The School, past and present, is grateful to the Past Students' Association for its splendid effort in producing this Brochure to mark the 75th anniversary of the opening. The work has been in the hands of the Committee, which has persisted in its efforts despite the very many difficulties encountered. Some delay has been caused by such things as the postal strike, and ill-health of Mr. Glyn Griffiths has robbed the Association of a very experienced journalist, who had undertaken the work of editing. His task has now been undertaken by Mr. K. Griffiths, and Mr. P Walters, and full well have they set about it as you can now judge for yourselves. We are, indeed, grateful to all those who have made this publication possible. This includes those who have contributed articles contained herein, as well as those who, by their financial support, have made this publication possible. It is my pleasure and privilege to express thanks, both personal and on behalf of the School, to everyone concerned. These thanks I feel sure will be echoed by all who delve in the succeeding pages.

There is something here for all, from each decade of the school since the first bell rang at Aberdare Intermediate School on Sept. 29th 1896. Memories will be treasured of incidents recalled, staff and fellow-pupils who were 'there' at the time. 'There' of course has a double meaning since we have been resident in two different buildings, but whether at the O.B.G.S. or the New B.G.S. the same spirit pervades. May it long continue to do so.

Writing an article in a brochure of this kind, with such illustrious contributors as two former Headmasters and the many distinguished old boys and staff of the school, is indeed an onerous task. Having spent nearly 35 years in contact with school which is 75 years of age, would make it difficult to condense into a short account all the school has meant to me.

As a very young and impressionable trainee teacher when I first entered the school, I was struck by the compactness of the building - not surprising when one considers it was originally designed for 180 pupils. This has always been the impression, even today, of buildings bursting with pupils as though nothing could really contain Aberdare Boys' Grammar School: its energy and vitality overspilling in many directions scattering the seeds of wisdom sown within, to the four winds. I still meet those pupils of the pre-second war period in widely different places, all proud and glad to recall their membership of the school.

The characteristic pride in school is, I feel sure, a manifestation of the gratitude for the rich experience, sound education and wonderful spirit nurtured in one of Wales' first Secondary schools opened under the Welsh Intermediate Act of 1889. Since that time it has increased from 100 boys and 80 girls to 620 boys alone. It has seen its way through two wars, survived bifurcation and an invasion by Ilford School, with dignity and restraint. We still treasurer the shorter hours imposed in 1940, and the Old Spanish Custom of early closure on the last day of term.

In all these years the total number of staff passing through the school numbers 157 - not a large number by modern standards, and in this lies one of the great strengths of the school. Staff find it very hard to leave. New recruits are always made warmly welcome, and quickly settle to a Staff Room atmosphere that is as cordial as it is sometimes smoke-laden. Retirement and promotion may take their toll, but the same congenial spirit of good-will remains. This spirit is shown to all who join the staff, whether as fully-fledged members or as teachers in training. Perhaps this then is the secret of the success of the school; the 'prisoners' are captivated by an atmosphere, which in turn they help to maintain while adding a fresh breeze, by opening yet another window on the world.

It has been my good fortune to work under four of the school's headmasters, and the contribution each has made cannot be measured against each other because each gave to the school his most devoted service and left his mark indelibly stamped on its character. In so doing they have added to the tradition and reputation of the school, without which the school would be but a pale shadow of its present image. Perhaps a word about the non-teaching staff would not be out of place, as they too are so involved that they must also be said to have played their part in the moulding of the character of the boys. This must be especially true of Mr. David Jones, now retired, and Mrs. Jennie Williams.