Tredegar Railway Guard... 44years Railway Service.

Description

My great grandfather William Thomas on his retirement (aged 65) in April 1920 was a Railway Passenger Guard who had completed 44 years service with the London and North Western Railway Company.He entered the employ of the L&NWR in February 1877, his first job being that of a porter at Brynmawr. He rose gradually through the various grades to the position of Passenger Guard based in Tredegar.The Merthyr Express reported on the news of his retirement:'There was not a better Known or more courteous and efficient official of the company on the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny section than Mr Thomas'.William Thomas was also a very loyal trade's unionist. He became a member of the N.U.M in 1880 and was several times chairman of the Tredegar branch and a trustee.He was also:• The first local member of the conciliation board on which he represented the workmen• A member of the Provident Union of the National Health Insurance• During World War One he represented the railway employees on the Tredegar food control committee. After his retirement he continued to take an active interest in the affairs of the N.U.M and he had come to be regarded as the 'Father of the Branch'.William Thomas was born in Maesteg in 1855 and he died in Tredegar in 1932.