CARDIFFREMEMBERED New book recalls how residents used to work and play in city

THE History Press has recently brought out my Voices of Cardiff book.

Through the reminiscences of Cardiffians, and accompanied by about 100 photographs, it tells how the local inhabitants spent their childhood, leisure time, war years, sporting moments and working life.

I have included some of my own memories and I tell how, 24 hours after completing my national service, I found myself sweeping the floor and cleaning the lino-type machines in the Western Mail and Echo building in St Mary Street.

Little did I think then that in years to come I would have my own columns in both these newspapers.

However, when I left school in 1951, I went to work at Guest Keen & Nettlefolds. In my first pay packet I took home two pounds, one shilling and four pence, which wouldn’t buy you a cup of coffee today.

There are far more interesting recollections in this 128-page book than my own and these include those of Bill Brian. His father, Bill Brian senior, was a trick cyclist who in 1904 cycled from Newport to Cardiff backwards without stopping.

For his efforts he was presented with the Lee Cup.

I wonder if it was my grandfather Mark Lee who had presented the cup?

Family legend has it that he trained or managed a Cardiffian who had won the professional Sheffield Powderhall Sprint.

Bill Brian senior did all kinds of balancing acts on his bicycle, including riding backwards around Roath Park Lake and up Leckwith Hill.

Meanwhile, one person who remembered the little zoo that used to