Some Past Pupils

Sir Marchant Williams

S IR T. Marchant Williams, barrister. Stipendiary Magistrate, poet, author, etc; John Rees, H.M.I. Swansea; Gomer Jones, B.A., H.M.I., Merthyr; John Lewis, “Ap Gwalia,” tailor, editor of “Gwreichion,” first attempt at a Welsh “Tit-Bits.” He was a pupil of Dan Isaac Davies, and is still with us and very active as a poet; ex-Coun. Tom Lewis (County and U.D.C.); Rev. W. Jansen Davies (Cong., Cleckheaton, Yorks); Rev. William Davies, M.A., Woolton, Liverpool, a brother of Dan Isaac Davies; Judge Gwilym Williams, and his brother Gomer Williams; Rees Williams, solicitor and registrar of the County Court; Thomas Walter Williams, barrister (son of J. Williams, treasurer); Charles Kenshole, solicitor, benefactor of the Aberdare General Hospital; David Richards, solicitor (Dai Dic); Alderman Thomas Goldsworthy, Mayor of Newport; Dr Charles M. Jones, surgeon, Troedyrhiw; Dr. Rees Jones, Treorchy; William Hughes, M.E., colliery agent, Abernant; Alderman David Hughes, Boot Hotel; Jenkin Howell, printer, publisher, litterateur and musician; Griffith Roberts, mathematician, Military College, Woolwich; D. Tudor Williams, chemist, etc; L. Lloyd John, solicitor, clerk to the Magistrates and the School Board, and registrar, etc., Corwen; ex-Coun. Glen George, M.B.E., B.Sc., B.A.L., M.I.C.E., M.E., F.G.S; William Thomas, “Eos Wennallt.”

Gwilym Jones, solicitor, Trecynon, a former High Constable of Miskin Higher; James Ifano Jones, M.A., Welsh librarian, Cardiff, author, poet, adjudicator; Daniel Evans, “Eos Dar,” penillion singer, adjudicator, Mardy; Tom Stephen, conductor of Rhondda Male Voice Party, winner of the 1000 dollar prize, Chicago World’s Fair, 1893; Henry Howard Evans, M.E., J.P., general manager Cambrian Combine, Llwynypia, Cymrodor; his brother Taliesin Evans, M.E., M.I.E., mineral agent; T. Marchant Harries, solicitor, County Court registrar, ex-County Coun; Dr. Ezer Griffiths, D.Sc., F.R.S., National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, London; Principal Ifor Leslie Evans, M.A., Aberystwyth; Levi D. Jones, M.Ed., B.A., B.Sc., B.Econ., Johannesburg; County Coun. Tom G. R. Phillips, J.P., ex-U.D. Councillor; Levi Phillips, J.P., B.Sc., M.E., general manager, Rhondda Area N.C.B.; Dr. John Thomas, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. ex-Principal Co-operative College, Manchester; William James Lewis, B.Sc., Dudley and Crewe Training Colleges; Professor Anelyf Wyn Rees, M.A., Natal University College, South Africa; and his brother Evan D. Rees, acting Town Clerk, Aberdare; Morris Morgan, barrister, Swansea; Isaac Davies, M.E; Rees Ll. Davies, M.E; David Heppell Hughes, Ll.B., Uganda; Gordon Chapman, B.Comm; Thomas Richard Owen, M.Sc., Swansea University College; Myrddin Williams, M.Sc., Cambridge University; Alun Bassett, M.A. (Oxon.), Inspector of Schools, C.W.B; Alwyn John, Ll.B., solicitor, coroner; Rev. Henry J. Harris, Baptist, Neath; Rev. Thomas John Morgan, C.M., Port Talbot; The Rev. Matthew Henry Arnold, B.A., Kansas, U.S.A; Rev. James Mansel John, B.A., Newport, Pem; Rev. Dewi E. Price, B.A., Worcester; Rev. Elwyn Price Howells, Cong., Dolwyddelan, North Wales; Rev. Richard Thomas, Rhondda; Rev. Thomas Medlicott.

D. Rowland Davies, M.Sc., Ph.D; Daniel Lewis (Lever Bros.), Buenos Aires; Richard Morgan, Metropolitan manager Barclays Bank; T. Picton Evans, B.Sc. (psychiatrist to Swansea Education Committee); Dr. W. Stanley Beswick, Woolaston Infirmary, Newport; Dr. Maelgwyn Prosser (Barry Accident Hospital); J. T. John, B.A; J. R. Evans, B.Sc; W. J. Jones, B.A; Alan Nicholas, B.A; Ilfryn Price, B.Comm; Albert Lewis, B.Sc. (Ministry of Agriculture); Spencer Jones, B.A; Brynmor Thomas, B.A; Glyn Williams, B.A; David B. Powell, B.A; John Howard Atkins, B.A; Robert Lewis Manning, solicitor, Bournemouth; Lieut. Col. W. N. Griffiths, journalist, London.

David T. Jones, manager National Insurance Office, Aberdare; and the latter’s brother Haydn Jones, B.Comm., Llwydcoed; Cyril Brett, solicitor, Cardiff; Dr. John Powell David, B.Sc., M.B., B.C.H. (Wales); David G. Roberts, B.D.S. (Lond.), L.D.S., R.C.S. (Eng.); Dr. John T. M. Wilson, M.B., Ch.B; Dr. Alistair T. M. Wilson, M.A. (Cantab.); Dr. Haydn Stubbins, Divisional M.O.H. for Neath (County); Glyndwr Griffiths, chief reporter, “Aberdare Leader;” Councillors (A.U.D.C.):—Gwilym Rees, M.E; Idwal R. Thomas; John Griffiths; John Davies, “Pendar;” Ben J. Brace; Morgan Richards; Abel P. Thomas, J.P., O.B.E., chairman of magistrates, ex-High Constable of Miskin Higher; John R. James; Evan W. Davies; Trevor Williams, J.P., (Chairman U.D.C. 1948-49); Samuel Wilcox; Islwyn Williams; D. W. Griffiths; Samuel Watts; etc., etc. (My apologies to all the great and distinguished men omitted).

Rhondda headmasters: Tom John, M.A., President of the N.U.T., Llwynypia; his brother J. W. John, Ynyshir; Thomas P. Price, Trealaw; John William Jones, Tonypandy; Ll. Jones, Ystrad Higher Grade; Henry Harris, Bronllwyn, Gelli, Rhondda; David Evans, Treorchy; John Evans, Hafod; Urien Rheged Edwards, Bodringallt; Tom Jones, Clydach Vale and the U.S.A.

Headmasters in other areas: Thomas Richards, Dyvatty, Swansea; Jenkin Rees Davies, Peniel Green, Llansamlet; Thomas Herbert, Rhigos; D. Owen Davies, Bancffosfelen, Carmarthen; Cornelius Dance, Cranham, Upminster, Essex; W. Coslett Morris, Arbroath; Thomas Richard Wigley, Carnetown, Abercynon; Austin Mansel Lewis, M.A., Ogmore Vale Secondary School; Edward Jones, Llangeitho, Card; Wm. T. Elias, Oxfordshire; John Harris, Dinas Cross and Narberth, Pemb.

Head-masters in the Aberdare Area: Tom Thomas (Aman); David George Davies; Edward James; Edward Davies; William Williams; D. Beynon Jones; Jack Howells; D. E. Wigley; D. O. Roberts; Harry Williams; Sidney Jenkins; T. Brinley Reynolds, B.A., acting head-master of the Aberdare County Grammar School. (The writer, though not a pupil, may be pardoned if he mentions that he served on the staff for 12 years, before being promoted to a headship).

1904 Re-union Group Front Row (left to right):—W.E. Thomas; Griffith George, J.P; Gomer Jones, H.M.I; John Morris; Alderman Thomas Goldsworthy, Mayor of Newport, 1896-97; John Rees, H.M.I; Isaac George; Tom John; Mrs. John; Sir Marchant Williams; Hannah Williams, L.L.A; Dr. Morris; D.P. Davies, J.P; John Evans, J.P.
Second Row:—Henry J. Harris; ? ? ; W.T. Roberts; T.Thomas; D.W. Davies; John Griffiths; ? ? ; Edward Thomas; David Evans (Eos Dar); Tom Stephens; Llewellyn Richards; David Hughes; David Richards; William Thomas; Charles Reed; — James; W.J. Heppell; John Charles; ? ? ; Rhys Nicholas; John Jones; J.W. John; T. Walter Williams.
Third Row:—Daniel Evans; John E. Thomas; Hugh Thomas; Gwilym Jones; E. Pugh; R.R. Davies; H.H. Evans; D. Morgans; ? ? ;  ? ? ; Glen George; Tom Morgans.
Back Row:—J.D. Jones; D.M. Richards; Edward James; Ben Davies; D.G. Davies.

WOMEN PUPILS

Head-mistresses: Mrs. Mary Griffiths (née John), Cymmer, Porth; Mrs. Frances John (née Harris), Trealaw; Mrs. M.A. Evans, Hafod, Porth; Mrs. Agnes Jones, Nantymoel; Mrs. Margaret Preece (née John), Ynysowen, Bodringallt, Rhondda; Miss Margaret Thomas, Clydach Vale. All these ladies from the Park Girls’ School obtained headships in the Rhondda area, and, with the exception of the latter, married the men head-teachers of the Rhondda who hailed from the Park Boys’ School.

NOTE: Many of the persons named in the list may have served as pupil-teachers at Park School.

Other head-mistresses are: Mrs. Ettie E. Morris (née Griffiths); Mrs. Catherine John, “Megfam,” (née James), J.P., Caerphilly; Mrs. Emily Jenkins (née Morris), Roch, Pemb; Miss M. M. John; Miss Mary Evans, Gadlys Central Girls’ School; Miss Huldah Charles Bassett, M.A., Gowerton Girls’ Grammar School; Mrs. Amy Violet Evans (née Minty), B.A; Miss Dilys M. Davies, London Road, Romford.

Professions: Mrs. M. A. Phillips, J.P; Mrs. Rose K. Nichols (née George), Abernant Road, Aberdare; Dr. Blanchette Phillips (née Thomas), D.P.H., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Assistant M.O.H., and Assistant School Medical Officer; Dr. Gwladys Evans, D.P.H., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P; Mrs. Dr. Enid Mary Rogers (née Williams), M.D., B.Ch., Cardiff; and the latter’s sister Dr. Eluned Williams, M.D., B.Sc; Dr. Sybil M. Ferguson (née Humphreys), M.B., B.Sc; Mrs. Marjorie Linstead (née Walters), M.A. (Lond), D.Phil. (Oxon); Miss Eleanor Mary John. B.A., Gold Medallist Honours, C.W.B., 1903, highest in Wales; her sister Mrs. (Rev.) Lilian Lewis Roberts (née John), B.A; Mrs. Catherine Mary Davies (née Griffiths), M.Sc., Pontycymmer; Dr. Isabella M. M. Codd (née Wilson), M.B., Ch.B: Mrs. Mattie Timothy (née Abraham), M.A.; Mrs. Pegi Bowen Hopkins (née John), M.Sc., Swansea University College; Miss Gwennie Rees, B.Sc., lecturer, Aberystwyth University College of Wales; Sarah Gwyneth Williams (née Jenkins), B.A., Hons. French (Cardiff), Diploma in conversational French (at Lille University).

337 boys have entered Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School direct from Park Boys’ School.

It had been intended to publish the list of all the schools in the Aberdare Valley, with the dates of their founding, but unfortunately, space will not permit. It is hoped to publish this at a later date, in another publication.—W. W. Price.