Brenda survived- no bunions! Lost one walker in Red Lion Square....
Temperature was cool, 14C and then reached 20C. Woolly cardigan to
sleevless vest! Bring back the liberty bodice:))
Frank Olding, Heritage officer, was the team leader and a couple of
'development trust' groupies (females) tagged along paying homage to
Oliver Jones, Evan Powell and Scandrett (we are not worthy!)
Trevor 'the milk' Jones (M.B.E) and Ron Jenkins (local historian) were
in the team and whipped up encouragement along the 2.5 hour walk. If
ever there was a chance for a video to be made this was it. A master
class and even Evan Powell, Oliver Jones and Scandrett would not have
had a look in!
Ron Jenkins was/is of course a photographer who was a personal friend of
Oliver Jones (History of Tredegar)... nuff said (we are not worthy!)
Anyone visiting Tredegar, or any part of Blaenau Gwent, can pick up a
'Heritage Trail' pamphlet at any BG library. This particular one was
'Discover Tredegar' ( Mile and a half)
For this walk and all the others see:-
http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/index.htm
Navigate down to 'Blaenau Gwent Heritage section' and you've got all of
the walks and information.
After the walk all the walkers ended up at Tredegar library where Family
resource librarian Janet Karn, gave them a cup of tea or coffee, biscuit
or cookie( yes, we do have cookies even in Tredegar!) The de-briefing
session would take a few books in itself, Trevor ,Ron and Frank talking
until 5-30pm when the library closed?
The Tredegar and Sirhowy Ironworks are other walks. Maybe 'next time' as
my Turkish brother-in-law would say. He had a kebab shop in the circle
at Tredegar a few years ago. Was a Chinese laundry at one time, a Jewish
Jewellers and also a Travel agency in 1950's when travel to Spain and
European holidays was just beginning. Turkey was a meat dish to the
locals in those days, ha, ha!
Tredegar in the 1960's was the Gateway to London as the buses used to
pass through Tredegar bus station, via Cheltenham, etc.. I remember, as
a Merthyr Tydfil lad, passing through the bus station in 1960's and
seeing the Tredegar Town as a place of beauty , a bustling Town, even
then!
Pity I was working today, could have had a few pints in the Cambrian
Hotel and joined the party for tea, coffee and biscuits at the library
after 2pm!
best regards
Barrie Jones, Gwent