Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School
Published Examination Results
CWB Examination Results, 1905
Aberdare County School.
Results of C.W.B. Examinations.
The following certificates have been gained by pupils of the above school on the results of the examinations held by the Central Welsh Board in July last: —
Honours certificate.—
Lilian John, English language and literature; French with conversational power.
T G. Jones, physics, chemistry.
D.E. Price, physics, chemistry with distinction.
David Roderick, physics, chemistry.
J.W. Rowlands, physics, chemistry.
May Williams, English language and literature; French with conversational power.
Senior certificate.—
J.J. Beckerlegge*, Daniel R. Davies*, Edward Edwards*, Nancy Edwards*, May Evans*, Nellie Goodwin*, Ezer Griffiths*, Gwen Hughes*, Maggie M. John, Gwilym A. Jones*, Gwladys P. Jones*, John D. Jones*, Mary Jones*, William J. Jones*, Lizzie Parfitt*, Mildred Pratt*, Ethel Watkins*.
Junior certificate. —
Winnie Chapman*, W.J. Curnow*, Daniel Davies, David Davies*, David A. Davies*, Evan W. Davies*, R.L. Davies*, Norman Evans*, Peter Halewood*, M.L. Harland*, Lizzie M. Harries, Chrissie Havard*, Bronwen James, L.H. Jenkins, Annetta John, Reggie Jones, Hettie Lewis, W.D. Lewis, Muriel Morgan*, Brinley R. Price, Albert Pugh*, Annie Rogers*, F.W. Smith, Henry Thomas*, John Thomas*, William T. White, Arthur Williams*, David Williams.
*Pupils who have passed with distinction.
Miss Lillian L. John, a pupil of the Aberdare County School, has succeeded in obtaining in open competition a scholarship of the value of £15 a year at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. A year ago Miss John obtained a county exhibition of the value of £40 a year on the results of the Central Welsh Board examination. This young lady is a sister to Eleanor M. John, who made such a distinguished mark at the County School some three years ago.
Lillian Lewis John of Llewellyn Street, Trecynon became a teacher at Bridgend County School. She left teaching in 1914 to marry Rev William Edward Roberts a minister of the Calvinistic Church, who at one time was minister at Trinity, Canon St Aberdare. They had one son Prof. Lewis E.J. Roberts, CBE, FRS. A chemist by training he became Director of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) at Harwell from 1975 to 1986. After Lillian’s husband died in 1933, she returned to teaching in Swansea, where she died in 1953 aged 65.
Thomas G. Jones continued his science studies at Swansea
David Edgar Price became a schoolmaster at Holyhead County School. He married there in 1913 but later took up teaching posts in Leicestershire and Willesden, London. He died in Pembrokeshire in 1944.
David Roderick was one of the sons of Thomas Roderick the architect of Clifton Street, Aberdare. David became Chemistry Master at Llanelli Boys’ County School.
Joseph William Rowland(s) of Rock Villa, Mountain Ash, became a school teacher.
May Williams was the senior girl’s prefect, and lived at 56, Victoria Terrace, Aberaman. She was almost certainly the first pupil to enter an ‘Oxbridge’ College from the School. She went to Girton College, Cambridge.
John Joseph Bekerlegge was the son of the Primitive Methodist minister in Mountain Ash. He became a teacher and after the First World War moved to the south-west of England. He died in Mousehole in 1977.
Nancy Edwards from Cwmdare married D.O. Roberts, who became headmaster at Gadlys Secondary School. A son David (Dafydd) Roberts became a well-known dental surgeon in Aberdare.
Ezer Griffiths later became a Fellow of the Royal Society, having spent his whole career at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. He has an entry in the Former Pupils section of this website.
Elizabeth Parfitt was the daughter of a collier from Mountain Ash. After spending a year at Aberystwyth she transferred to Girton College, Cambridge.
Winnie Chapman was one of four siblings who attended the County School. Their father was F.T. Chapman, head postmaster at Aberdare. The family lived in Moss House, Abernant. Winnie married Wyndham G. Williams, Werfa, in 1915.
Peter Halewood, 1890–1978, was the son of Edward Halewood of Tudor Terrace, a boot and shoe dealer. Peter became a priest in the Church of England. He was a first cousin of Peter Edward Phillips, (PEP), who became Deputy Headmaster of ABGS.
Morgan Lewis Harland came from Granville Terrace, Mountain Ash. His father was a retired stationmaster in the town. Morgan was killed in Action in France in 1918, aged 27. He was a Private in the London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles). His war grave is at the Australian Imperial Forces Burial Ground, Flers, Département de la Somme, Picardie, France.
Mildred Pratt became co-President of the Past Student Society, (as Mrs Mildred Shingler). One of her daughters, Helen Shingler, acted in several British films of the late-1940s and the 1950s. Mildred’s grandson was the actor Anthony Head, a son of Helen Shingler. He was well known for roles in TV series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso. When at school, Mildred was also interested in drama, taking part in the annual school productions.