A Tiger Bay Childhood

by Phyllis Grogan Chappell

Paperback £4.99

Book Description
Much has been written about the old 'Tiger Bay' community in Cardiff. This book is by a person who actually lived there. In A Tiger Bay Childhood, Phyllis Grogan Chappell recounts childhood memories and family stories of life in Cardiff docklands before and during the Second World War. Vividly recapturing the warmth and colour of the area, the author offers portraits of home, school life and leisure—and of some of the characters who have now passed into the history and legend of Tiger Bay.

Publisher's comments
This book is part of a series of community histories and life stories written by local residents and published by Butetown History and Arts Centre in Cardiff, Wales. Other books in the series include: Neil Sinclair, Tiger Bay Story (1993); Harry 'Shipmate' Cooke, How I Saw It: A Stroll thro' Old Cardiff Bay (1994); and Olwen Watkins, A Family Affair (forthcoming, 2004).

Author comments
This is not the story of my life. It is simply a record of memories of a childhood spent 'Down the Docks' in Cardiff. I have sought to convey some of the sights and sounds, the smells and feelings. I hope readers enjoy this book. It may bring back memories to those of you who lived through the same times. It may also help those younger to understand how we lived in the 'olden days'.

Author bio(s)
Phyllis Grogan Chappel was born in 1930 in the 'Tiger Bay' community in Cardiff. She started work at age 14 as a shorthand typist and worked for many years as a secretary. Over the years, she developed an interest in family and community history and, like her mother, became the guardian of a remarkable collection of family photographs. Many of these are included in this book.

Table of contents
Preface
1. My Family, My World
2. Houses Where We Lived
3. Campbell's Steamers, the Bristol Channel and Flat Holm
4. The Thirties' Depression and Clothes from Mrs Kitchen
5. Meals
6. Christmas Time
7. St David's Day
8. Whitsun Treat and Other Outings
9. The Greek Church, St Mary's Church and the Vicar
10. Mrs Sweeney's, Street Traders and the Shops
11. 1d for the Meter
12. St Mary's School
13. Clarence Road School
14. Central Commercial School
15. Games We Played
16. The Canal, Divers and the Timber Float
17. Minding Young Ones
18. Men's Games and Racing Animals
19. Doing Our Bit for the War.