With the best will in the world, forty years is a long time to be exact on how, where and why and so on it all happened there. What seems fairly certain though, is that it followed in the footsteps of the University and Neath clubs and of course the mighty Adelphi Club in Wind Street, Swansea. Many of those that became regular members of the Pontardawe Club had also been to at least one if not all
of the other venues. The club started life in 1968 in The Green Room at The Cross Inn (now the Cross Community Centre), with Dave Robinson as the first secretary. A year or so later the club having tried just about every other pub in Ponty including The Royal Oak in Rhyd-y-Fro and switching nights a few times whilst it found its feet the club found a home and settled on a Friday night which with very rare exception it has kept to ever since. Councillor Bryan Harris who sadly died at the age of thirty nine in 1974 was certainly pivotal in the running and success of the club, inspiring and persuading young and old to go along to the club and get involved. He was obviously a people person, charismatic, energetic, engaging, enthusiastic and creative. The driving force that made things happen. After a stint at The Ivy Bush, the club moved to The Dynevor arms where there was a large back room. John and Pam Beynon were in charge and ran a very successful music filled pub. It was a very sad day when John and Pam left The Dynevor and the club began to look towards returning to The Ivy Bush (where there was another supportive landlord in charge). So in 1984 the Valley Folk Club returned to The Ivy Bush where it has made its home for the last 24 years
Of course downsizing to the upstairs room had its drawbacks, booking guests that would draw larger crowds or that needed more space for their act was difficult and the regular dance evenings which club goers had become used to having at the Dynevor were impossible, the club was extremely glad to have the use of The Alltwen Community Centre, the Glan Yr Afon Hotel and on very rare occasions The Moose Hall. It is difficult to pigeon hole the type of club it is and the ethos has probably changed with each new era. Leaning possibly towards the traditional for the most part, Ponty audiences have accepted and enjoyed the whole range of guest artists and indeed this has not been confined to folk musicians. There has been poetry, Punch and Judy, nights where almost anything goes including crazy theme nights, the performance of traditional plays and those written by members of the club. The club has hosted some fantastic performers with the guest list for the past forty years reading like a who’s who of Folk music. The marvellous floor spots must not be forgotten, many of whom were booked as guest artists at other clubs and festivals, and neither should the M/Cs that helped to keep the spirit of the club going. Over the years the club has like all others had its ups and downs, but has kept going through them all good times and bad. So thanks to everyone who has supported the club in any way and here’s to the next forty years. The club is still learning about its past and would welcome any information or memorabilia that would further develop the archive and substantiate or otherwise the information gathered so far. Maybe you would just like to get in touch to show your support.
