Left Tonypandy in the Rhondda Fawr at the age of 18 Lived in Scotland, England, New Zealand and finally Australia The Rhondda will always will be in my heart Great memories growing up in the Valleys
An Australian of Welsh parents and ancestors, here. Some of them were farmers and others worked in the coal and allied industries. I loved this series and it brought back memories of my long deceased parents and the way they talked, acted, sang, joked and told stories of life in Wales. I have visited Wales and hope to go again. Thank-you!
My grandfather was born in Pontypridd in 1892 to a family of coal miners. My roots in the other branches of my family are also mainly, and proudly, Welsh. As an American, this series explained a great deal and filled in a lot of gaps for me. Thank you.
thank you for posting this 4 part series. My dear late wife was born in Brythwyndd road in Trealaw and often spoke of the times she had as a teenager at Judges Hall. I first was taken to the Rhondda in 1982 and really loved it. The memories of my time there have stayed with me all my life., especially the singing contest held every week in The Royal in Trealaw. Never laughed so much before or since. Now at 72 these films brought back such memories. "He who dies with the most memories wins"
Thank you for sharing these. Someday I hope we can visit. My family lived in Galveston, Texas almost 30 years, I can't wait to tell my mom, there is a neat story. My stepdad's family may have come from Pembroke, and we used to talk about Wales, and the Coal industry in West Virginia. Strange how stuff doesn't seem connected but is.
What lovely footage of an era gone! Too many takeaways run by foreigners litter the Rhondda now. Before there were a few Italian shops, now there is an indian or chinese within walking distance. Porth has gone to the dogs with food shops! I remember growing up how different it was where you could walk down the street and be met with doors open and cheerful people where kids respected the elderly and you had local butchers and fruit and veg shops where the owners would look after you. Now its ruined and you have big supermarket chains destroying what was once thriving communities. People would walk a lot more where as now they'll drive 2 streets away to take their kids to school. Sad times now we live in compared to then. I wasnt young enough to see the pits but wish I had. I always wanted to see Maerdy collery the way it was and this video showed me the layout from the location of the still standing pumping station. We need more investment into the rhondda and make the reservoirs into a lovely walking area like Clydach. Get some wardens up there, more bins and lighting and some benches and it would be fantastic instead of motorbikes ruining it! Thank you for this lovely video series!!!
And now let’s revisit things 5 years on. How are things now do you think? Better? Chinese and Indians takeaways have been taken over by the Kurdish barber shops, kebab shops that serve up slop that people now think is food! No pubs hardly, too expensive for a pint. No clubs. No youth clubs or libraries, just internet at home. 5 years that took. I shudder to think in another 5 what befalls us. Soon there will be no Wales, no Great Britain even. Gotta laugh or we might cry.
Left Tonypandy in the Rhondda Fawr at the age of 18 Lived in Scotland, England, New Zealand and finally Australia The Rhondda will always will be in my heart Great memories growing up in the Valleys
An Australian of Welsh parents and ancestors, here. Some of them were farmers and others worked in the coal and allied industries. I loved this series and it brought back memories of my long deceased parents and the way they talked, acted, sang, joked and told stories of life in Wales. I have visited Wales and hope to go again. Thank-you!
My grandfather was born in Pontypridd in 1892 to a family of coal miners. My roots in the other branches of my family are also mainly, and proudly, Welsh. As an American, this series explained a great deal and filled in a lot of gaps for me. Thank you.
thank you for posting this 4 part series. My dear late wife was born in Brythwyndd road in Trealaw and often spoke of the times she had as a teenager at Judges Hall. I first was taken to the Rhondda in 1982 and really loved it. The memories of my time there have stayed with me all my life., especially the singing contest held every week in The Royal in Trealaw. Never laughed so much before or since. Now at 72 these films brought back such memories.
"He who dies with the most memories wins"
Thank you for posting this 4 part doc. I really enjoyed watching.
Thank you for sharing these. Someday I hope we can visit. My family lived in Galveston, Texas almost 30 years, I can't wait to tell my mom, there is a neat story. My stepdad's family may have come from Pembroke, and we used to talk about Wales, and the Coal industry in West Virginia. Strange how stuff doesn't seem connected but is.
Awesome,watched all 4,im from Maesteg so next valley over,our grandparents had a very difficult life
Thank you for such a moving series. It brought back some memories and helped me to understand what happened.
What lovely footage of an era gone! Too many takeaways run by foreigners litter the Rhondda now. Before there were a few Italian shops, now there is an indian or chinese within walking distance. Porth has gone to the dogs with food shops! I remember growing up how different it was where you could walk down the street and be met with doors open and cheerful people where kids respected the elderly and you had local butchers and fruit and veg shops where the owners would look after you. Now its ruined and you have big supermarket chains destroying what was once thriving communities. People would walk a lot more where as now they'll drive 2 streets away to take their kids to school. Sad times now we live in compared to then. I wasnt young enough to see the pits but wish I had. I always wanted to see Maerdy collery the way it was and this video showed me the layout from the location of the still standing pumping station. We need more investment into the rhondda and make the reservoirs into a lovely walking area like Clydach. Get some wardens up there, more bins and lighting and some benches and it would be fantastic instead of motorbikes ruining it! Thank you for this lovely video series!!!
Same in all the mining valleys unfortunately.
@@0ldw3lshm4n
Absolutely correct 💯👍🏴
And now let’s revisit things 5 years on. How are things now do you think? Better? Chinese and Indians takeaways have been taken over by the Kurdish barber shops, kebab shops that serve up slop that people now think is food! No pubs hardly, too expensive for a pint. No clubs. No youth clubs or libraries, just internet at home. 5 years that took. I shudder to think in another 5 what befalls us. Soon there will be no Wales, no Great Britain even.
Gotta laugh or we might cry.
People’s Republic Of Maerdy❤️.
Respect from Tiger son of a seaman.
My father who was black seaman told me about your unity, hospitality and warmth.
Gary (Busty) worked in Nantgarw baths attendant until it closed. a character like many other miners were.
The coal hasn't gone! It's all about cheaper forien imports. They'll never defeat the vallies. Bless you all. X
Tidy!