Merthyr Tydfil

Billy Bricks Delilah - After a few pints he would shuffle up and down the bar singing Tom Jones' Delilah. His leg movements were not unlike Michael Jackson's moonwalk - he was years before his time. Billy was a very skilled bricklayer. When a new court building was being constructed in the town there was only one man who could do the brickwork. However, the contractors had to employ a man just to ensure Billy didn't sneak off to the pub before the end of shift Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Woman knitting on the doorstep in Georgetown - women often sat on the doorsteps like this. Georgetown was a close-knit community. It was built to house workers from the Cyfarthfa Ironworks. Not long after this photograph was taken this entire area was bulldozed for redevelopment Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Members of Jackie and Queenie's Gypsy family outside their first home in Georgetown Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Dai Passmore and his dog - Dai could often be found wandering the slag tips above Heolgerrig. He had a complex of sheds at the bottom of the tips where he kept ferrets and pigs. He used to be seen driving a horse and cart around town. He liked stout. This photograph was taken on Jan 4 1972. It started to snow just as I took the photograph. It was a very light snow. I came across Tudor as he paused for breath while walking on the steep tip Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

A resident at the Castle Hotel - this man shared a room in the lodging house with Bill Baldy. It was a place for people who'd fallen on hard times. I was taken by the pool of light that fell on him and his dog Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

A woman in the street Georgetown - she appeared fragile and threatened by the stark stone of the street Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Old Mister Jones playing the mouth organ. His family were originally Romany Gypsies. He was quite an accomplished mouthorgan player although he rarely played outside his home unlike his brother, Moses the Mouthorgan, who always played in the pubs Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Children playing in a derelict house in Georgetown, Merthyr - they found a painting inside the building and asked me to photograph them with it. The redevelopment of Georgetown had started and houses were being cleared Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Dai Wills - he was a collier who kept greyhounds when he was younger. He loved rabbiting and foxhunting Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Mrs Powell - she lived alone in a small house in Winchfawr at the top of Heolgerrig Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Tommy Gravedigger with his team taking a break in the gravedigger's hut at Cefn Cemetery - a few years before Tommy had a wager with his workmate. They said that whoever died first would return and give a sign if there was an afterlife. Tommy's mate died and Tommy was convinced he came back and made a tremendous noise on the roof of the hut. Ever since, he was wary of being in the hut on his own Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Old Phil - he was 93 and lived in an old lodging house known as the Castle Hotel. Here he is sitting next to the fireplace in the kitchen. It was amazing how well he looked after himself. Look at the shine on his shoes Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Old Mister Jones and Old Mrs Jones with their family. Old Mister Jones is sitting on the far left and Old Mrs Jones is holding the baby. The family were originally Romany Gypsies who sold their caravan and settled in a house off Bethesda Street. I don't know how they acquired the Jones name Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Bryn Dan with his walking stick - the Errol Flynn of Heolgerrig. It was Saturday night at the Heolgerrig Social Club and he was dressed to impress the ladies. The evening would be spent in the lounge bar. He was a carver of walking sticks and always carried an example with him to demonstrate his skills Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Dai Llewellyn - not quite the world's best gurner but he did come third in the World Gurning Championships 1968. The Welsh colliers were adept at pulling funny faces Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance

Lewis Evans and his wife Martha - Lewis was a collier and a music teacher. Outside his front door was a brass plaque that read Lewis Evans Piano Teacher. He once wrote a song which was published. Martha was preparing lunch Photograph: Robert Haines/freelance