About Eric

Eric and I were married in 1969 at Esgairnant Chapel. We had known each other for around six years.

Eric was not a local boy. He was born on a shepherd’s smallholding on the Eppynt called Ffynnon Dafydd Bevan. Middle boy of three. In 1940 his parents along with 53 other families were given notice to vacate their homes to the Ministry of Defence. They were given six weeks to find another place. They were fortunate to find a place called Cenarth at Gwernogle. All their friends were scattered to several areas across Breconshire and Carmarthenshire. This was a tragic loss, a whole community of Welsh speaking families was lost for ever. Eric lost his father in 1947 at the early age of 36. Every year he made a visit to the old home, now only a few stones remaining, the M.O.D. have devastated all of the farms, and yet have built a brand new German village for them to practise warfare.

After working on various farms, he joined the Forestry Commission and was with them until he retired in 1995. In November 1994 he received the M.B.E. for service to the Commission and local Community. It was a great day when we went to Buckingham Palace to receive the medal. He had so many interests and enjoyed speaking to people. This compliment has been said over and over to me, since his untimely sudden death in January 2005.