Contents

February 2010

Welcome to the website of the old Aberdare Boys' Grammar School. The web server continues to provide pages to visitors from all over the world, and the website continues to grow thanks to your contributions. If you have any photos or documents to share please let us know - our email addresses can be found in the panel on the right. Alternatively, you may wish to make a suggestion for an entry in the Former Pupils section, if so please let us have details, and a picture if possible. To see full details of what has been added recently, click the link shown below 'Latest Additions' in the column on the left. Thank you again to all those who have made contributions by writing short articles or by sending in photos.

Notice Philip M. Walters (Gadlys) would like to contact Brynmor Keith Lewis (ABGS 1952-59) and Barry Thomas (ABGS 1966-73). He is writing an article about ‘Blues of ABGS and ABCS’. If you can help please ring Philip (number listed on bt.com) or use either of the email addresses in the panel on the right.

From September 1st, 2009 the school that inherited the buildings of the grammar school in Cwmdare Road and known from 1978 as Aberdare Boys Comprehensive School, has been renamed Aberdare High School. The school has a new badge, which shows a similarity to the original grammar school design with 'dragon and book'. The new design can be seen on the front page of the school's new website, but only the front page of the website is available at the time of writing. The picture, right, shows the school as it was in 1978. If you have not had the opportunity of visiting the school recently, there is now a large sports hall on the site behind the two-story block on the right. This is both a school and community facility. In addition, there is the large red-brick extension which would be to the left of the picture; this was built many years ago.

School Clock The clock tower residence was featured in both the South Wales Echo and the Cynon Valley Leader in the third week of July 2009. The Echo article was particularly impressive with a three-page spread, including a full-page photo of the building on the front page of the homeWALES supplement. There has been a further reduction in the asking price to £299,950. It turns out that the current owner is Ray Radnedge of Radnedge Architectural Antiques in Llanelli. In the article he says he initially purchased the clock only. But he then heard that the tower was to be demolished by the developer, so he bought that too. The inside pages show several views of both the exterior and of the internal fittings. Details of the property can be seen on the estate agent's website by clicking here. A gallery of photographs showing the reinstatement of the clock can be found in the School Building section. The weather vane now completes the architectural fittings at the top of the dome, and the clock faces are now illuminated. The clock had been removed for restoration and repair. It consists of a two-and-a-half tonne structure made of solid oak with cast iron facings, copper roof, and a 10 ft pendulum. The other structural alterations are now complete, and the tower and adjacent room have been converted to a house.

Contacts

If you have any comments, or contributions for the site, please contact one of the editors: