Now in the twilight of his life, 86 year old Mr. Thomas Beckett, of Llanfair Gardens, Norton, has witnessed a host of changes in the Mumbles and Gower since arriving from Devon as a young man in 1905.

 During his life-time the melancholy note of the horse and trap has been superseded by the motor car, the flickering oil lamps giving way to fluorescent lighting, the once deserted leafy country lanes, now a thoroughfare for thousands of tourists to the Gower in all seasons. The changes have been many but the overall benefits, although considerable in some aspects, have also proved the death knell for a way of life, that is nothing but a memory. There are few of those who tackled this mode of living in the area at the turn of this century, still surviving to preserve a slender link with the past.

Thomas Beckett was born in Sidcup, Kent, in 1885, later moving to Devon where he worked as a farm hand and in 1905, travelling to Gower, where for the next three years he worked on various farms in the Peninsula. In 1908, he joined the considerable staff of the Vivian family who owned the extensive properties of Parc le Breos, this spanning the area between Penmaen and Parkmill. Here, he was employed initially as a Timber Cutter, contemporaries of his at that time being two other gentlemen who lived to an advanced age, Charlie Sheppard and Bill Ace. In 1910, he married and lived in Penmaen for many years until eventually moving to the Parc le Breos estate. During the years spent with the Vivian family, with the exception of those he spent in the first World War in the Army, Mr. Beckett gradually improved his status becoming responsible for the care of the horses and traps and later taking over the role as head gardener. In 1940, his wife Elizabeth died and at the end of the last world war, Admiral Heneage-Walker-Vivian moved his staff to Clyne Castle where Mr. Beckett con­tinued his duties as Head Gardener. 

When the Admiral died, the staff at Clyne Castle, Blackpill, dispersed, the days of the private residence, being virtually over. At this stage Mr. Beckett was in his 65th year and after residing with relatives in Mumbles, eventually took up residence in Llanfair Gardens where he has remained the past 15 years. Still a remarkably sprightly man, Mr. Beckett continued felling trees well into his 70th year and even today enjoys gardening and thinks nothing of regular long walks. His two sons and two daughters still survive, his eldest daughter, Sally, now Mrs. Hendy, residing in Swansea, his youngest daughter Doris, now Mrs. Eaton, in Llangennech, and his son, Albert in Ystradgynlais with his other son, George in Maidenhead. When next you visit Clyne Castle grounds, it is a point to remember that many of the lovely exotic blooms on display were planted and looked after by Thomas Beckett, whose range of skill in all matters connected with horticulture and agriculture proved extensive.

    Listening to him talk, another far off world of the Gower unfolds before the eyes — an era of the rich and poor, an era regaled in opulence possessed by only a fortunate few. Asked whether he preferred living conditions today to those that existed over 60 years ago Mr. Beckett has no doubts that the early part of the century had more to offer. He felt that although the wages were very small, that nevertheless food was cheaper and far better in quality than similar items produced today. It was a time when tinned food and frozen food was unknown, all that was eaten being grown on their own plots or fished from the sea. The fare might have appeared plain by today's standards, but it was all home, prepared and cooked. Asked how he would spend his leisure time in those far off years he promptly stated there was little leisure available.

  After working 5½ days on the Parc le Breos estate, he would spend the next l ½ days helping out on local farms and being a non-drinker, the only social activities indulged in would be the occasional dance and game of cards at the Penmaen Hall. For Mr. Beckett his main interests during his lifetime have been the enjoyment of work, gardening and farming, and when asked what he felt the secret of a long and healthy life was he replied, ‘Work hard, give plenty of exercise to the body and eat plenty of good food’.

Today Mr. Beckett is one of the few survivors of that band of brotherhood that worked in the Gower at the beginning of the century. But if his physical prowess has receded somewhat in recent years his memory is still remarkably clear. He is a unique figure in today’s world of hectic modern life, yet many of the things he has spoken of and practiced during his time could well be followed with hopeful success by many.

    The links connecting the old world to the new grow thinner every year, Thomas Beckett being one of those surviving who although never attaining high office or fame has made his contribution to the community in unsung ways. With 40 years service given to members of the Vivian family, one of the dominant forces in earlier Gower/Mumbles life, has surely earned for himself the honorary title of an adopted son of Gower.

Previously published in Mumbles and Gower News, June 1971