A collection of letters and envelopes, written between Sheila Evans (an English woman living in Wales) and Sylvia Forward (a Welsh woman living in England).
Most of the letters are not in chronological order. Any semblance of order is notional because few of Sylvia’s letters were dated, and Sheila had separated them from the envelopes so she could display the mail art.
Sheila Evans (née Toogood) was born in Egypt on 16 March 1942. Her mother was an army nurse during the Second World War and her father an army engineer. For a short time, Sheila ran a company building dry-stone walls in the Cotswolds, the money she made paying for the purchase of the property at Bancffosfelen. Sheila moved to the Gwendraeth Valley in the mid-1980s in search of an affordable gardener’s paradise. She lived at Glastonbury near Bancffosfelen for 35 years. Her letters record her experiences of living at Glastonbury. Sheila died in Wiltshire in 2022.
Sheila’s letters include details of visits to Carmarthen, Llanelli, Ferryside, Kidwelly and day trips to other local venues. Her letters also note important local events, such as the closure and demolition of Cynheidre Colliery.
Sylvia Forward (née Soper) was born in Wales on 29 November 1926. She grew up in Treforest, Pontypridd. Sylvia met her husband, Colin in 1947 when they were students at Cardiff School of Art. The couple moved to England in 1950 to find work and had six children together. Sylvia lived at Malmsbury for 45 years. Sylvia was a prolific artist with a unique style which is shown in her mail art. In later life, Sylvia’s health deteriorated, and she became a prolific painter and industrious knitter; the sweaters and cardigans she made and sold were worn on every continent. Even after a stroke which took away the use of her left arm, Sylvia taught herself to knit with one arm. Sylvia died at Bath on 9 October 1996.
Sylvia’s letters include details of national politics and the football World Cup.
Sheila and Sylvia first met when they both lived in Wiltshire in 1974. Both women were enthusiastic readers of bygone diarists, which is evident from their letter writing styles. The letters start in 1981 and continue until Sylvia’s death in 1996.
Trefnwyd yn gronolegol / Arranged chronologically
Ar Agor / Open
Dim cyfyngiadau / No Restrictions
Adnau preifat / Private deposit
Acc No. 9018
Mae copiau clawr caled o`r catalogau ar gael yn Archifau Sir Gaerfyrddin ac yn y Gofrestr Cenedlaethol Archifau. Polisi Archifau Sir Gaerfyrddin yw catalogio yn iaith y ddogfen / Hard copies of the catalogue are available at Carmarthenshire Archives and the National Register of Archives. It is the policy of Carmarthenshire Archives to catalogue in the language of the document.
Cyflwr da / Good condition
Compiled by Katie Millien for Archifau Sir Gaerfyrddin / Carmarthenshire Archives using the following source: Carmarthenshire Archives Service Catalogue.
Mae'r holl gofnodiadau sy'n cydymffurfio â pholisi casglu Archifau Sir Gaerfyrddin wedi eu cadw / All records which meet the collection policy of the Carmarthenshire Archives have been retained
Ni ddisgwylir croniadau / Accruals are not expected
