TREASURED memories of Christmases past will be broadcast to radio listeners this festive season thanks to volunteers from a Wrexham care home.
Four residents of Pendine Park’s Gwern Alyn home – John Neal, 94, Beryl Fowler, 90, Susan Vaughan, 74, and Ian Thomas, 68 – were interviewed by Radio Wales producer Sean Allsop about Christmases they enjoyed yesteryear.
They talked freely to him reminiscing about sharing home-cooked dinner with wartime evacuees, the importance of family, a magical train-set gift, and the jubilant mood of Boxing Day football ties, among other memories.
Sean and his production team will collate their Yule Tide tales, along with those of other community members from around Wales, ready to be broadcast as part of the BBC’s festive programming schedule.
Sean said: “We’re not yet sure of the exact date when it will be broadcast, and we’re still working on the programme title but it will be one of our festive highlights for sure. I urge listeners to look out for it.
While the finer details are still being confirmed, Sean added: “I can tell you it’s been such a pleasure for me visiting Gwern Alyn and listening to the fascinating stories of the four volunteers. I’m sure the way they have captured the essence of Christmases past will touch the hearts of all our listeners.”
John Neal, whose father fought in World War I, said the Christmases of his childhood were far less commercial than they are today.
He said: “There was not much money around in those days so people couldn’t afford to buy lots and lots of gifts. But when we did get a present we were hoping for it was so special to us.
“My father was very wise – one year he bought me a train set, then each Christmas over the following years he would buy me an accessory for the train set, such as a new carriage, some points or extra track.”
A man of deep religious faith, John said Christmas is an important time for him and he is pleased to be spending it this year with fellow residents and staff at Gwern Alyn.
He said: “I feel blessed to be living in such delightful premises with equally delightful, professional staff to support us in our older years.”
Fellow resident Beryl Fowler agreed that Gwern Alyn was a ‘home from home’.
She said: “I am greatly looking forward to celebrating this Christmas with all my new friends here.”
Beryl, who has two grown up daughters, Jane and Ann, told Sean how, for her, Christmas reinforced the importance of family and generosity of spirit.
She said: “We had some hard times when I was young, during the war years. My father served in the Army from 1938-45, through the Second World War. We lived in Denbigh and I can remember my dad coming home with his kitbag sometimes.
“As a family we took in evacuees from Liverpool, about five children in all. We all did our best to make Christmas as homely as possible for them, knowing they would be missing their own families. We shared Christmas lunch and gifts. Those were tough times for all.”
Beryl recalled that Christmas gifts were much more simple in her childhood and teens, with many being home-made.
She said: “Money was short for so many people, especially during the war years and just afterwards. People would make their own gifts. I remember dolls which were hand-knitted.”
Friend Susan Vaughan said: “As a religious person and a Christian I believe in Jesus and God so Christmas is a very spiritual and emotional time of year for me. At its essence is the chance for people to come together, give thanks and be charitable to others.”
She spoke of enjoying family gatherings and Christmas dinners, but as she is a vegetarian, it would be minus the turkey.
For Ian Thomas, the festive menu would begin with prawn cocktail, followed by turkey and all the trimmings, but desert would be ice-cream as he doesn’t like Christmas pudding.
The dad of two said: “Christmas Day was always bustling in our house, when I was a child, and then when I became a father myself.
“As a kid I remember it was great. I’d get up in the middle of the night, go downstairs and try to find any presents, then sneak back up to bed again trying to be extra quiet in case my parents woke up and heard me.”
Sport and football in particular was also at the centre of Ian’s festive memories.
As a Manchester City fan he enjoyed going to the traditional bank holiday match on Boxing Day, catching the train from his home in Shotton.
“It was always such a joyful occasion. Everyone was in a good mood, wearing their new Christmas tops and just keen to have a good time, whether we would win or lose. The Boxing Day match was one of the happiest in the football calendar.”
The quartet were all looking forward to Christmas at Gwern Alyn and listening in to the results of their interviews with Sean.
Cindy Clutton, manager of Gwern Alyn, and its neighbouring care home, Hillbury House, said they were thrilled to welcome Sean and it was an exciting opportunity for residents to describe their memories on radio.
She added: “We will all be eagerly awaiting the results. It will be a highlight of our festive celebrations this year.”
