Western Mail Reporter

Boots and fists flew late last night as rival gangs met on a railway footbridge at Llandaff North Station, Cardiff. One gang, said to be from Taffs Well, caught the 11.5 train to Cardiff and arrived at Llandaff where another crowd of youths from Western Avenue Estate were waiting for them.  As the train pulled in, the Cardiff gang raced onto the footbridge shouting insults at young men on the train.  Women passengers stayed in the train as battle broke out on the platform and on the bridge.  All the men - about 20 altogether - were between the ages of 18 and 25.  As the battle became more violent, railway police and local police were called.   It is believed that the men from Taffs Well were looking for two men from Caldy Road, Cardiff, and had come to "sort them out."  The local youths heard of their intention and prepared a reception party for them.  Several men were later treated for black eyes, cut lips and damaged ribs, but no serious injuries were sustained.  The incident is the worst of its kind so far along the valley line which is often the scene of hooliganism - especially at weekends.  The names of the two men were taken by the railway police.

On Thursday the funeral of "Mr Boxing", otherwise known as Ken Pudge, was held at St Mary's Church, Whitchurch.  After the ceremony many of his friends moved on to Thornhill Crematorium.  Mr Pudge died peacefully on September 29, at Llansdowne Hospital, Canton, and will be sadly missed by his wife Doris, family and friends.  One of his friends, Sidney John Grimshaw, of Llandaff North, and ex-member of the Old Elyn Boxing Club, Melingriffith, sent in this tribute.

Ken was known as the most smartly-dressed gentleman in this area, highly respected, and to use an Americanism "walked tall".  In his retirement he made a regular habit of visiting his friends in Whitchurch (rain, hail or shine) every Tuesday, walking from his home in Llanishen to meet us "local lads" outside the Plough Hotel.  He enthralled us with his boxing stories, mainly of his enjoyable stay in America, where he had the pleasure of the company of the ex-champ Jack Dempsey and scores of others over there in the pugilistic world.  As a boxing referee he was highly recognised and was "on duty" at the Commonwealth Games in 1958.  We "lads" of Whitchurch admired his quiet well modulated voice (never a swear word) as all will agree - such names as Tom Carrol - Bert Bladen - Harry Williams - Tom Saunders to mention a few, all entranced with his grand company.  On behalf of all the "Boys".  "Thank you Ken for your outstanding memories" Always in our thoughts R.I.P. dear friend.

Sydney John Grimshaw, Llandaff North

Most cities honour their famous sons in some way or another, yet Cardiff, or more precisely, Whitchurch, has a son whose fame was and remains international wherever musicians come together to play.  He was a prolific composer whose work spans mood and style effortlessly, yet his original work lies neglected.  I refer to the man known affectionately as "The Welsh Sousa" - T J Powell.  For those who don't know the name, T J Powell is one of the greatest British composers of brass music, ranking alongside Rimmer, and was, for many years, conductor of the once great Melingriffith Band.  Isn't it time that we DID honour him? And isn't it time that we made a serious effort to collate and restore his music?

Peter Sunman, Cardiff

Children from Hawthorne Junior School in Llandaff North got the chance to pit their wits against each other in a quiz run by Cardiff City Football Club.  More than 70 children took part in mixed-class teams in the football and general knowledge quiz, organized by the club, which held football training sessions in the school earlier in the term.  Head teacher Geoff Cresswell said the day had been a great success. "It was very enjoyable. We have a wide variety of links with businesses and organisations in the area," he said.  "This link with the club is a very positive one and makes the children appreciate their city more."  Children from the winning team said they had enjoyed the quiz.  Katy Taylor, 10, said: "Some parts were hard and others were easy. I really liked the questions about other countries."  Joshua Abdullahi, nine, added: "It was really good fun and I really liked it because it was about football."  Club coach Dave Hill said: "We want to keep a link between the club and schools in closed sessions and make them aware of the professional football club in the city.  "The children responded very well and really enjoyed themselves.  We were very impressed by their enthusiasm."  The winning team will go on to compete in an Interschool quiz competition to be held by the club this July.

South Wales Echo

It was a typical rainy day in Cardiff and Margaret Higgins should have been helping the children of Birchgrove Primary cross the road safely.  But yesterday was anything but ordinary for one of the city's longest-serving lollipop ladies.  Instead of braving the elements like she has done for the past 30 years, she was being presented with an MBE by Prince Charles at an investiture ceremony at Cardiff City Hall.  And the 71-year-old from Whitchurch said: "I was frightened to death, but Prince Charles was really nice and very friendly.  "He also asked whether the people I worked with were nice to me and whether I liked them. Of course, I said yes."   Mrs. Higgins cycles from home to her crossing on Merthyr Road, near the Three Horseshoes pub, every morning and afternoon. She says she will stay at her crossing for as long as she can because she loves working with the children.  "They are lovely and were really excited about me meeting Prince Charles," she said. "I will have to take the medal in to show them."

Western Mail 1877

Owing to the energy and perseverance of some of the leading members of the connextion of the district, a comfortable new chapel has just been completed in Llandaff Yard, and was on Sunday opened with religious services, which were numerously attended. The Rev. P. Maddocks (Cardiff) preached in the morning; the Rev. David Evans B.A. (Whitchurch) in the afternoon; and the Rev. James Lee (Cardiff) in the evening. The chapel, which has been built for the congregation by Mr. Amos Brown, Cardiff, is still £100 in debt, and the collections at the different services were in aid of the building fund,"  Two of the three Circuit ministers were involved in the celebration services on Sunday 25th November 1877, and it was the third minister appointed in the Cardiff Circuit who was given pastoral charge of the new society. The Rev. James Watkins remained in pastoral charge at the Llandaff Yard society in its infant stages until the year 1880. During these early years, the society at Llandaff Yard was supported by a number of notable citizens of Cardiff. Among them were Alderman Joseph Ramsdale and Alderman Robert Bird, along with members of the Cory family who then lived in Cory House, to the North of Whitchurch in the area now known as Coryton, where the current manse is located.  The history of the Llandaff North society is strongly connected with the establishment and development of the Sunday School, to which the chapel owes its existence. By the time Coplestone Road chapel was opened in 1877, there had been Sunday School work in Llandaff Yard for some 15 years. This had been organised by members of Rev. Philips Maddocks' Canton society in the office of the Melingriffith Tin Works.

The Cow and Snuffers was built c1812 by a local landowner in the Gabalfa area, his name was Sir Robert Lynche-Blosse, it is said the Cow and Snuffers was named after his Irish ancestors from the Irish language "An cu Ar Sndmh", meaning "The Swimming Dog".  Legend has it that, Benjamin Disraeli visited the Cow and Snuffers while he was courting his dead friends girlfriend Mary Ann Lewis of Greenmeadow, Tongwynlais.  A carved stone bust of Disraeli can still be seen under the window at the front of the building.

Letter to the Cardiff Independent 1990, From  Robert Lorenzo Llewellyn Boyes

The Yesterday photograph was taken 59 years ago.  It's of my then class comrades and myself at Whitchurch Boys School.  I was born in Foreland Road, Whitchurch on June 30, 1923. Shortly afterwards my parents moved into the centre of Cardiff where I attended my first school Gladstone School, Cathays.  Last year I wrote to the School's headmaster for some details about my early school years but unfortunately I never received a reply - I'd love to know if the school still exists.  In 1928 my parents moves back to Whitchurch where we lived with my great grandmother in Penlline Road where she had a private maternity home.  It was while I lived there that I attended Whitchurch Boys School.  In October 1931 we moved back to Cardiff where I attended Adamsdown school.  From Cardiff I moved to Bristol and then in 1963 moved to Denmark.  My aunt, Thelma Taylor of Arles Road, Ely sent me a cutting from the Cardiff Independent and I thought some of your readers would be interested in my Photograph.  Anyone remembering me from the 1930's would know me as Lorenzo Boyes.  I look forward to seeing this photograph in the Cardiff Independent and would be more than delighted to hear from any school chum.

BBC News

A Cardiff road sweeper has received his MBE from the Queen after travelling to Buckingham Palace in style.  A city chauffeur hire company stepped in to make sure that 64-year-old Brian Richards was able to travel to the ceremony, after he feared rail disruption would prevent him from going.  He received the honour in recognition of the 26 years he has spent keeping the streets of Whitchurch clean and tidy.  A local company, Chauffeur Drive, stepped in and offered to take Mr Richards to his royal audience in style.  The firm chauffeured him to London on Monday to stay in a hotel overnight and put their Mercedes at his disposal for a spot of sightseeing all day on Tuesday.   A delighted Mr Richards said: "It wasn't really that I couldn't afford the train fare - I was worried that the train might not arrive on time."   "Normally we transport famous people," said Geoff Tree of Chauffeur Drive.  "But I think it is so wonderful that Brian is being recognised that we are only too happy to help him meet the Queen."   For Mr Richards, who is due to retire from road sweeping next year, the offer of a lift to London is a dream come true.   "I'm very chuffed," he said when told of the news.  "I had been thinking I wouldn't be able to get there."