WITH Cwmbran New Town coming up to celebrating its 70 year history, here is an extract from the 1997 book on 'Memories of Cwmbran New Town' compiled by Marguerite Shaw.

Mrs Wheatstone said in her memory: "When Cwmbran used to be a village, everyone knew everybody. There used to be a proper station in those days, with a station master, waiting room and toilets.

"It was right in the middle of the village. My father used to meet the 4.30 am train to collect the mail every morning, then take it to the little Post Office. There, the men used to sort the letters and deliver them on their bikes.

"[My father] used to go to Upper Cwmbran, leave his bike outside a house and climb up to the Mountain Air pub to deliver the mail, never leaving his mail bag. Sometimes that bag was heavy. He also went up to Henllys."

Nostalgia is provided by Torfaen Museum.