When Oakdale was built in the 1920's it was hailed as the model mining village. This was because of its symmetric design and horseshoe shape around the square.

The village was built on a green field site. All that was there before were farms.

Included in the design were playing fields on what was known as the recreation ground, or "the rec"!

But Oakdale became a model village in other ways. My memories of life in Oakdale between 1932 and 1954 are filled with activities. We had them all including Brass bands (Dad was secretary for many years) Operatic society, Dramatic society, Rugby, Football, Tennis and Cricket teams. We also had Bowls and Quoits facilities.

The Miners Institute (now in St Fagan's) included Snooker, Billiards and a Library. The Library is a special memory for it was there that I discovered the world of books, all paid for by 3d a week by my father through his wages. We had our wedding reception upstairs in the lesser hall.

Adjoining the institute was the Cinema which also served as a concert hall for music and drama and a meeting place for courting couples!

The religious life in the village was well catered for with Church in Wales, Primitive Methodists, ("the Prims") Baptists, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. They were much more than just "spiritual". The Prims (of which I speak especially fondly) was the hub of the social life of the group of youngsters to which I belonged, which included Barbara Sleeman, Rosi Sleeman, Barbara Jones, Sandra Badham, Audrey Newman, Eleanor & Jane Coggins, Brian & Alan Moore, Trevor Tovey, Brian (Charlie) Tovey, Hywel Williams, Denise Stewart, Jean Lucas, Meirwen & Audrey Richards, Audrey Williams, Stephan Josef Valerian Szczurowski (Polish Bevin boy), Peter Grose (Cornish Bevin boy), Alan Gerrish, Ann Pearce, Ron & Tom Davies. Others joined us because of the girls such as Ken Withers (Jane Coggins), Byron Simpkins (Eleanor Coggins) and Peter Randle (Rosi Sleeman). There must have been others, please forgive my memory.

Out of the group the following were married: Tom Davies & Barbara Sleeman, Ron Davies & Audrey Newman, Alan Moore & Sandra Badham, Brian Moore & Barbara Jones, Peter Randle & Rosi Sleeman, Byron Simpkins & Eleanor Coggins, Ken Withers & Jane Coggins.

Sunday School Youth Club, Youth fellowship, Outings to Barry Island, Porthcawl and Tintern were special events! The musical talent was exceptional especially at Sunday School Anniversary, but we also had a teenage choir with four part harmony, there were also Scouts, Guides and St John ambulance in the village. The school was used as a youth centre run by the County Council.

The musical talent has spread, as you will realize when the band plays a piece for the Centenary especially composed by Brian Moore, one of our crowd.

Incidentally Brian's brother Alan founded and still conducts the Cwmbran Baroque Choir which performs regularly and has toured extensively. It was in that spiritual/social life in the Prims that I heard the call to be a minister and also met my wife, Barbara Sleeman. We have been married and been in ministry together for 50 years, but the memories of life in Oakdale, the Model Village, are still as strong as ever. .