Illustrated Memories by John Rees

The following are cartoon-like illustrated memories of the Resolven Village Seniors Group outings – ‘Cornish Safari’ in 2003 and The Isle of Man in 2004 which were organised by the late Mrs Mair Arnold.

They were remembered fondly in drawings by the talented Neath Road artist, the late and much missed Mr John Rees.

Apparently, at the end of a trip day in the hotel, Mair would write something about what happened that day and slip the paper under John and Caryl’s hotel room door. By the morning John had produced sketches on Mair’s information.

You may recognise some of the local characters depicted in the sketches.

‘Safari to Cornwall’ – In this sketch there is reference to Pat Britzman, Roger Place, Mair & Noel Arnold, John Pearson and others.

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‘On the cart’ – reference to Caryl Rees and Jean Thomas who attended the quilting class which was held regularly at the Resolven Community Centre.

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John Rees on the left chatting with Gwyn Thomas on the right, probably outside the new Hospital opened in 2003 on the outskirts of Douglas, I.O.M.

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Unfortunately we have no information about these two ladies, but it looks like they were not ‘acting the goat’, just using the goat.

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A mishap in the I.O.M. TT race, in the background and PC49 reprimanding two ‘naughty’ girls. Who do they represent?

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Reference to Pat Britzman at the Isle of Man Fairy Bridge and a nearby tree visited by hundreds of people each year who leave messages and memorabilia on it.

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We don’t know who demanded a sea view room but this sketch represents the view from the Hotels on the front of Douglas, I.O.M.

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John used to wear a flat cap, but not sure about him singing ‘The runaway train……’! The clouds show there was no sight to see.

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Thanks to Mrs Caryl Rees for kindly providing us with these illustrations and taking us on a trip ‘down memory lane’.

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