Post by Alan on Feb 24, 2007 11:19:51 GMT 1
Betty Tully emailed us her memories:
"My Grandfather Danny Simmons was born in Dowlais Balaclava Rd.?in 1889 . My grandmother Elizabeth Hughs was born in Iron lane in 1891 .They married in 1914 Danny was living at Bupimorlais? St. Penydarren and Elizabeth was living at 39 Ynisfach ?[ I can’t decipher the writing on the marriage certificate ] Danny played football for Merthyr town in the early 1900s and worked at Dowlais steelworks ,[following in his father Simon’s footsteps] .My grandmothers father John Hughs was a colliery hauler.
Dad [Bill Simmons ] was born in Merthyr Tydfil in 1917 son of Danny & Elisabeth Simmons. They lived in Dixon Street. Dad attended Abermorlais school. When he left school at 14yrs old he and his friend John Symmonds worked for Leyshons in Ynyscoy st [not sure of spelling] .He worked with Tommy Jones,Ernie Edwards , and Alfie Wheeler.. Leyshons owned 7 coaches & 14 lorries . Dad learnt his trade of mechanic here. He was also a driver for them . The duties were varied from delivering miners coal allowances , delivering and setting up chairs etc. for the Fete & Gala held in the grounds of Cyfartha castle each year , to making deliveries and collections all over the country for ICI . Hoover, OP chocolate and many other companies.
Andrew Symmonds [John,s father ] bought the haulage side of the business from Leyshons .Dad continued to work there until we left in November 1960 to move to Kent .
He married my mother Lena [he met her while on leave from the army] in 1946 she moved from London to Merthyr to marry in Cyfartha church in 1946 . They then lived with my grandparents at Dixon st until I was about 4yrs old [ 1950-1951 ] aprox. When we moved to John St [no. 68 ] .From howell st up the steps and turn right . I can,t remember who lived in the first house . Mrs. Jones lived in the second one then us the Simmons ‘s Lena , Bill and daughters Betty , Vicky and Irene .Next door was Ada & John Rees {John had had his legs amputated at the knees , this did not stop him getting around on his metal ones} . next came MR. & Mrs Morgan & their son Vincent also Mrs Morgans brother Harry. Then Betty Evans and her daughters Gaynor and Cheryl.Mrs Meek and her granddaughter Moira came next ? then the Kings Mrs King and daughters Norma and Mabel and son Mansell . I think the last house before the gulley { leading to the back of the houses} was the Huges family Mrs Hughes [Crydwyn]? And two sons. Then there was Dai the Up [upholsterer] as people moved away we had new neighbors such as Edie & Len Watkins [ Edie came from Blackpool] and also the Dando brothers Danny & Dai . Opposite us [starting with the house you can see from Howell st opposite the steps] lived The James family Dai , May & daughters Sian & Carol. Next to them were Annie & Cyril ? then the Williams with their granddaughter Lorraine. Then I think it was the Howells who had a son. Down the bottom end towards George St were the Murphy’s with daughters Pat and Doreen.
Dad renovated our house as it was in a dire state when they bought it . I think at that time we were the only ones to have converted the cellar area into a kitchen & livingroom. The back entrance to the house was in west lane . The lane ran through between the house and the garden and the toilets were situated at the end of the garden.
Howell St. I don’t remember the names of so many people but remember the Booths who had a daughter named Rose {I can’t remember the names of the other family members}. Billy Einon Lived there with his family [ not sure of the spelling] . The Lane opposite West lane {access through Howell St.} lived The Stanleys Arthur , Iris and Daughters Christine and Elizabeth. Arthur worked for Hoover.
We used to spend our pocket money in{ Arthur’s} Sweet shop in George St.My best friend Pat Evans and family lived at premises behind her grandfathers fish and chip shop at the start of Howell St
I can also remember some of the places in Bethesda St. there was the Skin yard {stunk} the Drill hall opposite. The Wellington Pub also Mortons the butchers Willis the grocers [Idris] was the manager and Rawsons sweets. .
I can also remember the Bish family who lived in West lane.
When my Grandparents lived in Dixon street I can remember some of their neighbours . Bakers garage was there also the Dairy. Mrs Jones Mrs Maggie Smith and son Trevor. The Rowlands family Ronnie , Clive? And Andrea? The Clary’s .
I attended Georgetown primary school , Abermorlais Junior school and County Grammar School .{ ive found myself on two of the photos on your site} "
"My Grandfather Danny Simmons was born in Dowlais Balaclava Rd.?in 1889 . My grandmother Elizabeth Hughs was born in Iron lane in 1891 .They married in 1914 Danny was living at Bupimorlais? St. Penydarren and Elizabeth was living at 39 Ynisfach ?[ I can’t decipher the writing on the marriage certificate ] Danny played football for Merthyr town in the early 1900s and worked at Dowlais steelworks ,[following in his father Simon’s footsteps] .My grandmothers father John Hughs was a colliery hauler.
Dad [Bill Simmons ] was born in Merthyr Tydfil in 1917 son of Danny & Elisabeth Simmons. They lived in Dixon Street. Dad attended Abermorlais school. When he left school at 14yrs old he and his friend John Symmonds worked for Leyshons in Ynyscoy st [not sure of spelling] .He worked with Tommy Jones,Ernie Edwards , and Alfie Wheeler.. Leyshons owned 7 coaches & 14 lorries . Dad learnt his trade of mechanic here. He was also a driver for them . The duties were varied from delivering miners coal allowances , delivering and setting up chairs etc. for the Fete & Gala held in the grounds of Cyfartha castle each year , to making deliveries and collections all over the country for ICI . Hoover, OP chocolate and many other companies.
Andrew Symmonds [John,s father ] bought the haulage side of the business from Leyshons .Dad continued to work there until we left in November 1960 to move to Kent .
He married my mother Lena [he met her while on leave from the army] in 1946 she moved from London to Merthyr to marry in Cyfartha church in 1946 . They then lived with my grandparents at Dixon st until I was about 4yrs old [ 1950-1951 ] aprox. When we moved to John St [no. 68 ] .From howell st up the steps and turn right . I can,t remember who lived in the first house . Mrs. Jones lived in the second one then us the Simmons ‘s Lena , Bill and daughters Betty , Vicky and Irene .Next door was Ada & John Rees {John had had his legs amputated at the knees , this did not stop him getting around on his metal ones} . next came MR. & Mrs Morgan & their son Vincent also Mrs Morgans brother Harry. Then Betty Evans and her daughters Gaynor and Cheryl.Mrs Meek and her granddaughter Moira came next ? then the Kings Mrs King and daughters Norma and Mabel and son Mansell . I think the last house before the gulley { leading to the back of the houses} was the Huges family Mrs Hughes [Crydwyn]? And two sons. Then there was Dai the Up [upholsterer] as people moved away we had new neighbors such as Edie & Len Watkins [ Edie came from Blackpool] and also the Dando brothers Danny & Dai . Opposite us [starting with the house you can see from Howell st opposite the steps] lived The James family Dai , May & daughters Sian & Carol. Next to them were Annie & Cyril ? then the Williams with their granddaughter Lorraine. Then I think it was the Howells who had a son. Down the bottom end towards George St were the Murphy’s with daughters Pat and Doreen.
Dad renovated our house as it was in a dire state when they bought it . I think at that time we were the only ones to have converted the cellar area into a kitchen & livingroom. The back entrance to the house was in west lane . The lane ran through between the house and the garden and the toilets were situated at the end of the garden.
Howell St. I don’t remember the names of so many people but remember the Booths who had a daughter named Rose {I can’t remember the names of the other family members}. Billy Einon Lived there with his family [ not sure of the spelling] . The Lane opposite West lane {access through Howell St.} lived The Stanleys Arthur , Iris and Daughters Christine and Elizabeth. Arthur worked for Hoover.
We used to spend our pocket money in{ Arthur’s} Sweet shop in George St.My best friend Pat Evans and family lived at premises behind her grandfathers fish and chip shop at the start of Howell St
I can also remember some of the places in Bethesda St. there was the Skin yard {stunk} the Drill hall opposite. The Wellington Pub also Mortons the butchers Willis the grocers [Idris] was the manager and Rawsons sweets. .
I can also remember the Bish family who lived in West lane.
When my Grandparents lived in Dixon street I can remember some of their neighbours . Bakers garage was there also the Dairy. Mrs Jones Mrs Maggie Smith and son Trevor. The Rowlands family Ronnie , Clive? And Andrea? The Clary’s .
I attended Georgetown primary school , Abermorlais Junior school and County Grammar School .{ ive found myself on two of the photos on your site} "