January 4th – Secretary’s Bombshell for Goytre OAP
A dismayed silence followed the speech of secretary Mr Horace Prosser when Goytre Old Age Pensioners held their new year party at Goytre Memorial Hall on Saturday.
It was broken by 77 year old Mr T Langley, founder of the club and until last year, its chairman as well. Said Mr Langley looking down at the table, “that’s the worst speech we have heard this evening.” For Mr Prosser had just announced his own impending resignation.
He began by saying that he had now been secretary for 5 years though when he first took the job on he meant it to be for only a temporary basis. But said Mr Prosser it didn’t take long for me to find out there was nothing much temporary about it. Yet Mr Prosser had enjoyed the job “I’ve learn’t a lot about human nature,” he said, both the good and bad side.
But now he was forced to resign, one reason, for Mr Prosser is a farmer, was that he had more stock now to look after
January 13th – Mr Henry Williams ( in obituaries)
Goytre Motorcyclist Given Benefit of Doubt
As they felt that there was a great deal of doubt, Pontypool magistrates dismissed charges alleging careless and inconsiderable driving against a builder’s labourer. Malcolm Evan Dobbs, of New Houses, Goytre, pleaded not guilty and was defended by Mr. D P Tomlin (Everett & Tomlin.)
A pedestrian, Brian Jones of Ynysddu described how he saw Dobbs’ motorcycle collide with a motor-cycle combination, the rider of which had given a signal that he was going to turn right.
The rider of the motor-cycle combination, Cyril Bull of Brynmawr said he looked into his mirror to see if there was any traffic following him. He gave a signal that he was going to turn right and the next he knew was that the motor-cycle crashed into him.
PC David Edwards said when he arrived on the scene Dobbs had been removed to Pontypool Hospital. Twenty two year old Dobbs told the magistrates he had ridden a motor-cycle for almost every day during the past four years. The machine he was riding on the day was practically new; he had had it 14 days: it had done only 480 miles and he was running the machine in, his speed was not excessive.
He followed the motor-cycle combination for some distance and when it pulled into the left and slowed down near the BNS factory he thought it was going to stop so he decided to pass it. As he did so the motor-cycle combination pulled across to the right and the collision occurred.
His machine was undamaged but he fractured his collar-bone.
Failed to Report Accident
A Penperlleni research worker alleged that though he travelled at 45 mph he failed to catch a car that had collided with his vehicle.
At Usk magistrates Court, learner driver Dennis William Blanche of Newbridge was fined a total of £5 for careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to conform with a halt sign. He was also ordered to pay 11/6 costs.
Stanley William Hayes of Rose Cottage Penperlleni, said that his car was bumped and scraped as Blanche overtook near Monmouthshire Institute of Agriculture. He chased the car and though he travelled at 50-60 mph he failed to catch Blanche, who ignored the halt sign at the junction with Usk bridge.
Eighteen year old Blanche said he heard a rubbing sound as he overtook. His passengers looked back to see if anything was wrong and as the other car was still following, he thought nothing had happened.
September – Goytre Man For Trial On House Breaking Charge
A Goytre man arrested on charges of breaking and entering and theft was alleged to have told a police officer: “All right. It was all because of my brother, I did it. He got me turned out of the home”.
Eric John Frewin aged 30 of no fixed address was accused at Pontypool Magistrates Court of breaking and entering a house at Goytre on the night of July 13 and stealing 12/- belonging to Frederick Bishop. Other charges were that he stole a raincoat valued at 12 guineas, and four books valued at £4 and from his brother, William Francis George Frewin.
Frewin was committed for trial at Quarter Sessions and allowed bail on his own and another recognisance of £10.
Frederick Henry Thomas Bishop, cleaner, of Lynwood, Newtown, Goytre said that on the night of 13th July he was sleeping in a chair in his front room. About midnight he woke up and heard a knock at the front door.
He went upstairs to look through a bedroom window at whoever was there. While he was up there he heard a bump on the back door.
After hearing the curtains being torn he saw a light coming from the downstairs room.
Going downstairs he heard someone run out of the house through the back door. Later he found that a ten shilling note and about 2/- was missing from the dresser.
William Frewin, of Fernlea, Newtown, Goytre said that until July 13 his brother (the accused) had lived with him and their mother.
Witness possessed a fawn raincoat and four engineering books all of which had his name inside. He last saw the raincoat hanging in a wardrobe in his home on June 26 but could not recall when he last saw the books.
Visit to Pub
Aubry Jones, cinema projectionist, of 9 Lewis Terrace, Pontnewynydd, gave evidence that Eric Frewin told him he had some engineering books if witness would like to read them. Jones did not read any of the books.
Police constable L. Clewer said that Frewin when arrested at Hereford made a statement that after he left a public house he went home but his mother would not let him in. He went to Bishop’s home, entered and took the 12/- later sleeping in a shed.
Next day he went home but his mother would not let him in so he went down to the canal bank and roamed around the fields. The following day he got a lift to Hereford where he was arrested after coming out of a public house.
Police constable David Edwards said that Frewin, when questioned about the missing raincoat and books said he sold the coat for 10/- but only lent the books. The raincoat had been recovered but the books had not yet been traced.