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Description
There was a tradition of jazz bands in Aberfan and Merthyr Vale and the most famous band of all was the Aberfan Coons Band. This jazz band, comprising of Merthyr Vale coal miners who often hardly needed to blacken their faces with the necessary boot polish. They won an important national competition in London and carried the cup in triumph to Wales.
The Merthyr Express reported that in June 1934 a crowd of nearly 5,000 people saw the 500 guinea Challenge Cup, won at the Crystal Palace National Jazz Band Concert by the Aberfan Coons, presented at the Grove Field Aberfan by Councillor Mrs B. M. Thomas, the conductor of the band. The Aberfan Coons won the prestigious title of 'Britain's premier Jazz Band'. When the Band later paraded the streets of Aberfan in their full dress uniform there were another 12 cups and a shield won in competitions, on public display. Another later band were the Merthyr Vale Toy Soldiers.
Source: Merthyr Tydfil Public Library (2001) "Valley lives, book 3: music and musicians of the Merthyr Tydfil Valley".
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