MESSAGE IN BOTTLE WENT 3,425 MILES
A MESSAGE in a bottle thrown in the Menai Strait was found four months later after travelling 3,245 miles to Canada.
The message was dropped from Bangor pier by plasterer Hugh Jones, of Talwrn, Anglesey, on May 13 1957.
It was found by a man called D Oliver as he walked along a beach near his home in Ontario.
The amazing tale was told by Hugh’s son-in-law Bob Jones, of Bro Syr Ifor, Tregarth, Bangor, after he saw the Daily Post’s story about another message in a bottle sent from Y Felinheli and found in Abersoch.
Mr Jones, 79, said: “My father-in-law and his two mates were plastering a house at Y Garth, Bangor.
“At lunchtime, they went to the pier to have something to eat. They bought a bottle of Corona and wrote a message in it.”
Reading from the yellowed letter, which he still keeps in his house, Mr Jones added: “The names on the top of the letter are Hugh Jones, Aled Owen, Gaerwen, and John Jones, Brynsiencyn, with ‘Sir Fôn’ (Anglesey) underneath.
“It says: ‘Taflwyd y botel hon i’r Menai ger y Garth, Bangor, Llun, Mai 13, 1957’ (This bottle was thrown into the Menai near y Garth, Bangor, Monday, May 13, 1957), followed by ‘Please return to 38 Erw Faen, Tregarth, Bangor’, which is where we previously lived.
“My father-in-law then had a letter in reply from 1028 Pine Grove Road, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, dated September 22 1957.
“They had mistakenly thought the message had been sent by ‘Sir Fôn’, and addressed the reply: ‘Dear Sir Fôn’. They STORIEL, Bangor’s new gallery and museum, was officially launched and opened by Alun Ffred Jones AM earlier this week.
As part of a £2.6 million project funded with £1.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Bishop’s Palace building in Bangor has been transformed to include museums galleries, contemporary art galleries, a shop, cafe and activities room.
Alun Ffred Jones AM, who was Heritage Minister when the proposals were in development and who was key in moving the plans forward said: “This is a very important day for Storiel and to heritage and arts in Gwynedd. Following years of uncertainty and discussions, it is a privilege to be here to witness the official opening and launch of the must have thought he was a very important gentleman!”
The reply sent from Canada said: “Whilst walking along the beach near my home, I was surprised to find this mes- project.
“Storiel hopes to offer a sustainable model to Gwynedd’s Museum and Art Gallery and I wish the scheme a very prosperous and successful future. I would like to congratulate everyone who has been part of the project.”
Cllr Mandy Williams-Davies, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration said: “The Storiel project has been running for nearly two years and during that time, it has succeeded in hosting 26 family activities, 30 educational activities, supported over 30 volunteers who have worked over 1,000 hours.
“Whilst Storiel is located in Bangor, the activities the project has to offer expand across the county ensuring Gwynedd’s stories and collections reach residents across the area.” sage in a bottle and even more so when I realised where it had been thrown into the sea.
“This, I feel sure, will constitute a record of some sort. Perhaps I will hear more about it from you. Yours faithfully, D Oliver.”
Mr Jones said: “The letter which was sent back to us had a stamp on it from Oakville, Ontario and the date.
“It’s amazing that the message managed to go all the way to Canada. You wouldn’t have thought that it would have been possible.”
Unfortunately, the writer of the original letter never did write back to Mr Oliver.
Mr Jones, a father-of-six, grandfather of eight and great-grandfather to four, said: “It’s a shame. About two years ago, I sent a letter to that address, but I didn’t receive a reply. Too much time had gone by.”