Blaina
Encyclopedia
Blaina is a small town
, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys
between Brynmawr
and Abertillery
in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent
, ancient parish of Aberystruth
, preserved county of Gwent
and historic county of Monmouthshire
.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
between Brynmawr
Brynmawr
Brynmawr is a market town in Blaenau Gwent, south Wales. The town, sometimes cited as the highest town in Wales, is situated at 1,250 to 1,500 feet above sea level and nestled at the head of the South Wales Valleys...
and Abertillery
Abertillery
Abertillery is a town in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent in South Wales, north-west of Newport, originally on the Great Western Railway. Its population rose steeply during the period of mining development in South Wales, being 10,846 in the 1891 census and 21,945 ten years later...
in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent is a county borough in South Wales, sharing its name with a parliamentary constituency. It borders the unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly to the west and Powys to the north. Its main towns are Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and...
, ancient parish of Aberystruth
Aberystruth
Aberystruth was an ancient ecclesiastical parish beside the north-west corner of the county of Monmouthshire against the border with Breconshire and between the parishes of Bedwellty and Trevethin...
, preserved county of Gwent
Gwent (county)
Gwent is a preserved county and a former local government county in south-east Wales. It was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was named after the ancient Kingdom of Gwent....
and historic county of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
.
Notable people
- See also :Category:People from Blaina
- Arthur FearArthur FearArthur Fear , was a Welsh bass and baritone opera singer.Born in Cwmcelyn, Blaina in 1902, he worked underground in the colliery until receiving a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in 1923. While a student he won prizes and made his debut in Meistersinger as Hans Sachs with the British...
, opera singer - Parry JonesGwynn Parry JonesParry Jones , known early in his career as Gwynn Jones, was a Welsh tenor of the mid-twentieth century.-Life and career:...
, opera singer - William PartridgeWilliam PartridgeWilliam Partridge was born in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire on 27 June 1858. William moved to Blaina when he was a young boy with his parents. He enlisted into the 24th Regiment of Foot at Newport on 7 June 1877 having previously served in the Royal Monmouthshire Militia.- From Blaina to South Africa...
, soldier, fought at Rorke's DriftRorke's DriftThe Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was a battle in the Anglo-Zulu War. The defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, immediately followed the British Army's defeat at the Battle of... - Raymond "Ray" Price, rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1940s and 1950s for Abertillery RFC (RU), Great Britain (RL), Wales, Other Nationalities, Belle Vue Rangers, Warrington, and St. Helens
- Frank RichardsFrancis Philip WoodruffFrank Richards a.k.a. Francis Philip Woodruff DCM, MM was born in Monmouthshire, he was orphaned at the age of nine, and was then brought up by his aunt and uncle in the Blaina area of the South Wales Valleys in industrial Monmouthshire. The uncle, his mother's twin brother, and surnamed Richards,...
, author - Mike RuddockMike RuddockMike Ruddock, OBE is a Welsh rugby union coach, currently coach of the Ireland Under-20 Rugby Union Team and Lansdowne FC . Ruddock was the coach of the Worcester Warriors until his resignation on 28 April 2010 following their relegation from the Guinness Premiership...
, rugby coach - Florence Eleanor SoperFlorence Eleanor SoperFlorence Eleanor Soper was the wife of Bramwell Booth, Second General of The Salvation Army.- Early life :...
, wife of Bramwell BoothBramwell BoothBramwell Booth, CH was the first Chief of Staff and the second General of The Salvation Army , succeeding his father, William Booth.-Biography:...
, General of The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries.... - Mostyn ThomasMostyn ThomasMostyn Thomas born Thomas James Thomas was a Welsh operatic baritone, prominent in the first half of the 20th century.- Early life :He was born in Blaina, Monmouthshire to Thomas and Ann...
, opera singer - David Watkins, Welsh rugby union and rugby league international
- Emlyn WatkinsEmlyn WatkinsEmlyn Watkins was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1920s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Blaina RFC, playing at Flanker, i.e...
, rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1920s for Wales (RU), Blaina RFC, Wales (RL), and Leeds - Emlyn A G Watkins, George MedalGeorge MedalThe George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
recipient