BACK in 1930, my father, while working around the house, used to sing; two of the songs were about happenings in Risca. Many years later, I am wondering whether they were true or fictional. Song one starts as follows; “In Risca Town where I was born lives a butcher boy my heart doth scone, he courted me from morn til eve, but now with me he will not speak. Now I can tell you the reason why, it’s because she has more gold than I, but her gold will melt and her silver fly and one day she’ll be just as poor as I” and so on. Song two starts; “In a quiet western valley, Risca Town in Monmouthshire, came this sad and fearful story, one that fills one’s heart with fear. T’was on a quiet Sunday morning, Risca rose in dread alarm, Oliver instead of slaying should have kept his wife from harm, but without a moment’s warning for some reason yet unknown, this sad murder was committed, for this crime he must atone” and so on. I will soon be 89 years of age and would very much like to at last know the truth about these songs. Thanks for helping (if you can).
 
Mrs B Jenkins,
Brecon Walk,
Cwmbran