Swansea's Biggest Christmas Turkey 🦃

Good morning, Swansea!

It won’t be long before the rush for fresh Christmas turkeys starts again this year in Swansea, so this week I’ve pulled out several poultry-themed stories from the Swansea archives - including a turkey thief who hid the stolen birds somewhere quite unexpected.

Grab a cuppa and enjoy the stories and photos, and I’ll catch you on Sunday!

Andrew

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Swansea’s biggest Christmas bird in living memory - a 77lb turkey - was donated in 1986 to the Salvation Army’s festive dinner for the lonely.

It came from Dave Horton, manager of Dewhurst butchers on Oxford Street, and Wayne Hancock, a local poultry wholesaler. After every kitchen in town seemingly said no, The Evening Post put out an appeal for help. Barbara Thomas of the Heritage Restaurant on Somerset Place offered both her oven (one of the largest in Swansea) and her time, volunteering for the 31-hour roast.

She and her team, including YTS trainee Wayne Thomas, cooked the bird after hearing how volunteers at the Salvation Army would give up their own Christmas Day to make sure no one ate alone.

Just before Christmas 1929, three men appeared in Swansea court over a festive poultry raid gone wrong. Ivor Bailey Goss (27), William Edward Samuel (26), and Gwilym Thomas Emmanuel were charged with stealing ten fowls and two turkeys from Dorchwydd House, Pontlasse (a rural part of Swansea at the time, now known as Pantlasau, near Morriston.) — the property of Arthur Davies, and valued at £6 10s.

The case grew more bizarre when police discovered the missing turkeys buried in a hole in Mrs Emmanuel’s garden in Treboeth. One of the men admitted killing the birds that very morning. Goss and Samuel also faced separate charges for stealing another eight fowls - this time from Llewellyn Williams of Tycoch Farm, Treboeth.

Goss told the court he planned to keep the turkeys for Christmas. The case against Mrs Katherine Emmanuel, accused of receiving them, was dismissed. But Gwilym Emmanuel was placed on two years’ probation and ordered to pay £10 in compensation.

While most of Swansea tucked into turkey at home in 1927, others spent Christmas in institutions - from hospitals and workhouses to children’s homes. But thanks to volunteers, nurses, and a caring public, no one was left out.

The South Wales Daily Post reported that in Swansea Hospital, the wards were decorated with holly, mistletoe and fairy lights. Patients had a full Christmas dinner, carved by members of the medical staff - “Surgeons Operate on Turkeys” read the headline. Carols rang out from St Faith’s choirboys, a local male voice choir performed on Christmas Day, and all the children received a small gift.

Over at the Tawel Lodge workhouse, the Mayor and Mayoress attended on Christmas Day, and watched the “inmates” enjoy their meal and gifts. A concert and dance followed on Boxing Day, along with sweets and presents handed out by Councillor and Mrs William Owen.

Meanwhile, the Swansea British Legion made their way through rain-soaked streets to visit families of sick and poor ex-servicemen. They brought two taxis full of toys, sweets, cigarettes, and dainties — distributing them “with delight” across the poorer districts of the town

Hope you enjoyed this little journey back in time!

Catch you on Sunday!

Andrew.

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