PORT TALBOT YMCA - PATRONS
Sir Sydney H. Byass, Bt.
Patron of Aberavon and Port Talbot District YMCA 1898 - 1929.
Since our beginnings Port Talbot YMCA has had three Patron's. All of whom have provided Port Talbot YMCA with much needed support, in areas of development, guidance, networking and funding.
Our first Patron was Sir Sydney H. Byass, who in his days was a not only a major influence to Port Talbot YMCA, but also to the whole of Aberavon and Port Talbot. He held the Patron of Port Talbot YMCA since its formation in 1898 until his death in 1929.
Sir Sydney H. Byass - first Patron of Port Talbot YMCA1898 - 1929
Sir Sydney was a major player in Port Talbot, where he was the managing proprietor of the R. B. Byass and Co, Margam and Mansel Tinworks, the Cwmavon Brickworks, and the Tewgoed Collieries. The Tin Plate/ Steel plant, later became the British Steel Works, now owned by Corus.
Sir Sydney was instrumental in bringing heavy industry to Port Talbot and also helped establish the rail network with him becoming a director of the Great Western Railway Company and a director of the Port Talbot Railway and Dock Company.
Sir Sydney made major donations to local churches and funded the first Hospital in Port Talbot, becoming the first chairman of the Aberavon and Port Talbot District Hospital Board, where a plaque is displayed to this day commemorating this. Being a Christian, Sir Sydney was also the a member of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales and Chairman of the Llandaff Diocesan Board of Finance.
To note, with the creation of the new and extended borough of Port Talbot, Sir Sidney was elected the first Mayor and was also elected the first freeman. Sir Sydney also had political ambitions with him contesting the Aberavon Division as a Conservative against Mr. Ramsey MacDonald, first in 1923, and again in the following year. As such was the respect for Sir Sydney, he became the deputy-lieutenant of the County of Glamorgan and served as Sheriff in 1923. In January 1926, Sir Sydney was made a Baron.
He was an extremely popular sportsman, he was a generous supporter of the Glamorgan Hunt, was chairman of the Glamorgan County Cricket Club, president of the Aberavon Rugby Football Club, President of the Port Talbot Cricket Club and chairman and sponsor of the Port Talbot Air Rifle Target Association.
Sir Sydney H. Byass, Bt.
Born 25/7/1862 -Died 18/2/1929 aged 66
Lived at Llandough Castle, Glamorgan, Wales
Married to Lady Eveline Stratton
Children:
Geoffrey Robert Sydney
Eveline Mary
Robert Arthur