I have received the following request via e-mail:-
I am researching information on the Cinderella Club of Merthyr Tydfil, which existed sometime from the 1880’s.
In the 19th Century (the great) Robert Blatchford, a Manchester Journalist and social reformer, campaigned for the formation of groups who would provide food and clothing for children condemned to live in appalling conditions in slums. They came to be known as Cinderella Clubs.
They sprang up all over the Country but gradually died out following the introduction of the Welfare State. Just one remains; Bradford. I have searched through old newspapers, and journals available on-line at the National Library, and found references to these clubs in Cardiff, Chester, Carmarthen, Newport and Wrexham, but not Merthyr. Indeed, I cannot find a single reference on-line.
My interest was piqued, following a FaceBook post from Tacy Chris Black, of Kansas, USA.
The post concerned a very fine mantle clock (pictures enclosed), with the inscription ‘presented to J Morgan Rees, Merthyr Cinderella Committee, 1895.
Mr. J Morgan Rees must have performed a great service for poor children, to warrant such a generous gift.
I wonder if you have any further information on the Merthyr Cinderella Club and J. Morgan Rees.
Best Regards
Roger Evans
If anyone has any information about this, please contact me at merthyr.history @gmail.com and I will pass it on.