Last Friday was a particularly sad day for myself and the community of the Upper Afan Valley. 

After a hard fight and a legal challenge Cymer Afan Comprehensive School, of the Upper Afan Valley, closed its doors for the summer for the very last time and won't be reopening this September.

87 years ago it opened as a senior school and in 1965 it was turned into a comprehensive. 4 generations of my family attended the school and my nephews, who have been attending the school, face a 14 mile journey out of the valley to their new school in Port Talbot come September.

During the last couple of weeks the community have been reminiscing of their times spent at the school through a private Facebook group. While sharing my own experiences I can't help but feel that there is an oral history that will soon be lost if it isn't documented and made accessible for future generations.

Introducing The Little Switzerland Project (due the Afan Valley often being compared to a little Switzerland). I plan to begin an oral history project within the community and who knows where that may lead. I'd like to call out to any artists out there who have or are involved in similar projects that can offer advice, inspiration and council?!

Please do get in touch

Josh

Email: joshalantrask@me.com