Sketty Postmaster
Taken from The Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder | 14th February, 1914
The death took place on Monday, at Sketty Post Office, or Mr Joseph Gwen, postmaster of Sketty, and well-known builder and undertaker. The deceased was a native of Llangennith, Gower, from where he came to Sketty at the age of eleven, and has resided at Sketty Post Office for 55 years. His wife predeceased him 13 years ago. He leaves one daughter, Mrs W. G. Barron, of Sketty.
He was a Churchman and had been a member of St. Paul's, SKetty, since its foundation. He was a member of the choir, also a bell-ringer and sidesman, and was a member of the Sketty branch of the Society of Oddfellows.
"Old Skettyite" writes: For considerably over half a century, Mr Gwyn carried on the business of builder and undertaker to the village and district, and had satisfactorily performed the latter undertaking for all the inhabitants and principle families of the neighbourhood, including those of Vivian and Talbot, besides superintending the duties of Sub-Postmaster, which he took over on the decease of his wife, who in turn had succeeded her aunt, Mrs A. C. Howell, whose family afforded hospitality to the Rev. John Wesley, when passing through Sketty on one occasion.
His family connection with Sketty Church dates from its erection, and he himself, his deceased brother, relatives, and the late Brothers Edwards, with one or two solitary exceptions, comprised the whole of the male choristers and bellringers. After his retirement as chorister, and on the introduction of Sidesmen, both he and his deceased gifted son became two of its earliest officials.
The Gwyn family have for several generations have been inseparably connected with the church and village, and older inhabitants and visitors to Sketty Church will retain vivid recollections of his mother, who acted as caretaker and pew-opener from its opening day until her death.
Mr. Joseph Gwyn had served under the whole of the five Vicars of Sketty, and had witnessed the rise of the place from comparatively a small village to its present high dimensions.
Mrs. T. R. Robinson, junr. his only surviving daughter being Mrs. W. Barron, of Sketty, whose late husband was at one time harbour master at Port Talbot.
