Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Swansea – Simply the best!

This was the day that saw the launch of Swansea – Simply the best, our third new title in just a month! It proved once again that Bryngold Books is at the forefront of recording the past in South Wales and beyond. The civic event was hosted by Swansea Museum and the unveiling was carried out by the city’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Ioan Richard who was presented with the first official copy. An excellent gathering of people listened to a number of interesting anecdotes from the Lord Mayor, eagerly awaiting  their opportunity to  grab what is the 14th book on the city compiled by David Roberts in as many years. Judging from their comments they were not disappointed with the result.

Memories can manifest themselves in many ways as the variety of fascinating images in Swansea – Simply the best! demonstrates. They capture much that has occurred down through the decades and evoke endless nostalgic thoughts. Few memories however will rival those, much closer in time, of the day when Swansea City became the first club in Wales to win promotion to football’s Premier League. The jubilant scenes and celebrations that followed are the stuff of pure nostalgia. Swansea – Simply the best! includes views of the Vetch Field, where it all started and some exciting moments from past encounters.

It would be difficult to unearth anything else that has gripped the city in such a way or had such an impact, for some time. Alongside such a high profile event there are others, less significant perhaps, but which will be recalled just as fondly. Better still the Swans scored their first Premier League goals on our launch day and with it their first winin the league. Along with the successes, this year brought sad memories too. Not least the closure of Mumbles Pier for refurbishment and a transformation that will take it into the next century, along with much development around it. There are images of the pier within this book and they will serve as a reminder of how it was when the wraps eventually come off the new.

Swansea – Simply the best! is a compelling collection of fascinating images which reflect the city and its people at work, rest and play on their journey through many decades.

It is a must for every generation. A nostalgic look at an ever-changing community with approximately 400 photos that say much about the way life once was. This is a book that’s guaranteed to refresh the memory and there will be few who turn its pages and fail to find some link with their own life in the past.

To buy a copy go to our books page now. Please spread the word about the books arrival.

Lord Mayor of the city & County of Swansea Councillor Ioan Richard takes a moment at the launch of Bryngold Books’ latest publication Swansea – simply the best! to tell an interesting story about the Mayoral chain. Looking on is the book’s author David Roberts about to present the Lord Mayor with the first official copy of the new book. The well attended civic launch was held at Swansea Museum.


Some of the guests at the civic launch of Swansea – Simply the Best! published by Bryngold Books listen intently to the city’s Lord Mayor Councillor Ioan Richard during the event.


Author David Roberts presents the first official copy of Swansea – Simply the best! to Lord Mayor of Swansea Councillor Ioan Richard. The book is the 14th produced by David in consecutive years and gives Swansea an ongoing pictorial social history that cannot be matched by any other British town or city.

Pictures: Colin Riddle.

New book is launched
The main square of the Aberafan Shopping Centre at Port Talbot was thronged with people on August bank holiday Saturday all intent on witnessing the civic launch by the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Councillor Harry Bebell of the latest pictorial nostalgia book complied by Bryngold Books director David Roberts.
The book is the thirteenth to be produced by David in consecutive years and once again contains around 400 fresh and fascinating images of people and places in Neath and Port Talbot down many decades.
After introducing the Mayor and Mayoress, David presented the civic couple with the first copy off the press. Councillor Bebell welcomed the arrival of the new book for which he had written a foreword saluting David for capturing the spirit of the two towns in the past.
The crowd that had gathered for what has almost become an annual event was swelled by passing shoppers and with the official proceedings over there was a clamour to be one of the first to grab a copy of the latest book.
Both David and the Mayor appealed for anyone with pictures almost up until the present day of life in Neath and Port Talbot to share them for what will hopefully be the next Neath and Port Talbot book.
The book is currently available either directly from this website or selected
retail outlets in both towns.

This was the day when the first of our titles off the blocks for 2011 was released and it came at the end of a frantic week of media coverage  of the 70th anniversary of the wartime catastrophe in which we featured significantly.

The civic launch of Swansea’s Burning – Remembering the Three Nights’ Blitz  took place in the foyer of Swansea Civic Centre at Oystermouth Road. Star of the show, apart from the book’s author David Roberts and the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs Richard Lewis was one of the fire engines that had been involved in fighting the fires that resulted from the German blitz on the city during the three nights of February 19, 20 and 21, 1941.

The Dennis ‘Big Six’ fire engine now immaculately restored and back in the city drew much attention and certainly attracted the crowds.

Also helping to bring back memories of those distant wartime days were members of the Swansea 1940s museum at Fabian Way, Swansea (Always worth a look). Quite a number of them had donned military uniform to add their own input to the launch. Additionally, one woman had travelled from Bridport in Dorset to attend the event – dressed as a Land Army girl. Thanks to you all for making the unveiling of this very special book such a resounding success.

The event was very much a team effort. Thanks to our hosts at the civic centre, the amazing staff at Swansea Library who along with West Glamorgan Archive Service had mounted a special photographic exhibition of those dark days of World War Two.

A talk by Swansea photographer and historian Roy Kneath which followed the launch also proved a big hit with a huge number of people wanting to attend.  It was so popular that the talk may be repeated.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making Swansea’s Burning possible. Their efforts make the book a salute not just to the people of Swansea in wartime days, but also those who make it what it is today.

Bryngold Books is delighted to be among the sponsors for the forthcoming Swansea Indoor Classic Vehicle Show. The event, held for the first time last autumn is set to become a popular addition to the city’s events calendar. Last year the show raised £2,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This year’s goal is to beat that. The event takes place in Clarence Street car park, Swansea (Behind the prison) on Sunday, October 31, from 10.30am – 3 pm. For further details contact Ashley Lovering on 07814 958379 or visit www.ntfwswansea.co.uk
Bryngold Books will be offering a range of special show offers that will provide ideal Christmas gifts. Come early and don’t miss out.