Find Ancestors

Hi, Can anyone help, my Grandfather Alf Bevan had a small write up in The Times newspaper. I am not sure of the date, possibly 1930 - 1945 ????? I know the title was The Good Samaritan. Many thanks. Sally

You may find it if you search here:

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

If you access the British Newspaper Archive via Quidco, you'll get 70% off the cost of a month's subscription.

Many thanks for your advice AG.

Many English Public Library memberships include access to The Times Archive. Assuming you live in England, its worth asking and joining for free.

(in case of anything, below looks to relate)

Chris :)

Relation Name: Alfred Bevan
Date of Birth: 1901
Place of Birth: BRECON Powys Wales


Births Dec 1901 (>99%)
---------------------------------------------------------
BEVAN Alfred David Brecknock 11b 83


1939 Register (Find My Past)

9 Newmarch Street , Brecon M.B., Breconshire, Wales
Alfred D Bevan 25 Nov 1901 Male Gwr Locomotive Fireman Qualified Married
Janet Bevan 24 Sep 1900 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
(Daughter Bevan)

Thank you both for your info. :-)

If you go to this link:

http://www.llanfrynach-community.org.uk/public_html/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/WWBII-PDF.pdf

At the top left change it to go to page 194 (of 228) and you will see a photo of him (with the fish he helped to catch) and reference to the article in the Times.

"The Good Samaritan
Leslie Williams
Alf Bevan was a full-time train driver who often worked on the Builth and Hereford
routes. But when he was off duty, Alf was
a keen fisherman. He often worked as a
gillie at Abercynrig, Llanfrynach. One day
he was on the Builth run, and could see a
fisherman having difficulty landing a salmon
he had hooked in the River Wye, which
flowed parallel to the railway.

Like the Good Samaritan that he was, Alf
stopped the train and hurried down to the
river in order to help land the catch.
Somehow the story was published in ‘The
Times’ newspaper, which reported that
Alf had a wonderful ovation from the
passengers when he remounted his engine! "


Dea x

MANY thanks Dea, as usual you come up with the goods !!!!!!!!!!!!! My Grandad was lovely, I never heard this story. Maybe I will be able to find the write up in The Times. x

Glad to help, Sally.

I used to have access to Times digital Archive on-line via Manchester Library (even though I don't live in Manchester), however, they have now stopped this for people not in the area.

As mentioned by someone above, you may be able to access it through your local library - it is worth asking.

Dea x

Not seeing in The Times...(shame you can't find year)

Chris :)

Interesting details on the image for this (on Ancestry)

Alfred David Bevan
in the UK, Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956
Name: Alfred David Bevan
Birth Date: 25 Nov 1901
Residence Date: 22 Feb 1916
Age: 14
Station: Brecon
Company: Great Western
Description: Nos.20251-20500 [c.1897-1914] Registers of drivers and firemen, showing date of entering service, promotions, type of work, fines etc.


Amongst other details of his railway career, on 2 August 1937 he was commended for his "alertness and prompt action in stopping train and extinguishing a fire which had broken out underneath the ground frame."

On two occasions in the 1950's, he was awarded a gratuity for suggestions he submitted

In 1923, although he was shown on the records as a fireman, "it was found that he had not been definitely appointed, and was shown on the paybill as a cleaner."

No mention of fish, sadly.

Many thanks - Dea, Chris and AGran x

I asked my Mum, and she seems to think the photo was about 1949 - 1952. x

Like Chris, I can't find anything in the Times, but there is a newspaper called The County Times which covers mid-Wales. Locally this is probably referred to as just The Times, so perhaps that is where the article is??

Also, the link above leads to a modern magazine, so perhaps they could tell you the original date of their article. This would narrow down your search.

I have access to The Times on-line archive through my Liverpool library ticket, which is still valid for people who joined before they restricted it to local people. I am happy to look things up.