Thomas William Wallace was born on 18th November 1904 in Ynyswen, Glamorgan, South Wales.   He was the second of seven children born to Elizabeth (nee Morgan) and Edward Wallis.   Thomas was Dedicated (1904 or 1905) at the Salvation Army in Treorchy.   At some point lived at 25 Glynshondda Street, Treorchy, and possibly 42 Vicarage Terrace, Cwmparc (his parents lived here).

On 16th April 1927 he married Bronwen Gregory, at the St. Dyfdwg Church, Parish of Treorchy.   They lived at 280 Parc Road, Cwmparc.   Sometime after the birth of their first child, Cyril David in May 1928 (who tragically died aged just 10 days), they moved to 306 Parc Road, Cwmparc.   Here their three daughters Enid, Peggy and Pamela were born.

Thomas worked in the coal mining industry; he also campaigned to ensure better safety and working conditions for his colleagues.   By 1931 he became Colliery Surface Foreman.

Needing to find employment, Thomas walked from Cwmparc to Swindon, Wiltshire, and found work at the Great Western Railway works.   He stayed with his sister Louisa at 36 Westcott Place, Swindon.   In 1947 he moved to 25 Wescott Place where his family joined him.   Later that year they moved to 35 Gordon Road, Swindon.   Thomas and Bronwen lived here until 1963 when they moved to Pembroke Street in Old Town, Swindon.   Thomas retired in 1967.

In 1969/70 they moved to 44 Cheney Manor Road, Swindon.   Thomas needed surgery for a tumor and made a good recovery.   In 1976 his beloved wife died.   The following year he moved from their home to a flat close to two of his daughters, at 49 Slade Drive, Stratton St. Margaret.

Thomas suffered a minor stroke which affected his walking and balance.   He also suffered from Parkinson's Disease and Dementia and eventually needed full time care so moved into the Roundway Hospital in Devizes, Wiltshire.   As his health deteriorated he was moved to Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon; he contracted gangrene and needed his leg amputated.   Thomas died of Generalised Atherosclerotic Disease on 30th November 1986, at the PMH.

Thomas' funeral took place at the Kingsdown Crematorium in Stratton St. Margaret.   After his cremation his ashes were scattered in the Garden of Remembrance, where his wife's ashes had previously been scattered.

Thomas was the grandfather of Mandy - she remembers him with great affection and someone to look up to.   He was indeed respected by others for his honesty and fairness.   Mandy remembers he was a stickler for details - if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right and a place for everything and everything in its place.   Mandy remembers his tool shed with awe - rows of nails sorted into different sizes, each hammer/chisel/screw driver in its own place, everything neat.   Mandy loved the times she was allowed in the shed to share time with her grampy - but being a place full of things to hurt a child it didn't happen often.   On one occasion she was asked to pick up nails from a jar that had fallen over; using a magnet she managed to pick them up quickly but fearing she would then have to leave she put some back on the floor again so she could appear to just finish picking them up as her grampy walked back in and thus have an excuse to be there.   She also remembers the vegetable garden with neat rows where weeds were too frightened to grow!!

Mandy's sister Terri told Mandy their grandfather used to make wonderful wooden toys and desks and tables and, basically anything.   He even built a small extension to their home.   Terri said as far as we know these toys were just thrown away and none now exist; what a shame we didn't treasure them as we would if we had them now.

Thomas and Bronwen - Nanny and Grampy Sweets - were everything grandparents should be.   Loving and supportive, not critical.   We always felt loved, welcomed and cared for when we stayed with them; it was a steady, loving and caring environment for us to be in - something we needed a great deal.   These were lovely people and we loved them very much.