Barrie Griffiths
1942 - 2009A native of Maesteg, Barrie was educated at Maesteg Grammar School which he left to become a Cadet at the
Glamorgan Constabulary Headquarters in Bridgend. At 19 Barrie joined the regular force as a constable and was posted to Neath where he met and
married his wife Anne. The couple have three children and four grandchildren.
As well as Neath Barrie served at Bridgend, Maesteg, Kenfig Hill, and Traffic
Administration Department securing promotion to the rank of Sergeant before ill-health caused his premature retirement.
His interest in the history of his home town at Maesteg was piqued at an early age, and in his thirties he secured
a Grade A pass in Medieval History at A Level with The London University. Since his enforced retirement it is this
interest which has helped provide him with something upon which to focus, and for the past 20 years he has been concentrating
upon the history of the former Borough of Kenfig prior to 1850.
A founder member of The Kenfig Society, Barrie was instrumental in creating the Publications Section which produces booklets
on the local history of the area several of which he has written himself. He also wrote a popular column in a local free
newspaper under the pen-name “The Time Trekker” which ran for over seven years. He and Anne have given talks on local history
to numerous organisations in South Wales, and Barrie has often appeared on radio and television as “the local expert” – notably
the occasion when he was all but blown off the top of Kenfig Castle in the acclaimed BBC Television series “Coast”!
As well as Neath Barrie served at Bridgend, Maesteg, Kenfig Hill, and Traffic
Administration Department securing promotion to the rank of Sergeant before ill-health caused his premature retirement.
His interest in the history of his home town at Maesteg was piqued at an early age, and in his thirties he secured
a Grade A pass in Medieval History at A Level with The London University. Since his enforced retirement it is this
interest which has helped provide him with something upon which to focus, and for the past 20 years he has been concentrating
upon the history of the former Borough of Kenfig prior to 1850.
A founder member of The Kenfig Society, Barrie was instrumental in creating the Publications Section which produces booklets
on the local history of the area several of which he has written himself. He also wrote a popular column in a local free
newspaper under the pen-name “The Time Trekker” which ran for over seven years. He and Anne have given talks on local history
to numerous organisations in South Wales, and Barrie has often appeared on radio and television as “the local expert” – notably
the occasion when he was all but blown off the top of Kenfig Castle in the acclaimed BBC Television series “Coast”!
A founder member of The Kenfig Society, Barrie was instrumental in creating the Publications Section which produces booklets
on the local history of the area several of which he has written himself. He also wrote a popular column in a local free
newspaper under the pen-name “The Time Trekker” which ran for over seven years. He and Anne have given talks on local history
to numerous organisations in South Wales, and Barrie has often appeared on radio and television as “the local expert” – notably
the occasion when he was all but blown off the top of Kenfig Castle in the acclaimed BBC Television series “Coast”!
