大象传媒

The Groom

The Groom, like his brother and sisters had been born in the South Wales Valleys, but had been brought up in Pembrokeshire - the home county of their Father. Aged 15, due to the lack of employment, the local Church Minister put him aboard a train which would travel from Pembroke Dock with his eventual destination being Birmingham, where he would be met by another man, who took him to lodgings, as he sought employment. Fair enough, in these days one would say, there would be the street-wise teenager plus mobile telephone to keep in touch. But this was 1936, and things would have been vastly different. It would be the unknown for a naive Welsh-speaker, who ended up in the Oldbury area at the home of some very astute Irish Catholics. He was last in the line for food, and once in work he was the first they demanded payment from, they introduced him to buying from a catalogue - always stating that he owed them just 'so much' more.

He endeavoured to send some money back to his parents, and tried to save what, if any, he had left towards his very own bicycle. He worked in manufacturing, making Roller Skates amongst other jobs. When his Father died an early death from pneumoconiosis in April 1939, he was subdued on the day of the funeral. Friends at the factory rallied around him little realising that the people he was staying with, had advised him not to return to Wales warning him that he would lose his job - and his money. This would not have been the case, but Life is a learning curve. His Mother's health deteriorated to such an extent that the Family feared for her, the family decided that she should return to her Valleys home to be with her extended family. To this end, the Groom's decision was that if a job could be found for him, he would return home to be with her.

Treforest Industrial Estate and its various factories beckoned; and he returned to the South Wales Valleys - with the promise that his savings and precious bicycle would follow him by Rail. It was a promise broken as soon as he boarded the train.

The Groom was industrious working for Creeds, and Davies Steel on the Estate; as well as Elliots Lathe & Tool Company in Taffs Well; he helped to manufacture teleprinters, played football in what leisure time he had and joined the Home Guard. He kept his Family close and safe whilst experiencing the sadness of losing friends in various overseas operations, as well as those who suffered atrocities establishing the Burma Railway.

The Groom hadn't realised that his prospective sister in law had a younger sister, and when they did meet before his brother's Wedding in 1942, a serious relationship began; but their paths took different directions, and during his employment at Treforest, he became engaged to another. His older brother wouldn't speak to him for a time, having been appalled at the way he had treated his sister in law.

The Groom finished his job on a Friday, and got his 'call up' papers for National Service the very next day. On the following Monday, he began his training, and was stationed to RAF Silloth in Cumbria for the main part, although he did see service elsewhere in the UK, at Melksham, and close to London using the time in the capital to visit his brother and sister in law and his niece. It was a time when he learnt new technology gaining electrical knowledge, and as a driver, escorting personnel from one location to another. Bush House in London was a regular destination, and at one time he held up the travelling progress of a Royal Family personage - the then, Queen Mary.

As the end of his National Service time was approaching, his request for his last posting was to St Athans - which enabled him to visit his Family at home. From this he could appraise the situation, he had thought about remaining within the RAF, but the only occupations available were that of Batmen looking after the day to day duties surrounding Officers of a higher rank. He could only remark that he had enough problems looking after himself, let alone anyone else. So, he left the RAF, fresh in his de-mob suit and coat, and in the wake of a broken engagement, he sought the company of his brother's sister in law, and endeavoured in the hope to renew their relationship.

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