Neath

The Norman conquest of the south coast of Wales was exceedingly rapid, and castle after castle rose to mark the new victorious advances.

Coeti, Kenfeg, Neath, Kidwelly, Pembroke, Newport, Kilguren.

So far the Norman advance has been a most quick one.

In less than twenty-five years from the appearance of the Conqueror at Chester, the whole country had been overrun except the mountains of Gwynedd and the forests of the Deheubarth.

Great monasteries were built for him, and great tracts of land were given him by those who were anxious that he should pray for their souls.

The monk who came to Wales was the Cistercian.

The monasteries of Tintern, Margam, and Neath were built by Norman barons, and Strata Florida, Valle Crucis, and Basingwerk showed that the Welsh princes also welcomed the monks.

Better, then, than the brilliant wars were the poets and the great Eisteddfod.

When it comes to Aberavon, there's a young lad, he's just at his 18 cap, and his name is Ellis Cox, the Aberavon boy.

Actually, no, I think he might be a Neath boy, but he went to school in...

Oh, we've all got to come from that boy.

Yeah.

You've never been? No.

I've seen it many times on the M4.

Back in the day when it used to be a Boxing Day game or an Easter Day game against Neath, that place would be bouncing.

Because Aberhaven invariably...

Let's see if your one point wins you the smart speaker.

Well, Lucy Rees in Neath, South Wales, you have got an uphill challenge because even though Saskia scored one, you've got to beat one to win the smart speaker.

So more than anyone else that's played 10 to the top, there's a lot of pressure on your shoulders, Lucy.

I feel like there is anyway, because I think one was my goal.

Let's see how you do.

You've got one to beat for the smart speaker, so good luck.

Right, Lucy Rees in Neath, South Wales.

This is your run on 10 to the Top.

Um, and certainly ev- everyone that met him would have had and will have some really fond memories of, uh, of, of Basil.

I first met Baz around about 1980, '81 at Neath Indoor School, um, along with the likes of Greg Thomas, Alan Jones, and any Glamorgan player that was-- that hadn't gone abroad that winter really.

So he was really a great grounder for me.

Uh, I, I particularly learned a lot from, you know, watching Baz bowl in the nets.

He was a real gent and one of those characters who made being around a cricket club so enjoyable." Now we can hear just a small selection of those that remember Baz from his time playing club cricket.

First up is Kevin Grant, followed by Mike Haswell, Paul Rees, Martin Wiltshire, and Andy Rowlands.

Kevin Grant, Neath Cricket Club.

I first met Steve Barwick, or Bazzer as he's known, in 1977.

No.

I was born in Neath, um, and we moved up to Anglesey, 'cause my mum's from Neath.

My dad's actually from Liverpool, um, but they met in South Wales.

Um, Mum's from Neath, and then born in Neath, moved up to Anglesey when I was about two, and I was brought up in the village just, um, next to here in Maesldreith.

So you've got Newborough here, Maesldreith the next village on, and that's where I was brought up.

So I identify as a Gog.

Uh, it's interesting how much you, you've moved around.

Yeah.

And of course, they got the weather and the difficulties of route finding.

So Gerald's horse in, in Neath outside what's now the Port Talbot Steel plant gets stuck in quicksand, for example.

He, he, his, his baggage, his books are damaged.

Um, he nearly loses the horse.

I loved Swansea.

I had lots of friends, and I loved my primary school that I went to in Neath, Alderman Davies, a Church in Wales school, and I had a great experience there.

And I had a good experience in school as well.

It just wasn't for me.

Dynes pedwar, pump oed wedi marw mewn gwrthdrawiad beic modur.

Neath.

A 45-year-old woman has died in a motorbike collision.

And then another song for today.