Joseph John Richards, born between Cwmafan and Aberafan, became famous in the United States as a composer of march tunes and a bandleader.
He worked as an engineer and manager (at Tewgoed (or 'Terrgoed') Colliery at Cwmafan); then underground surveyor to William Chambers of Llanelli; and finally, at Abercrave colliery, iron works, iron mines, and limestone quarries while maintaining an active interest in natural history, especially botany (he left a herbarium at the Royal Institution of South Wales, Swansea), and folklore.
Cwmafan |