Memoir of Cllr. Job Cool

COUNCILLOR JOB COOL.
The late councillor JOB COOL was born in 1883 at 19 Cwm Terrace Cwm. He was the son of Councillor HENRY COOL and I believe his mother’s name was MARJAH
HENRY COOL was a Colliery Foreman in the Marine Colliery, and in his later years was a highly respected Ambulance Man at the same Colliery.
Councillor JOB COOL was a Colliery Clerk in the offices of the Pit at Waunlwyd, and was married in 1907 to CHARLOTTE ROGERS, who lived at 11 Cwm Terrace, which is still where I live. They had two children before the First World War namely EVELYN and HOWARD.
When war broke out in 1914, MR COOL along with other men from Cwm, volunteered for Active Service, although he was already aged 31. He joined the army as a Private endured the horrors of the trenches in France and when he was demobbed in 1918, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant.
After demobilisation he threw himself once again into all activities of the Presbyterian Church, being an Elder, Sunday school Superintendent and conductor of the choir. He was the first Chairman of Cwm Sunday school Union, and was involved in many other activities in Cwm including being Chairman of Cwm Workmen’s Institute and work for the British Legion.
Another son was born to Mrs. Cool in 1919; this of course was Doug who I married in 1944 during the Second World War. Like his father before him, DOUG joined the army in 1940, and served 6 years with the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, being demobbed in 1946 with the rank of Sergeant, having taken part in the Normandy landings and right through into Germany.
Councillor COOL was elected in 1926 to the Ebbw Vale District Council, and 1 understand became Chairman of every committee, and chairman of the Council in 1936. He had the unique experience of being Chairman during the reign of three Monarchs, George V, Edward 8th, and George 6*
In 1939, the Second World War broke out and when the L.D.V, (later to be the Home GuardO was formed in 1940, Mr. COOL again volunteered, although then 57, and he was put in charge of C Company in Cwm and given the rank of Major.
I got to know him better in those days doing a lot of his office work in the Drill Hall and I became a female member of the Home Guard and his daughter in law in 1944.
By the time the war ended he was 63, and I believe those years took a toll on his health. He was still working full time in the office, doing his Council and Home Guard duties and carrying out his commitments to his Church. Also I know he worried a great deal about DOUG, fighting in Europe as he had done before.
In 1948 Mr.COOL announced his resignation from the Council because of ill health. Early in 1949, the people of Cwm gave very generously to show their appreciation of his work for the district. At a Public Ceremony in the Institute he received a gold watch and a cheque and Mrs. COOL received a handbag and flowers.
Unfortunately just two months later, after being in Chapel all day and taking a Choir Practice for the Anniversary, Mr. COOL collapsed and died on his way home.
The Council had honoured him by naming the 6 houses at the top of Cendle Terrace-COOL’S CLOSE , but sadly he never saw them and only passed them on the day of his funeral. Mr. COOL was 66 when he died.
Written by Mrs. TYRIE COOL.