General Chat

I also feel that if the Welsh language issue is enforced too ridgedly, then potential investors would be put off locating to Wales because of the extra cost of dual language documentation within the work place etc.

Thanks so much for posting this, Kaye. I've just watched it on iplayer. My grandparents moved to Barry from the valleys in the 1920s when my grandfather became a foreman in the steelworks.

Every school holiday was spent in Barry when I was a child and we still visit from time to time, although my Welsh family now live in Cardiff.

Gwynne

Sue. I am not ignoring your question. Had composed a long and brilliant reply about 9am, then a banging at the door and BT had come and wanted all the cars moved in the road. And, without warning, telephone mines have been off till now. So I have been discumvolvulated all morning :-D And my magnum opus has (by an act of God?) been lost for ever.

One thread seems to be oclmenai.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/y-daily-mail-robin-lewis-spar.html

I saw five letters on the Menai Blog. First was saying it was an old story that had already been discussed in Y Cymro. A second was saying that it was "news" because it had appeared in the Daily Mail and on bbc.news on 28 Dec.

A third then said it was part of a long campaign by the Daily Mail throughout 2012 to make Welsh language activists and Welsh campaigners looks silly
A fourth said that some fault was with Spar, who prided themselves as a Welsh speaking store and it should never have got out of hand.

And a fifth said that Dr Lewis was a silly old goat.

And I must stress that nobody (but nobody) mentioned it was Spar where this event took place until the Daily Mail waded in. And, as far as I can see, there was no commotion and no one would have known if Dr Lewis had not written his long and self-congratulatory letter to Y Cymro - which Daily Mail distorted to make him look as bad as possible.

So note to myself - do not buy Daily Mail (paper hates Welsh language). I have never bought the Sun because of Hillsborough. So now 2 papers not on my list.:-(

Its very interesting Gwynne....I never knew anyting about how the Island became linked to the mainland ,,,looks like now its going to be turned around with new life put in to it with new investments.....
:-)

The progamme about Barry :-D I am assuming this is the history one presented by Eddie Butler. It was fantastic. Eddie did a series of 4 towns last year - Newport, Pontypridd and Bangor (can't remember fourth). And in Series 2 it was Barry follwed this week by Cardigan.

Eddie was born in Newport and captained Pontypool RFC and also Wales. So very much a rugby hero in Wales and rugby commentator who has turned his attentions to his history hobby.

Difficult to believe that, until David Davies Llandinam had a strop with Lord Bute and was not happy to pay Lord Bute 1d a ton to take his coal through Cardiff, that Barry was so sleepy. Barry Island was cut off from Barry town completely.

Then Davies built Barry, Huge docks, railway lines in, a bridge between Barry and the Island. And it became the largest port in South Wales. And the chap who runs the fun fair today (Pat Collins, grandson of the famous one who owned Colwyn Bay and other fun fairs when I was a boy) said they were getting 130,000 visitors a day at their peak between the wars.

Hope that is interesting for some, now that Barry is once again on the map. And the first Plaid Cymru MP (appointed back in 1960's), Gwynfor Evans, was a Barry boy and son of a local shopkeeper :-D :-D

That will be wonderful, Kaye. We were there on New Year's Day having breakfast in John's Cafe. The beach was crowded then for the New Year swim but nothing like it used to be when the trippers came up from the valleys.

Edit for cross posting.

Gwynfor was a friend of the family and "uncle Gwyn" to me, John. A lovely man. Dan Evans shop was not just any old shop it was a big department store.


Gwynne

I coulnt belive Gwynne just how many visitors it had in its heyday,,,,,plus a Butlins! the man whos family owned the merry--go-round looked like he was ready to go.....hopefully it will thrive again.

The cafe as you know was featured,,,,,,next time you go it will give you a talking point. :-D

Gwynne As you may know, one of Uncle Gwyn's daughters married Ffred Francis from Prestatyn or Rhyl. Ffred was one of the big movers within the Welsh Language Society in my hey day and is a most charming man. But one who irritated the authorities (particularly Viscount Tonypandy) more than most.

Fascinating that correspondence between you and Kay. And I thought Sue's thread had died on its feet yesterday :-D :-D

It was a very sad day when Dan Evans closed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4199250.stm

I didn't see "uncle Gwyn" after my grandparents died, John, we went down a lot less often.

John that blog doesn't link me to the original Y Cymro article you mentioned, help please.

Remember Barry Island when Butlins was there - the place was always packed. A lot different today - still ok for a walk along the front, but not a great deal other than that. :-(

This is posting 991 so 9 more & it hits 1000 so lets see if you can do it for Sue

Not long now Sue and have to say it has been a very very interesting thread :-D ;-)

I went to Barry Island when I was 16 what a holiday :-D

I can imagine, Hayley. ;-)

I'm trying not to imagine it ;-)

i lstayed in the gallery there for a short while it was lovely
though the railway station could do with a bit of work

Mr. Daff said - *Remember Barry Island when Butlins was there - the place was always packed. A lot different today - still ok for a walk along the front, but not a great deal other than that.* :-(

I bet Hayley found plenty to do back in the day :-D Was there a board-walk perchance? ;-)

been a bit of a resurgence in Barry since Gavin and Stacey was filmed there and I must say they have smartened the front up quite a lot

I think the 1000th posting should be left for Sue :-)