Thursday, October 26, 2006

Wilfred Llewellyn Manning

Wilfred Llewellyn Manning was born on the 31 March 1923 in Merthyr Tydfil. His father was a traveling salesman from Essex who moved to Merthyr to sell miner's lamps.

Afflicted with polio at an early age, he used a stick and built-up shoe for the rest of his life. As such, his war service was in the Home Guard. A natural engineer and craftsman with a gift for drawing and maths, he spent most of his working career as a toolmaker and draughtsman at Merthyr's Hoover factory. In retirement, he enjoyed modelmaking in Meccano and woodworking, making wooden castles and garages for his grandson. A sociable man who laughed easily, he enjoyed relaxing at the Aberfan & Merthyr Vale Working Men's Club with a pipe or cigar and glass of rum. He also contributed his time and craftsmanship to the narrow-gauge Brecon Mountain Railway, refurbishing the carriages. He was frequently called upon by friends and family to fix malfunctioning household appliances. An avid reader throughout his life, he was particularly fond of sci-fi.

He died at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil in March 1989. He married once. He was cremated and his ashes scattered next to the tracks of the Brecon Mountain Railway. His wife Marion (b.8 Jan 1925) died in 1998.

He had two sons, Robert, who still lives in Merthyr, and John, a university graduate who moved to Barry. Both sons married, and subsequently divorced. Known grandchildren are Ceri, Ross and at least two others (including a set of twins.)

I commit this to the web, for remembrance's sake.