HISTORY

WOMEN OF COURAGE HEROINES OF SOE

Pearl Witherington was the most remarkable of all the SOE agents who served in France. Her exploits were numerous. In training, the SOE regarded her as the ‘best shot’ the service had ever seen, male or female. Furthermore, she was the only woman to lead an SOE network in France. Pearl parachuted into France on 22 September 1943. Her mission was to serve the SOE and also to find her boyfriend, Henri Cornioley, an escaped prisoner of war. Pearl’s network, which expanded to over 4,000 Maquisard fighters after D-Day, was especially efficient in sabotaging railroads and telephone lines. Her group attacked the railway network 800 times in June 1944 alone. The Nazis posted ‘Wanted’ posters of Pearl with a million francs reward. Yet, posing as a cosmetics saleswoman, she evaded capture. In late August 1944, Pearl’s men moved to the Forest of Gatines near Valencay. After a battle on September 9-10, more than 19,000 Nazis surrendered. They surrendered to the advancing Americans; they were too frightened to surrender to Pearl’s men. Pearl found Henri and the couple married on 26 October 1944. After the war, Pearl worked for the World Bank. She died in the Loire Valley, aged 93.

Hannah Howe, international bestselling author https://hannah-howe.com

THE COFFINS OF NEWCASTLE

Walter Coffin was born in Selworthy, Somerset, in 1731. His father, also called Walter, was a rich gentleman who, through unwise speculation, managed to lose his wealth. His widow moved with her younger son Walter to Bridgend, as she was the half-sister of Dr Richard Price, of Llangeinor, the philosopher. Unlike his father Walter was industrious and established a tannery on the banks of the Ogmore where the multistory car park now stands at the foot of the Rhiw. He lived, in the late 1770s, in St John’s House on Newcastle Hill. He was said to be reserved, retiring and somewhat parsimonious. His business thrived and he built up a substantial holding of land in South Wales. In 1782, at the age of 51 he married his cousin Anne Morgan, 20 years younger. She had been keeping house in London for her brother William Morgan, the actuary (whom we met in April’s Seaside News) and no they moved to a large house, now demolished, across the river at Nolton, where they had three children. He died in 1812, aged 81 and his son, also, unsurprisingly called Walter, features in our next instalment. The image is of St John’s House.

Ian Price Bridgend & District Local History Society

PORTHCAWL CINEMAS

Cosy Corner is named after a cinema, made from an aircraft hangar, which was erected on the site by Mr George Beynon, in 1923. The Cosy Corner Cinema showed all the latest films and was also the original venue for productions by the newly formed Porthcawl Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society. By 1931 Mr George Beynon had opened two further cinemas: both in John Street. The Coliseum (Spar) was originally opened in 1910 as Dooner’s Empire & Bioscope then renamed in 1912. It was a theatre and music hall but also staged boxing matches. It was used by the Porthcawl Urban District Council who held their meetings upstairs and election results were announced from the small balcony. The width of the theatre was 30ft with a seating capacity of 600, which had reduced to 450 by the 1953. The cinema was closed by 1963. The original Casino Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1924 and reopened with a cafe and ballroom in 1927 becoming a cinema in 1930. In 1973 the cinema was discontinued, and it became the Stoneleigh Night Club, the original Stoneleigh private club was next door. The club lost its late-night licence in 1988 and burnt down in 1989. What was left was sold to McCarthy & Stone who built Stoneleigh Court.

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