Idris Davies [1905-1953] was born into a Welsh speaking family in Rhymney, Monmouthshire. He was a former miner and primary school teacher and wrote a number of Anglo-Welsh poems, Maggie Fach being typical of his work.

Let's go to Barry Island, Maggie fach,
And give all the kids one day by the sea,
And sherbet and buns and paper hats,
And a rattling ride on the Figure Eight;
We'll have tea on the sands and rides on the donkeys,
And sit in the evening with the folk of Cwm Rhondda,

The General Strike of 1926 probably influenced a collection of the works of Idris Davies, in that it was entitled 'The Angry Summer - A Poem of 1926.' This collection was published in 1943 and included the above poem 'Maggie Fach.'

The postcard is published by Oriel of Charles Street, Cardiff and is held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]

1939 - Train Announcing by Loudspeaker - " Train Announcer speaking ! " - At busy holiday periods at a number of the Company's larger stations, the train announcer was an essential unit in the dissemination of information concerning the arrival and departure of trains, and alteration of services . . . .

The first Great Western loudspeaker system, however, was that installed at Barry Island. Many thousands of excursionists are dealt with at this popular South Wales seaside resort during the holiday months, and control of the crowds by loudspeaker became a necessity. - Great Western Magazine [1348] [1349] May 1939 Edition.