Aberdare Boys' Grammar School

A personal record of the life and times of the County Grammar School for Boys in Aberdare, published by the old pupils of the School

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During the mid-fifties, the school fielded a successful tennis team. It was run by Elfed Bowen who was a member of staff at the school from January 1953 until July 1956. The team practised twice weekly in the evenings on the courts of the Aberdare Town Tennis Club. Situated in Robertstown, the club was located in the shadow of the GWR engine shed on the same plot of land as the school playing field. Records tell us that the tennis club was on this site before the engine shed was built and even before the Governors acquired the adjacent ground for the use of the Intermediate School in February 1908. Tennis was however played from the earliest days by the scholars; in May 1903 the school lawn was reported ready for playing tennis and the Head Master approved the purchase of a roller and mowing machine for its upkeep. There was a fee set at 1/= for the tennis club which was open for pupils in Form 4 and upwards.

There was also a tennis team that played in the summer of 1949. An account of their matches appears on page 16 of the 1950 edition of The Aberdarian , a copy of which is held on this site.

Returning however to the 1950s, Mr Bowen, who taught maths and science, was a member of the ATTC. He encouraged boys to form what became a flourishing and successful team. There were senior and junior teams and, in 1955, matches were played against Neath, Penarth, Barry and AGGS. You can read about the results of these matches in The Aberdarian of 1956, page 26, elsewhere on this site. The two co-editors of that edition, Alun C. Davies and Maurice Britz, played in the 1955 team and contributed to the team reports section. In the first photograph below, in the centre of the back row is Keith Rowlands, who achieved even more on the rugby field than he did on the tennis court.

During 1963, the ATTC had promoted membership strongly and several new members joined from local schools. The other pictures show some of these junior members of the club; you may recognise some of them.

 

Boys County Grammar School Tennis Team, 1955

Back row, left to right: John Lloyd, Keith Rowlands, Maurice Britz
Front row, left to right: Brian Jefferies, Alun C. Davies, Ken Griffiths
Alun remembers that this photo was taken at the AGGS courts in Plasdraw

 

 

The Robertstown club tournament prize giving in 1963.


With spectacles, and holding a cup, is Norman Jenkins (~1958-1965). He also appears on the 1964 school cricket team photo.

 

 

ATTC Prizewinners 1963

In tennis kit and from left to right: Robert Morgan & Norman Jenkins (Doubles), Rowland Davies* (Singles), Mai Jones & Gareth Jones (Mixed Doubles),
together with Mr D.N. Davies (Chairman), Sir Gwilym Ff. Williams (President) and Mrs. Phyllis Roderick (Ladies' Captain).
In the background the school rugby posts (river end), and Salem Chapel are visible.
( *Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, J.L.Rowlands, Rowland later became editor of the Leader)

 

 

ATTC Club Opening Day 1963


Following the ATTC club membership drive in 1963, there was an increase in the number of junior members. This group was photographed on the opening day of the 1963 season.
Back row, left to right: Robert Mills, Wendy Elcox, Margaret Buxton, Susan Clatworthy, Mai Jones, Susan Sharky, Susan Davies, Byron Morgan
Front row, left to right: Paul Wyatt, Gwyn Roberts, Robert Jones, Clive Troakes, Andre Jolly, and John Howard.

Many thanks to Elfed Bowen & Alun C. Davies for helping with this item.
Photographs from Elfed Bowen