From Gareth Edwards Editor Caernarfononline.
Having set up CaernarfonOnline last year, never did I realise
the power of the Internet. It has during this time re-unite
many people, Dafydd himself included.
But little did I realise that it would re-unite me with and old friend I
lost touch with ten years ago.
Stephen Rankin Owen
of Maes Gwynedd Caernarfon was a school friend of mine since infants.
We grew up together and
entered Ysgol Hogiau, Segontium and
Steve was always interested
in the military and set his sites on joining up the RAF. He started training as
a chef in Llandrillo and worked in one or two
restaurants in the area. As soon as he was old enough, he joined the RAF and I
was sorry to see him go.
We kept in touch through
mail and phone, during the Falklands war I remember (foolishly) sending him a
couple of cans of beer through the post (just to cheer him up) little did I
guess OR THINK that they would be on alert for any suspicious packages, and he
was brought before his superiors for having an idiot as a friend???
A little after the war he
was sent to the
Nevertheless he saw the
funny side of the 'cans' fiasco and still invited me to be his best man down in
Being a best man is hard at
the best of times, but having to stand up in front of all these military men
and speak with my deep North Wallian accent made
things worse. I performed my duties well that day and look back on it with a
smile.
The marriage unfortunately
didn't last and Steve has since re-married.
After the split Steve and myself lost touch and I have to admit, I missed his mad-cap
ways. He used to come to my mum's house in Cae Mur on every leave and we used
to knock back a few cans talking about our wild past.
This week Steve phoned me
out of the blue. He had been told that his photo was on the web, by a family
member and thought it had to be me that set it up. We talked for ages and
reminisce the old times and what we had got up to since we last talked.
He was surprised that I now
had a son and seemed very pleased to hear the news.
I look forward to seeing him
once again this year, and going over old times once more.
Many others have found old
friends on CaernarfonOnline. Dafydd found a friend
that had emigrated to Australia, and June who now lives in Canada got back in
touch with and old friend in Caernarfon, another got in touch with Roger
(Beachcomber.)
If you have someone you
would like to get in touch with again, or have a story to tell. Write to
Dafydd, you never know Memory lane might be able to help you.
Gareth Caernarfon Online