IN MY opinion there doesn’t seem to be much of a timescale between the two published Now and Then pictures.

I was born and bred not 200 yards from the King Billy pub at Fotheringham Place which was situated in an elevated position opposite Ebenezer Terrace in Kingsway, now occupied by the Dolman Theatre.

Both pictures show the King Billy or King William situated at the junction of Commercial Street and Kingsway.

If one continues down Commercial Street on the left of the picture and next door to the ‘Billy’ there was in the 1940s and 50s, a chemist, Timothy White and Taylors, other businesses between there and what is now Emlyn Walk were Marks which started out selling army surplus from the Second World War, Jordans shoe shop, Wilkes the jeweller, the Great Central Hall, The Mechanics Arms, Wellsteads car dealership, Wares motorcycle shop, The Wyndam Arms and Hewertsons tobacconist to name but a few.

To the right of the picture is Kingsway and next to the ‘Billy’ was the back entrance of Timothy Whites, next to that was a taxi company called Montax which later became the Dockers Social Club and then a snooker hall.

A little further along in an elevated position was a yard occupied by a motor repairers, Jones the Austin people. In the 40s this was occupied by American servicemen, and they sometimes used to park their military vehicles on our street and give us kids chewing gum.

Gerald Andrews, Newport

The picture shows what is commonly known as The King Billy public house, on the corner of Commercial Street/Kingsway. At one time it was a very popular pub, but due to the last few years of economic problems, it has now been converted to flats. In the 60s it was a regular meeting place for people shopping at the open market and town and upstairs the large room was used for parties and meetings.

Jim Dyer Newport

The Now and Then picture shows the King William pub on Cardiff Road, better known as the King Billy. One of my favourite watering holes. History tells us that King Billy was not a friend of the Irish republic but as a customer I can remember Jack Howey and the Glasgow Celtic fans using the pub as their base. The walls and ceiling in the bar were painted green, white and gold, the colour of the republican flag. I bet King Billy turned over in his grave.

Arthur Nicolaas, Newport