On the evening of the 1st of October 19** (sorry, bit shy) my mother was at
the cinema in the Market Hall, Brynmawr, Breconshire. She began to have
labour pains and was rushed to the nearest hospital - the Blaenau District
hospital at Nantyglo, Monmouthshire. Three days later we all returned to our
house at Warwick Road, Brynmawr, Breconshire.
Five years later I started school at St Mary's VP Junior School, run by
Breconshire County Council. I was taught Welsh at the school, whereas half a
mile away in Nanty (mon) they didn't.
I was awarded several certificates for religious knowledge by the Bishop of
Brecon. As a member of the boy scouts, I had a badge on my arm (beneath the
1st Brynmawr flash) saying 'Brecknock' . For special services we would go to
the cathedral at Brecon.
One of Brynmawr's claims to fame was being the largest town in Breconshire.
I really don't know what else to say. No matter how odd the border may have
been, Brynmawr was in Breconshire. It was not in Monmouthshire, never was.
Although, after 1974 Gwent corresponded roughly to the old Monmouthshire -
it was not so exactly. It gained Brynmawr and lost much of the Rhymney
Valley. I remeber at the time there were protests at Brynmawr going into
Gwent , because it was equated with the old Monmouthshire - suspected by
many to be really English.
Steffan Ellis (Monmouthshire born, Breconshire bred).