Youth Committee, 1944

By 1944, and after D-Day, the Government drew up legislation concentrating on the Youth Service. All sixteen and seventeen year olds had to register and every area (including Llanhilleth and Aberbeeg) had to organise a local Youth Committee tasked to promote activities for that age group.  H W Bailey then a pupil at Newbridge Secondary School became very much involved.   Possibly too involved as in September 1945 he went to Caerleon (a College at that time,) for a two-year Teacher Training Certificate Course instead of doing a University Degree.  Later he served two years national service with the Royal Navy.   Men of 18 served full-time for eighteen months and then part-time in the reserves for four years.   In 1950 this was changed to two years full-time, and three and a half years in the reserves.

 Many of the already established organisations such as the Scouts, Guides and Ambulance Cadets were helped and pre-service Air Training Corp and Girls Training Corp came into being. An Annual Youth Week Sunday Parade was followed by a Sunday Evening Rally in the Workmen’s Hall.   Football and rugby matches between teams from Llanhilleth and Aberbeeg as well as other events were organised on a daily basis during these Annual Youth weeks.  

On Friday Night would be a Dance in the Drill Hall which was always well attended.  Volunteers ran all these organisations and events.   They regularly gave their services without expenses or advantage of any kind, often for several nights each week.   Respected members of the Community were often called upon as judges, referees and speakers, but all gave freely of their services.

Llanhilleth Workmen’s Hall Committee supported all of these events, and the use of the hall was freely given.    Any charity could apply for free use of the committee rooms or the 500-seater theatre. Though no function was allowed to clash with Sunday Services.

Note: The numbers for seating in the 'Theatre' varied with time and fire regulations. I believe today it would be nearer 200.