Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School

Full names, from left to right: Derek Davies 3α (1955–63), Jimmy Harrod (not at ABGS), Alwyn Griffiths 4α (1954–61), Terry Smith 5α (1953–61), and David Medlicott 3A (1955–60). The photo was taken at Watson’s Studios in Commercial Street. This team had just replaced another group which had progressed to the adult division. That team consisted of Stephen Barnes (1951-58), Tudor Barnes (1954–59), John G. Davies (1951–56) and Martin Sage (1952–59) and reserve Eric Davies (1951–58).

The team shown above won local competitions that enabled them to compete in finals held in Cardiff.  Here they competed against cadet teams from all over Wales  - and won.  (The last time Dyffryn Aman had won the Welsh finals was in 1948).  They were “Champions Of  Wales” and represented Wales in London competing against cadet teams from all over Britain.  The team came a respectable 7th.  That year,(1957), they also travelled to the  National Eisteddfod in Llangefni (Angelsey) and took 1st and 3rd prizes in the first aid competitions.  The photograph shows the prizes they had won during the year and is the team mentioned in an article in The Aberdarian (1958, page 15). Click here to see it.

There is also a fine picture of the Brigade taken on the steps of the Aberaman Cinema displayed in the RCT Photographic Archive. Several of the older boys mentioned above are present in it, as well as in the front row from the left: Sam Sage, Martin’s father, then Trevor Newman (Cadet Officer). To see the archive photo click here.

To see some of the competition details that led to the final in London,
click the green buttons