As promised, here are some of my thoughts and memories of Rhondda Terrace.
But before starting on it, what about the street above - Tudor Street.
Tudor Steet has a prime location, ending at the entrance to Darran Park and the (then) wondrous "Baths", plus being adjacent to Ferndale Grammar -as it was in my day.
However, the thing that Tudor Street lacked was..........kids.
Back in 1954 I passed for Porth County. The sole kid in Tudor Street was Trevor Phillips, the son of Phillips 'the shop'. Trevor was landed with the duty of getting me to Porth County in one piece on my first day. (He succeeded). Trevor was about 5 or 6 years older than me. He was studying for his 'A' levels as I was starting in Porth. He subsequently passed with flying colours and went up to Oxford - I believe, and successfully studied geology.
From the time that Trevor left Tudor Street I cannot remember any children actually being born in Tudor Street - very strange. All of the Martin children - Tony, Gaynor and Teddy, used to visit their grandmother who lived there, but I still can't think of a child 'resident'.
So, with that thought on Tudor Street and it's lack of kids, I will list the kids that I remember in Rhondda Terrace.
When my grandfather - Reg Hayes was promoted to Head Buyer of Aberaman Colliery in 1948 he had to leave the NCB house - 55 Fountain Street. I was born there, as was my brother. Reg and my nanna - Irene, or Rene to most, moved to Abernant and our family bought No 20 Rhondda Tce and we moved there in early 1948. So, back to the kids.........
Starting from lowest to highest house numbers, here I go - (I hope I don't offend anyone if I miss them out, and hope others will add their threepennyworth).
No. 7 Enid and Helen Davies. Question?. Is/was that a photo of Enid on the old Ferndale-Wales website as a part of the set-up team?
No.10 Jessica Morgan. Morgan 'the bookie's' daughter.
No.11 Lynne, Gareth and Raymond Evans. Mavis 'the baths' and 'Rhondda Hotel bar' kids.
No.13 Roger and Peter Williams.
No.14 Ronnie Privett, and I think there was a sister - whose name I forget.
No.17 Kay and Michael? Evans.
No.20 Me and my brother - Gary and (Chris)Topher Lockyer
No.21 Lilwen and Tecwyn Jones. Their dad was a Grammar School teacher. They moved down to Teifi Terrace, just higher than Tal Farmer the cobblers. (I never did find out what Tal's full name was, anyone have any thoughts? Tal's sister was Mair, and they lived up in Darran didn't they Sheila?).
No.24 Elaine Morgan. Her dad was Aneurin Morgan who was at one stage manager of Thomas & Evans's shop next door but one to Lloyds Bank.
No.26 Howard Evans. Who moved out very soon after we moved into Rhondda Terrace.
No.30 Gareth Jones - good allround sportsperson.
No.37 The William's. Malcolm, Barbara, John and David.
No.42 Did not have kids, but it is the end house, and the Darran Terrace Smiths grandparents lived there and so Ray spent as much time down in Rhondda Tce as up in Darran.
OK. That is my starting point for Rhondda Tce.
I look forward to any/all comments - especially if your name is up above Gary