Erne Wilson's garage (submitted by Graham White)

These tremendous pictures were kindly offered to the site for display by Graham White. Many of them capture the ambience of the area in the 1950s and 1960s. The images on this particular page all have direct connections with Erne Wilson's garage in Six Bells.

The site is very grateful to Graham who would like to dedicate the pages to his father, Mr Ivor Lionel Graham White, who is seen in some of the pictures.

Erne Wilson's Garage (where Six Bells Carpets is now located) in many ways dominated Alexandra Road and was a very familiar sight to people travelling in and out of Abertillery along the A467 through Six Bells. This picture taken in the 1950s shows the garage staff and should evoke memories of a long gone business in the area.

Left to right: Ivor White, Ron Hillier, Bryn Legge, Alan Sullivan, Marion Day, Fred Day, Ken Hillman

This picture taken at the Abertillery Carnival 1952 shows a very young Carole White on Erne Wilson's recovery vehicle

Abertillery carnival 1952 Ivor White and daughter Carole, both attired in Shell Mex overalls.

This was taken for the 1951 carnival at the rear of Six Bells Park showing Ivor White, Carole White (obscured view) and Ron Hillier with another Erne Wilson vehicle.

Late 1963 and a grand draw for the launch of the Ford Consul Corsair with the new car on display at Erne Wilson's garage. On the left is Ken Hillman accompanied by Brinley Evans of the South Wales Gazette making the draw. Brinley Evans, who lived in nearby Llwynon Road in Six Bells, wrote his editorials for the King Street-based newspaper using his nom-de-plume "Arael" with the motto, Without Fear, Without Favour. He later became a councillor on Abertillery Urban District Council.

For those interested in the car, the Corsair was launched in October 1963 as a replacement for the Ford Consul Classic as a saloon model intended to fill the market between the Cortina and Zephyr 4. With a 1500cc engine, essentially it was a slightly longer, more refined Cortina supposedly demonstrating 'Silence at Speed! (for further details click here). Who won the car?