September 28th – Roll of Honour
Second Lieutenant LL Richards, Goytrey
Second Lieut. Llewellyn Richards, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, son of Mrs Richards and the late Mr W Richards, Gwynedd, Goytrey, Pontypool and formerly of Pontllanfraith, is reported killed in action.
Just before joining the Army, at the age of 18, he passed the London matriculation examination whilst a student at Pengam School and was intended for a medical career.
August 2nd – The Roll of Honour
Lance-Corporal P. T. Lewis, Goytre.
We regret to announce the death of Lance-Corporal P.T. Lewis 31083, of Ty’r Ewen, Goytre, who was killed in France on July 2nd, on his 22nd birthday. After a very successful career at the West Mon. School, Lance-Corporal Lewis obtained an appointment in the Civil Service.
He was employed at the Tax Office, Pontypool, from which post he was released to join the forces in March 1917.
He was drafted to France last January and was attached to the S.W.B. He had seen some months’ trench warfare before he was transferred to the orderly room as a clerk.
He was held in high esteem by all who knew him for his unassuming straightforward character and his second-lieutenant bore him this excellent testimony:
“What always impressed me about him was his gentlemanly bearing, his keenness and his ever cheerful disposition. He had been recommended for an entry to a cadet battalion to be trained for a commission, but death has taken away from us one who I am absolutely certain would have made a very efficient officer.
T 259
Colombo 2nd April 1829
I Lieut. Colonel Bird of the 16th Regt. Desire to be done as follows.
I have advanced to my brother George Bird at several times the sum of £3000 and odd sterling as may be seen by existing documents which advances were made on condition of my holding an equal share in his grant of land and in all his other property, purchases or otherwise and in all profits and benefits arising there from at Gampolar Kandy.
The whole of which with the profits and advantages derived there from I bequeath to my wife Mrs Frances Maria Bird in trust for our children and all my other property whatsoever described and monies likewise in trust for the same after just debts have been paid and further for the payment after debts in this country I devote the sum of ten thousand rupees assured on my life in the Oriental Life Insurance office in Calcutta for such part of this sum as may be required for the purpose.
I request Cpt. Samuel Braybrook and assistant surgeon Charles Tomlin Whitfield to be my executors in Ceylon and Mrs Frances Maria Bird my wife to be my sole executor in England.
I declare this to be my last will and testament
(Signed)
Henry Bird
Lieut. Col. 16th Regt.
Elm Tree – 211 on the 1841 Tithe Map.
(There are two Elm Trees in the parish, this is the one near the entrance to the Wharf.)
Renting Elm Tree in 1821 was David Williams.
The 1841 tithe and census says the owner is Francis Davies and the occupier is Henry Edwards. Henry is aged 60, a woodcutter, his wife Jane is 50. Living with them is their 20 year old son, also called Henry.
The census of 1851 gives Henry’s age as 67, he is now a widower, living with him is his daughter Mary, 27 and son-in-law John Walby, 29.
In 1855 a church record updated the occupier to Charles Williams, Henry Edwards having died.
I’m not able to say who lived there in 1861, by 1871 Elm Tree is called Half Way Cottage on the census and is occupied by John Herbert, he is a plasterer and tiler, he is a widower from Tregare living on his own.
The 1881 census is difficult to decipher it looks like Joshua Attwell, but I may well be wrong, he is aged 56, an ag lab (agricultural labourer) born in Llanvair, his wife Charlotte is from Chirk, in Shropshire.
Elm Tree is sold in 1899, the occupier at that time is Evan Morgan, he is paying £6 6s a year rent.
In 1901 EvanMorgan is 45, a gardener born in Radnor, his wife Eliza is 38 she was born in Bryngwyn, with them on census night is 9 year old William Savery who was also born in Bryngwyn.
The following advert appeared in the personal section of Free Press on June 5th 1903:
Take notice, that anyone slandering me in any way whatsoever, after this date will be prosecuted
Signed: Eliza Morgan, Elm Tree Cottage, Goytre.
May 21st 1903
A new family had arrived by 1904, the Harry’s. Their son Richard Harry started school at Llanover in 1904.
At this time the electoral register shows the owner is William Crump, the gross value of Elm Tree is £5 14s and the rateable value is £5.
The 1910 census gives more information, James John is aged 50, a general labour born in Wenvoe, Hannah his wife is 48, born in Glamorgan. Living with them are their children, David 22, an under keeper, Richard 11 and Llewellyn 9, a scholar, all born in Goytre. James and Hannah had been married 28 years and had 12 children, 4 of which had died. Elm Tree Cottage at this time had 6 rooms.
The poor rate of 1914 says the owner is now Albert Price and Edwin Evans is the occupier.
The 1921 census says the Lewis family is in occupation, William J Lewis is 48, a pickler in the steel sheet works at Baldwins Panteg, his wife Ada is also 48, living with them are sons Philip 14, a gardener , David 10 and Walter 9, their daughter Elizabeth is 17, they were all born in Goytre.
The electoral register of 1930 gives the occupants as John James, Henrietta James, Irene and Arthur James.
The Free Press of 1931 reported the death of George Pardoe of Elm Tree, he was 68, his sister Henrietta James died in 1949 whilst living at Elm Tree, both were buried at St Mathews churchyard, Monkswood.
On the register of 1939 living at Elm Tree is Henrietta James who was born on the 8th December 1872, William her son, a county council roadmap, born on the 6th May 1902, George, another son who is a general labourer for a public works contractor, he was born on 11th December 1911, living with them is John Pardoe, a retired watchman who was born on the 6th August 1863, John T Pardoe, an imbecile, born on the 16th August 1885, there are two closed records.
Pantypudding – 1009 on the 1841 Tithe Map.
Pantypudding was originally in the parish of Goytre, owned by the Duke of Beaufort but 
now it is in the parish of Monkswood.
In 1851 Joseph Neil was the occupier, the gross value is £19 7s 6d, on the Rev Thomas Evans tithe list of 1864 a Jenkins is mentioned.
The census of 1861, or the part that covers the lower part of Goytre is missing, the following year the occupier is a Richard Morgan.
The census of both 1871 and 1881 do not list Pantypudding.
The electoral register, 1883-1889 shows Isaac Jenkins occupying a dwelling house and land as tenant.
Roger and Elizabeth Williams were living at Pantypudding in 1895, their daughter Elizabeth was baptised at St Mathews in that year.
In 1897 Roger Williams holds a farm sale at Pantypudding.
The occupier in 1899 was Henry Morgan. By 1910 Henry Knipe was the tenant, the owner still the Marquis of Bute, gross value £23, rateable value £3, containing 30 acres.
The 1914 poor rate says the owner is D F Pritchard and the occupier is Sidney Morgan.
November 9th 1962
The funeral took place at Saron Baptist Church of Mr Horace Prosser aged 59 of Tynewydd Goytre.
Services at the house and church were conducted by the Rev. C A Rees, minister and the Rev. A L Davies, rector of St Peter’s, Goytre. Mrs E Rees was the organist.
Mr Prosser was very active in local affairs, having been a parish councillor, a prominent member of the Village Produce Association and Goytre Village Hall Committee. He is survived by his sister Eunice.
Mourners:
Loving sister Eunice; Florrie, Annie, Ethel, Lily, Winnie, Shirley, Blodwyn, Gwyneth, Irene, Mable, Jim, Harry, Arthur, Dai, George, Gwynne, Lyndon, Desmond, Vivian, cousins; Mr & Mrs S Chard, Mrs E Vimpany, Mr & Mrs D J Evans.
Bearers:
Messrs D J Evans, W Powell, W Morgan, H W Vimpany, Archie James and Arthur James.
Others present:
Messrs A E & Fred Messenger, Bill Owen, Ivor Dobbs, O J Lewis, (clerk to the parish council), W I Morgan, S Morgan, H Morgan, R J Rosser, H Ball, Roy Ball, G Boyce, R Shorthouse, Jim Jones, Ivor Jones, John Rees (Goytre VPA), B Bishop (Village Hall), Joe Lambert, Idris Jones, Ron Morgan, Bryn Davies, S Walton, G Walton, Frank Williams, Mr & Mrs E Dobbs, Cliff James, J Lewis, Percy Jones, Mrs C Price, Mrs A Boyce, Mrs W Logan, Mrs E Draper, Mrs H Jones, Mrs James and Mary, Mr A Bradley, Mr W James, Mr D W Philips (late School House).
Flowers:
Loving sister Eunice; Florrie and Winnie; Annie Jim and Ethel; The Williams family, (Newport); Harry Mabel and Arthur; Irene and Cliff; Cousin Winnie and family; Shirley, Desmond and Nigel; Mrs T W Rees (Goytre Hall), Rose Buck and family; Mr & Mrs D J Evans; Mr & Mrs R J Rosser; Mr & Mrs Boyce and Brenda; Mr & Mrs Messenger and Betty; Mr & Mrs F Messenger and family; Walton and Miles; Mrs Court and Louie; Mr & Mrs Jenkins, The Knoll; Harold, Elsie and Gordon; Mr Litten and Joyce; Annie and Raymond; Mr & Mrs W Owen and Graham; Bill, Linda and David; All at the Gelli; The Gwynedd; Mrs Jenkins and Stanley; Mr & Mrs J E Lambert; Mr Idris Jones and Marion; Percy and Doris Jones (Griffithstown); All from the Croft; Mr & Mrs H W Gwatkin; Rector, Wardens and members of St Peter’s Church, Goytre; Goytre Parish Councillors; Goytre Village Produce; Goytre Village Hall Committee.
Funeral arrangements by James and Powell, Goytre.
December 21st
The funeral of Mrs Margaret Ann Hickman, 70, of Ivy Cottage, Goytre, took place at St Peter’s Church.
Mourners:
Frank, husband; Les and Frank, sons; Nellie, daughter-in-law; George Bath, brother-in-law; John, grandson.
Others Present:
P Carpenter, T Shelton, D Shelton, J Jones, Bill Brooks, V Hall, Gwen and Joyce.
Flowers:
Loving husband Frank; Les, Nell, Frank and Kay; John, Betty, George and girls; Mr & Mrs Evans and family (Goytre); Mr & Mrs Evans and family, (New Inn); Mr & Mrs Hayes and family; Valerie and Philip Price; Hilda, John and the boys; Mr & Mrs Ward, (Monmouth); Mr & Mrs Kenny, (Goytre Arms); Friends and customers, Goytre Arms.
January 19th
New village hall at Goytre may be started this year
Goytre village hall held their annual general meeting on Monday, Mrs R Rees presiding.
It was reported the funds for a new village hall, to replace the one which was destroyed by fire nearly three years ago now stood at £3,214.
The retiring chairman, Mr O Morgan, said the Ministry of Education had promised a grant of £3000 and it was hoped to make a start on the new building this year.
The total cost of the new hall would be in the region of £9000 a further £3,000 would still have to be raised.
The position would be much better if the National Council of Social Services would return about £1,000 of the insurance money it received after the fire.
Mr Morgan pointed out that the total insurance paid out had been £2,500 but the committee had only received £900. This meant that the National Council had claimed £1,600.
“In view of the fact that they were prepared to sell us the hall for £500 before it was destroyed we feel we should have received a far larger share of the insurance money,” he said.
Officers elected were: Mr O Morgan, chairman; Mr F Robinson, vice-chairman; Mr D Simmonds, treasurer; and Mr B Bishop, secretary.
Committee: Messrs J Rees, C Morris, Wm Morgan, B Wilding, S Hayes, E Draper and H Stinchcombe;
Mesdames E James, Wilson, Dibble, Simmonds and M Frewin.
January 19th – A Social Evening at Goytre
By kind invitation of the president Mrs Wynford-Rees, Goytre VPA held their social and supper at Goytre Hall. Mrs Rees presided, supported by officers and members of the committee.
Mrs Rees, welcoming the members praised the ladies and all who had helped to put on such a splendid meal. She was glad to see so many new members taking an interest in the life of the village.
Mr H Prosser thanked the president for the use of the room and her kind words. Mrs Wilson presented Mrs Rees with a bouquet.
Music was provided by Mrs Fisher and Mrs Draper, songs were sung by Mr Filer and Mr J Thomas recitations and stories by Mr H Prosser, they were thanked by the secretary.
Stewards were Messrs Wilson and A O Morris. Prizes were won by Mr R Dobbs, Mrs G E Jones, Mrs Ramsay, Mr H Prosser and Mr D J Evans.
January 19th – Mr E J Williams
(In obituaries)
May 4th – Mrs M Stinchcombe
(In obituaries)
June 15th – Jones (Goulding)
Cherished memories of my dear sister Annie of Llewn celyn Bungalow, who was taken from us June 12th 1954, Lovingly remembered by her sister Flor and brother-in-law Harold, – Too dearly loved to be forgotten.
Cherished memories of a dearly loved mother Annie Elizabeth of Goytre, who passed away June 12th 1954. – Always remembered by loving daughter Doreen and son-in-law Basil. – Too dearly loved to be forgotten.
June 15th – Landed in Australia with £5 now owns 6,500 acres
When Goytre born Mr Owen Jenkins arrived in Adelaide, Southern Australia, In January 1927 after a six week sea voyage via the Cape of Good Hope, he had £5 in his pocket.
Now, in addition to six and a half thousand acres of wheat and sheep property at Kalannie, Western Australia, he has a six acres estate at Armadale, a southern suburb of Perth, where he retired last autumn to fulfil a life-long ambition – that of breeding special horses for training as “trotters”.
An Old Westmonian and still a bachelor at 58, Mr Jenkins arrived back in Pontypool recently with his sister, Jocelyn, for 3 months well earned holiday.
He is staying with his brother Norman, whose garage business in Rockhill Road is well known in the district.
On Friday he told a Free Press reporter how, as a young man, he undertook contracting work in the Pontypool area in order to earn enough money for his fare to Australia, which, even in 1926 was quite considerable.
Land of Opportunity
Both my parents came from farming stock he explained and I wanted to follow suit, but farming was to expensive in this country, so I decided to go to Australia where there seemed to be plenty of opportunity.
Once in Adelaide Mr Jenkins found work on a farm within a week, and eventually saved enough money to buy a farm of his own at Kalannie. Until four years ago he owned 13,000 acres of that hot, dry country, 200 miles north-east of Perth, but then he decided to sell half of it to buy a smaller farm at Donnybrook in the dairy farming and apple growing district of the Preston Valley, where he raised cattle.
Mr Watkins now has very little to do with the running of the farm, although he often goes there at shearing time.
Asked how Pontypool appeared to him after almost 35 years of absence, he commentated that the town itself and the inhabitants in particular looked far more prosperous that when he left for Australia, which is hardly surprising when it is considered that 1926, the year of his departure, saw the Eastern Valley held fast in the grip of the General Strike.
From Summer to Summer
In October Mr Jenkins and his sister will return to the other side of the world on board the SS Strathmore. They hope to arrive just in time for the start of a new hay making season, and, as Jocelyn remarked, “we shall enjoy the best of both worlds; as the beautiful English summer comes to an end here we shall be arriving in time for a spell of hot Australian sun”.
July 6th – Sale of Mowing Grass
About 13 acres at Berllandowel, Goytre, the property of Messrs C G and M J Boyce, adjoining Pantypwdin Farm.
Rennie Taylor & Till will sell from the rostrum in Usk Market at 1.30 pm on Monday next, July 9th.
July 13th – Freehold Smallholding
For sale with possession, the freehold smallholding known as Berllandowel.
Comprising: Stone and slated dwelling house, containing 2 living rooms, with 3 bedrooms and box room over. Lean to wood and GI washhouse adjoining.
Stone and GI Roof beast house and loose boxes, together with 22.5 acres pasture and other land.
Access to the property is via a right of way through Pantypwdin Farm, Monkswood, on the main Usk-Pontypool road.
To be conducted by auction unless sold previously by
Rennie Taylor & Till at the Clarence Hotel on Tuesday July 31st at 6.45 pm
July 13th – Goytre
Goytre women’s institute were given an interesting demonstration by Mrs J G Cale of Porkskewett on the utilisation of secondary joints of meat.
Mrs Swinnerton presided and Mrs Cale was thanked by Mrs Young.
Mrs Bath won the competition for a thrift garment.
Tea hostesses were Mesdames D Jones, Knox and E Morris.
September 14th – Goytre woman’s application for an off-licence fails
An application by a Goytre grocer for an off-licence to sell intoxicants was turned down by Pontypool magistrates on Friday.
Mrs Iris Doreen James, of Fairfield estate, Goytre, said there was a demand for an off-licence in the area by people who did not like going into a public house.
She said many of her customers had asked her to sell intoxicants and she produced a petition of this effect signed by many Goytre residents.
Mrs James said she operated a grocery delivery service as far as Croesyceiliog and intended to deliver intoxicants by the same method.
Col. H M Everett, objecting on behalf of Pontypool and District Licensed Victualler’s Association and the licensee of the Goytre Arms, Mr William Albert Kenny, said if the license was granted Mrs James would be able to deliver intoxicants in the Croesyceiliog and Cwmbran area where there were many off-license houses.
She would be operating, he said, what was virtually a mobile off-license service.
Mr Kenny said his premises were only 150 yards away from Mrs James’s shop. He was working at the ROF, Glascoed, because the income from the public house was not very substantial and he was of the opinion there was no great local demand for an off-licence.
October 19th – Man accused of offences against step-daughter
A former Goytre man, now of no fixed abode, was alleged at a special Pontypool magistrates court on Monday to have been mis-behaving sexually with his 16 years old step-daughter since she was ten years old.
In September of this year, seven months after the man and his wife had separated, the court was told, the stepdaughter gave birth to a child.
The man, a 28 year old scrap-worker, was committed for trial at the next Monmouthshire Assizes, accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl when she was aged ten; and of committing two similar offences when the girl was 13 and 16.
The girl’s mother said she married the defendant in 1955 and after living in London until 1957 they moved to Little Mill. After that there were six further changes of address within a few miles of each other.
“Just after the marriage I noticed my husband was trying to pull my daughter his way and turn her against me,” said the mother.
Girl’s Evidence
The girl, a factory worker, said her stepfather first behaved improperly towards her shortly after the marriage when they were living in London.
She described incidents which took place in the front room of a house in which they lived and told the magistrates that her stepfather was first intimate with her when she was aged 10.
Shortly afterwards she said, they moved to Little Mill and she told how further acts of intercourse took place when she went out with her stepfather to get sticks.
She said similar incidents occurred at various addresses each time they went out for sticks. “He would not go out without me,“ she said.
The girl also claimed her stepfather was intimate with her on occasions when her mother was not at home and in a caravan where they later lived. “He would not let me go out and made me stay there (in the caravan) with him,” she told the magistrates.
Parents Separated
In February this year, she said she started work in a factory and her parents separated. Before this happened her stepfather spent long periods away from the caravan.
Her stepfather then went to stay with a friend on a farm and she was sent each week to collect the house keeping money for her mother.
“On most of these visits intercourse took place in fields or some other secluded place until some time later, then my stepfather went to live in Sebastopol,” said the girl.
She said she also collected the housekeeping money from him when he was at Sebastopol and on one occasion he took her into a lane when another incident occurred.
“Another time he told me my cousin wanted to see me and took me across some fields, which he said was a short cut. There he got me down in some ferns. I told him to stop and I struggled, but he insisted on having intercourse with me,” she said.
A few weeks after, added the girl, she felt sick and realised she was pregnant.
“One day I met my stepfather and told him of my condition. He said not to say it was him and to say I did not know who was responsible,” she told the magistrates.
Questioning the girl in court, the man said he had not had intercourse with her as early as she claimed.
Alleged Statement
PC Robert Morgan said the stepfather told him it all started when the girl was 12 or 13. “We were always together and I think a lot of her,” he told the officer.
In a statement the man said:
“We were always about together and we were very close to each other and it just happened. After this it occurred very often but not each week.”
Referring to the time when his stepdaughter told him she was expecting a child, he said in the statement: “I asked her if anyone else had intercourse with her because if they had I would take the blame.”
“I only had intercourse with her twice after I left my wife.”
He then told the police officer: “I know I am not the only one, but I am not telling you his name; I shall take the blame myself.”
Asked if he had anything to say in court the man, who was not represented, replied: “Nothing at all.”
He was allowed bail.
October 19th – For Sale
Between Abergavenny and Pontypool, 4 miles from Usk, sale by auction with possession, charming freehold detached residence known as Glanbaiden, built of stone, brick and slated roof construction. Situated in the village of Penperlleni.
Containing: 2 reception rooms, breakfast room, kitchen, pantry, 4 bedrooms and bathroom.
Mains electricity, water and drainage.
The property is in excellent decorative and structural state.
Together with, as a separate lot of nearly an acre, a valuable parcel of building land with road frontage and adjoining the foregoing, to be conducted by
Rennie Taylor & Till on Friday November 9th at The Three Salmons Hotel Usk at 6.30pm
November 9th – Mr H I Prosser, Goytre
(In Obituaries)
November 16th – Parking Offences
A Goytre man, Gethin John Alexander (21) a machine operator, of Nantyderry road was fined £1 at Pontypool for parking his car in Crane Street during prohibited hours.
November 23rd – Fatal Tractor Accident
A foreman employed by Monmouthshire County Council, Mr Evan Dobbs (59) of New House Goytre, died after an accident involving a tractor at Llanover on Tuesday.
It is understood that Mr Dobbs fell under one of the wheels and sustained a fractured skull.
He was taken to Abergavenny’s Victoria Cottage Hospital, but died the same day.
November 30th
Inquest of Mr E Dobbs (In Inquests)
Funeral of Mr E Dobbs (In obituaries)
December 7th – Sale to-morrow
Saturday December 8th 1962 – Goytre, Tynewydd within half a mile of the Goytre Arms
J Straker, Chadwick and Sons have received instruction from Miss Prosser to conduct her unreserved dispersal sale, including;
8 Channel Island Cattle
Agricultural Implements4 ton baled hay
1959 Austin A.35 van
12 bore shotgun and 80 bullets
Sale at 1.30
December 21st – Goytre Women’s Institute
Mrs Swinnerton presided at the annual meeting, when she was re-elected president; Mrs Wilson, secretary; and Mrs E James, treasurer.
Committee members elected were Mesdames A L Morgan, D Draper, E James, B James, P Higginson, D Morris and W Bath.
Tellers were Mrs Lisle and Mrs Hawkins.
Mrs Rainforth, VCO gave an interesting talk on “what to grow for decoration.”
Competition cup for the year was won by Mrs Draper.
Highest marks at this meeting were gained by Mrs E James for her display of winter foliage.
Tea hostesses; Mesdames Harper, Palfreyman and Price.
December 28th – Mrs M Hickman, Goytre
(In obituaries)
November 30th 1962 – Mr E Dobbs, Goytre
The cremation of Mr E Dobbs of Goytre took place at the Gwent Cremororium, the Rev D W Jones officiating.
Mr Dobbs met an untimely end while following his employment as foreman roadman and is survived by his wife, Maud and family of Malcolm, Joyce and Carol.
Mourners:
Maud, wife; Malcolm, son; Joyce and Carol, daughters; Alf, brother; D Clark, son-in-law; Mr & Mrs R Dobbs, brother-in-law and cousins; Mrs L Davies, sister-in-law; Mr Ed Gwillum, brother-in-law; Mr & Mrs I Dobbs, Mr & Mrs L Fry, Mrs W Jones, Mrs A Jones, cousins; Messrs Lyn Jones, T Dobbs, G Dobbs and Wyn Jones.
Bearers:
Messrs D James, Bert James, Ron Morgan and C Jones.
Others present:
Messrs A S Wilcox (Divisional Superintendant), R Dowdeswell, S Williams (National Union of General and Municipal Workers, and Mon CC road foremen), A Jacob, E Gwilliam, S Walton, C James, D James, J Lewis, D Jones, J Williams, Alf Morgan, H Jones, Ivor Jones, Ivor Evans, W Jones, D Roberts, Ivor Hopkins, R James, Archie James (senior and junior), David Owen, Tom Davies, J James, Arthur James, T Wheeler, D Roberts, C Poulsom, G Walton, J Ellaway, C Jones, A Howells, W J Williams, C James, C Griffiths, C Werrett, J Evans, W Jones, A Lewis, F Read, E Harper, E Legge and others.
Flowers:
Wife Maud; Malcolm and Carol; Joyce, Deborah and Dave; Alfred, Ivor and Sarah; Reg and Edith; Dorothy and Lyn; Jack, Marion and boys; Becky, David and boys; Ivor, Len and family; Beat and family; Maisie and Wyndham; Amy and family; Sidney Walton and George; George and Pam; Misses C & K Nicholas; Mr & Mrs M Rees and Miss Evans; Clive and Gillo; Joan, Ben and family; Foremen Mon CC.
Funeral arrangements by James and Powell, Goytre.
November 30th 1962
Tractor accident ended fatally for Goytre foreman
A Monmouthshire County Council foreman who fell under the wheels of a tractor at Llanover and fractured his skull, died from shock following the accident.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by a Pontypool inquest of Evan Richard Dobbs (59), of New Houses, Goytre, who died at Abergavenny Cottage Hospital on November 20th.
Christopher William Henry Griffiths, of Plough Road Goytre, a member of the road gang supervised by Dobbs, told the jury that a lorry was being used to tow the tractor, which was difficult to start.
Dobbs was walking between the two vehicles with his hand on the tailboard of the lorry. He seemed to be to close to the tractor and the men shouted warnings to him, said Griffiths. “He looked over his shoulder and appeared to slip underneath the tractor.”
The tractor driver, William John Williams, of Llanover, said he called to Dobbs to look out. Lying in the road after the accident Dobbs said: “Why did I want to bother with the things.”
Another roadman, Francis Arthur Howells, of Plough Road, Goytre, told the jury that Dobbs seemed to slip on some wet leaves as he was trying to jump towards the grass verge.
The deputy Monmouthshire coroner, Mr D J Treasure, said no one was to blame for the accident.
Dobbs, he said, probably slipped as he was turning sharply and was caught by the wheel of the tractor.