SIR,

I read with interest your articles on Bryn Morgan coaches.

I was secretary from 1973 to 1975 and while employed by Bryn I passed my PSV and was able to drive the minibuses and the 20 seater that he had. Today the license is a PCV.

Bryn and Ella were wonderful bosses, Mavis cooked my breakfast and I used to sit with them while Bryn enjoyed his two Shredded Wheat.

He later gave me the confidence to join the South Glamorgan Ambulance Service in 1975, which covered Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

I served 22 years on first line emergency work. In between shifts I drove minibuses in Bridgend to supplement poor wages in the service.

Bryn and Ella were the only coach company in Monmouth and liaised with Lanes of Abergavenny and Chappels in Raglan.

We ran regular buses to schools locally, including Ross and Abergavenny.

In the summer, schools from London hired buses for a whole week, wed bring them down to stay in Llandogo and take the children on daily trips to Slimbridge, St Fagans, the Gower and Gloucester Cathedral.

Bryn was cheaper than London firms.

I remember taking some lads from Monmouth School to the boat race in London one year.

We also did work for the Army, Movements and Transport Dept Sennybridge, who would book trips and take soldiers to Oswestry and shooting ranges etc.

Bryn would go off with Reg Furber, the fitter/ mechanic and look at coaches and taxis for sale and would telephone me to write a cover note for insurance, an agreement we had with Eagle Star in Abergavenny, one of the few firms that could write its own cover notes.

I never knew Bryn lose his temper, he was a true gentleman and always went out to the yard to solve problems with the men.

Im sure the air was blue at times but when he came into the office he was always cheery.

I enclose a photograph of a Christmas dinner and dance in 1974, held at the Chain Bridge hotel.

I am on the far left in a long dress, Dianne (daughter) is seated in a blue dress next to Ella and Bryn, surrounded by staff and wives.

I always tell everyone, apart from the Ambulance Service and in later years my time with Unite the Union as a union officer, I loved my time working for Bryn and Ella; it was a delight.

Pam Davies

(Bridgend)