There is a new feature on the website. I have put a large number of my magazine articles in the Blog section that you can access from the menu at the top of this page.
I am still occasionally adding to this collection – which you can read, with no obligation, absolutely for free.
There is also a page in the menu (Flip Books) where you can find a list of my works that are available for free for you to read as Flip Books. Some are new and some have been published previously.
Look in the menu or click here
You can also view my on-line catalogue of available books by clicking here
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/7594e555a5.html
New for 2022! Grave Tales From Wales Volume Two!
Welcome to my website where you will find details of my work. There are links to pages about each of my local history books, which will open in a new window.
These books have now been joined by a trilogy of novels about a police inspector called Rumsey Bucke which are set in Swansea in the 1880s. These are In Knives We Trust, Our Lady of Mumbles and A Swansea Child.
There is now also a novella called The Swansea Camel.
There is information about all these titles on this website
If you would like to buy any of my books then go to the How to Buy Page in the menu or click here
All my books have their own pages on this website where you can discover more about them. You can order copies from me for immediate dispatch and naturally I will sign books or dedicate them, as you wish. Just let me know.
A Swansea Child was published at the end of October 2021. Find out more by clicking on this link or by using the menu.
Go to the How to Buy page for more information about how to get a copy. Click here or use the link in the menu.
Please note – you can pay using either Paypal or credit and debit cards. The website price includes free delivery and recycled packing. Find out more here.
I can also confirm that new stock of Swansea Murders has now been received. These are brand-new copies, specially reprinted on request in the summer of 2021
Here below are links which will take you to the specific page for each of my titles.
I have stock available for sale of all my books listed here.
The Numbers given are accurate. (Updated 12.31 h 03-08-22)
Grave Tales From Wales Vol 2 New Stock. (Published March 2022)
Grave Tales from Wales Vol 1 New stock received (Pub July 2021)
Swansea Murders New Stock received 5 now remaining
50 Gems of Mid Wales ONLY 2 copies left
In Knives We Trust New stock available
Our Lady of Mumbles New stock available
A Swansea Child New stock available Published Oct 2012
The Swansea Camel New stock available 5 copies remaining
You can order a copy of any of these titles above directly from me on the How to Buy Page using Paypal. We have a 100% success rate on all deliveries, home and overseas. You can pay with a debit or credit card, too. You do not need a Paypal account.
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I have sold out of copies of these titles below and so they are not available on the website. However, they are available from Amazon, other on-line bookshops and traditional retailers. You can find out more about each book by clicking where a title is underlined. This will take you to the page dedicated to that particular book where you can find out more about it. That page should open in a new window.
Bloody Welsh History – Swansea
Welsh History Strange But True
Stories in Welsh Stone – The secrets beneath 15 Welsh Graves
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There is a News section and The Blog is where I post complete illustrated articles that reflect the work we have done in revealing the stories that are represented by gravestone across Wales.
There is a section called Shorter Tales, where there are complete stories which are generally too short for publication, based usually on interesting gravestones. Here you can find the stories of Hedd Wyn and Robert Everett, which have always proved to be popular pages.
If you want some entertaining information about graves and The Resurrectionists then click here. You will be taken to a page where you can also read a fine short story by the American writer Ambrose Bierce.
There is also a page about my work on Dyspraxia.
You can contact me at any time . I am always pleased to hear from you.
If I have got anything wrong or you have additional information concerning any of the stories I have written about then please get in touch. It is important that we preserve these parts of our past before it is too late.
Click on this link below if you would like to listen to me narrating one of the sections in Grave Tales From Wales. This is the chapter about the Robber’s Grave in Montgomery
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Hello Geoff
Your book has interested us greatly regarding Henry Tremble and the murder of Judge John Johnes. I believe Henry left a suicide note – is this available for public viewing? If not do you know the wording of the note?
Many thanks
I bean reeding some of the story’s and like them
Thank you Mark. I am glad that you have found them interesting. I hope all is well
Best wishes
Geoff
Hi Geoff. Have recently become aware of you and will seek out your books with interest. You first came to light via a Wales on Line article.
Could you please explain the accompanying picture of a couple in period dress on a pony and trap “alongside Swansea High St Station’
Thank you for your message Robert. I will have a look. I will contact you directly in a moment
Geoff
Jenny bought me a copy of your book and i think it is brilliant!!
I cant put it down
Well done you!!
Looking forward to the next one
Dear Geoff,
Do you know much about Morfydd Owen & Ernest Jones – it looks suspicious to me!
Best wishes,
Richard
Thank you for your message Richard. I have not researched poor Morfydd’s death, though I know that she is buried in Oystermouth Cemetery. I think any investigation of her death would require someone with much more medical knowledge than I possess!
Best wishes
Geoff
I don’t know if you can help but I’m looking for the name of the owner of the flannel mill at Llewitha,Garngoch. 1800 to 1900. My mother said he was my great grandfather. I keep hitting brick walls. After reading your book Bloody Welsh History. Swansea, you mentioned Llewitha in the book about the well. I was brought up in Fforestfach and spent a lot of time down Garngoch as one of my aunties lived there . I lived just up the road and the family were known as The Garngochs.First I’ve heard of the well to. Any help,would be appreciated. Im 75 now and diasabled,all the family are gone. My grandparents were Hannah and David John Williams. They had eleven children eight boys and three girls . My mother was the youngest. Thank you. Ann.
In google type in Mr David Simons Llewitha 1900 and click on the obituary it’s the information you need
Thank you for this. I have previously sent this reference to Ann Obrien. The Welsh newspaper archive is such a fascinating thing – and we are so lucky that it is freely available!
Best wishes
Geoff
Hello Ann
My mothers family owned the flannel mill in Llewitha my mother was Margaret Simons, she used to live in Carmarthen Road near The Star pub. Her father was Trevor Simons married to Myrtle. Her family had that mill and the son think he was about 3 drowned in the mill. Then they shut it down it was near to where that big bungalow is.
I went to the archives in the county hall a few years ago and researched it, I found his death certificate was going to do a family tree.
I did write a few names down but it got quite confusing as there’s a lot of David Simons they must have carried that name all the way through.
There are two grave stones at the entrance to the church yard by crush the wedding shop near Tesco it mentions there about llewitha factory on the grave.
Hope this is of some help.
Wendy
Your aunty in llewitha wasn’t Sue by any chance and I think she had a sister Alma?
Hello Ann
Did you get my message my mothers family owned the mill.
Geoff,
I very much enjoyed your book Swansea in the 1950s. It was my decade, I was born in1951 although I didn’t really get to know the town until the ‘60s.
Can I correct your statement (pp 32 and 34) that David Evans was built on the site of Ben Evans. It was built on the site of David Evans! I have a copy of the company’s commemorative booklet published to celebrate the opening of the new store.
I understand from the excellent gowerhiddenhistory.blogspot. that Ben Evans had been on what is now Castle Gardens. I remember as being spread across two or three premises in Walter Road, interesting that David Evans rebuilt whilst Ben Evans, at one time ‘The Harrods of West Wales’ just petered out.
I thought it was a great shame when David Evans was demolishes, it was one of post-war Swansea’s more distinguished buildings.
Hi Geoff
Just received a book you wrote on Swansea Murders which is very interesting as my Gt Gt Grandfather’s murder is included in the book.,you have his name as Joseph Boyce which is in one of the newspaper cuttings but his name is Boyes.
I am reading through the rest of the book which is very interesting
Tankyou
Hello Geoff,
Your son in law mentioned you were an author when I went to see him. It was because I also write and have two books for sale on Amazon. A Grave Inheritance (A time slip mystery) and, A Boy Peeling Fruit (A Crime thriller). I have just bought your novel, Lady of Mumbles, and I am looking forward to reading it. I used to live near the mumbles so was particularly intrigued by the title.
Hello Geoff,
I would like to purchase a personalised copy of one of your books as a Christmas present. Can you tell me where during the payment process I can add the recipient’s name.
Thank you
Pauline
Thank you for your message Pauline. As soon as I receive your order I will email you directly and clarify your wishes. That usually works. There is a space on Paypal to enter instructions but most people are happy to let me know via email.
I hope this helps
Best wishes
G
7, York Gardens, Clifton Village, Bristol BS8 4LL
Geoff Brookes,
29/4/22
Dear Geoff Brookes,
Clifton Village LitFest 2022
We came to the Llandeilo LitFest and very much enjoyed your talk on the Graves. We also bought both of your books.
FoCCaL (Friends of Clifton Community Centre and Library) started about five years ago to protect the Clifton VillageLibrary, which is the only publicly owned building in the village, from closure.
FoCCaL is now planning the third Clifton Village LitFest for this November 11 – 13 and would be grateful if you would consider speaking at one of our sessions.
The LitFest usually consists of a series of talks, poetry and music over the three days starting on Friday evening. We have the use of All Saints Church (400 seats), the Crypt (100 seats) and the whole of Clifton Village library in Princess Victoria Street with capacity of 60 (main room) or 40 (upper room)
Yours sincerely,
Gareth Hoskins (Treasurer)
hoskins_gareth@hotmail.com