Younger Memories of Oakdale - Peter Davies

My memories of Oakdale are not so distant or numerous as those of my mother but are still very precious.

Both sets of my Grandparents lived in the village as my Grandfathers both worked in the colliery. Visits to Oakdale were always an adventure for my brother and I. Especially in winter as it "always snowed in Oakdale". I particularly remember getting stuck in a snowdrift in the Rec and when my father pulled me out, my 'wellies' remained well and truly buried.

I remember Sunday dinners at Nana and Grancher's, including my earliest recollections of 'mushy' peas (which I still love!) and Yorkshire puddings, which my Nana called 'popovers'. Bath time was always the tin tub in front of the fire in the kitchen.

Grancher's allotment behind Sir Dafydd Avenue was the scene of many adventures for us as we fought off Red Indians, keeping up our strength by pinching Grancher's raspberries and gooseberries. The view from the allotment I will never forget with the slag from the mine being transported up to the tip in 'buckets' along hundreds of yards of cable. We couldn't see the colliery but we were constantly aware of it's presence.

A special treat for us was being allowed to take the empty Corona pop bottles back up to the shop and being allowed to spend the deposit paid back on them.

The walk to my Gran's house in Penrhiw Avenue took us through the square and often involved skidding along the iced-over pavements. We always entered Gran's via the back door, never the front. If we had used the front door, we would've had to walk through the 'front room', which was hardly ever used. We always gathered in the kitchen where the coal fire burned constantly, leaving that wonderful smell ingrained in my memory forever. Grampa (that's how we spelt it for some reason) would welcome us with his usual "How-be". It was years before I realised what he meant. After this he hardly seemed to say a word.

I remember the pantry under the stairs, stocked up with bottles and tins. It was always salmon sandwiches for tea, which was probably quite posh in

those days. Gran would prepare tea on the board covering the bath while we played in the back garden, often watching the delivery of coal being loaded into the bunker. We could also watch the rugby being played in the Rec which backed onto the garden.

One drawback of visiting Gran and Grampa in the winter was the outside toilet. I was afraid to sit down in case my legs froze to the seat. It was certainly too cold to take a book in!

My memories of Oakdale only go back as far as the late 1960's, but as I said, they are cherished memories. I still enjoy visiting the village, even if it is only to take my son to the emergency dentist in the square. The five seater rocking horse in the Rec playground was the site I chose to present my girlfriend (now my wife) with her engagement ring (although the rocking horse was long gone).

Happy memories indeed! Congratulations Oakdale!

Peter Davies (Son of Barbara Davies)