Neath Fair - Timbermen Underground

[desmo11225]

Hello All
            I've had a look at the u tube video and yes this is sort of, roughly what I was thinking of,  the demonstration at Neath Fair I saw, would be great on a film like that
      The posts were not much different but the cross member was notched so that the post fitted in neatly, obviously there were no chain saws then,all the work done with an axe with a very wide blade as shown but not double sided but very,very sharp.
              Also the Norway timber was very straight, stripped of bark and very seasoned and light in weight, I unloaded many hundreds of tons from the rail trucks and stacked it in the sidings at Glyn Castle Colliery, we had a nice little gang of us who did this, also timber from France which had very thick bark with shrapnel in it.
                    I notice in another post that in a list of occupations in mines, Miners were first then Timbermen.
                 Thank you all who have been interested in Timbermen Underground especially, brian T3, cell,falkyrn, and colin.
                 Take Care
                           desmo11225 
                       

[Brian T3]

Hi Desmo,
 It was many years ago I worked in the mines (I'm 75 now.)
You mention the lightweight Norway pine, which was great
 for handling &(  firewood on block day )
Where I worked in South Pit & North Rhondda in Glyncorrwg
 the timbermen or repairers were only allowed to use the heavy
French oak for their timber sets. Very heavy but much stronger.
  Regards,
     Brian

[Mart56]

Neath Library (upstairs) offers free access to their records of the Neath Guardian newspaper.  You might be interested to see if their September issues give some reports on the activities you saw at Neath Fair.

[desmo11225]

Hello Mart 56
                     Thank you for replying to my post, would you give me a bit more info on how to get in touch with Neath Library and do you remember the Timbermen showing off thier skills at Neath Fair around 1947/8/9.
                           I live in Luton Beds now, have done since Jan 1950,I visit my family in Resolven more or less every year so I'm rather far away.
                  Any help would be much appreciated
                              Regards
                                   desmo

[Morganllan]

.... a bit more info on how to get in touch with Neath Library....

Here's a link to the website:

http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1244

Best Wishes
Morgan

[desmo11225]

Thank you Morganallan for replying to me, it's a long time since I heard from you, unfortunatly I have never found anyone who remembers the Timbermen demonstrating at Neath Fair.
                So I'm asking if you can help me with something else ??Some years ago my friend and I stayed at a farm in Pont Neath Vaughn, the farm was as far up the valley as you could go up the side of the river over a tiny bridge and down the other side, the farm was in the trees. Do youknow the name of that farm.??
           I'm asking because my friend and I were shown the Stained Glass Window that the Swansea University Student son had made for Christchurch Cathedral, Port Stanley, The Falkland Islands and we have a photograph of it.
           You can see a photograph of the window on Port Stanleys website, it has a sheep in it and is entirely different to all the other windows, easily spotted
            My friends Daughter-in-law [A Micro Biologist]has seen the window in Port Stanley, Can you find who made it please          Regards   Des
                             

[Morganllan]

Hello Des 

I'm sorry but I'm not sure about the farm but if you look at a satellite view map of Pontneddfechan you may be able to spot the place where you stayed. It could be Glan-yr-afon Farm?

I know that Swansea Metropolitan University has an excellent Stained Glass Department - School of Glass - so they may be able to provide information about the artist who designed the Post Liberation Memorial Window.

Kind Regards
Morgan

[Mart56]

Virtually the last farm on the Glamorgan side of the county boundary is Ynyscymmer, but much of Pontneathvaughan lies in Breconshire.

[desmo11225]

Thank you Gents, I have passed on your info. to  Jon and Rachel they live in Shap Cumbria, both Biologists with PhDs so I'm sure they will be skillful enough to get what they want from the Gen. you've given me.
                 Once again Thank You
             Have a Good Christmas and I'll keep in touch when I know some thing
                        All the Best
                                 Des