- Abertillery Online Discussion Forum -

abertillerylady · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

Does anyone have any information on a William John Pritchard of Abertillery who had a son called William Pritchard, another son called Thomas Prithcard, daughters Doreen Pritchard, Rita Pritchard, Elizabeth Pritchard (Betty). Most have passed away now, but maybe an older person might remember them.

john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

This may be a blind alley but I'm almost sure there was a chemists called Pritchards and sons on the corner of church street opposite the church.
I used to go there when I was a kid and quite a few of the people serving there used to call the old man "dad". HTH.
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Regards,
John

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

there has always been a chemist on that corner as I can remember but I can only remember it being called W.J.H Ewins & son. I think that the other chemist owned by Pritchards was Medical Hall in Somerset Street at one time.

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john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

Yes you're absolutely correct, I remember now (it was 50 odd years ago)
used to get me specs from ewins and me components for model engine fuel from the one in somerset street.
BTW, what was the name of the newsagent just up from ewins?
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Regards,
John

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

The news agents was S. Holmans, my sister worked there in the 60's Mr and Mrs Cummings ran it . It later changed to Camelot (The owners name escapes me right now) but It is once again Holmans and I think owned by members of the same family.
_________________
My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

Thanks, Carolyn that prompt brings the memories flooding back. My father used to buy his morning paper there and I remember seeing my first BIC pen there in the late fifties. My mate at school was the son of the other newsagent opposite the arcade and lived up beside the stute, I'm omitting names deliberatel now but I guess you'll know who I mean.
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Regards,
John

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

Hi John
I am a bit confused here the other news agent that I can only think about was at the other end of the arcade, I cannot remember another news agent the same side as Holmans, but then again I am knocking on a bit LOL.

Cannot remember where I bought my first bic pen but no doubt is was Holmans. When I first went to secandary school 1961 it was a foutain pen bottle of ink and a blotter , copy books , ruler pencil and geometry things all bought at Holmans. Maybe before your time. Laughing

_________________
My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

Bryants, think it's a frock shop now or something. Bit after my time, I went to the grammar in 55 but my dad was teaching at gelli right up until they moved I think as I remember picking him up from work in the seventies in aberbeeg (ty graig I think) but I might be wrong.
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Regards,
John

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

I remember the name but not exactly where it was, there is a news agent over there now called Martins, I think, next to the shop dress shop on the corner I can only remember that being a sweet shop Meesons or Smiths but that was in the 50's and 60's. It may have changed to Bryants after that to be honest I cannot remember but hubby thinks it was where the dress shop is now. Neither of us can remember the name of the news agents in Somerset Street, I thought that was Bryants. Old age Embarassed

_________________
My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

Bryant's was the second shop in opposite the sweet shop.
Somerset street, my recollection is that there was a paper shop there, almost next door to Pritchard the chemist, which neatly almost returns the thread to its original theme...I hate being a thread burglar.
_________________
Regards,
John

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

Do not worry about being a thread burglar it is still an interesting subject, and no doubt it can be moved not to interfere with the original posting, the forum allows this if someone should complain. To date there are no complaints
_________________
My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

Ray Dix · Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 9 Location: High Wycombe

As it seems ok to carry on with the Bryants thread I'll add my bit.

If I remember correctly Bryant's newsagents (unless there was another one) was in Carmel Street, just along from the Palace Cinema towards the Arcade.

John, was your mate John Bryant? I went to school with him.
I remember Mr Gibbs the teacher at Gelli Crug, he was a very nice man. Is he still alive?

brum lady · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 51 Location: birmingham

Bryants newsagent was in Carmel Str, on the corner there was a sweet shop, next door was Bryants and next to that use to be a fish and chip shop then I believe there was a club and then the Palace Cinema

john gibbs · Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

Ray Dix · Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 9 Location: High Wycombe

Hello John

Yes, I went to Gelli. first the infants, then the British, then back to Gelli Secondry Modern (in the days of Ben Morgan).

John Bryant, at the time I knew him, lived in Powell Street.