I remember that…..

by Margaret Dooley née McLenahan

I lived in Pant and one of my earliest memories is the smell of baking bread from Jenkins’ bakehouse. I was often dispatched to get a loaf, which would still be warm. By the time I got home I would have eaten half the crust. Delicious,  never tasted bread like it since.

I remember walking to school in the snow (to Cyfarthfa) as the buses wouldn’t be running. If Mr. Lee, a teacher who lived in Caeracca,  could get there, then we were expected to as well.

The Castle Cinema on Saturday night. The last bus to Pant went at 10.30 so if it was a long film you had to choose between seeing the end or a long walk home.

On the same note, ABC minors and getting a bag of chips in newspaper on the way home.

The Castle Cinema ABC Minors Christmas Party in 1959. Photo courtesy of http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/index.htm

Going shopping in Dowlais with my grandmother (when I was about 8 or 9) and it seeming to take hours as she knew everybody and stopped to talk. I was expected to stand still and not interrupt.  Did hear some juicy bits of gossip though!

Happy days!!!

If you would like to submit an article for the ‘I Remember That’ series, please get in touch at merthyr.history@gmail.com

Tom Thomas – the First Welterweight Champion of Wales – part 3

by Roy Smith

The Deri champion featured in 16 contests in 1927. More than once Tom had been booked to feature in three fights within a fortnight. The meeting of Tom Thomas and Billy Noble (Kenfig Hill) on 8 January in a scheduled 15-round contest at Tonypandy resulted in a mild sensation, for Thomas was disqualified after ninety-seconds of boxing in the first-round for a low punch. The Monday following in the chief contest at the Hanbury Assemble Rooms, Bargoed, he won a ten-round contest over Ginger Pullen (Cardiff), while a week later he tackled Roy Martin (Crumlin) at Newport, which ended in a shock defeat for Thomas. As the Echo pointed out in its report of the contest – a surprise verdict left many critics completely dumfounded. One critic, who went by his initials ‘G.J.M.’ said “I am not one to quibble about a decision when there is little to choose between the boxers, but when one carries the fight from start to finish and literally runs away with the contest, and is then adjudged the loser, I am bound to say it leaves me astounded.”

Tom had an even busier time in February with three fights in eight days. On Friday 4th, he boxed a disappointing draw over ten-rounds with Dixie Brown (Bristol) at Weston’s Pier Pavilion. On the Sunday, a contest with Frank Lane (Mexborough, York) at the Leeds National Sporting Club had a curious ending. Lane down for a count of eight in round 14 complained of a low blow; after being examined by a doctor, he was awarded the fight. The following Saturday, a return contest with Billy Noble over 15 rounds at Tonypandy ended in a draw.

On Tuesday 1 March, Thomas boxed a draw over 15-rounds against Moses Davies (Penygraig) at Tonypandy Pavilion. The following week he was in Manchester for a contest with Bill Softley (Poplar) over 15 rounds. Softley had a hard fight the previous night, and punters thought it unlikely that he would withstand the onslaught of a hard-hitter such as Thomas.  According to the Western Mail 9 March, the Welshman adopted the wrong tactics. “Softley’s strength lies in his powerful short arm jabs, and it was obviously Thomas’ game to keep him at long range. Instead of this, he went in close at every opportunity, and although he seemed to get the better of a vigorous duel in the earlier rounds, he found the strain too great. Thomas ran into a hard right to the jaw in the fifth round and never recovered. He was hit through the ropes in the next round, was down for a count of seven in the seventh, and down for eight in the eighth. He got up, but then shook his head and retired.”

Next up was former Welsh and British amateur champion Ben Marshall (left) of Newport.  In only his fourth professional fight, Marshall faced the Welsh champion at Stow Hill Pavilion on March 21. Marshal decked Thomas in the sixth, the punch also opening a cut beneath his right eye – a wound from his previous encounter with Bill Softley. The injury troubled Tom in a toe-to-toe seventh, when he was floored twice, but survived to the bell only for his corner men to throw in the towel, leaving Marshal collecting the title, £100 side stake and an ornate gold belt put up by Newport promoter Jake Channing.

Tom Thomas of Deri had a boxing career spanning 13 years; his record (from my research) shows he took part in 90 contests.  He won 51 of his fights, lost 20, drew 13, three results unknown and he took part in at least three exhibition bouts.

In May 1935, Tom Thomas applied for a manager’s licence under the British Boxing Board of Control, but that is a story for another time.

Tom Thomas – the First Welterweight Champion of Wales – part 2

by Roy Smith

Taking a break from touring, Thomas returned home in July 1924 and under ex-Bombardier Harold Holmes, trainer Bargoed Boxing Club, went into serious training for his next important engagement at Liverpool. On 17 July, the Welshman was up against the European welterweight champion Billy Mack (Liverpool) at the city’s Pudsey Street Stadium.  The Echo 18 July 1924 carried the report “The contest proved one of the fiercest short-lived affairs witnessed in Liverpool for some time, and Thomas was defeated in five rounds.  It commenced in sensational fashion for in the first minute, the contestants’ heads clashed which resulted in Mack’s cheek bone being badly gashed.  Mack tore in and after furious exchanges; Thomas received a cut over the left eye. It was evident in round two that both boxers were out to finish matters. Fierce exchanges ensued and little divided them. They strove for a knock-out in the third, both swinging for the jaw, but missed hearing the gong. The Merseysider caught the Welshman with a vicious upper-cut which put Thomas on the canvas and he stayed down for eight. Thomas was again sent to the canvas on three more occasions in the fourth and appeared beaten but refused to give in. He rallied wonderfully in the fifth and caught Mack to the jaw, but towards the end of the round, a right to the chin dropped him once more. He was groggy when he returned to his corner, when his seconds threw in the towel acknowledging defeat.”  Although he lost to such an eminent opponent, numerous admirers felt “he certainly cannot have lost in prestige.”

Under the capable hands of Arthur Evans (Tirphil) the ex-lightweight champion of Wales, Thomas’s training sessions at the Hanbury Hotel, Bargoed, in preparation for his next test, a contest with Tom Whitehouse (Birmingham) the 10st champion of the Midlands, created considerable interest locally. Thomas and Whitehouse were heavy hitters and the full house at the Liverpool Stadium on 18 September 1924, anticipated a fine struggle. The contest proved very dramatic and was quickly over. Birmingham Daily Gazette 19 Sept 1924 gave a vivid account of the action “Almost the first blow in the contest landed on the Welshman’s jaw and he dropped on his knees. On rising, he used the ring judiciously, flashing home a trio of lefts to Whitehouse’s face. The latter, however, got home a right cross and the Celt again visited the boards. Quickly regaining his feet Thomas crashed home a right to Whitehouse’s chin that reeled him across the ring to end the session. Coming up for Round 2 Thomas dealt out a stinging upper-cut and he dashed in to press home his advantage but he was met with a left hook, which put him on the canvas once more. Both boxers scored with several punches to the head in their endeavours to end matters. Nearing the end of the round Whitehouse caught Thomas and sent him to the boards. It was obvious that the blow had finished him, and the referee intervened without counting, awarding the decision to the Midland boxer.”

Tom Thomas travelled with Alf Stewart’s booth in 1925/1926 and he notched up a second run of consecutive wins. At Newport, on 10 January, he defeated Martin Sampson (Caerphilly) on points over 20-rounds. Thomas was billed as the welter-weight champion of Wales; and although there was no “official championship,” the Deri lad certainly had very strong claims to such a title. At the same venue the following Saturday, he knocked out Charlie Berry (Newport) in the 8th of a 15-round contest. The result of a clash in February against Tom Phillips (Neath), holder of the Ring Belt Championship of Great Britain is unknown. Tom Thomas continued his winning account with appearances in the north of England against Jack Gallagher (Newcastle) at Newcastle, Len Oakley (London) at Durham and Napper Richardson (Durham). On his return to Wales he continued the run with victories over Howell Williams (Hirwain), Billy Wagstaff (Abercynon), Com McCarthy (Pontypridd), and Phil Thomas (Abercanaid).

 Title Bout at Milford Haven: Tom Thomas won the Welsh welterweight title on 21 August 1926, after a hard battle against Billy Green (Taffs Well), at Stewart’s Empire Boxing Pavilion in Milford Haven.  Four days later, the Welsh champion featured in a tournament at the New Hall, Bargoed, held in aid of the local Canteen fund. Although Thomas won a points decision over W. Delahay (Dowlais) he did not reveal his best form, probably because of the hard fight, which he fought and won on the Saturday.  The fact he put in an appearance so as not to disappoint the audience speaks highly for the man.

Thomas retained the welterweight championship of Wales when, at Milford Haven on 17 September 1926, he was given a verdict on a foul against Billy Moore, the former light weight champion, who was disqualified in the fourth round. In the course of a vigorous exchange of blows, Thomas fell to his knees, and while in that position, Moore dealt the blow that disqualified him.

Notwithstanding the industrial depression, there was a full house at Cardiff’s Drill Hall, on Monday evening 25 October 1926 to see Tom Thomas the welter-weight champion of Wales, oppose Billy Mattick (Castleford) welter champion of the North, over 15-rounds. Thomas fought a gallant and fiery battle and proved himself a capable two-handed boxer. At the end of a hard battle, Mattick received the verdict.

Billy Mattick. Photo courtesy of Susan Buck, great-niece.

Tom Thomas and Billy Mattick had a second fight on 7 November 1926 in Leeds National Sporting Club. According to the Leeds Mercury 8 November 1926, despite bleeding from a cut to the left eye in the sixth round, which bothered him a great deal, Thomas was leading the contest at the tenth.  Just as the gong went at the end of the eleventh round Thomas was floored with a terrific left to the jaw; and he also took a count of eight in round twelve. Mattick held his advantage in the last two rounds and won on points.

Welsh Successes in Jersey: Eleven days after the contest with Mattick at Leeds, Tom Thomas faced Billy Bird (Chelsea) at St Helier Stadium on 11 November 1926, and came away with a victory. Bird disqualified for hitting Thomas when the Welshman had slipped to the canvas in the tenth round of fifteen.

To be continued…..

Tom Thomas – the First Welterweight Champion of Wales – part 1

by Roy Smith

Thomas James Thomas, known as Tom, was born in 1901 when his parents James Lloyd Thomas and Mabel (née Davies) lived in Dynevor Street, Merthyr Tydfil.  They were residing at 7 Park Street, Merthyr by the time of the 1911 census and the family had grown with two additions, namely, son William (known as Billy) age 5 years and 2-year-old daughter Emily.  Shortly after the family moved to the village of Deri, in the Darran Valley where James was employed as overman at Groesfaen Colliery.

Tom Thomas first laced on the gloves as a member of the Bargoed Boxing Club and he began building his reputation in that rough but wonderfully efficient school the travelling boxing booth.  He toured South Wales and North of England with Bert Hughes’ boxing booth (June 1923-June 1924).  “Those were the days.  Thirty bob a week and all found, and fighting all day and all night, as long as opponents came forward,” as written by Tom Thomas in a letter to Boxing News.

Rhymney Valley Man In the Limelight – A Clever Deri Lad Making a Name is how the South Wales Echo headlined its report on 8 Sept 1923.“Tom Thomas (Deri) is making a name for himself, notably in England. This is really an extraordinary achievement for a young man of 21 years of age. A feature of his record is the large number of “K.O.’s. Since 1921, his victories include:- won on points over 15 rounds against Pat McAllister (Belfast).  Knock-out Dai Morgan (Bargoed) in the fourth round; knock-out Wyndham Whale (Treharris) in the first round; knock-out Con Cushion (Rhymney) in the third round; knock-out Young Keepins, Cardiff, in the first round;  knock-out Crad Jones (Treharris) in the first round. Draw with Billy Edmunds (Cardiff) over 10 rounds; knock-out Battling Bartlett (Dowlais) in the fourth round; knock-out Billy Wagstaff (Treharris) in the sixth round; won on points from Harvey Blanch (Hereford) in a 15 rounds contest; won on points from Will Dixon (Porth) in a 15 round contest; knock-out Digger Burns (Burnley) in the second round; knock-out Harry Jones (Hanley) in the third round; knock-out Griff Grifiths (Treharris) in the fifth round; and won on points from Bobby Parker, of Nuneaton, in a ten-round contest. According to South Wales Echo 3 September 1923, by knocking out Harry Jones (Wrexham) in the third round, he had established a record of 23 consecutive victories.  On 13 November 1923 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester he won a 15 round contest over Lawrence Ward (Belfast).

Tom Thomas, booked to face Chris Gorman (Chelsea) on 18 February 1924 at the National Sporting Club (NSC) Covent Garden, went into strict training at Anchorage Farm, Fleet, Hants under instructorship of Bert Hughes. On fight night, Thomas quickly ended his 10 rounds contest with Gorman and won a sensational victory knocking out his opponent in the first round with a right hook. His decisive victory more than pleased his many admirers in the Rhymney Valley. According to the Echo, 5 March in the course of a letter to Mr. Ted E. Lewis (Pontypridd) “Mr. Bettison, manager of the NSC expresses a very high opinion of the fighting qualities of Tom Thomas of Deri. He states that he considers Thomas to be one of the best welter-weights seen at the NSC for many years and that it would take a very good man to beat him.”

Thomas was matched with George Carney the Bermondsey welter-weight over 15 rounds in the chief contest at The Ring, Blackfriars Road, on March 20. The Echo, 21 March 1924 carried the following report “Although extremely plucky and forcing the fighting with great spirit throughout, Tom Thomas (Deri) proved no match for Carney. After being floored on three occasions in the seventh, the Welshman’s seconds did the proper thing in throwing in the towel.  Thomas was loudly applauded on leaving the ring.”

Tommy Milligan (left) of Hamilton, Scotland, proved far too good for Tom Thomas in a ten-round contest at NSC Covent Garden on 17 April. This bout was the eliminating contest for the Championship of Great Britain. Tom, from Deri, was K.O.’d in 4½ minutes of actual fighting, but apparently this was a thriller while it lasted and the Boxing News (8 Sept 1967) report read as follows “This was short-lived, though there was more real hard fighting crammed into the two rounds than one will often see in a 20-rounds contest.  Right from the gong, they went at it, slamming and pounding away with the utmost vigour.  Thomas wanted to score a knock-out and was aiming mainly for the head, but Milligan, forcing his way in close, smashed furiously at the body, and obviously with the greater force.  Neither man worried much about defence, all their energies being concentrated on attack, and one felt sure that the affair could not last long at this gait. Milligan appeared to be shaken by a right to the jaw, but came on more furiously than before, and with a succession of body blows, sent Thomas on his back to the boards.  It looked all over, but Thomas rose at ‘eight’ and the slamming continued until another drive to the mark sent the Deri man once more to the boards.  Up again at ‘eight’ he fought on to the gong, though ‘dropped’ twice more for ‘three’ each time. In the second round Milligan came from his corner with a rush, met Thomas near his own corner, drove a left to the mouth, crossed heavily with his right to the jaw, and driving the Welshman to the ropes simply pelted him with blows until Thomas, overwhelmed, went through the ropes and out of the ring to be counted out.” Milligan went on to become the British and British Empire Welterweight Champion 1924-25; European Middleweight Champion 1925; and British and British Empire Middleweight Champion 1926-28.

According to the South Wales Echo 9 April 1924, “Many boxing critics felt that great indiscretion had been displayed in fixing young Thomas with first-class opponents before giving him sufficient trials with lesser fights. To fix up a young boxer like Thomas at such an early stage of his career against the very best in the country was considered unfair to him, and defeats in such circumstances may tend to discourage him.” 

To be continued…..

How well do you know Merthyr? The answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posed you last week. How did you do?

  1. What was the name of St Tydfil’s father?

King Brychan Brycheiniog

  1. Who founded the Cyfarthfa Ironworks in 1765?

Anthony Bacon

  1. Who was Merthyr’s first Labour M.P.?

James Keir Hardie

  1. What was the name of the first chapel to be built in Merthyr town?

Ynysgau Chapel

  1. What was the name of the pub that Lord Nelson stayed in when he visited Merthyr in 1800?

The Star Inn in Caedraw

  1. Nixonville in Merthyr Vale is named after whom?

John Nixon, the founder of Merthyr Vale Colliery

  1. Who has ‘God Forgive Me’ inscribed on his grave?

Robert Thompson Crawshay

  1. Where was the Olympia Skating Rink?

In Pontmorlais, just further up than the Theatre Royal

  1. Which Merthyr-born boxer won the WBC World featherweight title in 1968?

Howard Winstone

  1. Where would you find St Matthias Church?

Treharris

  1. The Bwthyn Bach Inn is missing from the Old Merthyr Tydfil list of pubs, where was it situated?

At the corner of what was known as the Broad Pavement, opposite was the name given to a street built behind the Palace Cinema.

  1. Where was Tai Harri Blawd?

Behind the Theatre Royal and bordering the old Tramroad

  1. What is the area known as Daniel’s Waterloo?

The area now known as the Grove

  1. Where was the Merthyr Tydfil clay pipe factory?

In Vaughan Street, Caedraw

  1. What did the factory next to Factory Cottages make?

Factory Cottages were alongside the old Drill Hall and given this name as they adjoined a flannel factory.

  1. How did Storey Arms get its name?

The first landlord there was a Mr Storey

  1. Where was Pendwranfach?

A narrow street by the Fountain …… turn left at the bottom of the High Street

  1. What is the real name of the pub often called The Spite?

The Farmer’s Arms, Mountain Hare

  1. Who was Miss Florence Smithson and what building is she associated with?

A famous actress associated with the Theatre Royal

  1. Why was an area by St Tydfil’s Church named Lle Sais?

Its name is derived from the fact that most of the English people brought in to the area to work in the Penydarren Ironworks lived here

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone. Let’s hope that 2021 will be a bit better than 2020!!!!

I hope you are continuing to enjoy reading this blog. I certainly enjoy putting it together as I am learning so much about Merthyr’s fascinating history. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed articles over the last year – they have all been fascinating, and I hope that there will be many more contributions this year.

If anyone would like to contribute something to this blog – please get in touch. It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned historian or a first-timer – if you feel that you have something you would like to share, send me a message via the e-mail address to the right.

Give it a go – I would love to hear from you.

How well do you know Merthyr?

To round the year off, here is a quiz for you about Merthyr’s history.

There are 20 questions in all – 10 easy and 10 difficult. See how well you can do. The answers will appear in the New Year.

  1. What was the name of St Tydfil’s father?
  2. Who founded the Cyfarthfa Ironworks in 1765?
  3. Who was Merthyr’s first Labour M.P.?
  4. What was the name of the first chapel to be built in Merthyr town?
  5. What was the name of the pub that Lord Nelson stayed in when he visited Merthyr in 1800?
  6. Nixonville in Merthyr Vale is named after whom?
  7. Who has ‘God Forgive Me’ inscribed on his grave?
  8. Where was the Olympia Skating Rink?
  9. Which Merthyr-born boxer won the WBC World featherweight title in 1968?
  10. Where would you find St Matthias Church?
  11. The Bwthyn Bach Inn is missing from the Old Merthyr Tydfil list of pubs, where was it situated?
  12. Where was Tai Harri Blawd?
  13. What is the area known as Daniel’s Waterloo?
  14. Where was the Merthyr Tydfil clay pipe factory?
  15. What did the factory next to Factory Cottages make?
  16. How did Storey Arms get its name?
  17. Where was Pendwranfach?
  18. What is the real name of the pub often called The Spite?
  19. Who was Miss Florence Smithson and what building is she associated with?
  20. Why was an area by St Tydfil’s Church named Lle Sais?

Many thanks to Carolyn Jacob for the hard questions…..she obviously has a hidden vicious streak!!!!