From authenticated documents we can confirm the History of Port Talbot YMCA.
In 1898 a letter was written to the Secretary of the General Council YMCA in London informing them that Mr. E. G. Barker; Mr R. D. Thomas, with representatives of local churches and the Mayor of Port Talbot John Phillips as the president have formed a local YMCA to be known under the name of The Aberavan and Port Talbot District YMCA.
Aberavan and Port Talbot District YMCA have served the community in many ways, only changing when the need of the community changed. What you will find despite the generations that have passed some services are still in need today as they were back in 1898. The difference being today is the influence mankind has had on us through development in industry, economics, faith, freedom and can we also say the lack of morals?
When George Williams founded the YMCA movement in 1844, its aims’ were to provide mutual support for like minded Christian young men, however the aims’ changed, not only providing spiritual guidance but also for the development of mental improvement and the concerns for young men in general. In 1855 the YMCA’s first World Conference was held in Paris, where it was agreed on the philosophy the work the YMCA would undertake. The agreement is known as ‘The Paris Basis’ a very important document for YMCA’s all over the world.
Aberavan and Port Talbot District YMCA had used The Paris Basis as their blue-print in setting up our YMCA, agreeing to unite those young men who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Saviour, according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to be his disciples in their faith and in their life, and to associate their efforts for the extension of his Kingdom amongst young men. From here Aberavon and Port Talbot District YMCA started their work providing services and opportunities to the young men of the community.
1916 YMCA Badge
Our History starts with records found relating back to 1929, despite missing 30 years of history we can still have a feel of what it was like back in those first 30 years. The first image we have is that the Christian faith played a major part in its work. Prayers were said before any meeting held by the YMCA’s committee, on how they made decisions and the type of work they carried out within the community. There were prayer evenings, fire place discussion groups, and when we moved to our current location, a chapel was built within the building. Here devotional services were held along with Sunday evening services as well as a place for reflective pray. The YMCA also provided prayer services to the local hospital.
However, from our records from 1929 we were referred to as Port Talbot YMCA, with us unable to determine when the name changed from Aberavon and Port Talbot District YMCA.
Aberavon and Port Talbot District/ Port Talbot YMCA has played an important part in peoples lives for many years, with many people giving their time and energy to the progress of the YMCA work in the local area. It seems that Port Talbot YMCA has played its part in the history of Aberavon and Port Talbot and in later years Cwmavon. As mentioned above the first president of the YMCA was the Mayor of Port Talbot Mr. John Phillips, not only an important figure for the area of Port Talbot, but for Port Talbot YMCA.
Our history shows community business and community spirit playing an important role. Sir Sydney H. Byass was a major supporter of Port Talbot YMCA by donating funds and his time. He also sponsored the air rifle target shooting competition by donating a silver cup for the winners of the competition. This cup dates back to 1907. Later his wife Lady Eveline and his son Sir Geoffrey Byass-Bart supported the YMCA and again loaning finances and also proving gifts. Sir Geoffrey was also president for many years and provided the committee with guidance in relation to finance, business and Law. He would also provide much needed confidence in arranging meetings with Glamorgan County Council and with local business men.
Sir David Evans Bevan also played an important part with Port Talbot YMCA, he had supported the YMCA for over 60 years providing funds to purchase equipment and also providing a gift of £500 for re furnishing the new building on Talbot Road. Such was his support he liked to remain anonymous in his donations, wanting to take the quiet stance. He not only supported Port Talbot YMCA, but also played an important role in setting up Onwlyn YMCA and also providing funds for Cwmavon YMCA.
With out these prominent people Port Talbot YMCA would not have been able to give the support to the community in its’ early days and during the ‘war years’. It is also important to mention at this stage another very important group of people, that Port Talbot YMCA relied upon, and these were the ladies of the YMCA’s Women’s Auxiliary. Without their support many functions would not have happened, they helped run the canteen and prepared rooms for services. They provided an invaluable service in providing soldiers with hot meals during the war years and also in comforting the young.
Given the nature of their support, rooms were named after Sir Sydney, with also a memorial plaque in honour of his service. The Hall was named after Sir Evans Bevan and again a plaque commemorating his service to Port Talbot YMCA. In the Cafe a dedication plaque was displayed in honour of the committed work by all the YMCA’s Women’s Auxiliary, with a special honour awarded to Miss Bertha Hooper where a room was named after her and a memorial plaque in her honour.
women's auxciliary badge.
During our early days as Aberavon and Port Talbot District YMCA we worked out of a couple of huts, but also had tennis courts and a gymnasium. The Tennis courts were situated next to St Theodore’s Church, where after nearly fifty years of use, tennis became a redundant sport in the area. Due to costs in keeping good order the grounds and pavilion, Port Talbot YMCA gave up the tenancy. In January 1949 the tenancy was handed over to Port Talbot Bowling Club, with Port Talbot YMCA paying for their first year’s ground rent. It has been mentioned that our gymnasium during World War One provided soldiers with beds, food and a place to pray. Although the gymnasium was sold to the YMCA National Council in April 1940, it had a brief use to shelter soldiers returning home from Dunkirk. The Gymnasium was used to hold plays, play rehearsals, pray meeting and dances. Along with the number of sports offered by Port Talbot YMCA, the gymnasium was used for training, it was even used for bell target shooting.
Between 1898 and 1940 Aberavon and Port Talbot District YMCA run its’ service from the Huts, gymnasium and Tennis pavilion. These early years seen the young men of the district involved in many sports. Football and athletics seemed to be the main sports at the time with both enjoying much success as clubs and for individuals within the teams.
The Aberavon and Port Talbot District YMCA Football Club was set up in 1901, playing many games against other YMCA teams: Llanelli, Bridgend and even Chepstow. Each year there was an inter-YMCA Football Championship, with Port Talbot YMCA winning this Championship in 1932, 1933 and 1934.
Athletics became a sporting activity that excelled at Port Talbot YMCA with the team winning a number of local and international awards. YMCA Wales held an annual competition The Sir John Llewellyn Shield, in which Port Talbot won the shield nine times in the shields twenty year history. Mr. A.E.W Williams a member of Port Talbot YMCA Harriers was appointed an official at the 1934 Empire Games. In 1939, 1940 and 1949 Port Talbot YMCA Harriers were invited to provide cross country teams to represent Wales at international matches. During the 1950’s as Port Talbot YMCA Harriers were achieving many highs, Mr. Ken Davidson was invited to coach the Welsh YMCA team. With much success Mr. Arthur Williams chair of Port Talbot YMCA Harriers was elected president of the Welsh AAA in 1959. With Jimmy O’Brian cross country runner that had won many meetings through out the 1950’s became captain of the Welsh YMCA cross country team in 1960. However after a disagreement between the Althletics club and the board, the althletics club went their own way in 1961. This was the begining of Port Talbot Harriers. (Can only say, what a loss to Port Talbot YMCA).
Since 1889 Aberavon and Port Talbot District/Port Talbot YMCA entertained the local community by holding pantomimes and plays. In 1929 the Port Talbot YMCA Drama Society was officially set up. On the 18th February 1955, a young man walked into Port Talbot YMCA ‘with nothing in particular’ popped his head round the main hall and saw the drama group in action, then a Mr. Cyril Jenkins Chair of the Drama Society, asked if he wanted join in. This young man give it ago and had a line, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. This was the very start of the acting career of Sir Anthony Hopkins. Since 1929 the Drama Society put on at least one play per year and in some case two plays. They were well thought of with them being invited to put on plays for local dignitaries, the armed forces during World War Two, with the Mayor making a special request for them to entertain the American troops that were preparing for D-Day on the Gower Coast, (but they didn’t know that at the time). In peace time they continued to provide entertainment for service personal, especially for the Royal Air Force stationed at Stormy Down and for the Sailors of The Battleship HMS St Kitts when the Battleship visited Port Talbot.
Along with these shows, the Drama Society also took their shows to local churches and village halls, as well as performing at Port Talbot YMCA. The plays were well attended, but during the early 1960’s it was noted that attendances were starting to fall. The only conclusion they could make at this time, was, people would rather stay at homes watching variety shows on television.
As well as the Drama Society entertaining the community, Port Talbot YMCA held dances once aweek, where the locals would dance the evening away to the sounds of the big bands. These dances were well attended and many romances started here too. In later years the big bands gave way to the new era of music and ‘pop’ bands took to the stage. However like the Drama Society during the 1960’s attendance started to dwindle. This was put down to television and the now popularity of variety entertainment in local working men’s clubs, with also the sale of alcohol.
Throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s many of Wales’ YMCA found themselves in financial difficulty, Port Talbot YMCA support their sister organisations by donating funds raised from the entrance fees of the plays and dances. Swansea, Llanelli, Bridgend and Cardiff all received financial support from Port Talbot YMCA. We also raised a substantial sum of £1500 towards the new YMCA Chapel in Roath, Cardiff. When Cwmavon YMCA set it self up it was Port Talbot YMCA that financially supported this. As well as finances Port Talbot YMCA allowed some of its’ staff to work at Cwmavon to insure youth clubs and other services took off. Even when the London YMCA (HQ) was bombed during World War Two, Port Talbot YMCA donated funds to help rebuild their building. Also during World War Two Port Talbot YMCA raised a further £1000 for the much needed Mobile Canteen. 
women's Auxicillary and their tea car.
Port Talbot YMCA over the years have provided many activities for the young men of the community. One step was when they set up a Scout group, known as the 1st Port Talbot YMCA Scout movement. However, this Scout group was disbanded in 1932, where Port Talbot YMCA concentrated on its’ own youth movement. Port Talbot YMCA offered these activities from 1889 until 1960: Athletics, Football, Billiards, Tennis, Table Tennis, Cricket, Darts, Boxing, Air Rifle Shooting, Archery, Fencing, photography, Drama and discussion groups.
Boxing medal 1935.
Copyright Port Talbot YMCA 2009