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Bedlinog (Welsh: Bedd Llwynog) is a relatively isolated village built on a very steep hill in south Wales, south east of Merthyr Tydfil. It has a population of fewer than 2,000 people. The combined population of Bedlinog and Trelewis has been recently recorded as approximately 3140. Previously, it was surrounded by coal mines and nearly all jobs were related directly to this trade but all the mines are now closed. Unemployment is high but the increasing prosperity and growth of Cardiff, only half an hour by car, has created many commuter jobs and a feeling of optimism for the future. In reality the view of the village as isolated shows the parochial nature of the South Wales valleys, as it is in fact only a 30 minute drive from Cardiff, 45 minutes from Swansea and 45 minutes from Newport - at the very most 5 minutes further away than the surrounding towns. It is known colloquially as 'Bedrock', after the town in The Flintstones. It is listed as one of the 100 most deprived communities in Wales.
During times past Bedlinog also was once nicknamed "Little Moscow" owing to the relatively high concentration of trade unionists with communist sympathies.
One of the more famous and prominent local residents is a Mr David Cameron, who is an ex police sergeant who has dedicated his time in the running of Bedlinog Youth Rugby Team. He is also famous as an ex navy chef and has a striking resemblance to Stephen Segal, the famous Hollywood actor.
There is a public tennis court, a bowling green, a large games field for rugby and cricket, two pubs and three working men's clubs. In more prosperous times there were more "watering holes" and places of worship. The largest climbing centre in Europe less than a mile down the valley. The village is surrounded by rolling, green hills and from the top the Severn Estuary and the coast of Devon can be clearly seen.
One of the most famous residents, if not 'the' most famous is a gentleman known locally as Johnny the Milk, as he was the village milkman for over 30 years. His real name is John William Charles Jones, and was known in school as 'Alphabet' as he has so many letters in his full name.
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(Source: Wikipedia) |