Hi Derek,
Sounds a familiar story, we all seem to leave our genealogical research
too late, when the people who could help us most are not around to do
so, I certainly did.
I was born in Briton Ferry in 1945 and lived there until 1966, about 200
yards from Giants Grave, Post Office. I use to call in there fairly
frequently for stamps etc and to the telephone kiosk outside, which in
those days was the old button A and B black box.
I can visualise Basil, Olga and her husband I believe the surname was
Ashbourne, Basil who must now be about 59/60 went to a private school in
Swansea. I believe Olga had a daughter late in life, which was a big
surprise as she did not realise she was pregnant, from what I remember
they were running the post office well into the 1960's.
I have the parish registers of St.Mary's, Briton Ferry but there is no
Ashbourne in there, its not a Welsh name, so I am not sure where they
originated. Here is one Ashbourne courtesy 0f the electoral roll
192.com
SIAN ASHBOURNE
28 EASTLAND ROAD
NEATH W GLAM
SA111HR
Hope this helps
Kind Regards,
Mike
( Island of Gozo, Malta )
----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Evans" <Thomas.Evans1(a)btinternet.com>
To: <WLS-GLAM-BRITONFERRY-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 4:02 PM
Subject: [Br'tFerry] Giants Grave sub-post office
My interests are mainly in Pembrokeshire, however I had relatives in
Briton Ferry for many years. I last visited in the 1940's when I was
just a child, and now, quite a few years after the deaths of my parents,
I am belatedly trying to piece together parts of my family.
My Auntie Mabel (surname unknown, but it could have been Phillips) ran
the sub/post office/stores at Giants Grave until at least the middle
1940's, and I know my mother worked in the sub-post office before the
1914-18 War, but she only stayed a few years, returning to live in
Pembroke Dock.
My Auntie Mabel had a daughter, my cousin Olga, and she had a son Basil,
but unfortunately I have not remembered the surnames over the last
60'ish years.
I have a feeling that other members of the family had taken over the
running of the sub-post office by the mid 1940's and I wonder if there
is anyone out there who remember this family.
I believe that Auntie Mabel's husband MIGHT have been my mother's elder
half-brother. his father, my grandfather being James Phillips, a Master
Shipsmith in Pembroke Dockyard.
Derek Evans.
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