User:Phil Williams Ex Railwayman

Phil Williams, Born & bred in Port Talbot, now living in Nottage, Porthcawl. A railwayman for 36 years, Phil worked in a variety of railway operational roles throughout South Wales on the Railways Western Region. Roles included: Margam Train Crew - based at Margam Diesel Depot, Signalling (at a large variety of mechanical signal boxes as well as the modern power boxes) including Cardiff, Cardiff Valleys, VOG, Bridgend, Tondu Valleys, Margam, Port Talbot, Neath Valleys, Swansea and West Wales. Following these years in railway signalling Phil was promoted to Mobile Operations Manager - Port Talbot, then further promoted to Signalling Manager firstly at Carmarthen West Wales & later to Port Talbot. His final role with Network Rail from 2001 to December 2010 was as Area Safety Trainer / Briefer providing quality training and safety briefings to the entire compliment of operations staff between Severn Tunnel Jnc & Fishguard Harbour and northwards to Marshbrook.

After 36 years service dedicated to the railway industry, despite being excited by investment and modernisation taking place throughout South Wales, Phil was experiencing some concerns with erratic blood pressure and decided to take an early retirement at Christmas 2010. His final contribution to railway training was to train all the Port Talbot Panel staff as well as the Abercynon staff & Cardiff Valley Relief Staff on the first of the new WestCad signalling systems being introduced in South Wales.

After retiring, not wishing to remain idle, Phil started a small business in the Camping & Leisure industry as well as taking on an agency retailing New, General Purpose Galvanised Car Trailers.

In 2011, the business having outgrown premises in Porthcawl, relocated to a business park in Port Talbot, but following 2 years of further growth, relocated to South Cornelly Trading Estate, Porthcawl Road, South Cornelly, CF33 4RE. Now operating from more modern premises than the previous Port Talbot unit, the business continues to grow with its top quality stock of trailer tents being sourced countrywide and the new car trailer side producing its own Special Edition branded models unique to South Wales Trailer Tents.

In 2022 the business underwent a reorganisation mainly due to enormous growth in the mail order spares market, with many spares now being sourced worldwide and imported, as well as having certain obsolete parts specially made. Due to this a decision was taken to scale back the sale of Trailer Tents to allow more free time and additional holidays and the company now concentrates much more on the mail order of spare parts & accessories

Visit the company websites for further details: www.southwalestrailertents.co.uk & www.southwalestrailers.co.uk

Phil was educated at Emmanuel Grammar School, Swansea followed by several higher education establishments throughout the country from where he gained a range of professional qualifications.

Phil is married with two children and four grandchildren.