Volume Five - The Age of Decline & Crass Stupidity - What happened after the docks closed? . . .

We have established that by 25th March 1963 the pontoon had been stripped of its 'wall' (the superstructure) together with the deck fittings and sunk in the dock. Julie commenced employment at the offices of Penarth Dock Engineering Co. Ltd. during August 1964 and the pontoon had “evaporated” using her terminology!

	The shore connections holding the pontoon steady at the dock side for half a century were removed and the internal compartments flooded sending her down to say hello to Davy Jones. According to the engineering staff, this was done to prevent vandalism and limit the potential for injury claims. When I came for interview for my apprenticeship in February 1966 the pontoon was long gone.

The ownership of the pontoon was transferred (particulars unknown) to Eddie Avoth and Co; although there are some recollections (of Judith) of a third party being involved, Harvey & Co. Eddie Avoth was a former prize fighter and his company set up base in the pumping house adjacent to the entrance to the gatehouse of the works and only feet from the pontoon location with the intention of recovering c.2,000 tons of steel, being the remainder of the pontoon. Judith recollects that Eddie invited her out on a date; she recollects that she declined the offer!

The Glamorgan Archives [310] hold a record (DNCB/6/4/1) which has notes relating to a meeting held during March 1967 to discuss the Aberfan Tip Complex which included plans to transport and fill Penarth Dock with colliery waste. This was following the sad loss of 116 children and 28 adults at Aberfan during October 1966.

	Local businessman Norman Harvey apparently bought the entire site in October 1970 for £0.5m. Various plans for development of the site followed including a plan to build a Woolworths store in the disused inner basin. He died at the controls of a plane when it crashed, or he crashed it, as he came into land on Jersey. The Lord moves in mysterious ways!