Western Mail Friday May 30th 1924.
First Crematorium in Wales.
A practical test of the use of the new crematorium at Glyntaff, Pontypridd- the first to
be built in the principality-was conducted on Thursday afternoon in the presence of a
large gathering, including medical men and public workers.
Mr James SPICKETT, clerk to the burial board, who has been closely associated with the
scheme since its initiation, told a representative of the Western Mail that the
crematorium had cost about £2,500. But for the fact that the old cemetery chapel tower
stood adjacent to the site of the crematorium and that it had been brought into use with
comparitively little alteration as a means of connecting with the necessary shaft from the
incinerator, there would have been an increase in the expenditure of some thousands of
pounds.
"With regards to fees," said Mr. SPICKETT,you might make it known that in the
burial board district we shall charge two guineas for the cremation and 5s. for the
minister. Outside this district and within the Pontypridd Union area the charge will be
three guineas, and these amounts are cheaper than anywhere else, except Hull.
We have now got a small columbarium, with niches for storing the urns. If cremation in the
district becomes more or less general we shall be able to extend this columbarium
considerably, for we have got a magnificent site. This is the most up-to-date crematorium
in the country with the exception of Hendon, with which we are on a level.
Mr. SPICKETT added that it was a matter of some interest to know that the late Dr. PRICE,
who was prosecuted for alleged misdemeanour at Cardiff Assizes because he cremated his
infant son in his own field at Llantrisant, was a native of Pontypridd. He (Mr. SPICKETT)
recollected being at the trial, when Lord Justice STEPHENS held that the doctor had not
committed a nuisance or a misdemeanour. Shortly after that important occaision the
Cremation Act was passed, and the regulations now in force were those dated March 31,
1903.
Mr. SPICKETT, further mentioned that the board had received great assistance from the
Cremation Society of England. The building was in native Penzance stone and Bath stone,
and the catafalque was of Austrian oak. Mr.A.W. JULIAN, of Pontypridd, was the contractor
and Mr. J. Malcom LAING the architect.
William John BOWDEN, a colliery haulier, living iin Woodfield-terrace, Penrhiwceiber,
received three months with hard labour at Mountain Ash on Thursday on a charge of failing
to carry out the terms of recognisances into which he entered at Aberdare last December,
when he was bound over on a charge of neglecting his four children.
Boxing . Trevor LLEWELLYN (Wales) met one of Tex O' ROURKE'S men, Billy PRESTIGE,
and at the end of their six-rounds bout the Welshman was given the decision. He had the
better of matters, twice sending his opponent down for long counts in the third round. It
was a fine tussle, with LLEWELLYN just on top. (Royal Albert Hall).
And at Liverpool Tommy WHITE (Newport) was defeated on Thursday night by Ernie VEITCH
(Leamington) on points.
Mr. D. REES, the district coroner, held an inquest at Coedpenmaen on Thursday touching the
death of John EVANS 80, of 81, Merthyr-road, Pontypridd, who on the 14th inst. was knocked
down by a motor-cyclist and sustained such injuries that he died on Wednesday at the local
cottage hospital.
Evidence was given that Mr. EVANS commenced to cross the road and when half way halted. As
the cyclist was about to pass he made a sudden dart forward and came into collision with
the machine. The Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to complications of the
liver, accelerated by the accident, and exonerated the motorist from all blame.
A collision in which two private cars were involved occurred on the Cardiff-Barry road on
Thursday evening at the point where it overlooks Cogan railway station.
Mr. William ROSS, printers' engineer of the Albion Works, Gladstone-street, Cardiff,
was driving to Barry, where he resides, and was taking the notoriously dangerous bend. The
other car, was driven by Mr. Reginald MATHIAS, 77, Oakfield-road, Newport, a bank manager,
was coming from the direction of Dinas Powis. There had been a thunderstorm just prior and
the roads were wet and greasy. Probably, owing to a skid, the cars collided as they
essayed to pass each other. Both were disabled by the impact. The bank manager's car
had the front off-wheel and mudguard badly twisted, and the rear off-wheel and mudguard of
Mr, ROSS'S car were also put out of commission. The occupants of both cars (there were
three in Mr. Ross's car) escaped without injury.
John Patrick