bbc homepage wales home memories from bont more from this...

BBC HomepageWales Home

BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel

Neighbouring SitesNorth East Wales

North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales

Related BBC SitesWales

Cymru

Canolbarth

Memories from BontLast updated: 24 November 2005

In March 2004, the lastdoctor's surgery in the villageof Pontrhydfendigaid closed itsdoors for the last time. Forsome of the villages oldestresidents like Tom Lloyd Rees,it marked the end of an era.

"The front parlour of my parents' shop and home became thelocal doctor's surgery back in the 1930s. The family onlyreally used this room at Christmas and very special occasionsso it was empty most of the time and it made sense for it tobe used for another purpose.

Dr Davies was the doctor - or "Dr Birchill" as he was known.He was a qualified surgeon and had been awarded an MC forhis service during the Second World War. He'd hold hissurgery twice a week on a Tuesday and a Friday eveningfrom 4pm until 7pm.

Patients would queue up in thepassageway of our house. If theyneeded medicine, Dr Davies wouldmake up the prescription in the frontparlour. He kept everything in a largemedicine cabinet which we still have butwhich is just used for storage thesedays. We'd also have to provide himwith a table and a large jug of waterwhich he'd use to make up themedicine.

You didn't need an appointment thenand house calls were made to thosewho couldn't make the trip to the surgery.

As a young boy, I'd go with the doctor in his car as he madehis house calls. It was my job to open up the gates along theway.

The roads weren't very good at the time. Only four or fivepeople in the village had cars. There was only a cart track toget to some outlying farms and it was impossible to reachsome by car. If that was the case, Dr Davies would get outof his car and finish his journey on the back of a pony.

Dr Davies was here until the1940s. Then his nephew DrAlun took over. There werethree surgeries altogether inthe village at the time - theone in our front parlour aswell as Dr Anderson's and DrWilliams.

Now the last one is closingand it's a sad day, especially for those who can't drive. Thenearest surgery will be Tregaron about six miles away but

more from this section

My StoryA Week in WestminsterAbigail's Orang-utansBack into the big bad world...Bah! Humbug!Beard and BoozeBelongingBrinsley SchwarzCalendar GirlClass of '53Don't cry for me AberaeronGod Bless the Cambrian News!History HunterInternet InnovatorsJim's StoryKeeping ButterfliesLearner of the YearLed ZeppelinLeila's Long WalkLlanidloes Fancy DressMartin's MemoriesMemories from BontMotherhood - My ViewMy West Side StoryObservations of a Sea-Side Town.Painting with PammyProm DaysRetraining, RecyclingStorm ChasingStudent LifeSuperstar DJThe Great StormThe IllustratorThe WardenThe storm of 1937Thousand Mile WalkWhitbread WriterYoung CarerYoung playwright

Ask a LocalDigital StoriesPoetryTalking PointsYour Stories

8 May 2012Accessibility helpText only

This document is a snapshot of content from a discontinued BBC website, originally published between 2002-2011. It has been made available for archival & research purposes only. Please see the foot of this document for Archive Terms of Use.

you can only get a bus there on a Tuesday and a Friday.Even then, the times aren't always convenient so we will missthe service." Tom Lloyd Rees

More memories of Bont in days gone by


BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth

Memories from BontLast updated: 24 November 2005

Today, the village ofPontrhydfendigaid inCeredigion has only one shop.Tom Lloyd Rees remembersthe days when the place hadeight local grocers as well asseveral other stores...

Read Tom's memories on this page or click through hisphoto tour of memorabilia.

"My family had a shop in the village from 1885 until 1985.My father and mother started the business. They sold clothes- and just about everything else. My father used to say "I'mselling everything but glue to repair broken hearts!".

There were four of us in the shop and we were very busy allday - from eight o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock atnight.

In those days, there wasn't any self-service. Anything thecustomer wanted, we would go and fetch it - and we'd alsotry and push other goods too!

Nothing came in packets before the war. If you wanted apound of sugar, we'd weigh it for you. The same was true fortea, butter, lard, and flour.

We'd buy big round cheese in 90 pound boxes and my job asa young boy was to take off the wax. We always said thebest cheese came from Canada, called Belleville Brockville.The only currants my dad would buy were Greek Vostissas -they were large juicy currants, the best.

In the 1930s, the goods would often arrive by steamer. Theyships would come in from Liverpool to Aberystwyth harbour.From there, they'd be taken by steam train to Strata Floridawhere they'd be met by a horse and cart for the final leg ofthe journey to Bont. Lorries came later.

A half a side of pig would be carried in a hessian sack on thetrain and we'd hang it in the back to be sold as ham orbacon. We'd put pepper on it in the summer to keep the fliesaway.

Butter would be delivered every fortnight. We didn't haverefrigerators for many years but we never seemed to haveany problems.

At one time, there were eight grocer shops in the village aswell as two blacksmiths, three cobblers, two petrol stations,two bakeries...you could buy anything you wanted here - wewere quite self-sufficient as a village. Our shop closed whenwe retired in 1985 and today, there's just the one shop leftin the village." By Tom Lloyd Rees





http://www.bbc.co.uk/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/local/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/things_to_do/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/nature/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/history/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/music/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/tv_and_radio/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/mid_wales

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/20

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/travel/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northeastwales/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northwestwales/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southeastwales/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southwestwales/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/canolbarth/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/education/betsie/parser.pl


BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth

Bont Shop SlideshowLast updated: 24 November 2005

From 1885 - 1985, Tom Lloyd Rees' family ran a busy villagestore in the centre of Pontrhydfendigaid. Like many otherlocal businesses, the shop has now closed but Tom still hasmany items to remind him of the way things were so click onhis photo tour and take a trip down memory lane.

Tom Lloyd Rees at the counter of the shop in

Pontrhydfendigaid which his family ran from 1885 -1985.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Read Tom's memories of Bont in days gone by"My family had a shop in the village from 1885 until 1985.My father and mother started the business. They soldclothes - and just about everything else. My father used tosay "I'm selling everything but glue to repair brokenhearts!". More...

your comments

Mary Williams, Llanfihangel-y-CreuddynLovely to read all your comments - Dad loved them. Hepassed away in 2008. Victoria is right - the shop was openuntil 1999 - an error on the website it seems.Thu Feb 11 10:05:22 2010

helena meredithyou used to babysit me and i have a lovely photo of yourfather with me in his arms when my great gran was alivesadly all the family are dead now they used to lived in stratahouse you look so much like your father tom lloyd Fri Apr 25 15:47:30 2008

Joanne Davies Ffair-RhosI came to live in Bont in 1983, when I was only 16! Veryfond memories of 'Siop Tom Lloyds' Always a warmwelcome, a very sociable place! Many a good 'chat fach' tobe had! Keep well and thank you Tom and Eirwen for allyour years if service





http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/mystory/pages/tom_lloyd_rees3.shtml?1

Thu May 31 09:33:56 2007

Victoria Curtis, Milton KeynesI am sure they ran that shop in 1988. Tom used to tell mestories of delivering groceries on his bike as a child to theminers. It looks like the same Tom I remember when I was10 yrs old. I adored them and they help me learn Welshevery time we visit their store. We lived at Bryn Eithinog upin the hills. I would love to hear from them again as I havemany fond memories of them and its great to see theirphotos.Mon May 14 09:41:42 2007

Alan Brown from AberdeenAs a child I used to visit Bont with my mother, ElizabethBrown (ne Rogers)the daughter of David Rogers. My motherwas born and brought up in Bont until the age of 16/17when she went to live in London. My grandfather, David(Dai) seemed to be a jack of all trades, working in the pits,a jobbing carpenter, mechanic and whatever other skillswere needed in the village he seemed able to be of help. Asa child I remember being heatrtily greeted by Tom Lloyd atthe shop which was very close to the old whitewashedcottage where My grandfather lived with my stepgrandmother "Jeno" who I found rather frightening as a childas she could speak no Enlish.Mon Feb 12 10:03:23 2007

Gwen Peacock from BuckleyI am David Morgan Evan's sister. Brought up in Bont and Ihave very many happy memories of shopping at Tom Lloydand Eirwen's shop and of course before that his father andmother's shop. Mam would send us to buy things from theshop regulary, which was always busy. I have a lot ofmemories of it and happy ones.Thu Feb 16 13:40:29 2006

Liz Bilson from FifeWe spent Summer holidays in the fifties and sixties in Bontstaying with my grandfather,David Roderick. We would visitShop Dick for provisions. My father would call at the housedoor if we arrived from England after the shop was shut andDick {Tom's father} would give us what we needed. Iremember big square fruit cake and a slab would be cutfrom it and the clear plastic cover replaced.Thu Oct 6 16:22:20 2005

This site is now closed and cannot accept newcomments.


BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth



All goods would be sold loose and weighed on thesescales - there was no pre-packaging in those days

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8








BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth



Cheese would arrive in 90lb boxes like this one from

Canada

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8







BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth



There were no tea bags in those days. Tea would bestored loose in large tin caddies and sold by weight

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8







BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth


From 1885 - 1985, Tom Lloyd Rees' family ran a busy village store in the centre ofPontrhydfendigaid. Like many other local businesses, the shop has now closed but Tom stillhas many items to remind him of the way things were so click on his photo tour and take atrip down memory lane.

Bananas would arrive in wooden crates like this, often

after a journey by sea, rail and road.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8




BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth



Royal Primrose Soap claimed to be 'prescribed by

doctors and nurses for the washing of younger children'

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8







BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth



The shop used to sell everything from socks to salt

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8







BBC Local

Mid Wales

Things to do

People & Places

Nature & Outdoors

History

Religion & Ethics

Arts & Culture

Music

TV & Radio

Local BBC SitesNews

Sport

Weather

Travel


North West Wales

South East Wales

South West Wales


Cymru

Canolbarth



Tom and his wife Eirwen closed the shop when they

retired in 1985.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8






goodes01

Typewritten Text

Archive Terms of Use This document is made available for archival or reference purposes and should only be used for private (non-commercial) purposes. These pages may contain materials or content which do not belong to the BBC and in particular materials or content which belong to members of the public whose identities may or may not be known. Whilst the BBC had the necessary rights, permissions and clearances to include and publish them as part of the former 'Where I Live' BBC website, the BBC may not have the right to allow users to use, copy or exploit them or to distribute them to others. No such usage is permitted and the BBC cannot process requests for permission to do so. For more information about deleted or discontinued web pages on the BBC, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/mothballing/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/mothballing/

bbc homepage wales home memories from bont more from this...

Documents