Category: people

18 June (1880) Revd John Williams begins his ministry at Bethania

  • 18 1760 (Sat) 1st official meeting of the Sea Sarjants, in the Long Room, Black Lion.
Revd John Williams (1850–1929)
Revd John Williams  (1850–1929)
  • 18 1880 (Fri.) Revd John Williams begins his ministry in Bethania. He arrived in Bethania from Birkenhead. A native of Llansadwrn, he was a popular minister and a prominent individual in the political life of the town and county. He became a member of the Cardigan School Board in 1882, and a chairman of that body ten years later. In 1895 – a year before the new school opened – he became a chairman of the Board of Governers of the Secondary School and he remianed so until his resignation in 1913. He was elected again in 1929. He became a county councillor shortly after the establishment of the County Council in 1889 and he was a chairman twice, in 1894–5 and again in 1914–15. He was elected alderman in 1916.  He served on almost every committee on the County Council and he was chairman of the education committee for three consecutive years and a chairman of the police committee twice. He was also a member of the Court of Aberystwyth and Cardiff colleges for many years. In 1903 he became a member of the Board of Guardians and from 1911 onwards was the chairman. He was also chairman of the Cardigan and District Education Committee and a chairman of the local Pension committee. He served as a JP for many years.

He also climbed the ranks within the Baptists and achieved presidency of the Baptist Union of Wales in 1905. He was a staunch Liberal and when he died in 1929 the officials of Bethania received a telegram from the former Prime Minister David Lloyd George:

‘Deeply regret to hear of the death of my old friend, Rev. John Williams … It will be a real loss not only to Cardiganshire but to Liberalism throughout Wales.’

Revd John Williams was probably one of the most influential person in Cardigan during the end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 2oth century.

20 May (1966) Roderic Bowen stepping down

  • 20 1990 (Sul) Cardigan and district Independents hold their centenary Cymanfa Ganu Conductor John S. Davies
  • 20 1966 (Fri.) In a meeting at Aberaeron former MP Roderic decides not to stand in any future election.

1966 General Election

D. Elystan Morgan (Labour) 11302 (37.1%)

Roderic Bowen (Liberal) 10779 (35.4%)

J. Stradling Thomas (Tory) 5893 (19.4%)

E. G. Millward (Plaid Cymru) 2469 (8.1%)

  • 20 1684 (Tues.) Good Behaviour of Cardigan, master Thomas Freeland sailed with a cargo of wine, ale and salmon to London.

17 May (1976) Death of Bedwyr Davies, Siop y Castell

  • 17 1976 (Llun) Death of Bedwyr Davies, Siop y Castell, 36 years old.
  • 17 1953 (Sun.) Cardigan Semi-national Eisteddfod Celebrity Concert: Treorchy Male Voice Choir, Sop Victoria Elliot (soprano); Afred Orda (international baritone)
  • 17 1917 (Thurs.) Burial of David Morgan Palmer, Cardigan, St Mary’s Terr, 17 May 1917, 84, former school master

16 May (1970) Roberts, newsagents closing

  • 16 1970 (Sat.) J C Roberts shop closing (High St. newsagents)
  • 16 1968 (Thurs.) Gŵyl Fawr Aberteifi: Concert: Ryan Davies and Bryn Williams; Margaret Williams; Y Pelydrau; Bois y Ferwig; Cardigan Junior School Choir.
  • 16 1900 (Wed.) New Bethania Organ opened by Dr. Roland Rogers, Bangor organist

12 May (1897) Laying the memorial stones of the Intermediate School

  • 12 1897 (Tues.)  Intermediate School: laying memorial stones in the front wall of the new Intermediate School. 5 stones were laid by Mrs Morgan Richardson, Noyaddwilym, Mrs (Dr) Phillips, Bank House, Mrs W Lewis, Lloyds Bank, Mr W J Williams, Mayor, Revd John Williams, Bethania, chairman of school governors.

8 May (1922) First operation at Cardigan Hospital

  • 8 1946 (Wed.) Reopening of Capel Mair vestry after refurbishment.
  • 8 1922 (Mon.) First operation performed at Cardigan Hospital by Sir John Lynn Thomas on an 18 year old St Dogmaels man. The operation saved his life.
  • 8 1879 (Thurs.) Hope Chapel foundation stone laid at 3.00 p.m by David Davies MP. Devotional service conducted by Rev Dr Rees, Swansea.

6 May (1888) Birth of Professor Lenny Owen

  • 6 1888 (Fri.) L V D, Lenny Owen, professor of Nottingham University (d. 1952) born No. 2 Lion Terrace, son of Mr and Mrs John Owen, solicitor’s clerk. Leonard Victor Davies Owen was educated at Llandovery School and Keeble College Oxford, where he gained a first class honours degree in Modern History in 1911. During the First World War, he served as captain in the 5th Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Light infantry. He lectured at Bangor and Sheffield University before joining University College Nottingham (now the University of Nottingham) in 1920 to become Professor of History. He was honorary president of University College’s History Society, a member of the Council of the Pipe Roll Society and a member of the Lincoln Record Society. Professor Owen retired from the University of Nottingham in 1951 and died in February 1952.

 

5 May (1930) Flying trips from Banc y Warren!

  • 5 1930 (Mon.) Berkshire Aviation Tours running passenger tours from Banc y Warren – Esrom Evans’ property at Aelybryn.
  • 5 1884 (Mon.) Burial of John Rowland Daniel, 12 St Mary St, 52 year old house furnisher.
  • 5 1859 (Thurs.) Sinking of the ‘Mary of Cardigan’ carrying a cargo of Cilgerrran slates.

28 April (1197) Death of Lord Rhys; (1938) Visit of Amy Johnson

  • 28 1985 (Sul) Celebrating the Centenary of local Baptists’ Cymanfa Ganu
  • 28 1951 (Sad.) Mammoth Boxing Tournament: Market Hall on Barley Saturday. Popular Cardigan boxer Haydn Gwyon, and Owen Edwards, who is due to appear at Albert hall in final of British Railways Championship.
  • 28 1938 (Thurs.) Amy Johnson passes through Cardigan as part of RAC Car Rally.
  • 28 1197 (Mon.) Death of Lord Rhys

23 April (1964) Visit of Screaming Lord Sutch to the Black Lion

Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
  • 23 1964 (Thurs.) Visit of Screaming Lord Sutch to the Black Lion signalled the beginning of the ‘swinging sixties’ in Cardigan. For more information visit : http://saturdaynightattheblack.wordpress.com/ If you can add to the story please get in touch.
  • 23 1949 (Sat.) Visit of James Callaghan to see his old friend Sylvan Howell.

2 April (1832) Death of Revd John Herring, Bethania at Llwynpiod

  • 2 1949 (Sat.) 11.30 a.m. Open air meeting of the Cardiganshire Labour Party in Morgan Street. Speakers included A. G. Waite, prospective candidate for Oswestry; Dr A. W. Spencer, president of the Carmarthenshire Labour Party; Iwan Morgan, prospective candidate for Cardiganshire Labour party.
  • 2 1949 (Sat.) Funeral of William Phillips, Pendre at 93 yrs old. He retired at 87 as Head gardener with Mr Berrington Davies, Castle Green and Plas Llangoedmore. Member of Tabernacl. Buried at Llantood.
  • 2 1832 (Mon.) Death of Revd John Herring, Bethania, 43 years old, at his home in Llwynpiod. He was buried at Cilfowyr Friday 6 April. He left a wife (who died shortly afterwards on 22 April) and 7 children.

31 March (1888) Death of Asa J. Evans, solicitor

EvansAsaTTM
Asa J. Evans, mayor 1875 and 1876
  • 31 1888 (Sat.) Death of Asa J. Evans at his residence, Pen’ralltcadwgan, near Rhoshill, at 2.30 p.m., after a lingering illness, extending over a period of nearly three years.

A solicitor who was the senior partner of the firm of Messrs. Asa and Ivor Evans, solicitors, Green-street. He was a town councillor, and chosen mayor in 1875 and 1876. A Liberal in politics, and a member of the Baptist cause, he had held several important offices, not the least being that of solicitor to the Baptist Association, which office he held for many years. He also acted in the same capacity for the South Cardiganshire Calvinistic Methodist Association. In conjunction with a number of others, he was instrumental in doing away with Church rates in the locality, he having gone as far as to allow his goods to be sold by way of protest against them.

 ‘Cardigan have suffered a severe loss in the death of Ald. Evans, and it will be long ere a leader of equal acumen and experience will be found to fill his place’.

THE FUNERAL: He was buried on 5 April Thursday at Penybryn burying ground. The funeral cortege was an exceedingly large and imposing one—a large number of ministers, the Mayor of Cardigan (in his robes of office), attended by the Town Clerk, Borough Treasurer, Members of the Corporation, and the Macebearers, headed the procession, which included about forty vehicles, a large number of horsemen and pedestrians, and extended nearly half-a-mile.

The service in the house (Pen’ralltcadwgan) was conducted by the Rev. W. Evans, Cilgerran, before reaching Penybryn Baptist Chapel, where the service was held, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. Mr. Griffiths (Bethel), Mr. Davies (Tyrhos), Mr. Jenkins (Newport.), Mr. Thomas (Blaenffos), Wm. Jones (C.M., Cardigan), Mr. G. Hughes (Cardigan), Mr. T. Phillips (Verwig), and others. At the graveside Rev. John Williams (Bethania, Cardigan), and R. Price (Cilfowyr) officiated.

30 March (1985) The day Cardigan’s bookies were in tears!

  • 30 1985 (Sat.) Hywel Davies’s big day winning the Grand National on Last Suspect at 50-1

History of the 1985 Grand National

Story of Last Suspect

1985 Grand National

  • 30 1908 (Mon.) Freemasons formed at Black Lion. Earliest members included William Woodward, David Davies solicitor, Llewelyn Davies, schoolmaster, D. Lloyd Jones, bank manager, G. W. Potter, Dr George E. Jones, Jenkin Jones, H. Nicholson, and M. L. Jones.
  • 30 1970 (Mon.) Tudor James, 7 Priory St., takes over newspaper round from J. C. Roberts, High St.

 

26 March (1969) Burial of Tommy Jeremiah – a survivor of the sinking of HMS Majestic, 1915

26 1969 (Mer.) Burial of Thomas Jeremiah, 80, 8 Eben’s Lane, who survived the sinking of the HMS Majestic, which sank on 27 May 1915. The ship was taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign. Local sailors were saved: Tom Parry Jenkins, George and Peter Davies, Willie Davies, Tommy Jeremiah, Tom Jones, David Jones, John Jones and David Williams – apart from one – Tom Evans, St Dogmaels.