Category: Readers Articles of Interest

The Blackened Oak Tree

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

THE BLACKENED OAK TREE

1882
The sky went dark over the area. In the small village of Wenvoe near Cardiff, people took to their homes as a great storm was coming in from the west. At the east end of the village, towards Cardiff, was a field in which stood a large oak tree reaching one hundred and thirty feet high. The tree was around four hundred years old and stood dead centre of the field. Thunder and lightning began to hit the area. A bolt of lightning hit the oak tree, splitting it and setting fire to the tree.
The rain came down hard on the oak, putting out the fire. It was covered in soot and had been reduced to twenty feet high. As the storm moved away, something moved in a crack at the bottom of the tree and disappeared into it. A small plume of smoke came out of the top of the Blackened Oak Tree.

1943
The Wenvoe Women’s WRVS Choir Committee meeting was underway in the school hall. Doris Davies was the chairwoman, leader of the choir of fifteen women and my Mam. I was watching from the corner of the hall. I was seven years old. My name is Doreen. I would take over the choir in the early sixties when it would change its name to the Wenvoe Women’s Choir.
“Right” said Doris, “we will have a space at the Wenvoe Summer Fete in one weeks’ time to sing one song – any suggestions?”
Mrs Howarth, who was the doctor’s wife, suggested a song. “How about Greensleeves? That’s always a popular song and the choir already know it.”
Everybody in the choir nodded their heads including Doris, who thought it was a good choice.
“Right” said Doris, “we will meet in two days’ time to practice the song before preforming at the fete.”
It’s up to the WRVS to arrange the seats and food and drinks at the field of the burned-out oak. The oak tree had been burned out since the end of the nineteenth century. The field had always been nutritious and a great grower of crops. The owner of the field had been told never to take out the old, burned oak tree as it contained magical qualities. Little children from the village had always played there for years since the incident of the thunderstorm, saying there was a fairy living in the tree. This used to make their parents laugh.
Nearly all the men from the village had joined the war effort and the men who were left, worked on the land. A couple of days before the fete, I was playing with my friends in the burned-out field. Billy a lad from the village, about six years old and from a poor family in the village, had rickets in his legs and had come to the field to see the other children play. He sat with his back to the tree and laughed at the other children playing. Suddenly the sky went very dark and a blinding light came from the bottom of the tree.
A beam of light touched Billy’s legs and he cried out. The light disappeared and the sky was bright again. Billy slowly stood up and shouted, “I feel better.” Billy then began running around the tree shouting “I feel better” several times. Then he ran out of the field and down to his house in the village. The rest of the children in the field didn’t seem to notice what had happened. I felt I was the only one who saw it. Billy’s rickets never returned, and he went on to live a long and happy life.
The fete went off without a hitch with the choir singing ‘Greensleeves’ at the end of the show.

2010
Bernice Watkins was the choir’s new leader since 1988. Her mother was one of the Windrush generation and had come to Cardiff from Jamaica in the 1950s. She was a nurse at Llandough hospital and married Ronnie Watkins, a young copper from Grangetown. They moved to Wenvoe in the seventies.
The choir met in the new community centre for their weekly meeting. “I’ve chosen a song for the annual Wenvoe fete in the burned oak field. It’s going to be Home in the Meadow from the movie, How the West Was Won.”
“We have two weeks to learn the song”, said Bernice.”
The choir consisted of around twenty women from the village. Doreen would co-ordinate the seating from the hall to the field. I was now seventy-five years old and still a member of the choir. I had handed the reins over to Bernice back in the early nineties. I was still fit and was able to do the small tasks that were given me.
The day of the fete came quickly; it was a beautiful sunny summer’s day in the village. All the seats and food stalls where prepared in the field. The small stage was set-up next to the old oak tree in the middle of the field. All the people who did their acts came on and did well.
The choir was the last act to go on. They started their song. In the corner of her eye Doreen could see a light come up from the bottom of the tree and a glimmer around the choir. Then, the old choir from the 1940s appeared at the back of the new choir. One choir sang the new song, and the old choir sang Greensleeves. It’s what the people called a mash-up of voices. I was sitting in the front row of the crowd and a bright light shot out of the tree and landed next to me. A voice said to me from the light “It’s time to go now Doreen.” I closed my eyes and fell into a beautiful sleep. The song finished and everybody was clapping. Everyone got up to walk back down to the village. Bernice came over to the seats, “Come on Doreen wake up, it’s all finished now. Doreen! Doreen! Oh no – someone call an ambulance.”

 

 

How The Silurian Tribe Of South Wales Took On The Romans

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

HOW THE SILURIAN TRIBE OF SOUTH WALES TOOK ON THE ROMANS

A Struggle for Dominance The Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD marked the beginning of a series of campaigns that would extend Roman control over the island. Among the fiercest opponents the Romans encountered were the Silurians, a tribe inhabiting what is now South Wales. Their resistance was marked by a series of battles that epitomised the struggle between the Roman Empire and the native tribes of Britain.

The Silures: A Brief Introduction The Silures were a Celtic tribe known for their warrior culture and staunch independence. They occupied the region that includes modern-day Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. The tribe was characterised by its fierce resistance to any form of domination, and their territory was known for its rugged terrain, which provided natural fortifications against invaders.

Early Encounters and Initial Resistance The initial encounters between the Romans and the Silures were marked by hostility and violent skirmishes. The Silures, under the leadership of their chieftains, adopted guerrilla tactics, utilising their knowledge of the local terrain to launch surprise attacks on Roman forces. The dense forests and mountainous regions provided ideal conditions for these hit-and-run tactics, frustrating the Roman legions and impeding their progress.

The Campaigns of Ostorius Scapula By 47 AD, the Roman governor of Britain, Ostorius Scapula, recognised the need to subdue the Silures to secure the western frontier of the Roman province. Ostorius launched a series of campaigns aimed at breaking the resistance of the Silures. He initiated the construction of forts and defensive structures to protect Roman territories from Silurian raids. Despite these measures, the Silures continued their resistance with relentless ferocity. Historical accounts suggest that Ostorius faced significant challenges in his efforts to defeat the Silures, who remained defiant and unyielding. The death of Ostorius around 52 AD marked a temporary respite for the Silures, who continued to resist subsequent Roman governors with equal determination.

The Role of Caratacus A pivotal figure in the resistance against the Romans was Caratacus, a chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe from south east Britain, who had fled to the Silures after his defeat by the Romans. Caratacus became a symbol of resistance and united various tribes in their struggle against the Roman invaders. His presence among the Silures bolstered their resolve and provided them with a strategic leader capable of coordinating their efforts. Caratacus’s large-scale organizing leadership was instrumental in attacks on Roman fortifications and supply lines. His ability to inspire and unite the tribes made him a formidable opponent for the Romans. However, his eventual capture in 51 AD and subsequent display in Rome as a prisoner of war marked a turning point in the resistance, although it did not signify the end of Silurian defiance.

The Continued Resistance and Final Subjugation The Silures continued their resistance even after the capture of Caratacus. The Roman governor Publius Ostorius Scapula’s successors faced persistent challenges in their efforts to pacify the region. The construction of additional forts and the deployment of more legions were necessary to maintain a semblance of control. It was during the governorship of Sextus Julius Frontinus in the late 70s AD that significant strides were made in subduing the Silurians. Frontinus employed a combination of military force and strategic diplomacy to weaken the Silurian resistance. He established a network of roads and forts to facilitate the movement of Roman troops and supplies, effectively cutting off the Silures from their sources of support. The decisive battle that led to the final subjugation of the Silures occurred around 78 AD. The details of this battle remain unclear, but it is believed that the superior organisation and discipline of the Roman legions ultimately overwhelmed the Silurians. The defeat marked the end of organised resistance in the region, paving the way for the establishment of Roman rule.

Legacy and Impact The Roman conquest of the Silures had a profound impact on the region. The establishment of Roman forts and settlements brought about significant changes in the social and economic structures of South Wales. The Romanisation of the area included the introduction of new agricultural practices, trade networks, and infrastructure development. However, the legacy of the Silurian resistance endured. The stories of their defiance became part of the cultural memory of the region, symbolising the struggle for freedom against a powerful empire. The rugged landscape that once served as a battleground for the Silure is now dotted with remnants of Roman forts and roads, serving as a testament to the tumultuous history of Roman-Silurian conflicts.

Conclusion The battles between the Romans and the Silures in South Wales represent a significant chapter in the history of Roman Britain. The fierce resistance of the Silures, despite the might of the Roman Empire, exemplifies the enduring spirit of the native tribes. While the Roman conquest ultimately succeeded, the legacy of the Silurian resistance continues to be remembered as a symbol of courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds.

Main references “Searching for the Silures” by Ray Howell & Wikipedi

 

Tony Hodge

People’s Emergency Briefing

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY BRIEFING

I recently attended a showing of this UK documentary film on climate change put on by Climate Cymru. Hosted by the naturalist Chris Packham, it features leading UK scientists and experts discussing how the environmental crisis impacts everyday life. It emphasises that the position is shifting fast and the threats that it brings have wide ranging implications. For this reason, they say that action on the subject is vital at this time, but many people are unclear on what actions to take. They are calling for a government emergency TV briefing.

The areas they covered in the main were:

Weather events: these events are changing faster than climate models have predicted and contributed to flooding, extreme heat, fires, loss of usable land mass and negative impacts on food and water security.

Public Health: issues such as increasing air pollution, changes in food availability and cost, changes in disposable income and increases in illness rates, both physical and mental, are affecting the health of the nation and can strain the resources of the NHS.

National Security: global instability and migration of people, potential food shortages, conflict over resources and ecosystem damage threatens UK stability. Also, extreme events that may require help from the Armed Forces such as flood prevention all stress the system.

The natural world: the systems that support our climate are breaking down and the resulting effects of pollution, levels of carbon capture and release and the impacts on soils and water quantity and quality are serious.

Economics: the economics of continuing with fossil fuels and non-green energy systems do not stack up. The cost savings of going green are clear in the immediate term and in the long term.

The overall message that we took away from the evening was that as things stand, we cannot afford to do nothing. It may be that everything we need to make the necessary changes, the research, the expertise, the technological solutions and the finances are all available. The question is, why are they not being actioned?

If anyone is interested, the www.nebriefing.org/peb website can provide more information.

 

Sue Hoddell

She Threw Herself Off The Hollywood Sign

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

McCONKEY’S CHIMES AND THE ACTRESS WHO THREW HERSELF OFF THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN

Ring the bell at the McConkey residence in Greave Close and you’ll hear the familiar refrain of ‘Davy, Davy Crockett’ from Bill Hayes’s 1956 hit ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett’. Brian McConkey, an accomplished local musician himself, has always loved the song which featured in the Disneyland miniseries released in 1954. Walt Disney Productions launched a massive marketing campaign in the UK in 1955 to publicise the film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier and to make British youth “Crockett conscious”. Brian and thousands of other baby boomers were hooked.

Brian’s interest in links with America stretches to his Scottish family history, which includes a significant story of McConkey emigration there. One of the earliest documented arrivals was Samuel McConkey (originally Machanochie in Scotland). He emigrated from Dumfries, Scotland in 1750 with his three sons. Samuel McConkey gained historical prominence by owning McConkey’s Ferry Inn in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This site is historically famous as the place General George Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776, paving the way for ultimate American victory in the Revolutionary War.

Welsh influence across the pond has been significant. While Davy Crockett was one of the defenders killed at the Alamo in 1836, according to Bill Groneman’s 1990 book, Alamo Defenders, one of the others who perished there was the Welshman Lewis Johnson. Interestingly there is a small hamlet in Navarro County Texas called Barry, one of four in the USA, while ten different states have a place called Cardiff. Welsh influence stretches back to folklore tales that Prince Madoc discovered America when he sailed across the Atlantic in 1170, well before Columbus did so in 1492. At least 16 of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence were of Welsh descent, including William Floyd and Francis Lewis. Eight of America’s Presidents are also known to have had Welsh roots, including Abraham Lincoln whose great-great-grandfather, John Morris, was a farmer near Conwy.

Wales of course, has had its fair share of cultural influences across the Atlantic. Dylan Thomas, who died in New York on 9th November 1953, is still celebrated by literary societies there today. Actress Bette Davis had Welsh family, and hosting a press conference in Cardiff in 1975, she talked about her roots there and said goodbye to her guests with a glowing ‘nos da’. Interestingly she always claimed that her inspiration was a young Welsh actress originally born in Port Talbot, called Peg Entwhistle. Perhaps her story inspired Anthony Hopkins and Michael Sheen, both with a high profile in the US and also from the town.

Peg Entwhistle was born Millicent Lilian Entwistle in February 1908. Peg’s parents emigrated to America when she was young. Peg’s acting talent led her to success on stage, eventually on Broadway, performing in ten plays, one of which ran for 232 performances. She followed that with a stint in Los Angeles, during which she starred with Humphrey Bogarde in ‘Mad House’. Her time in Los Angeles led to her one film role as a supporting actress in ‘13 Women’. Sadly, this was not released until a month after her death on 18th September 1932. It’s not clear exactly why she famously threw herself off the ‘H’ on the Hollywood sign. She was not forgotten though. Half a dozen songs including Lana Del Rey’s song ‘Lust for Life’ and even a musical Goodnight September, have referenced her life and tragic end.

One imagines Welsh influences in the United States will remain significant. Perhaps some Americans have even matched the McConkeys and have a doorbell chime based on tunes by Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Bonnie Tyler or the Manic Street Preachers.

Two Entrepreneurs Who Made Penarth Their Home (Part 2)

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

TWO ENTREPRENEURS WHO MADE PENARTH THEIR HOME (Part 2)

In Part 1, I presented a biography of John Kyte Collett (1836 – 1933). He was originally from Shepton Mallett and had established his first business at the age of 17 with his widowed mother as a grocer in Bute Town. He was to become a millionaire, philanthropist and general ideas man. Also in Part 1, his cousin (also from Shepton Mallet) was introduced. Under JKC’s patronage he developed a number of notable edifices in and around Penarth.

By the time JKC was in his late 70s, and having largely retired from business, he turned his energies to addressing issues of the day and bringing his views to the great and the good. Thankfully the Cathays Heritage Library has a treasure trove of his legacy which he had reproduced mostly octavo size pamphlets with tiny print, price one penny from all good booksellers, stationers, etc!

His writing style was flowery, obsequious when addressing his “betters”, cross referenced to the Scriptures on many occasions and never using one word when three would suffice. Here is selection of some of his missives and ideas.

“A Suggested Transfiguration of (Cardiff’s) Temperance Town and Another Site for the Town Hall” In late 1890 a hotly debated topic at that time was a suitable location for a new town hall. In March 1897 the “Western Mail” suggested reusing part of the area then occupied by Temperance Town. This was a densely packed urbanisation of 6 streets of 280 houses where the new BBC building now stands. Collett’s scheme was to clear all and as well as the town hall there would be public gardens, an art school and gallery.

“Solving the Land Problem by doing Justly to One and All thus that Whole Community will be Greatly Enriched” An Open Letter to Prime Minister David Lloyd George with a Christian and non-partisan solution. The “land problem” had been around since the Enclosures of the 1750s and in view of the housing crisis is still relevant today. When D Ll G was dismissive of his views he followed up with missives to Walter Long MP, who had long been at odds with D Ll G, and A Bonar Law MP the leader of the Opposition. (5,000 words + 3 pages of calculations).

When all of that failed to get him any credence, he then wrote an open letter to His Majesty the King on the subject of “An Empire without taxes but at the same time paying for the War and paying off the National Debt without expense to anyone” (9.200 words + 5 pages of calculations).

“Supplement to Solving the Land Problem etc and Abolish all Taxes etc thus wisely generating an Income of £137,493, 576” (18 pages of Calculations)

“Duke Street, Cardiff. How to Widen it at Little or no Cost” An Open Letter to the City Engineer and Aldermen. At that time there was a row of buildings on the north side of Duke Street abutting the castle walls. (2,500 Words 1-5-1914)

“An Unwritten Chapter of Cardiff’s History”

Addressed to The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors. The Unwritten History was about schemes being considered by the Great Western and Taff Vale Railway Companies to raise the level of their respective Permanent Ways by “several feet” to avoid the dips in the highways under their bridges. 21-04-1914 (6,400 Words)

“What Shall we Drink and Under What Conditions? An appeal to distillers, brewers, hotel proprietors, licensed victuallers, restaurant-keepers, etc and to moderate drinkers and teetotallers. With a view to the protection of the liberty of the individual to consume where, when, and what he chooses. Subject to the due regard being paid to the rights, happiness, and prosperity of the community as a whole”(4,000)

The foregoing words are the title of a pamphlet (price 1 penny) published in May 1915, but drawing on JKC’s observations over many decades railing against alcohol, he being a lifelong teetotaller. In the event strict controls on its consumption were introduced soon afterwards as a war time measure.

“An Appeal to Parliament, the Pulpit and the People: How housing and land problems can be solved coupled with replacement of deprecated currency notes by others of more value as money tokens than gold sovereigns”. In essence, his scheme involved borrowing money at 3.25% interest and then loaning it out at 4%, such that by the year 2000 the government would have accrued a profit of £137,493,576.

And now more about his nephew Fredrick Speed. He was also a native of Shepton Mallett; born in 1846. In Part 1 we read that he lived in Cardiff in the early 1870s but in the mid 1880s JKC enticed him back to exploit the potential for Penarth’s development after its connection to the Taff Vale Railway.

FS was to be the driving force behind the development of some of Penarth’s most notable buildings, his first ambitious project being Beach Cliff on the sea front. Those that survive include the “terrace” 2 to 10 Plymouth Road; The Royal Buildings corner of Stanwell Road and Victoria Road; former British Legion on Station Approach. And on a lesser scale he built many private houses around Penarth.

2 to 10, Plymouth Road, Penarth

The 1911 census records the 65 year old “builder and house agent” FS living at 10 Plymouth Road. The Western Mail, 2nd January 1920, announced his death at the age of 73.

Tony Hodge

The Last Train From Wenvoe

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

THE LAST TRAIN FROM WENVOE

I left my house in Wenvoe with my golden retriever, Blue, to walk towards the old train station. It was around 8.30pm on a warm autumn day. As I got to the bridge overlooking the old station, the sky began to turn dark, and a fog started to creep in from the hills which led to Dinas Powys.

I was feeling very good; I had reached sixty today and my daughters had brought me presents earlier on in the day. Blue had done his business near the bridge, and I got a bag out and placed the contents in the bin on the bridge. The fog seemed to roll past us both then cleared while it was travelling towards Wenvoe.

As I looked down towards the station, I could see people on the platform. It was then I heard the whistle and a green steam train pulled up at the station. I could hear the sound of somebody shouting “Last train to Cardiff. This is the last train leaving Wenvoe for Cardiff.”

I heard two cars pull up behind me. The first one looked like an old-fashioned Jag and the second one looked like an Austin 11. The Jag was a green colour and the Austin was white. A man got out of the Jag and started to walk towards me. He had a white gabardine mac on. He reached into his coat pocket and produced a packet of cigarettes, took one out and put it into his mouth. With his other hand, he hit a zippo lighter and lit his cigarette. Crushing the cigarette packet, he threw it into the bin near me.

I could see the cigarette packed was a packet of Woodbines with a green stripe going down and a red stripe going across. The man said to me “It’s the last train to Cardiff tonight. I’m going to have to get the bus back in the morning”. The Austin car opened and a young girl of twenty something got out. She appeared to be wearing a nurse’s uniform from an old Carry On movie. The man said to me “That’s Ms Thomas or should I say Nurse Thomas.” The man turned away and followed the young nurse down to the Station Terrace to get onto the platform. Five minutes later I saw the man and nurse heading along the platform to get on the train. The man looked up and waved to me.

I heard the platform conductor blow his whistle and the train started to move off. A billow of smoke came from the train and covered the area; you could smell the acrid stench from fuel being burned. I could hear a whistle as the train must have approached the Wenvoe Tunnel. When the smoke cleared, everything had turned to normal.

I walked back towards the village and decided to go for a pint in the Wenvoe Arms. One of the lads in the pub worked for the railways and said, “Happy Birthday, Frank.” I was going to tell him what happened but thought better of it. Tommy who bought me a pint looked at his phone and said, “Looking at the internet it says the last train from Wenvoe was today, the 10th of September 1962 and it’s your birthday – how strange.”

Out And About in the Vale This Summer

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

OUT AND ABOUT IN THE VALE THIS SUMMER

With Summer here at last and hopefully with weather to match, there is plenty going on in the Vale, just some of which feature below. As ever, there will be something musical, sporting, cultural or perhaps with an historical bent to tempt you from the garden.

If it’s culture you’re looking for check out the latest offering at Dyffryn Gardens. Our local National Trust property is hosting an exhibition based on the very popular BBC drama ‘The Other Bennet Sister’. The exhibition focuses on the costumes created by Sian Jenkins and worn by the cast of the show including Ella Bruccoleri, Ruth Jones and Indira Varma. The stunning display of elaborate period costumes brings the world of the Bennet sisters vividly to life. Alongside, you’ll find the accessories that complete each look – many worn in the scenes filmed in Dyffryn House. While there, you can also explore parts of Dyffryn House re-opened after a spell of conservation work. This includes the Morning Room, Red Drawing Room and Blue Drawing Room. Here you can learn more about Dyffryn’s history, behind-the-scenes photography and how filming supports the work of the National Trust. Normal admission charges apply but the event is free. The venue and the exhibition is open Fridays to Mondays, 12 – 3pm until 31 August.

Providing an altogether different experience the annual GlastonBARRY live music tribute festival returns to Romilly Park, Barry this July! This year features 22 tribute acts covering the likes of Coldplay, Pink, the Foo Fighters, Queen and Tina Turner. There will be two stages used over two days, on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July, between 11am and 9pm.

If food is your thing, you may be tempted by this year’s Fantastic Fete at St Donat’s Castle. The fete will be held in the grounds over two consecutive summer-holiday weekends (July 31st/August 9th). The grounds will be filled with family fun, including silly games, curious competitions and roaming entertainment. Alongside will be an array of the best street food from across the globe. Street Food Circus traders include the return of Hang Fire BBQ and SFC debutants Mama Lala Sichuan street food, along with regulars such as Two Lads Afghan Street Food, The Dough Thrower, The Bone Cartel, Mar y Fuego, The Queen Pepiada, Pasta a Mano and Burger Bros with sweet options from Paletas Mexican-style ice lollies and Drizzle desserts.

If you’re feeling energetic why not join one of the Glamorgan History Walks delivered by local historian and broadcaster Graham Loveluck-Edwards? The walks aim to bring history to life as you travel through the places where significant events happened. Examples are a walk around Cowbridge on Thursday 9th July (8pm) and Dunraven, St Brides and Ogmore on Saturday 18th July (10am). Walks cost £10 per person. You can find out more by visiting the website: https://grahamloveluckedwards.com/

Finally, The Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show returns on Wednesday 12 August. Now the biggest one-day event in the Vale of Glamorgan, the show attracts more than 20,000 visitors to The Showground, Penllyn, Cowbridge – every year. As usual there will be over 200 trade stands, livestock displays, crafts, local food, and thrilling competitions. With gates open from 8am to 7pm there will be plenty of time to explore. Free on-site parking will be available as is forward parking for Blue Badge Holders. Dogs are allowed on a short lead, but predictably not permitted in the livestock areas or marquees.

Two Entrepreneurs Who Made Penarth Their Home (Part 1)

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

TWO ENTREPRENEURS WHO MADE PENARTH THEIR HOME (Part 1)

As part of my work in Barry library to process historical artifacts for the “Peoples Collection Wales” I came across an engineering drawing of a sewerage scheme for Penarth and west Cardiff proposed by a Mr John Kyte Collett. Unfortunately it is undated but appears from the context to be from the late 1800s. Text on the drawing says that JKC’s scheme is far superior to that being promoted by the Cardiff City Engineer.

The document intrigued me so I set out to find more about its author. From Internet and Ancestry searches using his unique name together with helpful staff at Cardiff’s Heritage Library in Cathays I was able to reveal a wealth of interesting information about him and his many and varied interests in matters of his time. The second entrepreneur is his nephew Fredrick Speed, about whom, more later.

JKC was born in Kilvert Street, Shepton Mallet in 1836. The 1841 census records that his mother Julia is the Head of Household as Robert his father had died in June 1838. Also mentioned in this record is his sister Ann Mary Collett born in 1831. What an impoverished start to life he must have had.

JKC won a place to Shepton Mallet Grammar School but he left at the age of 15 to work for a linen draper in Bristol. He then moved with his mother and sister to the Bute Town area of Cardiff in 1853 where together they established a grocery shop, and also had stalls in the Cardiff Market.

From such humble beginnings, JKC expanded his business interests and reputedly became a millionaire “provision factor and commission agent” and importer of foodstuffs from USA and Canada in partnership with a Mr Whitefield. This was at a time when Cardiff was growing exponentially and the business in the wholesale supply of foodstuffs thrived and made them wealthy. In 1872, and before fridges, he took out a patent “for an improved means of preserving and transporting butter”. Historical records show how the firm of Collett, Whitefield & Co (Cardiff) Ltd continued to grow in the second half of the 1800s.

In 1866 JKC married Sarah Ann Orledge Reeves (1840 – 1922) in Pilton Somerset and they had a daughter Florence Edith Jeffries Collett, born in 1875. Judging from the census records as to where the family were living, the business was obviously thriving: from Bute Town, to Canton, to (in the early 1900s) a 12 room mansion at 5 Beach Road, Penarth (Rose Mount) in the 1901 census.

His nephew Fredrick Speed was born in Shepton Mallet in 1846. The 1871 census records him living in Romilly Crescent, Cardiff, a lodger with a Julia Collett, i.e. JKC’s mother. He is a single man working as a carpenter. FS moved away from south Wales for a number of years, but in the mid 1880s his uncle enticed him back to exploit the potential for Penarth’s development after its connection to the Taff Vale Railway. More about FS in Part 2.

Amongst his many acts of philanthropy, JKC founded, substantially contributed funds and ran “The Children’s League of Peace and Goodwill”. As an adjunct to this, provided a sanctuary for adolescent girls who had migrated from the Valleys seeking work as domestic servants locally. There is some evidence that the League was eventually subsumed into The League of Nations which was being promoted contemporaneously by David Davies, 1st Baron Davies (1880 – 1944).

The firm of Collett, Whitefield & Co (Cardiff) Ltd is recorded in several trade directories of the era, viz;

  • 1866 City and County Directory – Grocer and Commission Agent – Hope Street
  • 1876 Mercer and Crocket’s Directory – Provision Merchant – Gladstone Street
  • 1880 / 81 Butcher’s Cardiff Directory – Provision Merchant – stalls 161,164,165 in The Central Market and 235 Bute Street.

 

An article in a June 1919 edition of “Commercial Motor” gives an indication of the scope of the business which reads in part:

They use a 13 year old 3 ton Lacre chain driven lorry. The vehicle is sometimes seen fully laden with Caerphilly cheese. The lorry covers up to 400 miles per week. It frequently travels to Barry up to 3 times a day. Also the company uses a Garner 30 cwt lorry for deliveries within Cardiff covering about 300 miles a week

He never forgot his west country roots. In the early 1900s JKC donated land in Shepton Mallett to create a park because he had not been allowed to play there as a child. That area is still known as “Collett Park” Closer to home on Penarth Beach he provided for a children’s Paddling Pool which remained in use until the late 1950s.

From this photograph provided by Penarth Library, it is apparent that he was well regarded locally. It shows JKC being presented with a picture and a testimonial which (in part) reads:

To John Kyte Collett on his 91st Birthday. Penarth UDC desire to offer you, a highly esteemed and distinguished resident of the Town. We are proud to have you as a fellow citizen

In the 1921 census the 85 year old JKC is living at 2 Plymouth Road, Penarth (Sun Rise). JKC died on 16th October 1933 and in his will he left effects to the value of £1,211 (about £150,000 today – the balance from the “millionaire status” surely having been used for funding his philanthropic ventures and in financing his nephew’s enterprise): indeed a life well lived!

Tony Hodge

Ol’ Man River

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

OL’ MAN RIVER

This story is set in 1938, just before the onset of war with Germany. Paul Robeson, a famous black singer and actor from America, visited Mountain Ash in the valleys and sang for the people who died in the Spanish Civil War. Rick was Mr. Robeson’s driver who brought him back from Mountain Ash.

“How long till we get to Cardiff Station?” asked Paul.

“We should be in Cardiff in about one hour, but your train won’t be arriving till five, so you have about a four hour wait.”

“That’s great” said Paul, “I can go and visit my friend for lunch in a village called Wenvoe.”

“Wilf Goodbody had lived in Wenvoe for around twenty years and had asked Paul if he had time to come to lunch in the local pub. Wilf was a director of the theatre in Cardiff and had met Paul on numerous occasions. When the car pulled up outside the pub, Wilf directed Paul to a room upstairs as the culture of the area and the time dictated, most people in Wenvoe had never seen or talked to a black person.

The two men had a great time in a snug upstairs of the Wenvoe Arms. Both men had a
lovely ploughman’s lunch and two pints of Scrumpy/Cider. They could hear the hustle and bustle of voices below them; it sounded like the pub was filling up. Paul looked out of the window onto the fields. It was a beautiful winter’s day in December, but it looked like a spring day over the village.

As Paul turned around to speak to Wilf, he heard singing rising from downstairs in the pub. Paul looked at Wilf as he heard “Men of Harlech” resonating through the floorboards. “I am sorry about that” said Wilf, “it’s the Barry Male Voice choir. They heard you might call in and would like to sing for you.”

The men went down the stairs towards the courtyard next to the First World War Memorial. There stood around thirty men, all dressed up in black tie suits finishing their song. There was a standup piano in the corner, and a big crowd gathered around the pub to listen to the choir. When the song was finished everybody clapped and the man on the piano came up to Paul. “Mr. Robeson, it would be our great pleasure to sing with you, if it’s possible?”

“Wilf” said Paul, “you are a scoundrel.”

“Ok” said Paul to the piano player, “do you know Ol’ Man River in C Major?”

“Yes” said the piano player “we were hoping you would say that.”

The next five minutes of music was fantastic, as Paul’s voice rode out into the village. At the end of the song everyone in the village seemed to be watching the free show. Paul shook each of the choir’s hands, gave Wilf a big hug, jumped into the car and headed towards Cardiff. As the crowd dissipated, Mrs. Jones said to Mrs. Thomas, “There’s lovely. You don’t see that in Wenvoe every day.”

What’s In A Name?

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

A short time ago Rhun ap Iorwerth was elected as our new First Minister here in Wales. Since then, I have been surprised by the number of people who have contacted me asking me to translate and explain his name! As for explaining the meaning of a name, this is not always possible! How would you explain the meaning of ‘William Henry’ for example? Suffice to say that Rhun is an ancient name of Celtic origin – which predates the 5th Century and is known to have been the name of some of the Kings of Gwynedd. It also appears in ancient Welsh tales. It has no translatable meaning as such but is associated with such words as ‘mighty’, ‘ruler’, ‘great’ – entirely appropriate for someone in the position of First Minister!

It has surprised me that so many people have been perplexed by the full name! Surely people are aware of the Patronymic system of names – used before fixed surnames were introduced – where ‘son of’ is the means of identification. It is a system used in a great many countries. Here in Wales it had been used for centuries until a change to fixed surnames was forced on the population following, to a large extent, the Acts of Union in the 16th Century. The Welsh system used the connecting word ‘ap/ab’, derived from ‘mab’ (son). In time this pattern produced surnames such as Pritchard (ap Rhisiart), Puw / Pugh (ap Huw), Benion, Beynon (ap Einion), Bevan (ab Ifan / Efan), Bowen (ab Owain), Probert (ap Robert), Preece, Price (ap Rhys).

Our Celtic cousins in Ireland and Scotland use ‘Mac / Mc’ of course. And in England, the word ‘son’ itself was added to the father’s name – a system which has given us today surnames such as Johnson, Robertson, Davidson, Thom(p)son and so on.

To return to the name Rhun ap Iorwerth! Rhun’s father’s name is Edward, the Welsh equivalent of which is Iorwerth. Apparently when he and his wife came to register the baby, Rhun, the powers that be refused their request to register him as Rhun ap Iorwerth. They insisted on a surname – so the family surname, Jones, was added. But he doesn’t use it. I have known a number of people over the years who have chosen to keep the traditional Patronymic system – Myrddin ap Dafydd, Pwyll ap Siôn, Gwyn ap Gwilym, Gwilym ap Robert, and so on. And one of the greatest European poets of the 14th Century – and who happened to be Welsh – was named Dafydd ap Gwilym.

Pronunciation is no real problem. Rhun – ‘Reen’ is perfectly acceptable. But in order to sound authentically Welsh, it might be interesting to know that in Welsh the letter ‘Rh’ sounds slightly different from ‘R’. ‘R’ is well rolled and voiced, whereas ‘Rh’ is unvoiced, uttered with a release of breath. Iorwerth consists of two syllables ‘Ior – werth’. Take a tip from the Irish and Scots and roll your ‘Rs’.

So there we are – the name Rhun ap Iorwerth analysed, dissected and explained. All that remains is to welcome the new First Minister and to wish him well – ‘Croeso Rhun ap Iorwerth. Pob lwc!’

Ann M. Jones

 

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