Many people across the country have cause to be grateful to the youth clubs that provided - and still provide - activities and education, in the broadest sense, for young people. But over the years many of these beloved buildings across Wales have disappeared including the now abandoned Boys Village in St Athan.
Founded by Captain J Glynn-Jones and David Davies of Llandinam - Wales' first millionaire and the builder of Barry Docks - the first boys' club was opened in 1922 before they later completed this holiday camp near Barry in 1928. It was run by the Boys' Club Movement for the poorest youngsters from the valleys who would provide 200 boisterous young colliers a chance to enjoy a free holiday.
However, after closing in the 1990s, 70 years after it opened, it became a target for vandals and the site at West Aberthaw is now derelict. The camp had its own canteen, cricket pavilion, swimming pool, sports hall, church and even its own war memorial on a site close to the sea.
It was later used as a training centre for apprentices, a youth hostel and a military base during World War II. But as the pits started to close down and cheap package holidays emerged, demand for the camp fell and it finally closed in the 1990s.
After failing to sell in 2010 it was put up for sale again in 2013 after the camp's former hall, caretaker's bungalow, rectory, accommodation block and church were offered as five individual building plots. Sadly, after years of vandalism and theft the site has descended into a derelict state and several buildings have been removed or cleared after becoming fire-damaged.
Now there are calls to save some of the site including the cenotaph after plans suggested the entire area is at risk of being demolished. A recent save-the-memorial committee was formed to get the monument cleaned and re-sited but But there is disagreement between those who want it to remain in situ and those who want it moved to a museum.
Either way, until a decision is made the monument will stay where it is, and the site remains at the mercy of drunken teenage vandals and the ravages of time.
Click here to see a video of how it looks now: https://www.facebook.com/JayExplores/videos/804907726820186
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