Keep up the good work!

Best wishes,
Jo.

From: SIMONRGRIST@aol.com

HI DAVE ! web site getting even better, chatted before i,m simon grist (what goes round comes around ) Dave, working on my house in Trethomas, JAMES ST . HAVE IDEA OF GOING BACK TO ORIGINALLY HOW IT WAS WHEN FIRST BUILT !have knocked back to original fire place but where could i find PICTURES, of what it was like back then ? tried every where , could you help ? plans,picturers,peoples memories,not just fire place but whole
house

regards simon !

Simon - Any former Cardiff City player is a friend of mine. I've put up this e-mail as you never know, someone in Arizona or Canada might have an old photo somewhere!

From: "Ian Jenkinson" <yanni@blueyonder.co.uk>

i have just finished looking through the site and i think you have done a fantastic job. my grandfather worked at bedwas colliery - he was born in 1888 and his name is charles chambers and lived on pandy road. i am going to show my mother the site when i next visit as i am sure she might know some of the people on that brilliant picture. in fact one of them does look like my grampa. i couldn't believe the site when i came across it - by accident as so often happens on the web! wonderful! i'll be in touch if i find out any names. ian jenkinson

From:
"adge.covell" <adge.covell@ntlworld.com>

Hello Dave,

I really enjoyed visiting your site which I found while looking for information regarding the history of the collieries of Wales. I have been trying to find out about Deep Navigation Coliery, and a search of the web led me to your site.

I have a little about the history of the Welsh coalfield on a site which I operate, http://www.minersadvice.co.uk

I shall be adding a link to your site the next time I update.

Take care and good luck,
Adge Covell.

From Katie Larkins

Hi, My name is Katie Larkins,and I am currently studying History at Birmigham University. I have decided to do my dissertation on the 1984 - 85
miners strike,My Dad worked for British coal in Doncaster at the time and then we moved to South Wales where he continued to work until the early 90's. I am interested in the effect that the strike and its aftermath, had on the community. If anyone has any information concerning this I would be very greatful, my email address is katielarkins@hotmail.com

Thanks, katie.

From: " roger phillips" <pencoed@msn.com

HI DAVID,

Great new updates. Do you know what happened to Mr. Everson taught me in bedwas school inthe 50s ? Keep up the good work they all deserve the recognition

From:
"Hammond, Sue W" <sue.hammond@wsatkins.com>

Mr Harris,

I have been 'browsing' at work today!... looking for Bedwas and .... came across your website. Fascinating .... For me. My sister worked at Bedwas Colliery Offices - Margaret Meredith She actually went down with the Manager for whom she worked)

My Dad also worked at Bedwas - both in private ownership (chauffeur) and then Ambulance/odd job man ---- looking after the Office and Goldfish! Wonderful to read all about it and seeing familiar names and places ... Going to browse a bit more on Bedwas as a whole!

Thanks again

Dear David,

Found your web site by chance and found it very interesting. You most probably won't remember but I am one of the three Cleary brothers who played cricket with your father. I remember you and your sister Kate being brought down to the ground at lower Machen when you were very young children. Your mother Doris with other ladies would make the teas and generally enjoy themselves while the game was played, they were very happy days. ( I have very vivid memories of those days in the late 1960's, Frank , the sun always seemed to shine - David)

My brother Gerald worked at the pit after leaving Bassaleg Grammar School and became an overman, I think I remember him working as a Fireman and then later as colliery ventilation officer. He was a member of the colliery rescue team and was very proud of that fact. He regularly attended the Mines Rescue Centre at Cwmsyfiog or was it at Elliot's Colliery? I know he used to catch the same train as the New Tredegar Tech. boys,(I was one of them) he used to leave the train Cwmsyfiog. After the day at the Centre he would be absolutely shattered after carrying out the various simulated rescue routines. Regarding the explosion on the L21 face on 10/10/1952 I have in my possession a plan showing the position of the workmen and officials at the time of the explosion, I think it came from my brother, unfortunately he died after a motor cycle accident in 1954. If you would like to see it, let me know and I will forward it to you, you can take a copy of it, but I would like the original back. Sadly the only fatality of that explosion was Mr A. Griffiths whose daughter Shirley had been in my class in Tyn-y-wern school when we were children. The evening of the explosion I was at the local youth club when we heard the dreaded repeated hooting of the colliery hooter something that none of us had heard before,we instinctively knew that something very serious had occurred, a lot of us headed for the pit but of course we were not allowed anywhere near.

My wife Maureen, nee James, her father George worked at Bedwas and was buried under a rock fall in 1941 suffering serious injuries, he died in 1947of a fractured spine sustained in the accident leaving a widow and three young children. Compensation levels then being virtually nil.

Ten years later Mo's mother married Gwyn Evans, who also worked at Bedwas. Unfortunately in 1963 Gwyn was killed in an accident at the pit a week before Christmas, leaving a five year old. Compensation by today's standards being miserly.

To make ends meet Mo's mother worked in the pit canteen for a number of years, and her sister Almeda worked in the pit office from leaving Bassaleg Grammar School until the office was relocated at Llanbradach.

Hope this little story is of some interest.

From:
gripper3338 <gripper3338@netscapeonline.co.uk>

Hello David,

At last some information on Bedwas colliery.This is a superb site and helps in my research of the Mapps family history. My great grandfather William Mapps was killed by a coal truck about 1942.My grandfather Trevor Smith lived and worked in Bedwas at the pit for years and i believe he was a foreman for a time. Are there any employee records etc in existence??? Once again many thanks for the site.

David James

From Hywel Glyndwr Jenkins,

Dear David:

Your web site is most interesting, especially for someone born in Bedwas (1927) who knew your father Donald. He was a year or two ahead of me at Bedwellty Secondary School in the late thirties and early forties. I remember him playing rugby in the backs.

In 1942, age 15, I started working underground at Bedwas Colliery as a tension end boy in the L80, Mathews District, Black Vein. Abel John Rees was the overman. Evan (Yanto) Bartlett was one of the firemen. I remember him for his tenor solos, particularly Macushla, which he sang at Haphzibah Baptist Chapel in the late thirties. It was a loss to the community when he was killed underground in 1943 in an accident where a dram came off therails.

Accidents happened all too often. During my first year in the mine there was a fall where I was working. Small bits of shale came down first, which cushioned me from the large lumps that fell on top. Although covered I could see chinks of light, from the collier’s lamps, between the large pieces of shale. I called out to let the men know where I was. It took about half an hour to get me free. Except for some cuts, bruises, and being shaken up, no serious damage was done. I was able to walk out to the pit bottom and was back at work the next morning.

Later, I was a measuring clerk for Sextons and Mathews Districts, Black Vein, and afterwards for the districts in the Rock Vein. The other measuring clerks in the colliery were Bill Thomas (called Billie Tape), and Owen Williams.

Although I left Bedwas Colliery in 1946, and immigrated to Canada in 1950, I visit relatives and friends in Bedwas every few years. I have many fond memories of growing up in the village and of my time at Bedwas Colliery.

Hywel Glyndwr Jenkins
617 Mansfield Ave
Ottawa, Ontario K2A 2T3
CANADA

I've subsequently received a communcation that Hywel has been poorly and I'm sure we all wish him the best for a full recovery. He can be contacted via John Reid - jdreid@magma.ca - David

From: leericharson23@hotmail.com

hi david,

my daughter is doing a school project on south wales mines and the effect that thatcher had on the mines and life of the welsh people. your site was so helpful in her search for information that i thought i'd drop you a quick note to say thanks. so from a 12 year old schoolgirl and her 40 year old dad, who have never been to south wales in their lives, thanks. i just wanted tohelp chloe in her search for information, but ended up reading your site with great interes.

keep up the good work and thanks again

lee and chloe

From: DUNCANANDTINA@aol.com

hi david

came across you web site. i was born and bread in trethomas, lived most of my life in bedwas. my great grandmother and grandmother were born on church street and pandy road. my grandfather and both uncle's mined bedwas colliery. my family still live in bedwas. but i moved to canada in 79'. i was very moved to tears brought back a lot of memories.... i also attended bedwas comp. if you have further info on my grandfather i would like to here from you. his name was harold partridge, my uncle's denis and harvey partridge. my step father's name is george nott and my mother's name gloria nott (nee partridge) my maiden name was tina winter, if you know of any one who attended bedwas comp rom late 60's to early 70's. i would like to hear from them?

look forward to hearing from you soon

tina

From: "Christian Davies" <christianx71@hotmail.com>

Dear David

I am a Bedwas boy, born 1971, and remember the strike 84/5 and the closure. I have recently completed a Geology degree and have found new interest in the S Wales coal measures, that which is to a geologist the ancient (around 300 million years old)environment of south wales. Also, my Grandfather, Rhys Davies, worked as a mining engineer in Bedwas and S Wales from the 40s to 70s. I have been keen to find out more and your web site proved to be an excellent resource, wonderful work. I would love to know more about mining equipment used in the 40s, principally how exactly was the coal taken from the face. if you can point me towards any interesting material i would be very grateful.
Thank you again for a wonderful site,

Christian Davies

From: RDavid620@aol.com

hello, great site, john everson in australia put me on to it after being told by myra curnow. my father, bill( pandy) richards, worked in bedwas also my brother brian who was a measuringclerk. my wife and i went down on a visit and had a certificate which is somewhere in the attic...

cheers dave richards,
machen.

From "Patrick Darby" <md.tp@btopenworld.com>

Dear David,

My father-in-law, Garnet Ridout will soon be celebrating his 80th Birthday. As a present I am currently putting together a photo collection of the pit for him as a surprisepresent. He worked until they closed the pit as an underground fitter for over 46 years at Bedwas, and to this day still speaks with pride of the good and sometime awful times he spent there.

I write to ask if you can supply or let me know where I can get my hands on some mining pictures especially of the colliery before it went into disarray. Any other help in making up a collection would also be appreciated.

I thank you in advance and found your web site absolutely fascinating although the nearest I ever got to mining was a day trip down the pit in the 70's. I do remember the eeriness of bent girders and supports and the trip.

Hoping you can help,

Yours,

Mr Patrick Darby.

I've e-mailed a few, hope they are OK - wish him many happy returns, David

From: "russell sheppard" <russell.sheppard@btopenworld.com>

Hello David,

Being a Bedwas boy I found this site very interesting and well put together, the first hand account of the explosion nearly reduced me to tears, well done. I lived in Glebe Street as a boy and my Grandfather Walter Jones worked in Bedwas pit for most of his working life, Bedwas has given me great memories through the years even with simple things like going shopping with my Grandmother as a boy.

Keep up the good work David and thank you for a site worth visiting

From: "Peter Weston" <wesopwno@online.no>

Hei David

Sorry I can't be among those that knew your father, I had the misfortune to go to Bedwellty and obviously missed a treat.

I was actually born in Machen, but emigrated to Bedwas age 10 in 1965. My father, Evan Weston - probably better remembered as 'Bill' - worked as a young man in the pi but managed to leave it for Rogerstone and eventually RTB Llanwern and then British Steel, Ebbw Vale. Of course, my uncles were either down the pit or worked on the plant - my uncle Aubrey, Aubrey Wintle, was a stalwart of the union and a great source of stories about the pit, the men and the union. Sadly he passed away last year.My father had a brief return to the pit in his forties - I think he was a beltman then and lasted about three weeks underground - probably not as fit as hethought. I still can't understand why they took a man of his age on.

One aspect that is not mentioned on the site, but which I am sure many of the colliers will remember, is the Aberfan disaster. My dad was in Ebbw Vale at the time but was had all his mine rescue certificates and he and a lot of other colliers and ex-colliers went to do what they could -'no bloody nonsense' - well-used as they were to shifting muck by hand quickly. I'm sure there were many from Bedwas who were there with him, it would be nice to read what others of my age can remember of their dads at that time.

I grew up in the shadow of the tip and within the sound of that hooter at the plant. I used to spend hours watching the drams being pulled up to the little crane up on the big tip, and when that stopped transferred my attention to the buckets going up to the tip on the top of Mynydd y Grug - simple pleasures! For years I had to listen to my dad telling me to 'go and get a job as an electrician in the pit'.

We grew up with a wealth of stories, of course, many with a certain amount of pride behind them: My grandmother going up to the bridge by St. Barrwgs in the '33 strike to throw rocks at the scab miners; my grandfather (also an Evan) being fined for scavenging coal from the tip - the summons had been kept amongst my grandmother's papers, a bit embarassed she was. Endlessly being reminded of going up to the pit with my dad when I was about four on the crossbar of his bike - falling off on the pit road on the way down and loosing a shoe - never to be found. I can also plainly recall my uncle Aubrey telling me that one of the shafts was not straight - or had developed a 'kink' which would rattle the cage on the way down. Can anyone substantiate this? Or is my memory playing tricks?

Great site. For those of us who 'were there' it's a real wallow in nostalgia; for those of us who didn't go down it gives a little more respect for those that did. So nice to see family names that I remember on the feedback site - we lived in 50 Hillside Terrace, across the road from the Curnows.

I'll be letting my remaining aunts - Thelma Weston and Jean Wintle - know that it exists, I'm sure my cousins still in Bedwas and Maesycwmmer will be having them around to have a look - and there'll probably be a lot more photographs and anecdotes coming your way!

Once again, thanks for the memories.

Peter Weston
Sola, Norway

From: "Gwilym" <blacksmith41@tesco.net>

My Great Grandfather Worked At Bedwas Colliery in the 1920s. After He Came Home From WW1 His Name Was Llewellin Evans. He Died in 1932 From dust
also my uncle Teddy Edward Price worked In Bedwas Pit. Also My Father Dai Edwards (Gwilym) And my uncle Albert Price. And my grandfather William Price.

Keep Up The Good Work, Dave

From Gwilym Edwards

From: "Anthony WILLIAMS" <tina@tronk.fsnet.co.uk>

Hi David
I would just like to say that it's nice to see some of the pictures of the pit. It brings back some memories of my youth. My father worked there during the 70's/80's as a Unit Electrical Engineer and he used to take me with him on the odd occasion. By the way, your father taught me history at school (surprise. surprise). He was a brilliant teacher and a lovely bloke.

Nice to see something of old Bedwas

Thanks
Anthony Williams (32)
Bargoed

From: Roger Phillips <roger.phillips@sympatico.ca>

I was thrilled to find on your site the Bedwas Colliery Management photograph. The gentleman third from left in the front row is my Uncle, David Jones, (Dai Aberdare) as he was known. Lived at 10, Tyn-y-Wern Terrace, backing onto the Coke Plant in Trethomas.

Spent many happy holidays in Trethomas on vacation from the Church House in Bedwas, watching the coke and steam coming down at Tyn-y-Wern Terrace.

As you say, the world is getting smaller with this wonderful e-mail.

Great site, keep it going.

From: Mr Lyndsey Harvey <Lindsey@harvey199.freeserve.co.uk>

hello david,

i came across your south wales mines web site and i must say a big thank you for the memories your photos of the bedwas mine brought back to me i myself never worked in the mines but my dad and grandfather both worked there my dad had just come back from burma after the war and my grandfather and and dad both worked at bargoed pit as houses were few and far between. my dad came down to bedwas to work i was three at the time im goming up to 50 now as a boy around the pit even under the dark arch where the miners came to and from faces black - heading for the tin baths at home. my father's name is stanley harvey and still living in the same coal board house in the bryn my grandfather who finished at bedwas at 64 years after being in an accident spent the rest of his life tied to a bottle of air to help him breathe - his name was thomas williams from bargoed known as jack the bike he lived in work

anyway boy i feel better all the memories came flooding back - keep up the good work all the best

Hi David,I'm working with my daughters on their family history. I typed in Seabourne and Bedwas and to my amazement I am reading about a Grand Uncle of mine a Leonard Seabourne who ran a shop for mainly miners. Surely someone can now help me! My Great Grandfather William Seabourne was at the disaster in Senghenydd 1913. I believe he was later at Llanbradach,where he may of had a shaft named after him. Anyonewith any info. that Imight find of interest, I would be delighted to hear from them.

Best regards Kevin McCormack, Farran, Co.Cork, Ireland