Aberdare Boys' Grammar School: Staff 1906 -1907

This photograph was published in an early edition of The Aberdarian. The names of the members of staff were not given so we are not absolutely certain of their identities. However, on the back of a photocopy of this picture, the late Doug Williams had recorded a name, or in some cases two possible names for each person. Thanks to Geoffrey Evans for passing on this information. Where two names were recorded, it was possible to eliminate one of them, as in each case the second person had not been appointed by 1906.

Back Row: E. Ogwen Williams (Geography), W.W.P. Lewis (Mathematics), Aubrey Roberts (History)
Middle Row: Miss Edith Morris (History & French), W.R. Williams¹ (Physics & Mathematics),
J.E. Sladen (Commercial & Civil Service classes), John Edwards, A.W. Elliott² (Biology & Chemistry),
D. Timothy Davies (Mathematics & Welsh), Miss Elizabeth Jones³ (Latin & Welsh)
Front Row: Miss Jennie Phillips (English), Miss Jennie Griffiths⁴ (French), W. Charlton Cox (Headmaster, taught a variety of subjects), Miss Florence J. White (Mathematics), Mrs E. Barrington⁵ (Domestic Subjects).

1. Eventually Headmaster, 1937-39.
2. Mr Elliott moved to the Girls Intermediate School in 1913, but resumed his duties in Trecynon in September 1917. He retired at the age of 65 in 1930.
3. Also known as Elsie Jones, Harlech.
4. Miss Griffiths, The Poplars. Her father designed many of the town's buildings. The Poplars was a fine villa that stood next to Ty Mawr. The health centre car park now occupies the site. She was a radical, a leading local Suffragette, and was Chairwoman of Committee of the Aberdare Liberal Women's Association in 1893. Possibly, later married to a Minister and Private School owner who lived at Broniestyn House.
5. Mrs Barrington was appointed in 1898 as Miss E. Gardiner. She resigned in the 1902-03 academic year, but returned after marriage in 1906 staying for just one further year.

Miss Morris, Miss Phillips, Miss Griffiths and Miss White all transferred to the Girls Intermediate School when it opened in 1913, with Miss White being appointed as Senior Mistress.