A short conversation in Welsh between Eluned Williams (Glanrhyd Cilycwm), Eric Williams of Cilycwm and Anthony Rees. Eluned was born and subsequently cleared from Epynt with her family to Rhandirmwyn. She finally moved to Glanrhyd Farm, Cilycwm in 1959. She remembers the milk stand in use and the daily routine of the lorry drivers. The milk stand was shared with Penlan and Rhydwydd. Photographs of this milk stand are available on the Peoples Collection of Wales website.

Summary of the conversation

We are at Glanrhyd, Cilycwm with Eluned Williams who is from Eppynt originally, but moved to Cilywcm from Rhadirmwyn.  Eric Williams also contributes. 

Eluned says: The milk lorry driver lived a mile up the road. It worked well for us in the mornings.  He would pass exactly on time in the mornings about 7am– right on the dot and then go to Rhandirmwyn and be back for breakfast before collecting our milk.  That gave us time to milk and put churns on the stand at Glanrhyd.  Eluned moved to Glanrhyd in 1959. So this happened throughout the 1960s. 

Two neighbours also used the same milk stand. Rhydwydd and Penlan shared it.  This was where discussions would happen and the world put to rights! 

The stand still looks very good. It was there before Eluned moved to Glanrhyd.  It has been well preserved over the years. Grandchildren come here now and they enjoy going to the top of the stand. ‘It’s strange to think that children today don’t know what a milk stand is. It’s part of history now – part of the old dairy industry.’

At Erryd Farm, the stand is part of the farm wall and still has churns on it – Eric teases that Erryd was still milking and using churns. 

Then the tanker arrived. Yes, everything changed when the milk tanker system came in.

Eric and Eluned discuss the recent passing of an elderly Eppynt resident – Eileen.  Her family lived near the Cilieni school,  The family belonged to Gilfach yr Haidd farm. 

Eluned states that her family came from Beili Richard Farm on the Merthyr Cynog section of Eppynt.  Eluned’s sister, was the last baby to be born on the Eppynt and now lives in Llanddewi Brefi.  She has named her house Beili Richard after the farm where she was born.

Eric says that another family that moved from Fferm y Dderw to “Dowlais’??_Fach, they were originally a family of nine children of which three came to the Cilycwm area - Eunice, Renee and Emrys. They found good farms.  But it was a hard time for everyone, moving from their homes.  

Renee used to say that when she cooked with her mother, they made 11 tarts at a time.  Flour came in sacks and not packets. Flour / corn sometimes kept dry in churns.  

Eluned’s family were relocated to Rhandirmwyn and her father had never driven a car. 

There is a great deal of history connected to this area. A television programme called “Cefn Gwlad” was once recorded here, hosted by Dai Jones.  ‘Dai Cefn’ read the verses in the local Eppynt - Babell chapel.  Eric now has these verses. 

There used to be Eisteddfods in y Babell Chapel, a singer from Myddfai named Tudor Richards (TR) entered the eisteddfod, the judges feedback played on these initials and said his singing was TR (Too Rough).