Colonel Wasabi wrote:Eric Walch wrote:Ah 'Ystradgynlais', That rings a bell. Those Wells names are at least easy to remember. Its a little bit south of Abercrave. The town were we always bought our gear when staying at the South Wales Caving Club.

Wow ! Small world innit......
Ystradgynlais is where my mum was brought up and I spent nearly every single school holiday there playing in the woods, climbing tips (and skidding down them on dustbin lids

), damming streams &c &c.
Ystradgynlais? That was the next valley from where I lived in Cadoxton. And the next valley may as well be the other side of the world.
The Job Centre in Neath asked me "How far are you willing to travel for work?"
I said: "Anywhere in the UK, I'll just relocate."
They said "No, seriously, we need to record on the system what area you'll be looking for work."
I said "Yes, seriously anywhere in the UK."
They said "We need a proper answer, look you. Now some people say Swansea but others will look as far as Port Talbot."
I said "Alright, from Swansea to Cardiff."
They said "Cardiff? You are serious, aren't you? I'll just pop that into the computer. There's lovely. You know, most people won't look outside their own valley."
And after a while I could see why - there was no jobs to be had in South Wales anyway.

That never gets mentioned as a consequence of the pit closures.