Who were the Three Girls and Photos – J.B. Willans, Scan your Old Photos

As part of its drive to publicise its events at Newtown, the Library used a wonderful photo by Geoff Charles geoffcharles.llgc.org.uk/  of three young girls from the 1965 National Eisteddfod which was held in Newtown. The photo has been used on posters, flyers, adverts and street banners. The three young girls are pictured in traditional Welsh costume ... but who were they? 
 
 Following a public appeal, the Library managed to find the women and brought them together for a reunion at Theatr Hafren in Newtown where a copy of the photo is part of the Library's exhibition of old photos of Newtown.
 
 The girls are:
 
 Nerys Jones - Nerys now lives in Bethel, by Caernarfon. She has lived in London, Cheltenham and Aberystwyth but settled in Gwynedd. Her family is from the Montgomeryshire area. 
 
 Daphne Jones (nee Black) - Daphne Jones still lives in the area and owns her own business Penllwyn Lodges and Lakeside Golf Club at Garthmyl near Newtown. She’s married and has three children.
 
 Jane Brandrich - Jane still lives in the area as well and is a cousin to Daphny. She also works in the area in a Dental Practise.
 

Photos – J.B. Willans, Scan your Old Photos.

Photographs play a big part in the National Library of Wales Outreach events in Newtown this October and November. There are two exhibitions of old photos, the public are asked to bring old photos to be scanned … and we’ve tracked down the three young girls in the 1965 photo and reveal who they are!

The ‘Lost Photos’ of J.B. Willans

Photographs by J.B. Willans of Edwardian Mongomeryshire (1900-1910) will be exhibited at Newtown Hugh School as part of the National Library of Wales outreach events in the town.

The wonderful, clear and well-composed pictures taken by Willans were found at Newtwon High School some years ago and have been donated for safe keeping to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth where they join the other 800,000 photos of Wales in the collection. However, as part of the National Library's outreach events in Newtown, the photographs are being exhibited at the school from 10 - 21 October.

However, you don't have to go to the school to see the photographs. Thanks to People's Collection Wales, which is located at the Library, many of the photographs have been digitised and are now online. Simply visit www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk  and see if there are old pictures of your house of village there. www.peoplescollection.org.uk/Discover/Results/p_1/;

Bring your Archive and Photos to be scanned and placed online!

On Saturday 15 October at the Monty Club in Newtown, there is an open invitation for members of the public to bring their archives to a special Local and Family History event which has been coordinated by the National Library and www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk. 

The National Library and People’s Collection Wales has already held one workshop to teach leading members of local and family history societies in the area how to scan collections and place them online. Those who attended the workshop where: Mary Oldham - Gregynog Librarian; Bob Hutchingson - Arwystli Society; Carrie White & Marilyn Price - Kerry Local History Society; Martin Wright - Sarn Local History Society; Clare Martin - Oriel Davies Gallery and Frances Robinson - Welshpool Town Council.

Those who attended the workshop on 1 October will be at hand with helping to digitised the collections brought in.

'We believe it’s important that we at the National Library of Wales and the People’s Collection Wales transfer the skill we have to societies across Wales so that they can do the important work of keeping our history and memories alive,’ said Sioned Rees-Jones of People’s Collection Wales. 

‘We'd like to ask people in the Newtown to bring any old photographs or archives relating to Newtown (or anywhere else in Wales) to be digitised and possibly uploaded to the www.peoplescollectionwales.com.uk website. It could include old photos of carnivals or eisteddfodau, football teams, people at work or an election contest. Archives could include interesting letters from the First World War or a programme or poster from a theatre production. We want to show the diversity of Welsh history and Welsh life online for people across the world, and Newtown, to enjoy,' added Sioned.

Links:
 People’s Collection Wales www.peoplescollection.org.uk 
 Geoff Charles geoffcharles.llgc.org.uk/ 

For more information:
Nia Lewis, NLW Press Office: 01970 632453 nsl@llgc.org.uk