HISTORY WOMEN OF COURAGE HEROINES OF SOE Eileen Nearne followed in her sister Jacqueline’s footsteps and served as an SOE wireless operator in France. In July 1944, the Gestapo detected Eileen’s transmitter and arrested her. In August they sent her to Ravensbrück concentration camp then to Silesia. At the camps, the guards forced Eileen into slave labour. However, she remained defiant and refused to betray her colleagues. On 13 April 1945, Eileen escaped with two French women. Marching through the snow and darkness they hid in a forest then travelled to Markkleeberg where the S.S. arrested them. However, they managed to fool the S.S. (it’s remarkable how many agents managed to do this) and with the aid of a priest they hid in Leipzig until the liberating Americans arrived a few days later. After the war, Eileen suffered from what we now recognise as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Jacqueline cared for her and in 1997 she felt well enough to appear on a Timewatch television programme where she discussed her wartime experiences. Eileen died in September 2010 aged eighty-nine. Hannah Howe, international bestselling author of Ann’s War (set in Porthcawl) and Eve’s War (set in France). https:// hannah-howe.com
BRIDGEND TOWN HALL
The original town hall stood in Dunraven Place on the site occupied by the war memorial. It was of the design found in many small towns of a courtroom on the first floor supported by arches over a provision market. By 1836 the market had moved to a new site and it was surplus to requirements, described as “a disgrace and an eyesore” and was demolished. The flamboyant new hall, fronted with columns reminiscent of a Greek temple was designed by Swansea architect, John Rayner and opened with much celebration in 1845. The lower ground floor was fitted out as a police station house for the use of the newly formed Glamorganshire Constabulary. Sited on land made available by the Earl of Dunraven, it was overseen by a charitable trust and never owned by the local council. Its main hall was 65ft by 38ft and, over the years, hosted grand balls, dances, plays, concerts and jumble sales. 36 | seaside news
By the 1960s it, was in need of considerable repairs and, sadly, in 1971, amid much protest, it was demolished. It was replaced by the Post Office, an example of 1970s architecture, which cannot be said to have aged as gracefully as its predecessor. Ian Price Bridgend & District Local History Society
THE LADY MOYRA
The Porthcawl News reported in July 1920 ‘The popularity of Pleasure Steamer ‘Lady Moyra’s’ trip from Cardiff to Porthcawl was evident as there was a full complement aboard. ‘ She was built to carry 1,015 passengers. The Lady Moyra was built in 1905 for the Barry Railway Company by Messrs John Brown & Co, Clydebank, and named the PS Gwalia. In 1910 she was sold to the Furness Railway Company and renamed PS Lady Moyra. Following WW1, during which time she was used as a minesweeper, she was sold to the Tucker ‘Yellow Funnel Fleet’ whereupon she once again operated within the Bristol Channel, including regular visits to Porthcawl. The Tucker family from Cardiff, initially tugboat proprietors, operated excursion travel from 1919-1922 before selling out to P&A Campbell’s ‘White Funnel Fleet.’ P&A Campbell purchased the Lady Moyra at an auction that year. The paddle steamer continued to operate within the Bristol Channel with regular sailings from Porthcawl during the summer months to Swansea, Mumbles, Tenby and Milford Haven; evening cruises to the Scarweather Lightship and around the coast. Cost 1/6d. In 1937 having been renamed the Brighton Queen, she was moved to the South Coast. In 1940, during the evacuation of Dunkirk the Lady Moyra, tragically, sank. Ceri Joseph
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