Abergavenny Gay Witch Hunt of 1942: "Forgotten Abergavenny" publishes An Old Photograph of The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny

15 SEPTEMBER 2014 : FORGOTTEN ABERGAVENNY WEB SITE PUBLISHED THIS ARTICLE TODAY: THANKS TO SASSY HICKS. The Dark Past of Abergavenny (and how it is helping the community now) William Cross, the Author of the controversial book “The Abergavenny Witch Hunt” has kindly submitted this old photo of The Angel Hotel in Cross Street back in the late... 1930s. By the 1940s (after a string of tenants from the early 18th Century onwards), ownership of The Angel Hotel had passed to Trust House Forte. A centre of excellent hospitality and relaxation for locals and visitors alike, it was where Abergavenny’s great and good assembled nightly “to settle the events of the world”. In 1942, it was an almighty shock to find that one of the favourite chefs at the hotel and a café assistant from nearby were caught up with other men and youths in the seedy homosexual scandal that engulfed the town. At the time such conduct was against the law. Over twenty years later, in 1967, Pontypool’s reforming MP, Leo Abse, was influenced by the aftermath of chaos from the Abergavenny case to successfully promote a Private Members Bill to change the law on homosexuality which is now enshrined in the our basic human rights. “The Abergavenny Witch Hunt” is a truly remarkable book that delves into the dark past of the town and its role in changing the homosexuality laws for the better. It’s well worth a read if you are intrigued by local history. You can meet the Author, William Cross, and buy a signed copy of his book at the Abergavenny Bookshop in High Street on Saturday 20th September during the Abergavenny Food Festival. *William has also kindly agreed to donate all profits from the sale of this book to the ‘Abergavenny Community Café’, in memory of Lewis Matthews, the 19th-year-old Abergavenny lad, who took his own life during the 1942 case. The Abergavenny Community Café is based at the leisure centre and is run and managed entirely by volunteers. It is also a training base for people wishing to learn skills to work in the hospitality industry. Please support them as they are all incredible people!

LGBT Magazines and Welsh Libraries take copies of The Abergavenny Witch Hunt

Week commencing 8th September 2014 LGBT Magazine and Libraries: Monmouthshire Libraries Fail to order The Abergavenny Witch Hunt. Book sales have continued slowly. Copies of the book have been accepted by a number of LGBT magazines, some academics ( with LGBT credentials ) as well as by several review, literary and newspaper contacts in South Wales, Kent and London. It is pleasing to report that several Welsh Libraries, including Newport, Gwent and Powys have ordered multiple copies of the book. All credit to the book requisition librarians in these two Counties. The National Library of Wales have also ordered an additional copy for their shelves. It is a very bad reflection on Monmouthshire Libraries that despite sending e-mails to ALL the libraries in the County offering discounted priced copies of The Abergavenny Witch Hunt no orders have been received to date. A very poor show. This reflects the general veil of disinterest about the sex scandal of 1942 by official organisations in Abergavenny .Whether the town and county authorities like it or not the case is a very important but disturbing aspect of the County's past history.