Characters of Whitchuch - 2

Well, here we are again!

Another list of possible candidates for the ‘Character of Whitchurch’ award

I could have included the any number of the Booker family, Disraeli (of Greenmeadow fame), famous recent sportsmen (Bale, Thomas and Warburton from Whitchurch High School) or even earlier sports personalities (John Williams, Ken Harris). What about our local poets and bards (Peter Finch and John Tripp). What about Sir Malcom Pill and his son Huw

Anyway, in no particular order:

Edgar Chappell
Edgar (dare I call him by his first name?), lived in Rhiwbina, but is famous for his encyclopaedic books on the village and Melingriffith. So much of our history and folklore that remains is thanks to this man. We don’t know much about him as a ‘character’ but from the introduction to his book we get an impression of an incredibly studious man fascinated by his local history

Eli Evans (Sculptor)
The more I learn about Eli, the more I am impressed. He was our local ‘sculptor’, and designer of memorial stones in the village. He lived at Vine Cottage and was Welsh-speaking. He was the organiser of the local Eisteddfod and lots of local groups, and very active at Ararat. He left an autobiography which is held at Swansea Library

Brian the Road Sweeper
Brian and his brush seemed to be a fixture of the village twenty years or so ago. A quiet unassuming man, but he obviously made an incredible impression on folk, as he was recommended for a ‘gong’, and was given a BEM for his work

Maxxi the Big Issue Vendor
I said I wouldn’t include any living persons on this list, but Maxxi is the embodiment of a ‘local character’. She always recognises me by name and has a cheery disposition, selling Big Issue outside Tesco by the library, whatever the weather

Eddy (of bakery fame)
Most people I speak to about local history mentions Eddy. I hadn’t realised that Eddy was the family name, so what was his Christian name? The bakery on the Philog was legendary, but does anyone know of the story and the rest of the family?

The Misses Jones
Their shop in the village seemed to have been there forever. If you wanted milk or ice-cream or anything else dairy, it was the place to go. So much so, that when they finally retired and the shop became a trendy wine bar, it was renamed ‘The Miss Jones’

Richard Lougher the Village Blacksmith
Richard lived at the end of the 19th century and was the blacksmith next to the Three Elms. He lived on the Philog, and was well-known for walking to church every Sunday wearing his top hat with his wife alongside dressed all in black

Reuben Lewis
Reuben was another local blacksmith, who was also landlord of the Plough Inn. Terry has discovered lots of information about the life of Reuben and how, many years after inventing his ‘novel’ plough, disastrously became bankrupt. He stayed in the area and was well known in frequenting many of the other pubs

Charles Horace Watkins
Recently, I wrote about CHW and his monoplane. Whilst he lived just outside the village boundary, his flying exploits over Whitchurch in the early 1900s alone qualifies him as ‘character’

John Ignatius Williams
Apart from his wonderful name, JIW lived in a huge house opposite the rectory on Penlline Road. We know he was the stipendiary magistrate at Merthyr, but not much else. His house, Plas-y-Llan, long demolished, has been replaced by dozens of semi-detached houses. Does anyone know more about him?

William Vachell
William was a ‘retired druggist’ when he lived in the village. He built a grand house called Bryn Glas on the Common with plans for pleasure gardens running down the north side of the road. Sadly, William died before these garden plans developed. His only son inherited everything and moved to Llandaff where he became a ‘character’ over there

William Flay
Everyone refers to ‘Flays Farm’ on the common, and so is this a case of ‘location character’?. The Flays not only farmed the local fields, but also collected the household refuse in the village. In later years, the Flays had a successful furniture removal business from the farm
Glenys who lives opposite, tells of Old Mr Flay who used to park his Daimler motorcar in the arched driveway of their small cottage

Shoe Repairer (on the Common)
I was told recently of a shoe repairer, who occupied the brick building on the Common, who, after WW2, used to ride around the village on his old black bike. This had a large wicker basket on the front, and a metal advertising plate between the wheels. The sign apparently read ‘Jesus saves your Soul, but I save your Soles’
Does anyone remember him? Perhaps the sketch below might prompt your memory!

Griffith Phillips
He lived in the Pines some time after Richard Booker, and was Mayor of Cardiff at one time. Ernie Broad refers to him as ‘The Squire’, and tells that at Christmas, small children would stand at his front door singing carols, to be awarded with bags of sweeties!

Herb Clare
Herb lived on Merthyr Road, and was a ploughman on College Farm Fields many years ago. Ernie Broad tells the story that Herb could plough a whole field and would cuss and swear the whole time. His foul language was so appreciated by the young boys of the village that they would congregate just to listen!

And finally…

Chris Harris
It’s sad to report that Chris (of local cycle shop fame) has recently passed away. It was my pleasure to know Chris for most of the last 50 years, and he was everything that encapsulates ‘character of the village’. Instantly recognisable, he would always have a word with everyone he met. Probably, most children in the village have ridden one of his bikes, or had one repaired by him. Damian continues the family name with his shop, now specialising with electric bikes

 

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