Can You Spot The Difference?
The two images above are of Towns 226 miles apart. One is in the Rhondda Valley, Wales, and one is our town, Camborne.
The images are similar, one long thoroughfare with lots of small shops lining either side, interspersed with terraced houses and at the end of the main high street a large public Building. In Camborne, it is a Wesleyan Chapel, whilst in Treorchy it’s a pub.
Twin Towns?
Both towns were at the centre of massive industrial growth in the 19th and early 20th Century, one from mining Tin and one from mining Coal. Both towns have Churches and Chapels scattered around the town and surrounding areas evidencing the thriving religious culture of its time.
Camborne is surrounded by beautiful countryside and coastline whereas Treorchy is surrounded with majestic Mountain scenery.
Both towns have Male Choirs, the Climax Male voice Choir and Treorchy Male voice choir, brass bands too represented by Camborne Town band and the world-Famous Cory band.
Sadly, both towns are far from their glory days when employment was full, and growth was aplenty. As the price of Tin dropped off a cliff in the 20th Century and gave way to a much cheaper product in far-away lands, the unemployment queues lengthened, mines closed, shafts capped, and shops began to die. In Treorchy too, where once the roads were filled with buses taking miners like myself, my brother and my dad to work at the pits, the headgear stopped winding men down the shafts, the vast reserves of coal were left, and the shops began to be boarded up, as the flow of money ran dry.
Anything Is Possible
I have believed for many years that we can all achieve so much more in our lives if we adopt certain principles in life. Such as working hard, being respectful, being positive and most significantly never giving up. Of course, when challenges come our way its hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel and often, we are more likely to believe it’s an oncoming train!
Nevertheless, just like the baby that doesn’t stop falling over until it’s learned to walk, or stopped mumbling until it’s learned to talk, giving up should never be an option.
In fact, it’s how we all learn a game, a sport, art, music etc. Succeeding through adversity.
They say, ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ and if Camborne and Treorchy are to rise from the ashes of economic despair like a financial Pheonix, then we cannot ever give up.
The Prize is worth the pain!
In 2019 Treorchy entered the High Street of the year UK award and despite all the odds stacked against them, they triumphed. Why? Yes, they worked hard, yes, they pulled together and worked toward a united goal. But, most importantly of all, they never gave up!
I am proud that our ‘Hometown’ in Wales achieved something remarkable, but I also believe that our new ‘Hometown’ can also achieve whatever we set our minds to.
New beginnings
10 weeks ago, my partner opened her first shop in Trelowarren Street called ‘Tastylicious Treats’ selling a vast range of confectionary and ‘scoop out’ Ice Cream from ‘Callestick Farm’. Already, she is employing 3 part time staff, 2 delivery drivers, 3 schoolchildren and providing work experience through United Response for people living with learning disabilities, Autism and Mental Health challenges.
Thank you for your amazing welcome it really feels like a ‘Home from Home’.
Reuben and Sarah
Tastylicious Treats