Panteg Hospital, Pontypool and “Retlas” revealed

PANTEG HOSPITAL

Panteg Hospital was built in 1837 as a workhouse. As it was built on Coedygric Road, Griffithstown, it isn’t surprising that it became known as Coedygric Institute.

Later it became a mental hospital for women. Some of these could be seen from time to time walking the streets of Griffithstown in their drab white uniforms. They were in a crocodile formation with two men leading and two men at the rear.

It might be because of this that there was a section of the hospital for mentally ill women in the late fifties when I used to visit the hospital once a month on behalf of the Toc H Film Unit to show the patients a film. This was before television really took over. Once inside we were locked in. I well remember my first visit. I needed to plug the projector into the electricity supply and I knew that there was both DC and AC available in that section. As no member of staff was present I asked some of the patients which plug was used by my predecessor. They confidently pointed out one of the plugs which I then assumed was the AC supply. Unfortunately they were wrong and I plugged in to the DC supply. When I switched the projector on I blew the whole supply for that section of the hospital.

It became Panteg Hospital after World War II and had one of the best maternity sections in Wales. Immediately below the hospital is Coed-y-Gric Farm which is one of the oldest buildings in Wales.

If any visitors have information about the hospital building, particularly any photographs, or memories of working there, please contact me.

*     *     *     *     *

“RETLAS”

In my posting about the Welsh international rugby player Cecil Pritchard, I mentioned that I had obtained my information about him from a page in one of the club’s programmes and that it was written by someone with the pseudonym of “Retlas”. I asked whether anyone knew who he was and my friend, Eric Smith, has come up with the answer. It’s the reversed surname of Jack Salter who for many years was Editor of the Free Press.

Jack Salter was very active in the Pontypool area in a number of diverse ways. He was the first Secretary of the Pontypool District Motor and Motorcycle Club and also a member of the Trevethin cricket Club. My uncle, Granville Hughes, was also a member as were two West Mon masters: Messrs Whitty and Mosely.

Pontypool Rugby Reminiscences

DO YOU REMEMBER CECIL PRITCHARD?

The following is a page from an old programme for one of Pontypool’s rugby matches. Unfortunately it was not dated but I think it must have been written in the early thirties or soon afterwards.

It is written by someone named Retlas which, I assume, is a pseudonym for the person who wrote a weekly page in the programmes. I cannot trace who this person was so if anyone knows I’d be delighted to hear from them.  I tried to make enquiries on the Pontypool Rugby website but I could not leave a message without registering; when I tried to do this the registration was not working.

Cecil was the step-brother of Edgar Smith, the father of my friend Eric Smith, my one-time next door neighbour. Royce Pritchard was Cecil’s son and one of our playmates; he features in one of the Boys’ Brigade photographs earlier in this blog. Eric told me on one occasion that he was the only player that had played for Wales in every position on the field. There are various records claimed for him in the piece below, but, of course, over the years these might have been equalled or passed.

“Cecil Pritchard, one of the best and brainiest forwards who
ever played for Wales, is the subject of my sketch this week. Cecil
came to the fore just at the period when specialisation in the various
phases of forward play was beginning to develop, and he was one
of the first to be given the specific job of hooker, for which he was
selected by Rowe Harding, who captained Wales against England
in the game in which Cecil gained his first cap in 1928. His opposite
number was Sam Tucker, whom he beat to the tune of 24 scrums
to 16, thereby establishing himself as the Welsh hooker. Cecil
played for Wales in every game in 1928 and 1929 and so set up a
record for Pontypool by getting eight caps in a row.“Born on the Tranch on May 1st, 1902, Cecil was the second
of three brothers all of whom started with the old Tranch Rovers
and gained fame in higher circles. The oldest, George (“Cogley”),
played full-back for Blaenavon, Torquay, Barnstaple and Devon,
and in both Welsh and English trials. Royce, the youngest,
played for Blaenavon and Abertillery. All three played against
the Waratahs in 1927-28 season : Cogley for Cornwall and Devon,
Cecil for Pontypool, and Royce for Cross Keys and Abertillery.

“Cecil went to Blaenavon in 1923 and helped that club to win
the Monmouthshire League medals, playing with his brother
Cogley.   The following season he came to Pontypool.   In those
days it was a case of “first up, first down,” and Cecil shone in every
phase of the forward game, besides being quite capable of giving .
a good account of himself at centre or full-back in an emergency.
His playing career lasted just over twenty years, his last season
was with Talywain. He captained Pontypool in 1928-29, and
played five times for Monmouthshire.

“Cecil has no doubt which was the hardest and best game he
ever played in : it was the game with the Maoris on New Year’s
Day, 1927. Next hardest was that at Perpignan during Pontypool’s
first French tour.

“A prolific scorer, Cecil set up a club record in 1926 when he
netted 21 points against Edgware ; a try, six conversions, a placed
penalty goal and a dropped penalty goal. This record was later
equalled by Frank Beddington. In each of two other games he
scored 14 points—against Belfast Collegians and in a final Welsh
trial at Cardiff.

“For the best part of one season (1929-30), Cecil played for
Bamstaple, for whom W. W. Wakefield (” Wakers “), the famous
English forward, was at that time turning out occasionally. Wake-
field’s international career had ended the season before Cecil’s
began.”
—Retlas.

WEST MON COLTS RUGBY TEAM 1950 – 51

I recently received an email from Emrys Lewis, an old Westmonian who played for the school colts rugby team. He enclosed a photograph of the team which he thought some old visitors might like to see. I’m sure the photograph will stir up some memories for some people. Emrys is the boy holding the ball.

DO YOU REMEMBER PAUL JONES WHO PLAYED
FOR PONTYPOOL RFC IN THE 1960s?

Last week I had an email from Lucy Jones who lives in Newport. She is doing some family research and said:

“My father is Paul Jones, a player of Pontypool RFC in the 60’s. But his father’s family are from Llanelli and I wanted some help from him looking there. Anyway, meanwhile I began looking at my mothers side. I have done quite well using the usual websites and have some names and dates to build upon. I am looking forward to building upon these names and dates. I have a rich Pontypool heritage it seems.

“I was interested in the fatality of Henry Whitcombe in the 1939 coach crash. I have a Henry Whitcombe in my tree (my great, great Uncle), however as the report in your blog states this chap was 62 in 1939, it doesnt quite fit with the Henry whitcombe I have as being some 7 years younger and born in Raglan. It says that Henry lived with his son, William. I have another great great Uncle called William Whitcombe who WOULD have been 62 in 1939. So, I cant help being interested in this. My great great grandfather to whom this family links is a John Henry Whitcombe (also found as Whitcomb). He was a 49yr old railway platelayer living at 8 Park Street, Griff in 1911. My mother talks of Park Street, so this house must have stayed in the family for many years. If John Henry came to Pontypool, maybe his brothers did too?”

If you are able to help Lucy in her search please either leave a comment on this page or email me and I shall forward your information to her.