Chronicles of a Village Childhood

Eluned Rees remembers adventures, real and imagined

Reading has been an important part of my life. I believe strongly that we should not decide what our children read and, although there were very many books in our home, the comics sent by my grandmother each week by post (when it was cheap to send such things) was exciting. We would race down to meet the postman then return to our beds, on Saturday mornings, to read them from cover to cover, June and Judy. Then swapping. Christmas time we would have annuals, with shiny covers.

I read all sorts of books. The mobile library would visit the village when I was in my teens and I remember the librarian asking my mother quietly if she was happy for me to be reading a particular book! She was quite happy, but unfortunately I cannot remember which book it was! I doubt it was very racy.

My parents made an annual trip to Swansea before Christmas to buy a book for every member of the Sunday School - the best attendees got the better books! - a difficult task, as there was a huge span of age and interest. I still have some of them, a valuable inscription on the first page, as you can see from the photo. I had Welsh and English books and only once was disappointed when I had a book about Margaret Rose, sister of the late Queen! Those of you who know me will not be surprised that I was horrified when older. I wonder what happened to that book. Hmm….

Such was my love for Enid Blyton books that I longed to go away to school (St Clare’s, Mallory Towers). But I soon backed down when my father found out that clergy’s daughters could attend Howells’ School in Cardiff without paying fees. I changed my mind and continued with the reading only. Our imaginary play included being 'Five go on an adventure/ to an island’ etc. I know that Enid Blyton is now out of fashion, and ridiculously middle-class, with ginger beer and meringues, but the reading was easy and full of excitement.

Seeing the vast choice of books in Welsh that children have today, I am envious. Our reading books were Llyfr Coch, Glas, Gwyrdd etc and Llyfr Mawr y Plant. Our only novels I remember were ‘Teulu bach Nantoer’ and ‘Gwilym a Benni Bach’.