I would like to highlight an item to all Dean residents with an interest in 1960s life in the Forest in general & Cinderford in particular. It is currently held at Cinderford Library, tho' no doubt it could be moved to other County Libraries on request. I found it by chance on their Local History shelf, was intrigued to know what it could be, as the Library copy is just a cd-rom within a plain sleeve. I was so glad I borrowed and subsequently copied it to my pc for my future reference. I refer to a large format scrapbook running to 117 pages which has been high-resolution scanned to pdf files, I hope the original book still exists in safe keeping, perhaps at the Dean Museum.

The Library reference is brief, "Digital scrapbook of Cinderford: 1965",
https://capitadiscovery.co.uk/gloslibraries/items/916862?query=cinderford+scrapbook&...

From it's coverpage

"A Year in the Life of a Forest town", by Bilson Women's Institute.

Compiled by Elsie Olivey
Lettering by Sheila Llewellyn
Illustrations by Ann Phelps

These are such understated credits, given that most pages contain beautifully written, painstakenly-neat calligraphy titles & scripts; plus dozens of superb delicate watercolours of local wildlife & nature subjects.

The scrapbook contains some contributions from local "celebrities" such as Leonard Clark & Harry Beddington. However most important of all are the detailed thoughts, lives & handiwork of many members of the Bilson W.I.(thirtysix are fully credited, including Enid Healey, Beryl Evans, Cicily Morgan and so on).

Born in Bilson in 1962, I attended Bilson Schools and St Stephens Church & Sunday School. Our neighbour & close family friend was & is Beryl Evans, prominent in local education and Girl Guiding, as was Sheila Llewellyn plus Cicily Morgan thro' the Church. I grew to know all these good ladies as a boy, like many of the Scrapbook contributors they were always helping with community events with my mother, in later years they attended my sisters’ weddings at St Stephens. The fact I know them makes this book even more enjoyable to me, plus some of their children of my age are photographed within its various chapters, such as Childcare at the "new" Dockham Health Centre (Beryl's baby son - my Best Man years later). Also of particular interest was the section about the Choral Society, featuring photos & potted histories of two important members of my Bilson School days, choirmaster & headmaster Harold L.Williams, and Cliff Bonser, teacher of Times Tables & excellent pianist despite our less tunefull "singing".

The Scrapbook details every conceivable aspect of the town and area; it's history, it's people including the local Gipsies, jobs, industry & trades, schools, health & welfare, social life & clubs, amateur dramatics, Scouts & Guides, local government & politics, pubs & pantos, the mines, forestry, etc etc, even the sheep get a chapter !. There are sections on more general aspects of life in the 60s; holidays, food, shops, fashions etc.

You can read old Mercury newspaper clippings; interesting news stories both serious & amusing, great old adverts reminding us we could buy a brand new house in Springfield Drive for £3000 (Rates £80pa) or an older twoup/twodown terrace in Belle Vue Rd for about £1000, or we could join the "37% of households who were car owners" & buy a new Austin saloon for around £1000.

Throughout this beautifull book are several high quality photos showing, for example, the local school's & inmates, plus the "new" High Street shops being built and the Triangle being redeveloped, or members of the Mintec amateur dramatics in action. I particularly enjoyed the section about the Wesley Players pantomimes which were a Christmas highlight.

The Scrapbook was produced to help commemorate the national W.I.'s Golden Jubilee, having been formed in 1915 to assist the War Effort. One chapter describes the celebratory Golden Fayre held at the Miner’s Hall, opened by BBCTV “Points West” presenter Jeremy Carrad (and family!); many photos illustrate this day including one of the Jams & Preserves Stall manned by Mrs E. Healey - how different things were then for the wife of the serving Secretary For State !, clearly a different age....
There is a subsequent feature illustrating the Royal Garden Party to which the Queen invited a member of each national WI branch. Even in those days May 31st could be cold, dull and wet, sadly !. Mrs Cicely Morgan was the lucky winner of the Bilson draw who joined 9000! other members in Buckingham Palace Gardens, apparently Prince Phillip was "mobbed a number of times" ! The Cinderford & Ruspidge party’s big day out ended with the Black & White Minstrel Show at the Victoria Theatre, not returning home until 2.30am.

One of the more extensive Mercury clippings describes the life & times of Mr Charles A.J. Hale, who in the same week celebrated his 96th birthday and 70 years of Marriage to formerly Miss Ida Bright, they were clearly highly regarded & respected members of the community.
I also enjoyed the clipping detailing the life of "our oldest inhabitant" Mrs Elizabeth Susan Smith, enjoying her 100th Birthday party at the White Hart. Born December 1865, one of eight all of which lived past 80 and a brother still alive aged 98ish. A fever when just three left her deaf & dumb, yet that didn’t hold her back from enjoying life. At the annual Speech House Miner’s Demonstration she met her future husband, son of Thomas Smith (Engineer at Lightmoor Colliery), he was also deaf & dumb, they had a son Fred who accompanied her at the 100th party. Even into her 60s she still regularly walked from Cinderford to Gloster, and was famous for very high standards of personal appearance & behaviour - that said ;-) the clipping says she insisted on her photo being taken WHILE holding her lighted cigarette & sipping her sherry, not to mention her "love of policemen with flat caps" - her favourite TV show being "Z Cars". A remarkable lady !

I think & hope you will enjoy this unique “timecapsule” of Dean life in the mid 1960s, many will find photos or mentions of friends or even family, plus places and pastimes of a simpler age itself almost 50 years ago.

May I suggest this FoDFH website considers contacting the Library wrt maybe adding part or all of the pdf files to this website's online database, for a much larger audience to enjoy.

Sadly it appears that Mrs Elizabeth Susan Smith, who celebrated her 100th Birthday in late 1965, didn't live to see 101. I think this may be her, from FreeBMD:

Surname Given Name Age District Volume Page Transcriber
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deaths Jun 1966
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMITH ELIZABETH S. 100 GLOUCESTER R 7B 47_ jonno

I cannot any more details of her Burial within this site's PRs, or GlosBMD.

The Scrapbook states Elizabeth's husband was son of Thomas Smith (Engineer at Lightmoor Colliery), and that they had a son Fred who was also alive and married in 1965.

The family are rather elusive wrt this site's PRs, but searching GlosBMD I think this is possibly her Marriage:

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
SMITH Frederick Thomas JAMES Elizabeth Susannah Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office 1897 20 12

And this is their son Fred:

Birth Details
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
SMITH Frederick Thomas James SMITH SMITH JAMES 1899 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, East Dean 7 218

This is the most likely Marriage Record I can find for son Fred (altho the photo in the Scrapbook suggests his wife maybe younger, so ?):

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
SMITH Frederick Thomas GRIFFITHS Beatrice Edith Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office 1920 18 105

The scrapbook states Elizabeth's actual birthday was December 27th 1865;

GlosBMD
Birth Details
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
JAMES Elizabeth Susanna JAMES JAMES LEWIS 1865 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 11 209

FoD PRs

Record_ID: 146581
Entry_Number: 97
Year: 1868
Month: Jan
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: JAMES
Child_Forenames: Elizabeth Susanna
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Mothers_Forenames: Mary Ann
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Parkend
Occupation: Carpenter
Officiating_Minister: Jno. Josh Elsworth Incumbent
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born 27 Dec 1865
Notes:
Register_Reference: P245 IN 1/12
Page_Number: 13
Parish_Chapel: Parkend
Soundex: J520

The Scrapbook states she was one of 8 children, altho from this site's PRs it's possible there were more..?..

1855 JAMES Elizabeth, Thomas & Mary Ann, Pillowell, Collier, Parkend
1857 JAMES Thomas, Thomas & Mary Ann, Yorkley, Collier, Parkend
1860 JAMES Henry, Thomas & Mary Ann, Yorkley Slade, Collier, Parkend
1862 JAMES Margaret Sarah, Thomas & Mary Ann, Gloucester, Carpenter, Lydney
1867 JAMES Lucy, Thomas & Mary Ann, Yorkley Slade West Dean, Collier, FoD Bible Christian
1868 JAMES Elizabeth Susanna, Thomas & Mary Ann, Parkend, Carpenter, Parkend
1869 JAMES James Benjamin, Thomas & Mary Ann, Yorkley, Carpenter, Lydney
1869 JAMES Sarah, Thomas & Mary Ann, Yorkley, Carpenter, Lydney
1869 JAMES Albert, Thomas & Mary Ann, West Dean, Collier, FoD Bible Christian
1872 JAMES Sidney Frank, Thomas & Mary Ann, West Dean, Collier, FoD Bible Christian
1879 JAMES Agnes Annie, Thomas & Mary Ann, Yorkly Slade, Collier, FoD Bible Christian

I believe this is the correct Marriage Record, from GlosBMD & FreeBMD:

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
JAMES Thomas JAMES Mary Ann Forest of Dean Newland All Saints 1854 2 120
(December Qtr according to FreeBMD)

Unsure as to why the bride's name differs slightly here:

Record_ID: 12965
Entry_Number: 120
Year: 1854
Month: Nov
Day: 25
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Age: 24
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Yorkley
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: William
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: JAMES
Brides_Forenames: Ann
Brides_Age: 20
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Yorkley
Brides_Fathers_Surname: James
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Charcoal Curer[?]
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He marks; she signs
Witness_1: C. Stockham
Witness_2: Mark of Sarah Morse
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: John Hawksley Curate
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/13
Page_Number: 60
Parish_Chapel: Newland
Soundex_Groom: J520
Soundex_Bride: J520

Possible Fathers (not a rare name!)
??

Record_ID: 37232
Entry_Number: 866
Year: 1830
Month: Feb
Day: 21
Parents_Surname: JAMES
Child_Forenames: Thomas
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Hannah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Allaston - Parish of Lydney
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: H.C.H.Hawkins Curate
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Son of
Notes:
Register_Reference: PFC 209 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 109
Parish_Chapel: Lydney
Soundex: J520

Record_ID: 133867
Entry_Number: 930
Year: 1830
Month: May
Day: 9
Parents_Surname: JAMES
Child_Forenames: Thomas
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Dinah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Tithing of Etloe
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: J[acob] George Wrench
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P50 IN1/1
Page_Number: 117
Parish_Chapel: Blakeney
Soundex: J520

1841 Census may help clarify .. similarly cannot find definite Baptism for Mary Ann ??

Despite Slowhands' help (thanks!) I cannot find a definite Burial Record locally for Elizabeth's husband Frederick Smith born abt 1864, who sadly died early, between 1901 & 1911, aged abt 37-47.

Record_ID: 146581
Entry_Number: 97
Year: 1868
Month: Jan
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: JAMES
Child_Forenames: Elizabeth Susanna
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Mothers_Forenames: Mary Ann
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Parkend
Occupation: Carpenter
Officiating_Minister: Jno. Josh Elsworth Incumbent
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born 27 Dec 1865
Notes:
Register_Reference: P245 IN 1/12
Page_Number: 13
Parish_Chapel: Parkend
Soundex: J520

1911 Silver St, Little Dean
Elizabeth Susan Smith 44 Lydney Widow
Fredrick Thomas Laura [JAMES] Smith 11

1901
Frederick Smith abt 1864 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Lizzie Smith abt 1866 Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Freddie Smith abt 1900 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

1871 Yorkley
Thomas James 32
Mary Ann James 31
Margaret Sarah James 9
James Benjamin James 7
Elizabeth S James 5 Lydney
Sarah James 2
Tom James 1 Month

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Year: 1934
Month: Dec
Day: 1
Surname: SMITH
Forenames: Thomas Frederick
Residence: 16 [?]bush Road Coleford
Age_at_death: 76
Officiating_Minister: Leslie R J Moon
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/15
Page_No: 181
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John

1911 St Whites House, St Whites Rd, Cinderford, Glos
Thomas F Smith 50
Emily L Smith 49
Lilian R Smith 17
Vernon S Smith 9

1901
Thomas Smith abt 1858 Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England Head Littledean, Gloucestershire
Emily Smith abt 1859 Herefordshire, England Wife Littledean, Gloucestershire
Harold Smith abt 1883 Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire
Warrington Smith abt 1885 Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire
Leslie Smith abt 1887 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire
Gilbert Smith abt 1889 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire
Lillian Smith abt 1894 Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Littledean, Gloucestershire

1901 Ruspidge
Thomas Smith abt 1836 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire Colliery Manager
Elizabeth Smith abt 1837 Adoett, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Smith abt 1861 Clearwell, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Hubert Smith abt 1877 Cinderford Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

1891
Thomas F Smith abt 1858 Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England Head Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Emily L Smith abt 1859 Hereford, Herefordshire, England Wife Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Harrold E Smith abt 1883 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Warrington E Smith abt 1885 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Leslie Smith abt 1887 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Gilbert J Smith abt 1889 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire

1881
Thomas Smith abt 1832 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Smith abt 1835 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Wife Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma M. Smith abt 1855 Clearwell, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth A. Smith abt 1857 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas F. Smith abt 1859 Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Albert E. Smith abt 1861 Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Alfred H. Smith abt 1863 Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
George Smith T abt 1871 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Hubert Smith abt 1873 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1874
Month: Mar
Day: 2
Parents_Surname: SMITH
Child_Forenames: Hubert
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Mothers_Forenames: Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: The Villa Ruspidge
Occupation: Manager of Works
Officiating_Minister: G A Allan Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Privately
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/2
Page_Number: 127
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John

1861 Stenders
Thomas Smith abt 1829 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Harriet Smith abt 1831 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma M Smith abt 1854 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth A Smith abt 1856 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas F Smith abt 1858 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Albert G Smith abt 1860 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1858
Month: Apr
Day: 4
Parents_Surname: SMITH
Child_Forenames: Thomas Frederick
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Mothers_Forenames: Harriet
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Drybrook
Occupation: Mining Agent
Officiating_Minister: W A Whitestone
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/2
Page_Number: 166
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

SMITH Thomas Frederick
SMITH TAYLOR
1858 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 18 233

Year: 1852
Month: Nov
Day: 15
Grooms_Surname: SMITH
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Age: Full Age
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Labourer
Grooms_Residence: Cinderford
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Smith
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: John
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: TAYLOR
Brides_Forenames: Harriet
Brides_Age: Full Age
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Clearwell
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Taylor
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: James Loveridge
Witness_2: Eliza Richards
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Ralph C. Morton Curate
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/13
Page_Number: 25
Parish_Chapel: Newland

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
SMITH Frederick Thomas GRIFFITHS Beatrice Edith Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office 1920 18 105

1901
James Griffiths abt 1875 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Edith A Griffiths abt 1879 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Beatrice E Griffiths abt 1900 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Florence E Griffiths abt 1900 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire

1911 Bilson Green
James Griffiths 35
Edith Griffiths 32
Beatrice Griffiths 11
Nellie Griffiths 10
Birtie Griffiths 7
William C Griffiths 5
Doris May Griffiths 1
Cornelious Baldwin 70 Ruardean Boarder
Maria Baldwin 72 Coleford

Name: Beatrice Edith Smith
Birth Date: 15 Dec 1899
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1975
Age at Death: 75
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 22
Page: 1535

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

1901 Ruspidge
Thomas Smith abt 1836 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire Colliery Manager ...

and

Year: 1874
Parents_Surname: SMITH
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas ...
Residence: The Villa Ruspidge
Occupation: Manager of Works

etc

Found while browsing the Welsh Newspapers site;

From the Cardiff Times, 16 April 1910

"DEAN FOREST MINING ENGINEER.
Mr Thomas Smith, of Ruspidge, Cinderford, retired mining engineer, who has been in bad health for some time, died at his residence on Monday. He was over 70 years of age, and leaves a widow and several sons. Mr Smith had been associated with many mining enterprises in the Forest of Dean, including Edge Mills, Wigpool, Buckshaft, Perseverance and Shakemantle iron mines, and with Foxes Bridge and Lightmoor Collieries."

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3415886/ART221/dean%20pioneers

From this site's PRs, I think this is correct:

Record_ID: 406630
Entry_Number:
Year: 1832
Month: May
Day: 16
Parents_Surname: SMITH
Child_Forenames: Thomas
Fathers_Forenames: John
Mothers_Forenames: Margaret
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: of this parish
Occupation: labourer
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference:
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Monmouth
Soundex: S530

Record_ID: 6783
Entry_Number: 1348
Year: 1910
Month: Apr
Day: 13
Surname: SMITH
Forenames: Thomas
Residence: Ruspidge
Age_at_death: 81 years
Officiating_Minister: F. W. Baldwin Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/14
Page_No: 170
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John
Soundex: S530