G'day everybody
After some time I am finally back to posting on the Monmouthshire list
and hope that someone will be able to help me confirm a story that my
late father told me about his childhood in Abersychan.The bare bones are
that when he was about 8 or 9 (1917 - 1918) a man had drowned in the
Avon Llwyd in Abersychan and that his body had been found under or near
the road bridge connecting Snatchwood Road and what he called Freehold
Land. I know where he meant and I believe that the bridge is now open
for pedestrian access only though when I was a child it was open for all
forms of traffic. He also said that he thought the man had gone into
the water somewhere further up the valley. What I would like to know is,
whether the story is true, if it was reported in the Free Press and if a
coroners inquest had been held? I want to include the story in a short
biography of my Dad that I am finally compiling, some 14 years after his
death. I'd also like to find out about his school records and have
contacted the Gwent Archives to find if they have the attendance and any
school photographs for his time at Pontnewynydd Primary School. I also
know that he was a good swimmer and was a member of some sort of
swimming club or team at Pontypool for part of the time between about
1924 and when he left to join the Welsh Guards in 1928.
Is there anyone on the list who can help?
Yours in anticipation
Ray Lewis
Hazelmere Western Australia