Arthur Leslie Evans
ARTHUR LESLIE EVANS
Leslie Evans was born in 1911 in Taibach where he spent his early childhood and started his education, but in 1917 his father, a stonemason, moved to London, where the family remained for four years. Returning to Taibach, Leslie attended the Eastern Primary School where he obtained a Scholarship to the Port Talbot Secondary School. He matriculated in 1927, and from 1929-31 attended Caerleon Training College. After qualifying, his first teaching posts were in the London area, but he returned to Port Talbot in 1932 to take up a post in the Central Boys’ School.
In 1936 he married Violet Gladys Lawrence and they had two children, Lawrence and Vida. They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1986, but Vi’s health deteriorated and she died in 1995.
On leaving the Boys’ School in 1950, Leslie taught at the Central Secondary
(Park) School until 1965, when the pupils and staff were transferred to the Eastern
School. After only a short period at Eastern, Leslie joined the staff of Dyffryn Upper
Comprehensive School and was appointed Head of the Lower School in 1968, a
position he held until retirement in 1976.
While Leslie was a pupil at the Secondary School, the then history master, A. J. Richard, organised excavations at Kenfig Castle, and although Leslie was not involved in the work, it aroused his interest in local history. However, his first love was art and from an early age he would sketch people and places. He attended several summer schools at Swansea Art College, where his favourite studies appear to have been portraits and bowls of flowers (one of the latter being exchanged for a copy of The History of the Vale of Neath from Ralph the Books). However, increasing problems with his eyesight led to a lessening of his work in this sphere, and he turned his attention to local history. He contributed a number of articles to local newspapers, illustrating them with his own drawings, and his first booklet, The Story of Sker House, was published in 1956, followed by his major work Margam Abbey in 1958. Many other articles and books followed, establishing him as the foremost authority on the history of this district; a complete list of his work is to be found elsewhere in this publication.
When the Port Talbot Historical Society was founded in 1954, Leslie was appointed Vice-Chairman, and in 1959 was elected Chairman. He held the chair with distinction until failing health caused him to resign in 1996, when the Society unanimously appointed him Honorary Patron. He also served as Editor of the Society’s publications from 1963, contributing to all of them until his death, his last task in this sphere being the updating of the reprint of his Margam Abbey; unfortunately, although he supervised all the stages of the printing, he suffered a stroke two days before the book was received from the binders, and he did not see the finished work. His reputation as a historian spread much wider than Port Talbot itself. On the formation of the Kenfig Society he was chosen as its first President and was later made Life Vice President.
Leslie was also a very social person, possibly the result of losing his siblings at an early age, and was a prominent member of Taibach Workingmen’s Club, serving as Secretary for many years, and later as President. He was always ready to give help or advice to anyone who sought his assistance on any subject, and answered queries from many parts of the world, often undertaking research especially for the request. He was also noted for his wit, having a ready response to most situations (although his remarks sometimes verged on the acerbic) and was not averse to relating tales against himself.
Although brought up in an English-speaking household, he learned Welsh and came to consider it as his native tongue, speaking it whenever possible. He was also fluent in several other languages and made a study of the similarity between Welsh, Cornish and Breton.
His contribution to the Society’s activities cannot be overestimated - he is sadly missed. We all benefitted from knowing him and his influence will be felt for many years to come.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLISHED WORKS BY A. LESLIE EVANS
Books
The Story of Sker House (1956)
Margam Abbey (1958 & Revised edition l996)
The Story of Kenfig (1961)
The History of Taibach & District (1963 & Revised edition 1982)
Taibach and Port Talbot Working Men’s Club 1919 - l969 (1969)
The Story of Baglan (1970)
Groeswen Hospital 1932 - 1982 (1982)
Some Pirates, Smugglers & Wrecks in the Bristol Channel (1984)
Mayors and Portreeves of Aberavon and Port Talbot (1987)
Colliery Disasters in and around Port Talbot (l989)
Bygones of Old Aberavon and Kenfig (1995)
Translations
A History of Taibach to 1872 (‘Gemau Margam, by Rev. Richard Morgan)
with Later Events relating lo Taibach, briefly noted by the translator 1873 — 1986 (1987)
Siencyn Penhydd and George Heycock by Rev. Edward Matthews (1989)
Cwmavon Then & Now (Aeron Afan’ by Rev. John Rowlands, I853)
includes A Cwmavon Calendar 1801 —1990, by the translator (1992)
Guidebooks
Port Talbot Town Guides — Historical Notes (Various Editions)
The Story of Margam Abbey (Various Editions)
The Story of Margam Abbey (New Revised Edition 1996)
Articles
In the transactions of the Port Talbot Historical Society
Field Names of the Port Talbot District; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 1, Vol 1(1963)
The Williams Family of Blaen Baglan; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 2, Vol 1(1965)
Excerpts from the Vestry Records of Baglan Parish (Overseers’,
Churchwardens’ and Highways Accounts 1784-1852); Some
Eighteenth Century Wrecks; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 3, Vol I (1967)
Accounts of the Margam Estate for the Year 1788-1789; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 1, Vol 11(1969)
Ordinances of the Borough of Afan; Miscellanea; TPTHS No 2, Vol II (1971)
The Lords of Afan; Schedule of the Thomas/Bamsey Family MSS; TPTHS No 3, Vol 11(1974)
Some Reflections on Local Sport; TPTHS No 2, Vol 11(1981)
Minutes of Margam U.D.C.; Local Charities; Ship Owners of the Port Talbot District; Miscellanea; TPTHS No 3, Vol 11(1984)
Some Local Personalities; Local Tollgates; Miscellanea; TPTHS No 1, Vol IV
Other Articles
Aberavon Rugby Football Club - The Wizards ‘The Early Years 1876— 1914’ (1976)
Margam Portrayed by Artists and Engravers, in Margam Park Souvenir Brochure (1977)
Royal Visitors to the Afan District, in Royalty and Afan (1977)
Taibach Rugby Football Club 1884-1984 ‘The Early Years’ (1984)
Chapel/Church Booklets
Smyrna, Taibach 1867-1967
Water Street English Baptist Church, Port Talbot 1872-1972
Bethany Presbyterian Church. The First Hundred Years 1879-1979
St Agnes Church (Port Talbot). 75th Anniversary 1910-1985
Poetry
Distant Voices (1976), with Mogg Williams & John Deere
Collected Poems (1992)
Aberavon, 1972 and Other Poems (1994)
Click here for Leslie Evans Art work
Leslie Evans was born in 1911 in Taibach where he spent his early childhood and started his education, but in 1917 his father, a stonemason, moved to London, where the family remained for four years. Returning to Taibach, Leslie attended the Eastern Primary School where he obtained a Scholarship to the Port Talbot Secondary School. He matriculated in 1927, and from 1929-31 attended Caerleon Training College. After qualifying, his first teaching posts were in the London area, but he returned to Port Talbot in 1932 to take up a post in the Central Boys’ School.
In 1936 he married Violet Gladys Lawrence and they had two children, Lawrence and Vida. They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1986, but Vi’s health deteriorated and she died in 1995.
On leaving the Boys’ School in 1950, Leslie taught at the Central Secondary
(Park) School until 1965, when the pupils and staff were transferred to the Eastern
School. After only a short period at Eastern, Leslie joined the staff of Dyffryn Upper
Comprehensive School and was appointed Head of the Lower School in 1968, a
position he held until retirement in 1976.
While Leslie was a pupil at the Secondary School, the then history master, A. J. Richard, organised excavations at Kenfig Castle, and although Leslie was not involved in the work, it aroused his interest in local history. However, his first love was art and from an early age he would sketch people and places. He attended several summer schools at Swansea Art College, where his favourite studies appear to have been portraits and bowls of flowers (one of the latter being exchanged for a copy of The History of the Vale of Neath from Ralph the Books). However, increasing problems with his eyesight led to a lessening of his work in this sphere, and he turned his attention to local history. He contributed a number of articles to local newspapers, illustrating them with his own drawings, and his first booklet, The Story of Sker House, was published in 1956, followed by his major work Margam Abbey in 1958. Many other articles and books followed, establishing him as the foremost authority on the history of this district; a complete list of his work is to be found elsewhere in this publication.
When the Port Talbot Historical Society was founded in 1954, Leslie was appointed Vice-Chairman, and in 1959 was elected Chairman. He held the chair with distinction until failing health caused him to resign in 1996, when the Society unanimously appointed him Honorary Patron. He also served as Editor of the Society’s publications from 1963, contributing to all of them until his death, his last task in this sphere being the updating of the reprint of his Margam Abbey; unfortunately, although he supervised all the stages of the printing, he suffered a stroke two days before the book was received from the binders, and he did not see the finished work. His reputation as a historian spread much wider than Port Talbot itself. On the formation of the Kenfig Society he was chosen as its first President and was later made Life Vice President.
Leslie was also a very social person, possibly the result of losing his siblings at an early age, and was a prominent member of Taibach Workingmen’s Club, serving as Secretary for many years, and later as President. He was always ready to give help or advice to anyone who sought his assistance on any subject, and answered queries from many parts of the world, often undertaking research especially for the request. He was also noted for his wit, having a ready response to most situations (although his remarks sometimes verged on the acerbic) and was not averse to relating tales against himself.
Although brought up in an English-speaking household, he learned Welsh and came to consider it as his native tongue, speaking it whenever possible. He was also fluent in several other languages and made a study of the similarity between Welsh, Cornish and Breton.
His contribution to the Society’s activities cannot be overestimated - he is sadly missed. We all benefitted from knowing him and his influence will be felt for many years to come.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLISHED WORKS BY A. LESLIE EVANS
Books
The Story of Sker House (1956)
Margam Abbey (1958 & Revised edition l996)
The Story of Kenfig (1961)
The History of Taibach & District (1963 & Revised edition 1982)
Taibach and Port Talbot Working Men’s Club 1919 - l969 (1969)
The Story of Baglan (1970)
Groeswen Hospital 1932 - 1982 (1982)
Some Pirates, Smugglers & Wrecks in the Bristol Channel (1984)
Mayors and Portreeves of Aberavon and Port Talbot (1987)
Colliery Disasters in and around Port Talbot (l989)
Bygones of Old Aberavon and Kenfig (1995)
Translations
A History of Taibach to 1872 (‘Gemau Margam, by Rev. Richard Morgan)
with Later Events relating lo Taibach, briefly noted by the translator 1873 — 1986 (1987)
Siencyn Penhydd and George Heycock by Rev. Edward Matthews (1989)
Cwmavon Then & Now (Aeron Afan’ by Rev. John Rowlands, I853)
includes A Cwmavon Calendar 1801 —1990, by the translator (1992)
Guidebooks
Port Talbot Town Guides — Historical Notes (Various Editions)
The Story of Margam Abbey (Various Editions)
The Story of Margam Abbey (New Revised Edition 1996)
Articles
In the transactions of the Port Talbot Historical Society
Field Names of the Port Talbot District; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 1, Vol 1(1963)
The Williams Family of Blaen Baglan; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 2, Vol 1(1965)
Excerpts from the Vestry Records of Baglan Parish (Overseers’,
Churchwardens’ and Highways Accounts 1784-1852); Some
Eighteenth Century Wrecks; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 3, Vol I (1967)
Accounts of the Margam Estate for the Year 1788-1789; Miscellanea; TPTHS, No 1, Vol 11(1969)
Ordinances of the Borough of Afan; Miscellanea; TPTHS No 2, Vol II (1971)
The Lords of Afan; Schedule of the Thomas/Bamsey Family MSS; TPTHS No 3, Vol 11(1974)
Some Reflections on Local Sport; TPTHS No 2, Vol 11(1981)
Minutes of Margam U.D.C.; Local Charities; Ship Owners of the Port Talbot District; Miscellanea; TPTHS No 3, Vol 11(1984)
Some Local Personalities; Local Tollgates; Miscellanea; TPTHS No 1, Vol IV
Other Articles
Aberavon Rugby Football Club - The Wizards ‘The Early Years 1876— 1914’ (1976)
Margam Portrayed by Artists and Engravers, in Margam Park Souvenir Brochure (1977)
Royal Visitors to the Afan District, in Royalty and Afan (1977)
Taibach Rugby Football Club 1884-1984 ‘The Early Years’ (1984)
Chapel/Church Booklets
Smyrna, Taibach 1867-1967
Water Street English Baptist Church, Port Talbot 1872-1972
Bethany Presbyterian Church. The First Hundred Years 1879-1979
St Agnes Church (Port Talbot). 75th Anniversary 1910-1985
Poetry
Distant Voices (1976), with Mogg Williams & John Deere
Collected Poems (1992)
Aberavon, 1972 and Other Poems (1994)
Click here for Leslie Evans Art work