William Rees Williams, b.sc. (wales)

Headmaster
Aberdare Boys’ County School, 1937 - 1940

Mr Williams was originally appointed to organise and teach Physics and Chemistry, but also taught mathematics throughout the school from 1912. He was also the organiser of evening classes at the school and taught certificate classes in science and advanced chemistry to the adult students.

As a teacher, he served for just one year under W. Jenkyn Thomas. Then, in 1905 his staff colleague Walter Charlton Cox became headmaster and WRW served under him for 32 years. Mr Williams’ position in staff photographs in the 1930s suggest that he had become a senior member of staff, possibly deputy headmaster.

Mr Williams was probably present for the 1906 staff photograph. His identity is not certain but he is probably the male teacher, wearing a patterned waistcoat, standing on the left in the first row behind those seated.

In the years before the First World War, he supported the past students’ association in its early years; an advert for a talk that he gave can be seen here. Although there is no evidence that he was active in the association in the inter-war years prior to his headship, he assumed the post of President and chaired the committee meetings from February 1937, a role that was customarily performed by the Headmaster.

Mr Williams was the son of John and Gwenllian Williams of The Rock Inn, 167 Cardiff Road. On April 2, 1913, he married Margaret Price^†, eldest daughter of David William and Mary Price, The Ivies, Mill St, Trecynon. Shortly afterwards, he entered the forces serving from 1916 to 1919. When appointed headmaster, he declined the opportunity to live in School House as was the practice of the two previous headmasters. Instead he remained in Broniestyn House which is at the top of Broniestyn Terrace and is probably as close to School as the ‘official’ residence. Apart from his teaching duties, Mr Williams was the first secretary of the Aberaman Institute, stage manager and coach to the Past Students Dramatic Society, and was for a period, president of the Glamorgan N.U.T.

Mr Williams retired to Torquay in Devon, where he lived at 3 Clarence House, Upper Terrace. Sadly, he did not live long enough to enjoy his retirement fully, and after just two years there, died on November 29th 1942 at Wellswood End, Torquay aged 64.

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* We believe that the Town Council school was used for advanced elementary work, called Higher Grade, at this time - about 1889. The Gadlys School, originally named the Higher Standard Schools, took over this function but did not open until about 1905.

^† There were several sisters: one was Mrs C.M. Rowlands (Rock Inn); another was Miss Margaret Williams, headmistress of The Higher Standard School, (later Gadlys Central School).

Thanks to Mr T.J. Evans & Sons for providing information from the W.W. Price archive about Mr Williams.