The Boys Village had its own camp magazine, ‘The St Athan Camper’ which was published each summer and included articles of varied interest, as well as countless photos and cartoons, giving both the visitor and camper a happy reminder of a visit or a fun filled holiday.
During the Second World War, the camp was closed and instead used as a rest camp for beleaguered forces returning from Dunkirk. It remained occupied for various military purposes until 1946. However, during the grim depression years, many boys still trekked from their homes to help build the proposed ‘Camp Chapel’, in which its young guests could later use as a holy place of worship.
Several thousands of club boys served in HM forces, whilst the younger members also played there part. It was reported that a number of boy messengers had been killed in civil defence. A War memorial was built after the Second World War. It still remains. \inscribed on the altar;
'Dedicated to the memory of the youth of all nations who felt that war might end the boys of the South Wales Coalfield who at this altar dedicate themselves to complete the task so nobly begun'.
The Boys Village’ was a holiday camp located on the South Wales Coast near the village of West Aberthaw. It was established in 1925 by the Ocean Area Recreation Union; the Welfare Organisation which represented the Ocean Colliery Company, to improve the working lives of the country colliers. It was a major part of the Boys Club movement in Wales, formed in the 1920’s, to provide social and educational opportunities to the younger members of the mining workforce. The camp offered them a place to be free, as well as being close to the nearby beach. At this time it was a luxury to leave the valleys and a seaside holiday was unheard of.
When, with Nationalisation, the Ocean Coal Company and its Welfare activities ceased to exist, it was taken over by the Divisional Committee of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) and then later by ‘The Boys’ Clubs of Wales. Over the years, The Boys Village continued to provide sports camps and weekend trips to the seaside to members of the Boys Clubs, as well as holidays for deprived young people, holidays for the disabled and numerous courses for the unemployed. It also became a club for girls too.
Unfortunately, the miners’ strike of 1984-85 caused the donations supporting the camp to dry up and as the mining industry declined, so did the Boys Club movement It supported. The camps’ facilities became increasingly outdated and unappealing and without the money to put in to it anymore, the camp closed in 1991. After its closure, the camp was used for residential Bible courses by various Church groups for a few years, but it has since been abandoned.
Now, many items have been removed. The Sir Maynard Jenour building was set alight and then demolished, the collapsed Swimming Pool roof has been dragged away for scrap. Copper pipes, roof tiles and even the Church windows have been fleeced. The Village has been exposed to weathering and destruction and for many years now, left to decay. Buildings are now, one by one, being demolished to make way for a housing development and soon the Boys Village will be nothing but memories and photographs.
