Neath Grammar School. Merchant Navy cadet, Harp Line. Ships Harpalycus and Harpalion. General and bulk cargoes, to Tokyo, Vancouver, Australia, East Indies etc. Noted in Marseilles returning home as a "distressed seaman". Joined Royal Navy as officer pilot in Fleet Air Arm Owned a smallholding 1958-c.1960. Cambrian Airways pilot and captain c.1962-1969. Retired due to ill health.

The Cottage
Ty-coch, Cynghordy, was purchased as a shell around 1969. The intention was to have somewhere permanent to stay on his frequent fishing trips to the area. He fished the Bran and the Cothi for brown trout, and the Tywi for salmon and sewin.
This status soon changed when his sudden loss of income meant that the Westbourne Road house had to be sold before a new location could be found. Improvements were duly accelerated, and everyone moved in by Christmas.
A good water supply did not exist, so on local advice "That spring don't never dry" a well was dug, tested, enclosed and piped. Lovely blue water that seemed to be therapeutic.
A telephone line was brought down the hill at great expense, and there was even a glimmer of television reception when the weather was good.
Luckily the previous attempt at habitation had got as far as getting mains electricity. But no sewers of course, so a septic tank replaced the 'ty-bach' at the bottom of the garden by the stream.
The cottage had to be sold in October 1994 when Lance was beginning to show signs of dementure and was having difficulty finding the way by car.