NOSTALGIA

Wednesday, January 18, 1937

Family rendered homeless at remote village near Chepstow:

Rose Cottage, Llanvihangel, Torymynydo, a remote village eight miles from Chepstow, was on Sunday evening totally destroyed by fire.

The cottage was occupied by Mr and Mrs Arthur Lilley, who, with their child, had gone to church, leaving everything apparently quite safe.

On returning at about 7.15pm they were alarmed to find their house blazing furiously.

Although neighbours had gone on the scene and poured buckets of water on the flames, the fire got so firm a hold that it was impossible to do anything.

A message was sent to Chepstow Police Station. When Inspector Basson, with PC Proctor, arrived in a police car, the hopelessness of saving the house or any of its contents was recalled.

Inspector Basson told a South Wales Argus reporter that as he arrived the roof fell in. He added that the place was like a furnace. Under the circumstances it was useless to summon a fire brigade, they could have done nothing.

A high wind blew at the time, and the fire must have been in progress for some time before it was discovered.

Not a single article of furniture was saved, and the cottage was completely gutted. The district is sparsely populated, and its isolation caused considerable delay in communicating with Chepstow and Monmouth.

When Mr and Mrs Lilley left the cottage to attend church they saw nothing amiss. Mr Lilley said he had a good look round. A small fire was left burning in the grate, and it is possible a spark flew out and ignited the hearthrug. Another theory is that an old beam caught fire.

Mr Lilley is a smallholder and a lorry driver. He and his wife and child are rendered temporarily homeless. They are being sheltered for the time being in a neighbouring house.

A Skewen haulage business

Lydney and Chepstow interests

The interests of William Bater and Sons, LTD, haulage contractors of Skewen, have been acquired by Mr John Watts and others of Lydney, but the business it is understood will be continued under its old name.

The Skewen firm, probably the largest haulage firm in South Wales, were established by the late Mr William Baxter and afterwards carried on by his sons.

They own a large number of steam as well as motor vehicles.

Mr Watts is a director of Red and White Services, with headquarters at Chepstow. The company in recent years have extended their operations and have acquired several small bus services.

Mr Arthur Watts, Lydney, brother of Mr J Watts, told a reporter on Sunday night that he did not know upon what lines the business of William Bater and Sons LTD, would be developed.

“The County of Monmouth”

Christening ceremony in London today:

This afternoon the people of Monmouthshire were officially represented at a ceremony in London which may have been the prelude of a history-making event.

The three Mayors – of Newport, Abergavenny and Monmouth – travelled to Cryoydon to christen the aeroplane in which Flying Officer David Llewellyn, the celebrated Welsh aviator, hopes to smash all records for a flight back to South Africa and back.

The plane will be known as “The County of Monmouth” at the request of the airman, who sought permission of the mayors of the county to use the name when he was the guest of Monmouthshire Licensed Victuallers’ Central Board at their November banquet.

A South Wales Argus staff reporter was present at the ceremony.