The Park

In 1833 the Government Select Committee on Public Walks identified the need for ‘public walks and places of exercise to promote health and comfort for the inhabitants.’ This was important in congested, smoke polluted industrial cities and towns, but valley people could always escape their pollution by ‘going up the mountain,’ a pursuit still practiced, but not so popular today. The open mountain was used by groups for picnics, courting couples could always find privacy, and when problems became too great, a person could find space for time alone. After a steep climb they could look down on the population and metaphorically on their troubles and problems. Children, of course, took the mountainside to be their playground, rolling down through fern banks, or playing cowboys and Indians as they’d seen in the cinema.

Showing the park & Institute in the distance

With this fantastic facility behind the house, or at least within a couple of streets, it is not surprising that Llanhilleth Park was not opened until 1924. Situated next to the ‘Stute, it was created using in part, the labour of unemployed miners. The original site was divided by the river Ebbw, which was re-routed before work could begin. The park consisting of three tennis courts, cricket and football pitches, a bowls green and a quoits bed. Although reduced in size it is still used today.

River in flood next to the Drill Hall

As sport grew in popularity nationally, this community held tightly together geographically, provided its own entertainment, forming societies; football, cricket, running and tennis teams; male voice choirs and Eisteddfodau. The Institute has always been synonymous with sports both indoor and out.

River at the back of "The Fields."

The fast flowing river has over the years, been prone to breaking its banks and flooding not only the nearby houses in Central Road and The Fields, but also the park, causing damage to equipment stored in the sports Pavilion.

Part of the river bed was moved again at the end of the twentieth century for the construction of the A467, Llanhilleth bypass, and a flood prevention scheme was implemente, which should contain any excessive water flow.

River showing flood defences

Llanhilleth Town Cricket Club

Llanhilleth cricket club moved to the park shortly after the park was opened in 1924. Several Minute Books containing details of Cricket Club Annual General Meetings as well as committee meetings have been handed in recently to the Institute. Although not a complete record, these hand written documents provide an interesting insight into the everyday trials and tribulations of running a cricket team from 1929, as well as during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Interestingly they vary very little over the years.

Excerpts from Minutes:

Meeting 10 Jan 1933

“It was moved that we have the electric in the pavilion for the boiling of the water and that the sec. see Mr Burchill with regard to the same, only we will wait to see what they are going to do with the stove.”

“It was decided that the sec. write to different firms with regard to getting a score box.”

Meeting 2 May 1933

“It was decided that the sec. and Mr Elkins go up to the council and see the electric kettle working and see to same.”

Meeting 16 May 1933

“Mr Trev Elkin gave the report of seeing Mr Dawson, it was decided that we have an electric kettle, 6 pint...”

Meeting 12 October 1933

The Institute with the cricket & football field.

“First team: Mr Fred Beames won the batting 22.4 average
Mr Edwin Sheppard won the bowling 6.2.

Second team: H Maxwell won the batting by 25.08
W Casson the bowling by 8.2

It is decided that we let the matter of the tackle that is in the Pavilion, under water by the flood be left over for the committee to decide.”

Meeting 9 November 1933

“It was decided with regard to sending in a claim to the Council with regard to the tackle that was ruined by the flood, the claim to the value of £20.”

Meeting 7 October 1934

“It was decided that we make a standing order with regards to the women at the Pavilion with regard to the work they do. It was decided that we give them 5/- (25p) each and an outing to be arranged by the sec.

“It was decided that we make an application to the council for to get some seats around the ground, also to provide a urinal for the use of the public.”

Selection of Officers for 1935 season:

Patrons:                       Mr H Lewis               Mr J Paton (from Partridge Jones & John Paton ?)

Presidents:                  Mr L E Griffiths ME.

Vice Presidents:         Mr L W Thomas        Mr W J Holmes, Dr W Panes
Dr T J F Frost JP   Dr Scanlon                Councillor M J Dixon    Mr G G Morgan
Mr G Evans,   Councillor M P Burchill   F Dayton                  Ivor Morgan
W J Walters JP             W J Phillips                Wm Read   Capt. J Thomas
W J Herbert H Thomas W H Dicks   J J Jenkins
P S Haskell                  J E Rowlands             James Davies W H Sparks BSC
Ald. G H Gibbs             B C Phillips                 Rev Aldred Evans

Chairman: M H Creed

Vice Chairman: Mr Alf Lewis

Treasurer: Mr G H Rogers

Secretary: O J Rogers

Committee: Mr W J Creed Will Lewis Edgar Beames
G H Maxwell (sen) W J Simmonds Emanual Fry Charles Hopkins
with power to add.

Capt First XI: Mr F R Beames

Capt Second XI: Mr W J Jayne

29 May 1935

“It was moved and seconded that we send 10/6 (52.5p) to the Prince of Wales Trust Fund, run under the Urban District Council.”

18 May 1936

“It was decided that the club help the players that are unemployed, owing to the circumstances and to be 1/- (5p) only.”

4 June 1936

“It was decided that in future the teams be selected on merit and not on the rota system.”

9 June 1936

“It was decided that the caps worn by the players must be the club colours, black and white, and to be the Australian shape.”

18 August 1936

“It was decided that we ask the football club for the loan of the net to get the ball out of the river.”

Concrete Wicket (Practice Strip) March 1964

The Secretary stated he had submitted the Club’s application to Abertillery UDC for its laying and had been informed by the Surveyor that the Parks and Pleasures Committee had recommended that permission be granted.

9 April 1964

The question of the laying of the practice strip arose and after a short discussion it was unanimously decided that a professional tradesman be employed to supervise and apply the laying of the concrete.

The Secretary was asked to seek the services of Mr Gilson of Brynithel. Mr Dyke posed the question of the wickets location and it was agreed this decision be left until the ground had been visited by the Committee and the AUDC Surveyor.

24 April 1964

The secretary began by informing the committee he had received the eagerly awaited permission from the AUDC to allow the Club to lay the said wicket.

He, the Secretary, also informed the meeting that along with others he had cut and prepared the ground for the laying of the wicket and stated that the laying of the concrete could begin as soon as it were to be arranged.

A member moved arrangements ought to be made as soon as possible and suggested Monday 27 April for the laying of the concrete. This date was agreed upon and another member was asked if delivery of the required amount of chippings (1 ton) and cement could be arranged? The member stated he would arrange delivery for Monday 17 April 1964. Most members of the committee promised their assistance.

Before the subject was finished with, the Secretary pointed out that the originally named contractor was approached and asked to lay and supervise the concreting, but rejected the work owing to not being able to spare the time.

The Secretary stated a professional bricklayer was prepared to undertake the job and it was unanimously agreed he be awarded the work.

The Secretary concluded by praising the local councillors for the part they had played in expediting permission for the Club to commence work and he praised the assistance given.

It was agreed to write to both parties to convey the committee’s appreciation.

2 June 1964

The secretary reported to the meeting that the laying of the said wicket had been completed and added that it was proving to be most beneficial especially during wet and damp weather.

The Secretary also praised the assistance received but was disappointed with the lack of interest shown by club members in the laying of the pitch.

The Secretary furthered his report by stating that the builder’s fee for supervising the mixing of concrete and the actual laying of it was most generously fixed at £1.10.0.

The builders merchants also made a most magnanimous contribution to the project by delivering 6 bags of cement and 1 ton of chippings free of charge. They expressed the club’s appreciation.

Club Badge

26 March 1964

The Club Badge would be in the form of a shield which would be quartered and initialled LTCC as designed by John Morgan. Mr Morgan would submit a design for the committee to consider.

9 April 1964

Mr Morgan presented two designs for the committee’s consideration and one was unanimously accepted. The question of cost was posed and as no member seemed to have little idea of the cost of cap badges it was agreed that Mr Morgan be given time to acquire the necessary quotations.

In 1965 they shared the Monmouthshire Cricket Association League Championship with Newport A.C.

Club Dinner
The annual club dinner was always well discussed over several meetings. I have included the 1968 dinner as an example.

On 9 November 1967 a proposal was made “that the Club Dinner be held at the Ocean Club, Cardiff during the month of March or April of 1968, and that the Dinner be held on a Saturday and the cost would amount to 30/- (£1.50p) per person.”

In 1968 the Cricket Club headquarters and committee meetings moved from the Central Hotel to the Institute.

In February 1968 the Secretary reported he had booked “The Castle Hotel” in Brecon for the Club’s Annual Dinner. The Hotel ballroom was reserved for 80 persons, and The Secretary had booked the Dinner for Saturday 20^th April 1968. The Menu was discussed at length and it was ultimately agreed on option No. 12A; Cream of Chicken Soup, Chicken and Vegetables, Fruit Salad or Apple Pie and Cream. Cheese and Biscuits, Coffee. This option was to cost 16/- (80p) per person.

Turkey was proposed and seconded rather than Chicken, but was defeated by a majority vote of 3 to 2. The Secretary informed the Committee he had provisionally hired the Hotel’s Dance Band, which consisted of six members at a cost of £16.10.0 (£16.50p). The charge per head was carefully considered and a figure of £1.5s.6d. (£1.27.5p) per head was finally arrived at. This figure would consist of the price of the meal, bus fare to Brecon and service charge.

The motion was moved by D Butcher and Seconded by W. Butler

Fred Parker in full swing, playing quoits

Quoits

In 1924, not long after the opening of the ‘Stute, a quoits pitch was built in the current car park between the Institute and the river, just to the rear of the Drill Hall. Quoits, were ring-doughnut shaped, and usually made from rough cast iron. They weighed between 5lb and 14lb and were thrown generally 18 or 21 yds. Anyone who has lifted a quoit will appreciate the strength it took to throw them. Even more skill was needed to actually hit a one inch diameter pin at the end of the throw.

Shacko Davies, the Lighter Man for Fred Parker

The pin was in the centre of a four foot square clay bed. The clay obtained from the levels. A small piece of paper highlighting the pin, was placed by a ‘Lighter’ or ‘Lighter man.’ The pin was invisible to the pitcher, as the rust coloured metal pin blended with the clay bed of the pitch. To ensure the pin remained fixed whilst being hit by these heavy weight, it was the wheel spindle of a disused axle from a coal dram. The pitch was constructed by burying the one wheel and axle in a pit and then securing it with stones or concrete and then filling in the top with clay until only the pin of the second wheel showing about four inches above the clay.

The sport was highly popular in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century and according to The History of Quoits in Wales, written by A. Baker in 1949, goes back 2,000 years to the Pentathlon Meetings held in Greece. England, Wales and Scotland played international matches at Llanhilleth with players staying at the nearby Walpole (now the Rugby Club) and Llanhilleth (Top) Hotel as well as the Central Hotel. The Central Hotel, once magnificent premises burned down in 2003 after being derelict for some time.

A commentary for high profile matches was broadcast on the BBC radio (called wireless in those days). The commentator had a first-class view from a window in the Drill Hall.

In 1934 Fred (Sonny) Parker became a Welsh International quoit player after playing for Llanhilleth for several seasons. In 1939 he became Welsh Champion. He was also interested in Rugby and Association Football and after enlistment was selected to play for two seasons in succession for a Monmouthshire regiment Rugby team.

Between 1951 and 1953 Alfred, Sonny’s brother also played in the team.

In 1956 the Scottish International team came to play at Llanhilleth. They were accompanied by the Dagenham Girl Pipers,* an all girl drum and bagpipe band, dressed in full Scottish national dress. The girls all stayed in local houses in the village. Sonny’s daughter remembers giving up her bed for a guest piper. They would have volunteers from the audience to try to play the bagpipes with hilarious results.

The Dagenham Girl Pipers performing at Llanhilleth

At that visit a needle match was arranged between the local contender, Fred and a player from the Scottish team, W. Penman from Birkenshaw. The hotels were full of Scots, down to watch Parker lose to their ‘expert.’ Large sums were bet on the match, rumours quote hundreds of pounds. Fortunately for Llanhilleth, Parker won. Shocked scots were left with no money to console themselves, no food or accommodation. The friendly souls of Llanhilleth extended their generosity and provided sleeping arrangements and food for their destitute visitors.

* ( Rev. Joseph Waddington Graves, was born in 1881 at Deal in Kent. In 1930 he had no church, just a wooden hut in which he was soon running a Sunday School. He later wrote ‘During all of my life, bagpipes have fascinated me’. He chose 12 girls from his Sunday school, average age just 11, and hired G. Douglas Taylor, a former Pipe Major to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, to teach them piping, drumming, marching and Highland dancing. The first practice took place on 4 October 1930. Mr Graves remembered ‘Twelve small girls, all giggles, seated in a semi-circle around the kilted Pipe-Major…Something really big happened in that Thameside town that morning – the Dagenham Girl Pipers was born!’)

Sonny went on to win two silver cups and a golden quoit, all still in the proud possession of his family who still live in Llanhilleth. Joe Phelps was also a finalist in the junior championships, and as runner up, won a polished stainless steel quoit which used to be displayed in the men’s bar prior to renovation.

Lance-Corporal Fred Parker was wounded in the back by shrapnel while serving in World War II at Falaise in Normany. He recovered in Scotland in a military hospital for a year before returning to Llanhilleth in 1945.

Some years later in the sixties Danny Blanchflower a retired footballer, invited Fred (Sonny) Parker to the Cardiff studios along with an official of the sport to demonstrate and discuss the game.

In 1971, aged 65 and long retired from the game, (still undefeated Welsh Champion,) Sonny was invited to Caersws where a new Quoits Club had been set up. He watched the team play for a while with much smaller weights than he was used to. He was then invited to give a demonstration, and proceeded to shock the audience as he extracted his two 14lb. weights from their leather bag and hit the pin first time.

Fred’s daughter can still remember as a child and teenager, helping to work the clay pitch for the quoits. Although appearing quite normal, she insists she has large shoulders and arms from this heavy work.

Fred Griffiths 1932, 1935
Fred Evans 1933
Percy Lloyd 1934
Fred (Sonny) Parker 1939, 1947, 1948, 1956

Welsh Individual Performance

                        Games Played Won                 Lost Points scored
Alf Parker 6                                  2                      4          105 Between 1949-62
Fred Parker     13 8                      5          229 Between 1949-62
Penman 6 6                      0          126 Between 1952-62

A tale from the mists of time... Rugby

An elderly gentleman recalls his Mam telling him that whenever Llanhilleth played Rugby away to Crumlin, then Dickie Trombone with the band playing, would march up the road in front and the Llanhilleth supporters would fall in behind for the walk across to Crumlin for the match.

Llanhilleth Rugby Football Club

1973/4 Llanhilleth Rugby Football Club membership card and fixture list provided every detail of the club that you might care to know. The cover was sturdy cloth on board with pages including details of officers, the affiliates, vice presidents as well as providing details of the fixtures from September 1973 to April 1974.

Boxing

National coal Board Boxing championships – the ring was in the main hall.

Len Burrows was mismatched with a well-known German boxer, Max Spelling (punchdrunk for a long time afterwards). TAKE CARE WITH THIS.

Morton Jenkins worked in Llanhilleth Pit and was National Coalboard Champion

Parry Dando born in Llanhilleth in December 1929, fought between 1953 and 1956. He was a ‘Coalboard’ boxer and worked at Glandwyr Pit. He had Olympic trials and wore an Olympic badge but didn’t go to the games. He later became a professional boxer. Welterweight, Fights 14 Won 5 Lost 9 Draw 0

Boxers would fight for Monmouthshire, then Welsh, then national (NCB)

Len Burrows – Boxer mismatched with Max Spelling, punchdrunk long time afterwards.

Body Building

Arthur Gwilym

Arthur Gwilym won the Mr Wales contest in 1947. His brothers, David and John both now live in Australia.

Football

In 1929 Reginald (Reg) Weaver, one of Llanhilleth’s old inside right players, became the new leader of the Chelsea Team. His transfer was secured from Wolverhampton Wanderers at a fee of around £5,000.

“In the 1930s there was about six football teams in Llanhilleth. Every street had its own team.” When we were young, we couldn’t play on the park as there were two senior teams down there, but we managed.

Llanhilleth Field Rovers

The Llanhilleth Field Rovers football team was formed in the 1950s by a group of 14 year old boys meeting up in their mothers’ front rooms in Meadow Street. They all paid 2d. a week until they had collected enough to purchase their kit. Then they would play at Jobey’s Field towards Aberbeeg or in the ‘Rec football pitch’ on the side of the mountain. The ‘rec’ pitch had been dug out of the mountainside previously by miners earlier in the century.

Members of the team would collect sawdust from the sawmill at Llanhilleth pit, carry it up the mountain to make out the pitch.

On wet days they would meet for training at “The Shot,” as the Drill Hall was called locally. There the Drill Sargeant, Alf Woodward and Nobby Noakes would put them ‘through hoops,’ to ensure their fitness.

Occasionally they had permission to play at Llanhilleth Park, but that was generally for teams of older players.

Llanhilleth Athletic Football Club

Llanhilleth Athletic Football Club had its headquarters for many years in the Institute. In 2010, LAFC is currently undergoing a rebuilding process. They have teams in all junior and senior groups. The first team plays in the Gwent County 2^nd Division and the second team in the North Gwent League.

Colliery Band

1929 there was talk of reintroducing the Colliery Band Disappointingly, I have no further information on this topic.