Watkins family, Troedyrhiw

[watkins]

I am tracing my family tree and would be grateful for any information on the watkins family of Troedyrhiw. My father left Troedyrhiw in about 1945 he was known as Malcolm, real christrian names William, Malcolm, Stephen and his fathers name was David Watkins. They lived at 31 Greenfield Terrace. My fathers mother died at the age of 31 in 1923 when my father was just 2 years old. Her maiden name was Margeret Morgan and her family were farmers, I'm not sure but believed to be from Caerphilly. My father had two full bothers named Glyndwr and Harry and two stepbrothers named Idwal and Tom.
I believe my great grandfather was the publican at the Garfield Inn, Troedyrhiw. It would appear that the main family occupations were coal miners, butchers, inn keepers, solicitors and farmers. Sadly, I have no photographs of my fathers family.
I am making the trip from Suffolk to the Merthyr area in spring 2009 so would be pleased to hear from anyone who has information, even the smallest of info may help. Thank you.

[bobw]

Hi I don’t Know if it's connected but there was an Harry and Idwal Watkins brothers as far as we knew who lived together in Merthyr road Troedyrhiw in the 1970's Harry worked for Merthyr Council He would have been about 60 in 1974.

[watkins]

Thank you, yes they are connected. Greenfield Terrace is in Merthyr Road (maybe it's not known as a terrace anymore). Harry was my Dad's full bother and Idwal was his half bother. I know that Harry passed away many years ago and that Idwal passed away about 5 or 6 years ago. I never met them and know very little about the family of my late father(who left wales as a young man and passed away in 1983). Do you know any more about them? I know that my late Mum once lived in Ash Road, Troedyrhiw - I think they knocked the houses down in the 50's but her family moved to Essex much before then. I don't suppose you knew her family, my grandmother was Martha Brown, her sons were Bill Thomas, Davie Thomas, Walley Brown, Joe Brown and my Mum was Millicent Brown.
Thanks for responding.

[bobw]

I worked with Harry for a few years in the mid 70's when he was a plasters mate with Merthyr Council he later had a job as Yard man at the council depot at Brecon road keeping the yard tidy etc. I do remember him telling me that he was related to Mervin Watkins driving instructor (Borough school of motoring) and ex butcher of Bridge St Troedyrhiw. I hope helps.

[acrosstheroad]

Derek Watkins of Borough School of Motoring was my driving instructor, and he was very good, one of the best instructors at that time, he, Derek and his father (I presume Mervin, but I only ever called him Mr Watkins so didn`t know his first name) owned the BS of M, and ran it from an office in Victoria Street in Merthyr.

I`ll always remember Derek, the way he taught me to drive stood me in good stead to this day (there was a third instructor with them, Gareth, I`v seen him up to about a year ago, still a driving instructor)

[watkins]

Thank you 'Bobw' and 'accrosstheroad' for your replies.

[joan]

Hi. I've just registered so I can reply to you! My father was Mervyn Watkins who had a butcher shop in Bridge Street, Troedyrhiw. He was always know as 'Watkins the Butcher', even when he gave up the shop and, after taking advanced driving & instruction exams, opened a school of motoring in Merthyr Tydfil. My brother, Derek, also worked with him as a driving instructor and they both had an extremely good name as driving instructors. Sadly Derek died of a heart attack in 1986, aged 49.
My father had 3 brothers, Rees, Ron & Jack (Jack died in his 30's). His father's name was also Jack and he was a butcher in Merthr Tydfil. He lived with us after my grandmother died.
I don't know much more than this, but I hope I have been of some help.

[nesdon]

I also had driving lessons with Mervyn Watkins he was a real gentleman.I knew Derrick also & went to school with his wife .Another member of the family Norma ,her father had a butcher shop on Pontmorlais.Her brother Philip now living in Royal Tunbridge Wells has done family history on the Watkins family.

[watkins]

Hi Joan,
Thank you for adding the information, I'm not sure at this stage if our families are connected but I do find it a coincidence that my late father mentioned that his father was once a butcher in Troedyrhiw - I think this would have been in the early 1920's or before. I also recall the names Jackie and Rufus being mentioned which I always assumed were cousins.

I will keep searching and will always be grateful for any further information either you or anyone else on this forum has to offer.

Many thanks,

[joan]

Hello acrosstheroad.
Thanks for editing your post. As for the horse incident, it's not something I remember. I'm sure I would if it was true. It's funny how these stories get round isn't it!

[acrosstheroad]

Hi Joan, I originally heard the story of the horse way back in, I recall, about 1967/ ish, when I was having Driving Instruction with them, I haven`t seen Gareth (the third instructor) for some time now, but If I do, I`ll ask him ....