Nelson, Caerphilly

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Nelson is an expanding village in the county borough of Caerphilly, in South Wales. It is situated 5 miles north of Pontypridd which remains the main town for shopping. Originally a coal mining village, Nelson is becoming a more desirable place to live for people working in Cardiff (17 miles south of the village), with house prices much cheaper than the capital city and an easy commute.

An open-air handball court stands in the centre of Nelson and believed to be the only surviving handball court in Wales. Handball is played by striking a ball against a wall or walls with the palm of the hand. Play may be for singles or doubles (four players) on a court with one, three, or four walls. Players hit the ball against the front wall before or after it has struck the floor once. The object is to keep the ball out of the opponent's reach but within the bounds of the court.

(Dwr Cymru) Welsh Water's head office is in Nelson. Llancaiach Fawr Visitor Centre, an old manor house that is used as a living museum and conference centre, is at the northern end of Nelson.

Caerphilly council is currently trying to build a large business park on the miners welfare ground. Some residents are unhappy about this proposal, and the Nelson Action Group (NAG) has been set up in protest.

[edit] Notable people from Nelson

Simon Weston OBE was born in Nelson in 1961, and is known throughout Britain as the soldier who suffered burns injuries during the Falklands War of 1982. He has since become an inspiration to those with similar injuries. He had been with the Welsh Guards since 1978, and on 8 June 1982, he was with other members of his regiment on the ship, the RFA Sir Galahad, just off the Falkland Islands, when it was set on fire by enemy bombs. Weston survived with 40% burns, following which his face was barely recognisable.

The current Lord Lieutenant for Mid Glamorgan, Kate Thomas, was brought up in Cardiff and educated at Cheltenham Ladies College before moving to Nelson where she settled into a farming life for the last 38 years after her marriage to Edward. She has previously held the offices of Vice Lord-Lieutenant and High Sheriff.

Robert Spragg (aka Larry Love, Robert Love), the singer and songwriter from the band the Alabama 3 lived in Nelson before moving to London. His family moved to the village from nearby Merthyr Tydfil and his parents still live there.

Sir Tasker Watkins VC GBE PC (born November 18, 1918), was born in the small town of Nelson and is a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is a former High Court judge, and was President of the Welsh Rugby Union from 1993 to 2004.