Gold Coast

Gerald Grant was born at Nathan Street in 1922 into a family that is known to have lived in the Seaside area since the early part of the 19th century.

A check of St Elli Parish Church Registers for Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, held at Carmarthenshire Public Records Office, reveals that other members of the Grant family have lived in the Llanelli area since the beginning of the 18th century. It is tempting to say that Gerald was descended from one of those listed in the registers but, as yet (2002), it has only been possible to trace direct descent from John Grant and Ann Morris who married in St Elli Parish Church on 18th June 1823.

Gerald was determined to trace his family tree and was proud to have traced his ancestry back to 1801 – which is over 200 years of family history. His family came to Llanelli to work in the Copperworks and the 1841 census shows John Grant and his family living at Sea Side. At that time there were few street names and houses were identified by their location, i.e. Sea Side, New Dock, Dolau, Penrhos, etc.

The Copperworks had been established in 1805 and relied heavily on migrant workers and it was important that they had suitable accommodation. Before the advent of steam engines, horsepower was all-important and workhorses were housed in stables. With the arrival of the ‘iron horse’ stabling became superfluous and the Copperworks Management arranged for the old stables to be converted into workmen’s accommodation. By the time the 1851 census was taken, the stables, which had been built around a courtyard, had been altered into neat workmen’s dwellings, known as the Barracks.

Gerald Grant was a colourful character with a passion for history, whether it was family, social or political and was proud to have lived in the Seaside area all his life, apart from the time he spent in the armed forces during the Second World War.

He recalled that he grew up in a relatively happy and carefree atmosphere in the 1930s when there were more steam trains travelling along the streets than motor vehicles. He said that he often woke up in the night in a cold sweat having dreamed that he had vandalised a whole street of cars by welding them together. The fact that he was once a welder probably has an influence on his dreams.

Before the outbreak of the Second World War, Gerald told us that two cars, one motorbike and a charabanc were the only motor vehicles in the whole of the Seaside area. There was one petrol pump in Station Road, which served Seaside and New Dock. The petrol ‘station’ sold ROP petrol, which was produced by a company known as Russian Oil Products and local children thought that the letters ROP stood for ‘Rotten Old Petrol’. In those days the quality of petrol varied quite considerably.

The only car in Nathan Street was owned by two families and was used solely for the purpose of Sunday afternoon outings. It was said that when the autumn arrived the car was driven into the garage, jacked up and supported by bricks, the tax disc removed and sent to the Taxation Department with a request for a rebate for the winter months. It was also said that the wheels were removed from the vehicle and were stored inside the house, one either side of the chimney-breast in each room.

Gerald could not vouch for the accuracy of this story but he did remember peering through a chink in the garage door and seeing the car supported on bricks and not a wheel in sight.

Gerald lived in what could be considered an "ethnic" community, being a Catholic, living next door to a Jewish immigrant family. Both Gerald Grant and Mary Howe (who later became Mary Grant) were educated at St Mary’s Catholic School, Goring Road, which was run by Nuns from the Ursuline Order, whose mother Covent was in France. Gerald’s native tongue was Welsh, so most mornings would begin with “Good Morning” in English for the non-Welsh Speakers, “Bore da” or “Shw’mai”in Welsh, “Sholom Aleikum” to the Jewish family next door, and “Bon Jour Ma Bonne Mere” to the Nuns at School. When Gerald was a young lad of about eight he learned to sing ‘La Marsellaise’, to welcome French visitors to the school.

He remembered the school with affection and recalled that the teachers did their best for the children in their care and taught them well. However, the main lessons in life came from the older children who were always quick to tease the younger ones. A favourite trick was to send an unsuspecting youngster to the ironmonger’s shop to ask for a round square for their uncle. If the ironmonger was in a good mood he would wrap up an empty cardboard box in brown paper, secure it with a piece of string, and say: “Tell your uncle that will cost one shilling.” When the youngster gave the parcel to his uncle, instead of the shilling, the payment would be a clip around the ear.

Another trick that was often played on the unsuspecting, that was another hard lesson learned, was being given a bucket and told to go and ask an engine driver for a bucket of hot steam, so that Mam could wash the family clothes. The driver would take the bucket, tell the youngster to ‘stand back’, and blast a jet of steam into it, saying ‘Run home quickly”. On getting home with an empty bucket the youngster would be told that he had not run home fast enough and that was why the bucket was empty. At only six years old the youngster had learned yet another of life’s valuable lessons.

Gerald and the other lads looked forward to the summer months at Seaside, “downthe beach” swimming, fishing and camping out. Election days were a favourite, mainly because the school was used as a Polling Station and school children had a free day. Polling Day was an excuse to play another trick on the young and innocent.

The ‘Day’ always seemed to coincide with a morning and evening tide, so the men would set out in their fishing boats from the Cei Bach in Carmarthenshire Dock, for a trip across the estuary to Penclawdd. This trip was supposed to be for the ceremony of “Nodding Them In” which was a plan devised by the men to bring back nodding donkeys from Penclawdd. Whilst returning from Penclawdd the donkeys would be shown pictures of the candidates standing for election, either for the local Council or as Members of Parliament. If the donkeys nodded they would be given a carrot for selecting a candidate.

The youngsters would wait for the evening tide and the return of the fishermen and the nodding donkeys. As the boats approached the youths would run to and fro looking for the donkeys, who were supposed to be coming from Penclawdd to vote in the elections. These donkeys were special animals, said to be highly intelligent, who could find their own way home from the estuary cockle beds. The cockle pickers would load sacks full of cockles onto the donkeys, slap their backs and the clever donkeys would find their way home across the sands. It was said that the “Nodding Them In” ceremony would be easy compared with cockle carrying and would not tax donkeys too much.

After patiently waiting all day, NO! the youngsters never saw the donkeys arrive, at the Polling Station. Various excuses were given, such as “They had already voted”, there was not enough water in the estuary for the boats to reach Penclawdd, etc., etc.

It must be said the men always found their way to Penclawdd and had an enjoyable day. It is said that “Nodding Them In” is still practised today, mostly in the Trade Union Elections, but what they use instead of donkeys, Gerald did not know.

War broke out in 1939 and it was not long before Gerald found himself in the forces along with many other Llanelli lads. He served 18 months in the “White Man’s Grave”, or the Gold Coast, French Dahomey, French Togoland and Nigeria.

Following this Gerald was posted ‘back home’ and spent a year at Burscough, near Preston, before he was posted overseas again. His next tour of duty was Palestine in readiness for the hand over to the Israeli’s at the end of 1947. As Gerald philosophically said, "the Palestinians and the Israelis were fighting against each other then in 1947 and nothing has changed because they are still fighting each other more than 50 years later in 2002".

Gerald and other Seaside Boys would sing robustly on Saturday evenings their Anthem or Marching Song.

We are the Seaside Boys

We learn our manner

We save our Tanners

For we are respected

Wherever we may roam

And when the Boys come marching home

Fling your doors and windows open wide

For we belong to the Infantry

We don’t give a damn

For Germany

For we are the Seaside Boys.

When the war was over Gerald and many other local lads returned home to Seaside and tried to settle down – putting the war years behind them. In 1951 Gerald married the lovely Mary Howe from Seaside in Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church and for 31 years they lived in Nevill Street. Originally, Nevill Street was known as Catherine Terrace but the name was changed at the end of the 19th century. Mary Grant was employed by the Carmarthenshire Education Authority for 30 years, working at Bigyn School for 9 years and for many more at the Copperworks School, which serves the catchment area for Seaside. When Mary retired her friends and work colleagues arranged a farewell party for her.

Members of the Grant family have taken a great interest in local affairs and have been closely involved with the Copperworks School for many years. When Isobel Sadler (the then Headmistress) compiled and wrote Cradled in Copper The Story of Copperworks Infant/Nursery School, Llanelli 150 years 1847 to 1997, Gerald provided information and illustrations for the publication. His daughter served on the board of Governors of Copperworks School and his son-in-law was the General Foreman when the new Loughor Bridge was constructed.

St Elli Parish Church, Registers 1688-1847

Baptisms

1744 Eliza, daughter of Charles & Patience Grant

1750 John, son of John & Ann Grant

1755 Anne, daughter of Thomas & Priscilla Grant

1799 Elizabeth, daughter ofEdward & Ann Grant

Marriages

1777 2nd April Edward Grant married Anne Charles

1789 4th March Thomas Grant married Ann Thomas

1823 18th June John Grant married Ann Morris

Burials

1741 12th August Elizabeth Grant

1755 25th May Mrs Anne Grant age 60 years

1760 18th August Mr Thomas Grant Jnr age 29 years

1861 7th August Mr Thomas Grant age 69 years

Census information was taken every 10 years from 1801 but only the records from 1841 survive. Information was extracted from the 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 census forms which were then destroyed.

Information in the UK Census of 1841 was sparse – only the district, name age, occupation and whether the occupants were born in the County of Carmarthen was listed.

Details from the 1841 census - Sea Side

John Grant 35 Copperman Carmarthenshire [Note This John Grant married Ann Morris on 18 June 1823 at St Elli Parish Church]

Ann Grant 40 Carmarthenshire

John Grant 11 Carmarthenshire

Thomas Grant 9 Carmarthenshire

David Grant 5 Carmarthenshire

William Grant 3 Carmarthenshire

Details from the 1851 census - Copperworks Barracks

John Grant Head M (22) Copperman Carmarthen Llanelly [Note This is the son of John Grant aged 35 Copperman shown in the 1841 census

Ann Grant Wife M (22) Carmarthen Llanelly

William Grant Son (3) Carmarthen Llanelly [Note This William Grant was the grandson of the John Grant shown in the 1841 census and was named after his uncle who died in 1844, aged 6.

Details from the 1861 census - St David’s Row

John Grant Head M (61) Labourer Carmarthen, Llanelly Copperworks

Ann Grant Wife M (65) Carmarthen Llanelly

Thomas Grant Son M (30) Labourer Carmarthen, Llanelly Copperworks

Griffith Grant Godson (10) Carmarthen Llanelly

David Evans Lodger M (22) Taylor Journeyman Carmarthen, Llangendeirne

Details from the 1861 census - St David’s Row

John Grant Head M (32) Copper Smelter Carmarthen, Llanelly [Note This John Grant married in 1848 and was living in Copperworks Barracks in 1851.

Ann Grant Wife M (32) Carmarthen, Llanelly

William Grant Son (12) Coal Yard Cleaner Carmarthen, Llanelly

Thomas Grant Son (9) Coal Yard Cleaner Carmarthen, Llanelly

Elizabeth Grant Daughter (6) Carmarthen, Llanelly

John Grant Son (5) Carmarthen, Llanelly

Mary Ann Grant Daughter (3) Carmarthen, Llanelly

Martha Grant Daughter (1) Carmarthen, Llanelly

Details from the 1861 census - Charles Street

David Grant Head M (27) Coal Trimmer Carmarthen, Llanelly

Elizabeth Grant Wife M (29) Carmarthen, Pontyberem

Ann Grant Daughter (5) Scholar Carmarthen Llanelly

Elizabeth Grant Daughter (3) Scholar Carmarthen, Llanelly

Catherine Grant Daughter (1)