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Hugh Lloyd Jones, 100, switches on Llanfairfechan's Christmas lights | Hugh Lloyd Jones, 100, switches on Llanfairfechan's Christmas lights |
(4 days later) | |
A 100-year-old who first switched on the electricity in his Conwy community 84 years ago has been given the honour of turning on the Christmas lights. | A 100-year-old who first switched on the electricity in his Conwy community 84 years ago has been given the honour of turning on the Christmas lights. |
As a young apprentice electrician Hugh Lloyd Jones was asked to switch on the power in Llanfairfechan in 1929. | As a young apprentice electrician Hugh Lloyd Jones was asked to switch on the power in Llanfairfechan in 1929. |
On Saturday, he switched on the festive lights at the town hall. | |
"I am looking forward. I suppose when you get to my age - 100 plus - a little bit of fuss like this... goes down well," the centenarian said. | |
Mr Jones said he was the first young man from Llanfairfechan - where he has lived all his long life - to be apprenticed as an electrician back in the 1920s. | Mr Jones said he was the first young man from Llanfairfechan - where he has lived all his long life - to be apprenticed as an electrician back in the 1920s. |
Aged 16, he was asked to to take part in the official switching on of power for the community in 1929. | Aged 16, he was asked to to take part in the official switching on of power for the community in 1929. |
'Very fortunate' | 'Very fortunate' |
That happened in a building under the stage of the town hall where he will be performing the Christmas lights illumination on Saturday. | That happened in a building under the stage of the town hall where he will be performing the Christmas lights illumination on Saturday. |
Mr Jones also explained how he forged a career as an electrical contractor - a business which his son later joined him in - once his three-year apprenticeship was completed. | Mr Jones also explained how he forged a career as an electrical contractor - a business which his son later joined him in - once his three-year apprenticeship was completed. |
"I was again very fortunate being in the right place at the right time," he said. | |
"I wired the first council estate in Llanfairfechan and that helped me very much in getting more business." | |
He also wired the local Horeb Chapel schoolroom and house. | |
Royal garden parties | Royal garden parties |
"At the opening night of the lighting of the chapel there were about 500 people there," he said. | |
"And the fact that I had been able single-handedly to do that job I had no difficulty at all from that day on in getting plenty of work. I wired the Welsh church, English church, Bethel chapel. | "And the fact that I had been able single-handedly to do that job I had no difficulty at all from that day on in getting plenty of work. I wired the Welsh church, English church, Bethel chapel. |
"So my fingerprints are on most of the electrical developments in Llanfairfechan." | "So my fingerprints are on most of the electrical developments in Llanfairfechan." |
Mr Jones also served as mayor of Aberconwy. | Mr Jones also served as mayor of Aberconwy. |
'Candles' | 'Candles' |
He said he had been honoured to attend two royal garden parties at Buckingham Palace, also meet the Prince of Wales and Princess Diana. | |
Being presented with his wife to the Queen and Prince Philip was possibly a highlight of his life, he said. | Being presented with his wife to the Queen and Prince Philip was possibly a highlight of his life, he said. |
But the 100-year-old also admitted that times had changed greatly during his lifetime. | But the 100-year-old also admitted that times had changed greatly during his lifetime. |
"I've got grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they just cant understand how a town existed without electricity. | "I've got grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they just cant understand how a town existed without electricity. |
"Naturally, they haven't seen it any different but I was brought up with the lamp on the kitchen table and candles to go to bed. That was it and nobody thought anything of it." | "Naturally, they haven't seen it any different but I was brought up with the lamp on the kitchen table and candles to go to bed. That was it and nobody thought anything of it." |
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