There's been a lot of changes to our city in 50 years.

Unfortunately never seems to have been a co-ordinated plan more a mish mash of development.

 

and none of them have improved the city.

 

Not all have been to the good but a lot has , would you rather see the following still here (disregarding the loss of jobs which is a separate but important issue ), these are just a few which spring to mind
Carbon Black / green spaces
Llandarcy Oil refinery ,/ Darcy village
Crymlyn Burrows, /where the new University complex sits
Weavers ; /a clear view of the marina
The Strand ,/ new high rise accommodation
The lower Swansea valley (thats a story in it's own right )
The wagon works in Port Tennant /now houses
The council tip in Port Tennant ,/ grassed over
Dare I say the Vetch ,/community grassed area .
Neath canel , /now cleared for a number of miles with a decent cycle track alongside

Successive councils have never had the will or foresight to really put Swansea on the map and a succession of "artists impressions" always fall short of reality.Theres a lot to be said for the lack of ambition but even now with at it's faults I couldn't imagine living any where else .

 

Nor me unless it was a small country town but haven't seen one in Wales that appeals to me yet

 

It is the city centre that has suffered most in recent years with the Kingsway road system causing chaos & sadly deaths all for the ridiculous bendy buses which have now been scrapped. Castle gardens turned into a concrete skate board area & many of our best shops such as David Evans lost to smaller outlets & charity shops. Council have ruined it as a major shopping centre.

 

Looking at that brought back so many memories. Swansea was wide open as the bombed rubble from the Blitz was cleaned up. I use to love frequenting the docks with my fishing rod as I admired the different ships that came from around the world. There was so much going on everywhere with virtually no unemployment and the best thing was Rationing had came to an end and those dreadful endless long queues at the shops that would bore the hell out of young boys like me who had many a slap across the legs for misbehaving I can tell you. My Mam would bring me to Swansea every single Saturday from Rossilli and I must admit I loved every second of it. ..My Dad would often take me to the Vetch and when I was 12 years old me and a few lads from penclawdd school? Gowerton comp would be allowed to travel to Swansea to watch the lads at the vetch and then have a fish & chip supper before we travelled home.....This film brought back those early days and happy days of my life...thank you...

 

Not much change there then.Except there was less chewing gum and dog ****e on the pavements back then.

 

That must put you around 70 years of age?

 

Id say mid 60's.Same as me as I can recall the same.

 

The reason i say that is rationing ended in 1954 so for him to remember queues he must have been at least 5 or 6 years old at the time which would see him being born around 1947 same as my brother who only just about remembers them.

 

I also suffered rationing but because we were poor not because items weren't available

 

Good point.I cant remember rationing.
Thank god.

 

What people don't realise is Rationing did not just suddenly stop over night and even tough the Government announced Rationing was over it still took time before enough quantity of ingredients to reach the shops. People were still living on the Bread line for a few years later......I'm in my very late 60's

 

It must of been a long journey from Rhossili by bus in the good old days?

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and fisheries would have controlled all farm output during that period. But from 1954 farms in Gower would have been free to supply locals so i would have thought you would have been ok down there? Even during the war years farms would have made sure locals would have had sufficient provisions. It would of been very different in the Towns.

 

How long did you live in Rossilli?
Oh sorry I mean Rhossili.

 

Sorry and a bit off topic , but Daiswan , did you go to Halifax in 1967 for the Canadian Centennial ... we stood out side the gate at the navy base in Shearwater , across the harbour , and exchanged coins with sailors from , it seemed , every country in the world . Great fun as a 15 year old .

 

Reading this thread I think he may have sailed with Nelson

 

LOL.... that one's going to hurt for a while ...lol ,