Alan and Olive Campden

Coed-y-pry, Drefach Felindre

Olive Campden passed away in April 2024 at the age of 89, and her husband, Alan Campden, in August 2025 at the age of 94.

These were two people who spent their entire lives living within the “square mile” of Dre-fach Felindre. Both were so active throughout their long lives within their community, successfully passing on the old stories in various ways to “the generations to come.” The following accounts reflect that, and we give thanks for their noble and tireless service — not only to all that was and still is best in the Dre-fach Felindre area, but also to us as a nation. It was a privilege for all who knew them, and we owe a great debt for their valuable contribution to this area.

Click on the images, to enlarge.

Rhaglen ‘Gwasanaeth o Gofio am Olive Campden’ Click on the images, to enlarge.
 

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REMEMBERING OLIVE by Peter Hughes-Griffiths

Dear Friends,
At this year’s National Eisteddfod there was a ceremony to remember R. Alun Evans, who was a Fellow of the Eisteddfod and one of those Welshmen who did so much for the language and for the Eisteddfod itself. At the same time, the R. Alun Evans Memorial Award was launched — to be presented for the first time at next year’s National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. The Memorial Award will be given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution within their local area. (The T.H. Parry-Williams Award already exists to recognise exceptional national contributions.) The R. Alun Evans Memorial Award will therefore honour a local contribution.

And when I heard about this special award, one person’s name immediately came to mind — Olive — Olive Campden. Hers would be such a deserving name to be put forward, a perfect example of someone who, throughout her life, worked tirelessly for her community and contributed so much to the success of so many groups and societies in this area — right up until almost her last breath. I would have loved to put her name forward if I’d had the chance to do so. But, alas, that chance has now passed.

Well then — where did it all begin?

I have a photo here of five children in front of Bronllys — the house joined to Llwynbedw. Nesta and Olive in their Llandysul Grammar School gymslips — about twelve years old, I’d say (Olive already wearing glasses even then!) — with her brother Gareth and cousin Geraint Rees on a tricycle, and me, a little six-year-old boy. Olive and I grew up next door to each other throughout our childhood and youth; she and Gareth were the children of Bryn and Minnie Evans — both from well-respected local families. Later the family moved to live at Ardwyn in Drefelin.

Penboyr School, Llandysul Grammar School, and then Barry Training College — before becoming a teacher at Penrhiwlas School, and later, of course, we know Olive best for her long association with Brynsaron School — first as a teacher and then as Headteacher — where she spent many years shaping and preparing generations of children for life, and where she was always held in the highest respect.

Thinking of her as a teacher — she was such an excellent role model. One of her notable qualities was her speech — a strong, clear voice, so precise, and the Welsh language at its very best — the influence of Norah Isaac (whose father was raised at Bancyfelin here in Drefelin). Norah taught hundreds of us as students how to speak clearly. This is how she’d make us practise. Think about the letter A:

Aeth Ann o Gwmaman,
Un annwyl yw Ann.
Aeth Ann o Gwmaman
Bob cam i Gwmann.

And that’s why Olive’s voice was always so clear in any meeting, with the children, and in public — even on the microphone at the Carnival — a voice to remember. And like her speech, her appearance and manner were always impeccable — and, if I may say so, her hair was always perfectly in place! Appearance and manner meant a great deal to her, and her strong, clear opinions added to her firm, confident personality.

My difficulty now is choosing just one or two examples from the many activities and events in which Olive played a part.

Neuadd y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon Hall). As you know, we now have the local history website The Great Story of Dre-fach Felindre, and I wrote the history of the hall, which appears there. One thing I noticed going through the committee minutes and records was how often certain names appeared — people active in the running of the hall and its events — and one of those names was Olive. Did you know that she was elected Vice-Chair of the Hall Committee in 1966, at only 30 years old, and again as Vice-Chair in 2015 — fifty years later? Doesn’t that say it all about Olive’s commitment and contribution?

There isn’t time today to list all the other local societies she was part of — except one, the most important of all — Closygraig.

Closygraig — her spiritual home, where she practised her Christian faith. Yes, here. She came first to the Sunday School and then knew the company of so many ministers from the days of Rev. Michael L. Thomas onwards. Even as chapel memberships declined everywhere, maintaining Closygraig remained one of the priorities of her life. Her faithfulness to this chapel never wavered — as a member, a deacon, a secretary, and everything else besides.

Yes, she spent her whole life living locally — and she made absolutely sure of that by marrying a local man in 1959! Yes, Alan Campden, son of Dai and Saran Ellen Campden of Glyn Noddfa in the heart of the village — you couldn’t get more local than that! In 1973 they moved to Coed y Pry and built their new home there.

Have you been to Coed y Pry? On the upper floor they lived, looking out over a full view of their “square mile” — a perfect spot for someone who loved that square mile with such passion.
By then, Olive was the memory of the area. The history and traditions of this locality meant so much to her, and she had such a remarkable and vivid memory. Her recollections of the people and life of the area were always worth hearing — and she was so willing to share them, with the children of Penboyr School and with us as we developed The Great Story of Dre-fach Felindre website. Less than a year ago — last November — she was with us in Penboyr Vestry helping to plan activities for this year, including an Open Day at the Woollen Museum at the end of June. Little did we think that that day would turn into an Open Day to Remember Olive.

I can’t help but remember when we began collecting old photos for the website. We had a week at the Museum when everyone could bring in their old pictures; we would scan them and return the originals. The hard part was writing the captions — who was who, and what was what — about 800 photos in all! That was when we saw Olive in her element, identifying the locations, buildings, and people. Her contribution to recording the history of Dre-fach Felindre was incredible — a gift to future historians, who will be so grateful — and thanks to Olive above all for that kindness, as for everything else she did for the website. She never showed much interest in developing her computer skills, but her knowledge and contribution shine through nonetheless.

As I said — these few remarks can only touch on some of her qualities, because I could easily keep you here all afternoon!

But in our sorrow, we give thanks for her noble, tireless service to the best causes of this area and of our nation — and it was a privilege for us all to have known her.

And the way I will always remember Olive is as someone living at Coed y Pry, keeping an eye on us all and on everything happening around her — and still keeping an eye on us even now. That’s why it’s so important that we keep going. Preservation was such an important word to Olive — keeping things going at Closygraig, keeping things going at the Red Dragon Hall, and all the events — The Great Story and all the other things that mattered so deeply to her within her “square mile.”

Let us do that — keep things going in the same spirit, in Olive’s spirit — and say, as the area’s motto declares,
“So that the beauty that once was may be kept for the ages to come.”

That was her life’s message.
Thank you. Thank you, Olive.
 

Alan regularly recalled, with great sadness a military plane he saw circling over the village for some time before crashing on a local hill, killing all of the young crew. Alan was determined that that particular tragic event was never forgotten and he arranged with Meirion Jones, the artist, for the plane to be painted in to the picture “Stori Fawr Dre-fach Felindre”.

Recently I met with Alan to discuss our 2026 local history project about the original Red Dragon Hall in the village. He was at his best in recollecting the historical events such as pantomimes, eisteddfodau and concerts held in the hall and was quick to remind me that he had won several “Oscars” on that old stage.

We agreed to continue our chat over the next few months, but sadly three days later Alan’s health deteriorated suddenly and he left Coed y Pri for the last time on his way to hospital, leaving the rest of his recollections untold.

Alan's contribution to Bargod Rangers Football Club was immense over some 70 years and I will read a sentence or two from a tribute to Alan I was asked to prepare by the local football club some 10 years ago in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the club.

Preparing some of my personal recollection of Alans life has been emotive as we at Maesyronnen over the last 15 months have lost both of our neighbours who had deep roots in this community—the lights at Coed y Pri have gone out but our memories remain very much alive.

Alan--diolch eto i ti fel cymydog ac am dy gyfraniad didwyll i weithgareddau ein ardal -----.
Cysga yn dawel nawr.

These Boots Are Made For Walking by Eifion Davies

Can you guess who has walked over five hundred miles for the benefit of Bargod Rangers AFC?

He is over 21 years of age and played left back for the club years ago. You will see him most Saturdays on the Parc Puw pitch watching football matches although his regular Saturday chores are finished well before kickoff time. He is rarely thanked for his work and indeed looks for no accolades, yet without him competitive football would not take place .

Any guesses??. It's none other than octogenarian Thomas Alan Campden, Head Groundsman, line marker, dog "mess" remover and everything else which other people think are too difficult to achieve.

Alan has either played for or supported the club most of his life, and everything he does for the club at Parc Puw reflects his obsession with accuracy and perfection. His motto is simple - "If it's worth doing, do it well".

On rare occasions, when he is not around to undertake the pre match tasks, particularly the line marking his critical eye will be at Parc Puw at the earliest opportunity to study the quality of the work undertaken on his behalf. The quality of his line marking, even in adverse weather is legendary and to watch him nursing his faithful line marker "Isabel" around the field is an education in itself . The mixing of the ingredients which precedes the journey, and which he deposits in "Isabel's" belly before sending her on her way is a work of art requiring a minimum of a five year apprenticeship.

Alan enjoys his football and appreciates some special moments which he fondly recalls, such as Duncan Lewes's goal against Pencader some five years ago from thirty yards which left the goalkeeper stunned, or Dr Eurfyl Williams's goal against Llandyssul when he caught the keeper off his line and chipped him from twenty yards, or Mark Woolford's League Cup hat trick in the victory over Division one leaders Dewi Stars in 1996.

Alan's contribution in the back room, deep in the bowels of Bargod Rangers Football Club has been immense for more than half a century. It happens to be work he enjoys doing and we all hope that he will continue for another half a century doing those rare and highly skilled tasks he has acquired over the years.