Stute Stories

Thank you to those who have already donated stories about time spent at Llanhilleth Institute. 

This is YOUR page for YOUR stories...

If you wish to donate a story for these pages please contact us
E-mail: info@llanhillethinstitute.com
Telephone: (01495) 354674

PHELPS, Joe

In 1921 I was born in No. 6 Railway Street, in the shadow of the Stute. Even at an early age it played a principal part of my life as my earliest memory of it is helping my mother who was a cleaner there. At the age of 6 I would help her clean between the seats in the cinema using a dustpan and brush; and I can see her now on her hands and knees scrubbing the back stairs that in those days were bare stone and had to be scrubbed daily.

In those days the cinema was a weekly treat and on a Saturday afternoon we would pay 1d. [one old pence] to watch this week's episode of "The Frog" or "The Spider" which would keep us intrigued until at a crucial moment "to be continued" would be scrawled across the scene, and already we would be longing for next Saturday's episode. This would be followed by a film starring a great Hollywood star such as Pearl White, Ben Turpin, Buster Keaton, Buck Jones and Tom Mix. The evening showing would cost 2d for entry. A total of 6 films would be shown throughout the two sittings. At Christmas the management of the Stute would present each child with an orange. The films may have been silent, but the noise from the audience was horrendous with the stamping of hundreds of feet to accompany a cavalry charge; and warnings being shouted to a hapless victim in the film. The hero would be greeted with cheers and the bad guy with a crescendo of boos. At the end of the Matinee we would mount our horses and charge our way down the stairs, out of the doors and through the streets to home. Mr Wakeland was caretaker of the Stute in those days and what a job he had!

Just below the cinema screen there was the orchestra pit and here sat the long-suffering pianist and other musicians. They were prey to all our antics especially when a child had an orange as the strong citrus smell would make their mouths water and made it difficult for them to blow their instruments. The luckless pianist would be bombarded with tiger nuts from an army of children with pea-shooters; and through all this torment the orchestra would try to keep going providing the back-ground music to whatever was happening on the screen.

The cinema was also a theatre with all the appropriate fittings and I can remember the lush velvet curtains. During World War 2, the Stute played host to the popular wireless programme "Workers' Playtime" that was broadcast all over the World. The residents of Llanhilleth and surrounding area were thrilled to see Albert and Les Ward who were famous the country over.

Some of the stars who played at the concerts were Reggie Edwards and his Concert Party: Gladys Ralph and her Accordian Band. Gladys was related to the family who owned Ralph's Buses. The St Illtyd Operatic Society also performed there. We had our own local celebrity who was born in Partridge Road. His name was Tommy Packham and he had a wonderful singing voice and also played the mouth organ. He later moved to Coventry and was often heard on the wireless.

During the war I was in the Home Guard and we often took part in mock invasions. On this particular instance I was positioned on the external balcony, just underneath the clock. I was a look-out with my machine gun poised ready for the imminent invasion by our counter-parts from Abertillery.

Other members of staff that I can remember are: Mr Williams, Mr Bob Roberts, Mr Joe Lewis [caretakers]. Sgt Major Tynant [ex Army] was also a caretaker and I can particularly remember him as being very strict. A boy couldn't use the Billiard Hall until he was 14 years of age and working in the pit. Sgt Major Tynant inspected each boy's hands before he was allowed in and if your hands were dirty you were sent home to scrub them. Mr "Bala" Fry was a cinema usher and he would insist on everyone singing "Rule Britannia".

These are my memories from before and during WW2. Of course they don't stop there as my involvement with the Stute has lasted all my life. As they say in the best "Zorro" films, "to be continued.........................."

REES, Diane & Roger

It was within the Dance Hall of Llanhilleth Institute, that Royal Navy Rating Roger Rees met Diane Harvey on Boxing Day, December 26th 1977. Roger was on Christmas leave from his ship. Before they parted company that night Roger left his address with his cousin who then passed it to Diane. Roger returned to his Ship only to be posted to Scotland to drive a green goddess during the fire Brigades industrial action in 1978. Upon returning they met again and were married at Christchurch, Aberbeeg on July 7th 1979. They now live in Swffryd and have been happily married for 27 years having raised two children, Kelly and Gwyn.

SELBY, Judith

My memories are of the times when the big hall was used for pantomimes, films, for choosing the Carnival Queen and her Court.
In my early teens I was allowed to go to the Saturday afternoon disco, which was supervised by Mr Sampson, who was a great follower of ballroom dancing, and then when I got older I progressed to the Saturday Night Club which the Institute was turned into.
I also remember the library, the reading room, and lesser hall, which was used for parties and baby clinic, with Nurse Stephens as the baby and school nurse.
Before private telephones were installed I remember using the telephone which was situated on one of the landings on the many flights of stairs and took you down to the bottom of the building and out of the entrance of the living quarters (used by the caretaker Mr Jimmy Lewis at the time) and park gates.
I lived in the streets of Llanhilleth (known as the fields) and the Institute Clock played a big part in our lives. People relied on the clock to go about their normal daily routines. Many children learned to tell the time by the big clock at the bottom of the streets. People used to stand on their doorsteps on New Years Eve and wait to hear the clock tell them that the New Year had arrived.

SELBY, Roy

As a very young boy, I remember living at the top of Hafodycoed (known as the rows). There was a wonderful view across Llanhilleth. I remember going hand in hand with my father to Llanhilleth Institute, which was the centrepiece of the village, and looking up, wide-eyed at this very impressive building where all the special things of the village took place; live concerts, films, boxing tournaments, and of course the library.
Regarding the films, I once worked with an older man from the village who told me that as a young man himself he would go most evenings and earn half a pence reading the sub titles to those who were unable to read.
Also my grandfather told me that many people used the library in the early days and became self-taught, and that many heated debates that took place during the dark days of the colliery strikes.
I also have fond memories of the Institute's Dance Hall, which is where I met my wife in the 1960's to whom I am still married.
It is nice to know that the grand old building is being brought back to life and once again being cared for. I hope that many people will visit and relate some of their own memories.