Tag: Glanmor Williams

Merthyr’s Lost Landmarks: The County School

by Carolyn Jacob

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

When this new secondary school was opened on the 12th October 1896, education in Merthyr Tydfil came under the responsibility of the county of Glamorgan, hence the name County School.  The first appointed Headmaster was Charles Owen.

The Welsh Intermediate Act set up the school to be intermediate between free elementary schools and university. Education here was not free. In 1912 it cost £1 per term and parents had to pay for all books. The school successfully sent many pupils to university.

When a school magazine called ‘ The Merthyrian’ was published in March 1923 the school was officially known by the title of ‘The Merthyr Intermediate and Technical School’, however, it soon reverted back to its old title of ‘County’. There were separate staffrooms for the male and female teachers  and the men’s  staffroom was very smoky. The magazine reveals that there was a great concern to distinguish between the girls’ corridor and the boys ‘corridor.

This was a very popular school. In the 1950s St David’s Day was celebrated in the County Grammar School by a concert in the school hall with singing, reciting and dancing. There was an annual gala of the Merthyr Borough Schools held at Gwaunfarren Baths.

County School Swimming Team 1950s. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

In the 1940s W.P. Morrell was head teacher but by 1947 Dr T.H. Lewis succeeded him, then Mr Horton was the Headmaster, succeeded by Dr Leslie Reed.

On the rugby team in the 1940s was Howard Watkins, who played for Abertillery a top team then. The sports teachers then were Hubert Gwynne, boys and Miss Mullins, girls.

The County School Rugby team 1946-7. Howard Thomas is in the front row, far right. Mr Hubert Gwynne is third from left in the front row. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive.

The County Grammar School were the winners of the Keir Hardie football shield in 1953.  In the 1950s the County School had a noted choir with the eminent music teacher Glynne Jones as the choir master. Glynne Jones was also conductor of the highly successful Silurian Singers and he stamped his own personality and crusading zeal on both the County School Choir and the Pendyrus Choir. Under his guidance the Pendyrus Choir gained many national awards. Sadly Glynne’s 38 year directorship ended with his sudden and untimely death on Christmas Eve 2000.

County School Choir 1957. Courtesy of the Alan George Archive

The County School certainly had some very eminent teachers and Sir Glanmor Williams frequently said that his happiest years were spent as a teacher in the school.

It would not be possible to name all of the teachers but there are some that are still remembered by ex pupils:- Hubert Gwynne ( games), Ron Gethin (geography), Meirona Jenkins (Welsh),  Elvet Jones-Taddy (French), Mr Jenkins (English), Mr Jones (Latin), Margaret Hughes ( Senior Mistress), Thomas (Mathematics), Mr Gwilym Jones (Art), Mrs Bale (Biology),  Dorothy Williams (affectionately known as Dotty ) (Latin)  Mr Pritchard (P. E.), Mr Glyn Llewllyn (French and German).

Two of the most long serving teachers, Mr Elvet Jones, (deputy headmaster) and Leslie Burns (English master), retired before the school closed. The senior mistress before closure was Mr M. E. Jenkins.

Although the County School was in an outdated building, because the school had a very good reputation and was held in high regard, the school continued until the opening of the new Pen-y-dre school in the early 1970s.

The school ceased to function as a grammar school in 1971. Dr Leslie Reed was in charge of the school in its final years from 1963 to 1971 and then he went onto become the headmaster of the new Pen-y-dre school. The building was finally demolished in October 1979

Freedom of the Borough

Ceremony of the Conferment of the Freedom of the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil

by Carl Llewellyn

On Thursday 18 April 2002, the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil bestowed two of its sons – Dowlais born Sir Glanmor Williams C.B.E and Cefn Coed born Major Tudor Price M.B.E, the freedom of the town.

The ceremonial proceedings began at St. Tydfil’s Church, where invited guests were able to view the Conferment of the nominated Honorary Freemen. I was fortunate to be an invited guest through my association with the Merthyr Tydfil Historical Society. At the commencement of the ceremony a fanfare of trumpets hailed the entrance of the Mayor, preceded by the mace and accompanied by the Chief Executive; Council Leader; Leader of the opposition; local Councillors; Mayor’s chaplain; present Freemen and Honorary Freemen elect.

The procession led by the Mayor proceeded to the designated platform assembled in front of the Church altar where the Master of Ceremonies, Mr Gordon Gray called for silence for prayers to be said by Canon Gareth Foster. The Chief Executive then read the notice convening the meeting with confirmation by the Council who unanimously agreed the proposal and indicated their confirmation by voting again.

The Mayor asked both Sir Glanmor Williams and Major Tudor Price if they would accept the Honorary Freedom of the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, and after both men agreed they were asked to read the oath. The Mayor then presented both honourees with their illuminated Commemorative scrolls, with floral tributes presented to Lady Fay Williams and Mrs Elsie Price by the Mayoress. The Master of Ceremonies then introduced a young lady called Zoe Perman who entertained the gathering with her angelic voice.

She sang “Ar Lan y Mor” and “Bring Him Home”, and the acoustics of St Tydfil’s Parish Church assisted Zoe’s vocal ability producing a harmonious resonance. The ceremony finished with the singing of the Welsh National Anthem, and the Mayor led the procession, preceded by the Mace, and followed by the Civic Party Honorary; Freemen and Members of the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, to Rhydycar Leisure Centre, where a celebratory dinner awaited the invited guests. The Mayor’s Chaplin Canon Gareth Foster said grace, with the toasts proposed by the Mayor.

In keeping with tradition the dinner menu was Cawl Cennin (Leek soup ) followed by Roast leg of lamb with laver bread stuffing topped with crisp pastry, served with mint sauce and redcurrant jelly, also hasselback and baby new potatoes and braised leeks, sugar snap peas, and baton carrots. The third course was a Raspberry Mist, followed with Cheeses, celery and grapes. To finish there was coffee and after dinner mints. The after dinner speeches began with Councillor  Royston Thomas, leader of the local labour party, giving an account of why the nominees Sir Glanmor Williams and Major Tudor Price where chosen as freemen.

Sir Glanmor Williams C.B.E.

Sir Glanmor Williams is undoubtedly one of Wales’ most illustrious living sons. His achievements all testify to the strength and affectionate links he feels for the town of his birth Merthyr Tydfil. On the commencement of the 21st Century, when perhaps distinguished academic accomplishments require strength and popular models, Sir Glanmor serves as a shining example through his hard work, loyal endeavour and dedication to the generation in South Wales. Sir Glanmor justifiably meets all the requirements for conferring the, Freedom of the County Borough. He is one of the great contemporary Welshman admired and respected throughout the cultural life of Wales and indeed throughout the world. When Sir Glanmor was called upon to make a speech, he described himself as “Bachgen o Dowlais”. He then went on to comment about dizzy professors, which led him to a story about an old Minister in Dowlais, who was very forgetful. One day when he arrived at one of the railway stations in Dowlais he’d forgotten his railway ticket. The ticket collector, realising the Minister’s dilemma, said, “Don’t worry about your ticket Reverend, I know who you are.” The Reverend answered, “Thank you, kind Sir, it’s very kind of you, but the ticket is not my biggest problem, I’ve forgotten where I’m supposed to be going”.

Major Tudor Price M. B. E.

Major Tudor Price has achieved many things in his lifetime, not only in the Armed forces, but also in the community at large, Indeed when the Queen bestowed the honour in 1982 , it was for his developments in relationships between military and civilian population. Major Tudor joined the South Wales Borderers in 1946, rising through the ranks and eventually commissioned into the Welsh Regiment before retiring as a Major in 1989. He saw active service in Korea, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland, and was stationed in Hong Kong and Germany in a career spanning 43 years, serving King, Queen and Country. There is no doubt that Major Tudor Price is a man of presence who is not only a great ambassador for the Royal British Legion but also for Merthyr Tydfil.

In the past 100 years the town of Merthyr Tydfil has only conferred the honour of freeman on at least 27 occasions, which clearly underlines the importance of such an honour.

Sir Glanmor Williams
Major Tudor Price