Two old Treharris bands

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The Treharris band at the Park

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The Gresham band and Jazz band members

Jazz Bands in the Treharris District

Jazz Bands in the valleys were very popular in the middle of the 20th Century. The Treharris area had many Jazz Bands performing in the multitude of competitions that took place. It was reported that over 10,000 people attended a carnival band competition at Cyfartha Park in July 1952.

I will try to get as much information about Jazz bands from the six Treharris district villages. Please let me know if there are more I can add to the site. Photographs will also be added.

Treharris

Fox Street Wrens

Red and White band Gresham Place

Turks Juvenile band Penn Street

The Indians Band, Treharris

Penn Street Coons

The Usherettes Webster Street

The Zulus, Railway Terrace

Viennese Officers band, Gresham Place

Treharris Liberal club Pirates

Treharris Miners band

Treharris Sentinels (1979)

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Marching up past the Dog and Rabbit

On the old Athletic football ground

Above we see The Famous Treharris Indians Jazz Band 

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The Indians marching through Cilhaul

courtesy of W. Phillips and Tony Evans

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Gresham Viennese officers band

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Above another local Jazz Band, toy soldiers…a Gresham Jazz band

Johnny Hale,Ivy Hawke,Jean Lowe,Len Lowe, Dai Parry,Jim Johnson, Megan Humphries,Ruby Lowe and Billy Phillips.

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I can name most of above, Starting back left. Jim Johnson, Eric Parry, Doug Robinson, Tom Hawke, Frank Cross, Jean Lowe, Billy Phillips, Non Evans, Hubert Hale, Will Jones, Rose Lloyd, Ron Broome, Front left ?, Percy Osborne, Ivy Hawke, Mary Luckwell, Marlene Jones, Ron Lowe, Gladys Robinson, Dolly Johnson, May Parry. The photograph was taken on Treharris Athletic football field. There was a large crowd gathered inside the ground…(pic courtesy of Bill Phillips and Tony Evans.)

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The Pirates from the Dog and Rabbit

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The fantastic Railway street Zulus.

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Unknown Treharris band practising by football field

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The Colly band, Colly Row

The Rainbow band

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The Red Arrows were formed in the 1970’s and later reformed in the 1990’s so pictures will feature both times.

When the people of Trelewis chipped in to the costs of the instruments the band paraded through the village to thank everyone. My sister Ruth was the Majorette in white at the front.

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At Trelewis all school

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On Trelewis Welfare

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Competition time

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Trelewis Red Arrows Jazz band outside Trelewis Community centre

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Margaret Melly R.I.P. a keen band supporter

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The Red Arrows Jazz Band at the Miners Gala Cardiff c 1983

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Red arrows band practice outside Bont

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Ruth Corkrey 

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The Skylarks ( photos thanks to Debbie Powell)

Green Jackets band

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Bryncelyn Davonettes

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Quakers Yard

Irish Coleens Jazz Band

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Bryngerwyn Turks below

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 The Entertainers

There have been quite a few local bands and singers from our district over the years, we will try to find out more about these entertainers as we build the site.

The Cresta’s

The Cresta’s were formed in the early sixties by some local boys. Their lead guitarist Lyn Havard suffered a stroke at an early age. His expertise was greatly missed by the group but nevertheless they still carried on.

A few years later John Coles left the band and as a result they were re named Ray Martel and the Revelations.

Until a few years ago Ken Arthur and Reg Mathews were still playing the local venues.

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Glyn Potter

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The Ron Griffiths band(Photograph courtesy of W Phillips and Tony Evans Quakers Yard)

Above we see a photograph of the Ron Griffiths Band; it was taken around mid 50s. (If I remember rightly) I’m on the Trumpet (Bill Phillips), Ron Griffiths, Tenor Sax. Ray Evans Alto Sax. not sure of first name of Drummer surname Garlick, he was from Bryngerwyn I think it was Mirion and the pianist was Lynn Thomas Susanna Place (Unfortunately not in photo)

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Lloyd Michael Daniels, born 14 December 1992, was the youngest act in the X Factor of 2009. He is from Treharris, in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. In his first audition, Cheryl Cole described him as “the first person I’m going to say you’ve got the X Factor to.” He was placed in the bottom two after the rock-themed week, but the public vote saved him at the expense of Rachel Adedeji. He was in the bottom two again in week 6 but was saved when the vote went to deadlock and Jamie Archer was sent home. On 29 November, Daniels was eliminated from the competition, finishing in fifth place. On 7 December 2009, he performed a homecoming concert outside the St David’s Centre in Cardiff, and toured with the X Factor live tour.

Trelewis Bont Entertainers

The district is well known for being charitable and we are very lucky in Trelewis to have so many people “game for a laugh”.

The Bont entertainers and the villagers who used to entertain us in the Trelewis Ex servicemen men’s club are just two examples of the efforts made to raise monies for charities.

Often they will dress up and often they will sing, dance, mime,tell jokes, anything to entertain and raise monies for good causes. I hope to find more photos to highlight the work these fantastic volunteers have done over the years.

Massive thanks to Daphne and Jeff Gunning, two of the main fundraisers, for contributing the following photographs.

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The Bont Entertainers another day another show

Front row Sharon Foster,Brian Case, Dai O ‘Neil, Gareth Preece, Lorraine Preece

Middle, Christine O’Neil,Geoff Gunning,Daphne Gunning, Suzanne Broadstock

Back row ? Brian Foster and Adrian Broadstock

Below we see a selection of photographs featuring the Bont Entertainers.

They raised thousands for charities whilst entertaining the crowds.

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The final set of pictures show Trelewis people young and old dressing up, usually for charity events.

Three photographs above of a fund raiser involving the Bontnewydd pub…you will notice the good quality of the third photograph…this is the work of Hank from Nelson who worked on the photo to improve it..Nice to see Jack Pugh(r.i.p) and some old school pals..Phil Rex Lewis and Dai Price amongst the crowds

Children of the village outside the Bontnewydd Hotel

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Pirates and Wenches

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Cherry tree way children

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Carnival day

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Cherry Tree way fancy dress back in 1977,

Fancy dress photo names are front to back – Patty Jones, Gaynor Davies, Susan Donaghue, Lynda Collins, Christine Cusack, June Davies, Marion Rees, Teresa McKeown, Jennifer Davies, Lynette Bates, Joan Hunt.

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The Dinner ladies

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Some former open mic entertainers at the Ex Club

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Mary Carter

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Brian Jones and Bill Holton, Flanagan and Allen