Cyril Austin was born in Madras, India in 1903. Most of his childhood was spent in Crumlin, South Wales.
Prior to becoming a coal merchant, he worked underground in Welsh coal mines as a fitter.

He moved to Kemble with the intention of starting a business in partnership with his brother-in-law, who was living in one of the cottages opposite the 'bee-hive' in Kemble. His name was R Davis who, after a few years, returned to Wales, leaving Cyril to run the business on his own.

At the time of starting his business, there were already two merchants in the village - Mr Lucket and Mr Bartlet.

On first arriving in Kemble as a single man, Cyril lodged at Shooters Hill, Ewen, moving to Oaksey when he married a young lady from Wales.

His first coal yard was at the Coates station, only later moving to Kemble station yard, to which he cycled each day.

He hired three wagons each holding 8 tons, and painted on the side with his name, from the Gloucestershire Wagon Company at a rate of 4 shillings and 8.5 pence per week.
The vicar let him keep his lorry at the vicarage in vicarage lane in what now would be the living premises of Glebe Barn.

With the outbreak of war came rationing, when customers had to register with a merchant in order to be sold coal. Each household was allowed 1 ton 14 cwt per year of 'quality coal'.
Those without an electric cooker were allowed an extra ton per year.

Cyril was responsible for supplying the Kemble aerodrome with their coal, from Coates station, calling upon extra help from local men on Sundays to do it.

During the war, the Company's lorries were used to take cattle to market, evacuate families from the bombing in the cities of Birmingham and Bristol and even collect the bales of hay in the summer time.
As most of the employees were conscripted, only one regular worker, Mr A J Telling, was left to keep the Company going.

Cyril's wife kept the business ticking over as she kept the business's paperwork in order, complicate by the complex rationing rules which had to be followed.

Cyril's two sons came into the business gradually, as the business expanded by taking over other local yards. Eventually in 1977, they purchased a coal business and yard at Goose Acre Lane, Cirencester, running both sites for a while. Later the Company moved into a new site in Love Lane Industrial Estate, Cirencester, where they can be found today, eventually closing down the site in Kemble station.

Cyril's sons still live in the village
Roy Austin at 'Millhaven' in Windmill Road, and
Everitt Austin at 'Vernham Dean' on The Piece
and they keep the family business going at the new yard in Love Lane Cirencester, where they will be happy to recollect the history of this long established Kemble business.