Resolven History Society Report – February 2023

It was pleasing to see quite a few new faces in this month’s meeting, which points towards the fact that the Society is recovering after the travails of the pandemic and hopefully will be back on an even keel by next year.

This month’s speaker was Mr Keith Tucker of Neath Antiquarians who spoke on the eclectic theme of looking at shops of the Neath area. He began by outlining the activities of the Antiquarians who were close to celebrating their centenary and outlined how their activities could be followed both online and in print. The illustrated talk involved showing a number of old photographs which the audience were invited to make comment on. Luckily, Mr Tucker had the biography of each slide and some photos were subject to selective memory as to the correct location. Quite a few of the photographs were of the upper Neath valley, and included a Royal visit to Cwmgwrach, Melincwrt Chapel and the visit of the National Eisteddfod in 1994. Such was the enthusiasm of the audience, that Mr Tucker had barely reached half way through the archive before the clock brought the meeting to a close. He will return next year with the other two thirds to show to the Society.

Mr Trefor Jones, deputising for Chairman David Woosnam, thanked the speaker for a most interesting talk.

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Next month’s intended speaker is unable to attend and therefore the Society will have a St David’s themed evening including a quiz, when all the questions will be about Welsh History.

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