ABERAVON BEACH in the middle of a faraway terrible war 1916, on we go from here.

Page is under construction to help you view Aberavon Races of 1929 plus later at 1950/51. ALSO some of the Trials Specialists DULAIS VALLEY Motor Cycle Club, FITZROY ALLEN with some BSA assistance preparing his BSA BANTAM took a Prized Gold Medal there, plus these Clubs surrounding Swansea attended SINGLETON PARK 7 8 1937 events & at far left you will see Cyril Rowles in 1937 @ Singleton Park on that 500 Matchless he later used in 1938 International Six Days Trials ISDT, take a look at the wordage on the picture & you can see it is an M A Clare picture. (however from the Rowles Collection)

Another of the DULAIS VALLEY Motor Cycle Club from Michael Rowles showing his dad @ 2nd from left this time on tour in North Wales on his Levis with friends inc his brother to his right, which machine is that other one to the right of pic?.Now on to Aberavon Beach Speed Trials, another term for Races as we all well know. L.V. Thomas the Swansea solicitor who lived at The Old Rectory Bishopston, literally a short stone's throw from my own home is No9 in pics below  (Pictures below are largely from the Richard Clare Collection, Grandson of the Mumbles Photographer M A Clare)

1926, Aberavon Beach results, Tom Phillips's exploits. with L.V. Thomas of '3 doors away' here at Bishopston, Vic Anstice too won the Gold Cuff links below.  Big thanks to Dave Martin of New Orleans for finding this.

Tom Phillips with that Sidecar now Clamped on to His Zenith 350 Solo.

First guess at the Marque of the Car is Delage? however, with great thanks to Peter Jacobs of Delage World, (a delightful website) we know for certain that it is NOT, can anyone identifythat car?, far left is Gordon Bennett's Scott 2 Stroke outfit & centre is L V Thomas's Norton 500

This is the intrepid L V Thomas seen as number 9 in the start Pic above. with a new look sidecar wheel after the race.

This is believed to be E G (Gordon) Bennett with the Scott Sidecar outfit on the left of the start photo above.  Later he amongst many others showed a liking for the Douglas Dirt Track machines.

Aberavon Sand Race May 1951, J L Mills on his speedy 250 Rudge took the Best Neath Club Rider Cup (right in Photo is the little Replica of the Trophy he still retains) < Mr Mills was extremely accomplished with an extensive series of wins at Pendine, the wins involved staying with his family at a Chalet Park during school hols. with a ex Army tent as well, all well recalled by himself & daughter, (now) Mrs Ann Williams who has assisted greatly in helping research information from the Mills/Williams family collection to the website. Replica at right of pic is J L Mills's well earned & deserved  NEATH  MOTOR CLUB YEARLY AGGREGATE TROPHY of 1958, we will add pics of Mr Mills in the Pendine section as time allows.

Neath Club's first Race meeting at Aberavon Beach after WW2 fetched an enormous spectator attendance by folk starved of peacetime entertainment, skills speed, & the entry included E Poley & T H Poley of Swansea R Berry of Carmarthen J Treseder of Swansea B J Davies of Swansea, 'big' Eric A Williams of Llanelly J L Mills of Neath plus T N Edwards Neath. 

Early 50's picture taken at Pendine, the machine next to it is Des Snow of Merthyr's Velocette, this it is from JLM's 'pre beard days!!! 

Families had the Childrens' Playground! 

1950/51 pic of the start at Aberavon Beach, 4th along from the left on a 500cc BSA, No 15 is Llwyd James who provided the pic.

This is the 1950/51 pic of the start at Aberavon Beach, 4th along from the left on a 500cc BSA, no 15 is Llwyd James who provided the pic.

Llwyd James again with a cross marking his line position (not applied by moi! next along the line is D R Griffiths of of Sketty Swansea with his VMC (Very Many Components) Long stroke 5 stud JAP poweredmachine. (is that Jack Phillips of Swansea Club with No 6 500 Triumph twin? )  

An official adopting a 'gunfighter's crouch'! & 11 is the ex Jack Daniels 350 Norton ridden here by Les  Griffiths of Bridgend.

Ex Aberavon Sands racer John West-Jones seen here on his AJS recalls when he was at Christchurch New Zealand avoiding a 'ticket' from a Traffic Warden!> a Mrs Windy Rees! who accepted a plea from a Welshman 11000 miles from home, now of Bishopston, John was a member of Neath Club and had 'entered early' & been given the #1 number desired by Les Griffiths, Les you will see entered as #11 as alternative!

Llwyd James & an Official at Aberavon.

Les Griffiths again, his number plain.

No 27 D P Evans of Ammanford on a 500 Matchless & No 15 Llwyd James then of Maenclochog.