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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: mirandapasoc on Wednesday 22 September 10 12:25 BST (UK)
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Hi there My work collige the other week told me about a place called Biy village I think it is near Llantwit Major somewhere but I was wondering if anyone knows what it was used for and why its been deserted
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hi,,is it called boys or biys? ;)
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sorry you will have to excuse my spelling I am not being lazy I have slight dislexia but I will try my best to spell
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is this the village??
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8701858.stm
Suz
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yes I think so she daid say it was near to Saint Athans looks very intresting because there is a church up there swimming pool I am just wondering why it isnt usedtoday and what is going to be done to it
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did you listen to the audio tape - I think its just boys nowadays want more than the village could offer.
Its sad to see it decaying - but I suppose it will stay that way until someone raises money to restore it and maybe have it as a kind of museum -unless of course it is demolished to make way for development
Suz
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Information on Boys Village here:
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/boysvill.php
Boys Village was up for auction back in July... Guide price £625,000...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-10808320
But it didn't sell...
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=2&TopicID=230158&PagePosition=1&get=last
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The centre when I was younger was run by the Boys Clubs of Wales and I believe was the national centre . It was used by groups of boys and young men in particular who were associated and affiliated to the National Federation of Boys Clubs .
I went there on many occasions throughout the late 70s and the 80s either as a member of the Avon Boys Club in Bristol , a member of the Avon Group of the National Boys Club or to help run events for various clubs inc . weekly breaks for lads who were fostered or had been in trouble with the authorities .
The centre had football pitches , and outdoor adventure / assault course an indoor gym , dorms , small church , various rooms / halls for meetings etc.. and access to a variety of events of site .
The centre from memory in my time was run by a fantastic little chap named Alwyn Morgan .
Never a dull moment with Alwyn around , very jovial and ran a very professional centre .
Great days .
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hi, I am doing photography project and writing book about Boys' Village, it was opened in 1925, closed in 1991. It was run by Boys Clubs of Wales (today Club for Young People Wales). IT was summer camp for boys (sons of miners from South Wales Valleys) later training grounds for soldiers, then opened again as summer camp for boys and girls.
If anyone could help me in my research It would be very helpful - I am looking for old photographs and memories - any funny stories, or possibly names and contact details of people who could help me
- would be great if anyone could share their memories!
You can find more info about boys' village and my project on my website which is www.mmg-photography.com it's still under construction but working fine ;)
all the best guys!
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Can certainly help in the latter years with memories ( c . 1979 - 85 ) , not sure I have photos anymore .
Post message if required and see earlier mems I posted .
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Hi there,
In 1962 all the youth clubs of the Rhondda Valley, Fach and Fawr meet for 1 week and stayed near Rhoose. St. Athans area both girls and boys. We all had a whale of a time.
I wondered if this was the boys village??
Heddwch
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I certainly believe it is .
You came from Cardiff heading towards St .Athans . As you passed the cement works there was a left turn and a minor road leading to the entrance .
Sadly in the years I posted previously it was becoming very dated and needed a fresh injection of cash to modernise and enhance the great work that many were involved in .
Sadly the boys club movement that I was a part of for many years was under increasing pressure from councils to amalgamate their clubs to mixed facilities and activities .
The fact that the movement was a strong single sex association that had grown over many decades , seemed to rub against the grain of a changing hierarchy governing us .
Money obviously had a part to play and funds were increasingly under great scrutiny and ' value for money ' became king .
Through the boys club day visits , camps , training weekends etc... many lads from the Greater Bristol area where I was involved had opportunities to share , learn , become a part of , challenge and involve themselves in many activities that inner cities areas could not provide .
There are of course many sides to this story but our country and the lads within it need places like BCW village more than ever now if only to learn how to integrate with each other and learn the ever vanishing skill of being able to listen .
Without the fanfare of sexist comments , I believe that for exactly the same reasons these centres should be encouraged for our young girls where if they were run as well as in my experiences I would gladly send my two .
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Thanks for your reply, and bringing back memories of years gone by, I have a photograph of all the girls and boys that where there that week I must venture in the attic to find it
Cheers
Heddwch
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would be great if you could help me with my project, I can't use PM and I don't know, tried post my e-mail address but I didn't know that this is not allowed on this forum, I am sorry, I am new here and don't know much, will read terms of use once again to don't do mess any more ;) SOrry
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Hi there, just click the green scroll on the left hand side and you can PM me.
There is an article in tonights South Wales Echo page 4 regarding the War Memorial in the boys village which is now is a sorry state.
I don`t know where you live or if you can obtain a copy of this article.
I can post it to you if you are unable to get hold of it.
Hope this helps
Heddwch
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As previously mentioned on last post I would be glad to help where possible.
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thanks, I know about this article as there should be mine photographs, they cheated, we made a deal that they will publish my photo, and then one day before changed mind, and even didn't told me that :/ lol they could just let me know - hey we don't like/ we don't want/ we changed mind or whatever :/
Thanks just come back from work will PM you as soon as I will get some food and hot drink, it was long long day, speak you very soon!
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There was a program on TV tonight which covered the boys camp village at St Athan; Fishlock's Wales:
http://www.itv.com/wales/fishlocks-wales18713/
"Trevor Fishlock visits a now derelict holiday camp that once rang to the laughter and shouts of exuberant boys. It was opened in the 1920s by a coal company owner to give young colliery workers and the sons of miners the chance of a holiday of a lifetime."
The program included some original film as well as showing the buildings and pool as they are today.
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the property you are refering to is actually up for auction
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To Heddwch and double-trouble:
I'm writing a master thesis about abandoned places like Boys Village. Do you think you could help me by sharing your memories about this place?
Please email me (*), and we can take it from there!
Many thanks!
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
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As previously mentioned on last post I would be glad to help where possible.
To Heddwch and double-trouble:
I'm writing a master thesis about abandoned places like Boys Village. Do you think you could help me by sharing your memories about this place?
Please email me (*) and we can take it from there!
Many thanks!
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
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To Heddwch and double-trouble:
I'm writing a master thesis about abandoned places like Boys Village. Do you think you could help me by sharing your memories about this place?
Please write me to (*) and we can take it from there!
Many thanks!
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
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The boys' village in St Athan was also hired to other charitable associations, again for holidays. I went there as one of a group of student helpers from King's College, London in 1963/64. The Epilepsy Association was one for the charities supported by our college, and boys and girls suffering from the more severe forms of Epilepsy were taken there for a week's holiday. It also provided a week's respite for carers. As students we looked after the children, supporting the nursing staff who were there, and we all had a tremendous time. Anne Griffiths
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Thank you Anne!
How did the place look like when you were there? What is the most remarkable aspect about it that you remember?
Also, how does it make you feel about the fact that it's now so derelict?
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Hello Anne :)
Welcome to Rootschat!
Did you see the BBC Wales Programme "Play the Game" which was shown on 15 March 2011? It covered the history of the Boys Clubs of Wales, and that Max Boyce, Lynn 'The Leap' Davies and boxing star Nathan Cleverly had spent time there.
Kind Regards
Morgan