BILLY the Swan by Elaine Symmons nee Bladen
Ed. note — Nowadays Cyril the Swan is famous as a mascot for Swansea City Football Club, but in 1937, another swan became well known and loved in the Mumbles area.
I remember that he was a real swan, which arrived exhausted one day from who-knows-where and once he had recovered his strength, spent the summer along the ‘front’. We locals named him ‘Billy’ and he soon made himself at home among us. My Mother, May Bladen, regularly put bowls of corn and bread and a pail of water for him in the garden of our house at 1, Promenade Terrace and He often slept there, but sometimes he went wandering, returning next day ravenously hungry.
He made friends with everyone and could be seen swimming along the front, waiting patiently for the food and drink, which many people brought him. He became quite a celebrity and the Evening Post featured his story, part of which follows:
Sitting on the Promenade people would throw him cake and biscuits, etc. He soon found it paid to waddle up to the Prom and sit among them, where he could sometimes be seen with a bulging crop, and surrounded by a wreath of broken bread, longing to sleep.
In the autumn, he disappeared and it was many years before I knew what had happened to him. However, it seems his whereabouts were known to the grown-ups at the time, as the following details were reported to the Evening Post by G. E. E. of Mumbles:
As the evenings grew colder and darker, and especially when it rained, Bill looked rather miserable, so it was decided to ask the Superintendent of Parks at Swansea to take him away for the winter. He was put in Brynmill Park amongst the other Swans, who would have nothing to do with him and beat him away.We saw poor Bill a few times after, looking dejected and dirty; no longer preening of his snowy plumage now, and quite alone. At first he swam quickly toward us when he was called, and knew his friends at once.
A week or so later, one Sunday evening, he appeared to be ill, came slowly after much coaxing, looked up once into our faces, then dropped his poor head, and would not look up again.
Poor Billy ! He died of a broken heart !
Other articles which mention Elaine Symmons nee Bladen
Taking in Visitors at Promenade Terrace by Elaine Symmons
May Bladen: Many people in Mumbles opened their homes to visitors in the summer months and we were no exception.
Thistleboon Orphanage: extracts from the autobiography of Amy Winters (nee King)
... in later years, I named my daughter after two of my best friends—Elaine Bladen and Elaine Gammon. We had many laughs together and would spend many happy hours in ...
Elaine Symmons
Elaine passed away 19 January 2002