Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School
Published Examination Results
GCE Ordinary & Advanced Level Examination Results, 1951
(This was the first year in which GCE Ordinary & Advanced Level certificate examinations
were set
– in spite of what the Aberdare Leader called the examination.)
School Certificate
Valley Results
Here are this year’s local results in the General Certificate Examination (ordinary level) of the Welsh Joint Education Committee, published on Friday, with a full list of subjects in each case.
Where the candidate has obtained a pass in both written and oral examinations, the subject is marked with an asterisk, and where the subject is marked (o) the candidate has also passed in the optional paper.
BOYS
Derek John Bailey: Mathematics, chemistry art.
Brian Charles Buck: Economics.
Victor John Carney: English lang., English lit., French,* history, geography, economics, mathematics.
Elwyn James Clement: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* history, mathematics.
David Myrddin Davies: English lang.
Dewi Aeron Davies: Welsh,* mathematics, chemistry.
Graham Davies: English lit., French,* geography, economics, mathematics.
Morton John Davies: English lang., English lit., French,* geography, biology.
Victor Henry Evans: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* history, geography, mathematics, general science.
Lewis James Everett: English lang., English lit., French,* mathematics, chemistry.
Carl Hancock: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* history, geography, mathematics, general science.
Peter Hollaran: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* history, geography, mathematics, general science.
William M. Hussey: Economics.
John Charles H. Jarvis: English lang., English lit., French,* mathematics, physics, chemistry, art.
David Lloyd Jones: English lang., English lit., French, geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology.
Michael G. Jones: English lang., Latin, French,* Physics.
Alan Kemmery: English lang., English lit., French,* history, geography, economics, mathematics, geology.
Cyril K. Mills: English lang.
Dion Minett: English lang., English lit., French.*
Derek Morgan: Economics.
Alan Pascoe: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* history, geography, mathematics.
Michael B. Phillips: English, lang., English lit., Latin, French,* geography, mathematics.
Brian Rees: English lang., Latin, French, mathematics.
Arfon Reynolds: English lang. English lit., mathematics.
William Arwyn Richards: English lang., English lit., French,* geography, mathematics.
Brian Robert Riden: English lang., mathematics, chemistry, biology, woodwork.
William Richard Samuel: Mathematics, chemistry, woodwork.
Norman Alfred Spiers: Mathematics (o).
Bramwell A. Stratford: English lang., English lit., French,* geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology.
Thomas Gwynfryn Thomas: English lit., Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, art.
Raymond Walters: English lang., English lit., geography, mathematics, geology.
David Roger Williams: Welsh.*
Kinley W. Williams: Mathematics, art.
Robert Edward Williams: English lang., mathematics, physics, woodwork.
Russell Yates: English lang., English lit., geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry.
John Yockney: English lang., English lit., French,* history, geography, economics, mathematics, geology.
GIRLS
Daphne Elizabeth Berry: English lang., English lit., French,* mathematics, music.
Anne Bowyer: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* history, geography, mathematics.
Barbara Mildred Buck: English lit.
Jean Agnes Burke: English lang., homecraft.
Agnes Barbara Chivers: English lit., general science, music.
Doreen Chivers: History, homecraft.
Frances Pamela Couzens: Chemistry, biology.
Barbara Crossman: English lang., English lit., history, geography, general science, art, cookery, needlework.
Mary Margaret David: English lang., English lit., Latin, French*, history, chemistry, biology, music.
Jean Davies: English lang., Eng. lit., Welsh*, geography, mathematics, general science.
Glenda Davies: English lang., English lit., Welsh*, Latin, history, geography, mathematics.
Margaret Joan Davies: Homecraft.
Anita Edwards: Geography. homecraft.
Ann Lorraine Elton: English lang., chemistry, biology.
Sheila Margaret Forey: English lang., English lit., history, general science, cookery, needlework.
Patricia Margaret George: English lit., history.
Constance Hilary Griffiths: English lit., French,* music, cookery.
Joan Christine Hathaway: English lang., English lit., Welsh,* geography, chemistry, biology, art.
Joyce Hatton: Latin.
Sarah Dorcas Louisa Hicks: English lit., Welsh,* history, geography, chemistry, cookery, needlework.
Jean Howells: English lit., French,* history.
Nia Llewellyn James: English lang., English lit., Welsh lang., Welsh lit., history, geography, mathematics.
Phyllis Doreen Jenkins: English lang., English lit., history, general science, art.
Annie Johnson: Mathematics.
Alice Elizabeth Jones: English lang., general science, cookery, needlework.
Beryl Irene Jones: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* geography, mathematics (o), chemistry, biology.
Margaret Jones: English lang., cookery, needlework.
Margaret Alberta Jones: English lang., English lit., Welsh,* history, music, art.
Pauline Jones: History.
Shirley Jones: English lang., English lit., history.
Gillian Lewis: English lang., English lit., history, general science, art.
Joan Lewis: Art, needlework, homecraft.
Edith Marion June Ludlow: English lit., Welsh,* general science, art.
Melba Miles: Welsh.*
Lenora Anita Miles: English lang., English lit., French, general science, music.
Barbara Mary Morgan: English lang., English lit., Welsh,* Latin, mathematics, music.
Cynthia Morgan: English lang., Welsh,* general science.
Sylvia May Morris: English lang., English lit., French,* history, geography, biology, art.
Sheila Murphy: German.*
Mair Eileen Owen: English lit., Welsh,* art, cookery, needlework.
Shirley Owen: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* geography, chemistry, music.
Ann Parry: Physics.
Margaret Shirley Phillips: English lang., English lit., history. general science, art, cookery, needlework.
Margaret Price: English lit., history, geography, general science.
Phyllis Maureen Reed: English lang., English lit., Welsh,* Latin, history, general science.
Dorothy Winifred Reynolds: English lang., Welsh,* Latin, general science, art.
Carol Patricia Roberts: English lang., English lit., French,* history, biology, music, art, cookery.
Margaret Roberts: English lang., English lit., Welsh,* history, geography, mathematics, general science, cookery, needlework.
Jean Samuel: Welsh,* mathematics, general science, cookery, needlework.
Marlene Patricia Seabourne: English Lang., cookery.
Margaret Hannah Spillane: English lang., French,* music.
Beryl Thomas: Welsh lang., Welsh lit., physics, chemistry.
Margaret Vaughan Thomas: English lit., history, music, needlework.
Nesta Thomas: Welsh.*
Maisie Vallis: English lit.
Lynda Vaughan: English lang., English lit., Welsh,* geography, general science, cookery.
Pamela Vivien: English lang., English lit., Latin, French,* history, geography, general science, art.
Shirley Walters: English lit., Welsh,* geography, chemistry.
Norma Waterman: English lang., English lit., French, mathematics, chemistry, biology.
Rita Watkins: Physics.
Enid Williams: Homecraft.
Joan Valmai Williams: English lang., needlework, homecraft.
June Williams: English lang., English lit., needlework.
Marion Winston: English lit., art.
Jean Worsley: English lang., English lit., French,* geography, mathematics, general science, cookery, needlework.
IT USED TO BE
‘THE HIGHER’
Aberdare successes in G.C. examination
LOCAL successes in the Welsh Education Committee’s General Certificate Examination at Advanced Level (equivalent to the old Higher) announced during the week-end are as follows:
BOYS
Eric James Baker: English, geography.
David Stuart Bird: History, economics.
William Maddy Bodger: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
Sebert Russell Brake: History, Economics.
John Rhys Condon: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
Alan Gordon David: Geography, geology.
Geoffrey George Davies: English, Welsh, music.
Peter Gwyn Davies: Pure and applied mathematics, physics, chemistry.
Raymond Trevor Erasmus: English, French (with conversational power), music.
John Gould: History, economics.
Colin Griffiths: History, economics.
Rowland Brian Griffiths: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
Arthur John Hinton Gwilliam: French (with conversational power), economics.
Colin Hemming: physics.
John Isaac: Botany, zoology.
David Edward James: Geology.
William David James: Botany, zoology, geology.
Owen Phillips Jones: Chemistry, zoology.
Eric Lawrence: Botany, zoology, geology.
Alun Harris Maddy: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
Alan Marsh: English, French (with conversational power).
Stuart Morgan: Pure and applied mathematics, physics, chemistry.
Geoffrey Parker: English, history, geography.
Ronald Walters: Botany, zoology, geology.
James Scott Weir: English, history, economics.
David Roger Williams: Botany.
Francis Norman Williams: Economics.
Neville David Williams: Geography, geology.
William John Williams: English, Latin, French.
GIRLS
Jean Glenys Boxer: Pure mathematics, applied mathematics, geography.
Gillian Shirley Callaghan: French (with conversional power).
Patricia Crimmin: English, history.
Joyce Hatton: English.
Thelma Hurst: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
Jean James: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
Elinor Menna Jones: English, history.
Olivia Ann Havard Jones: English, Welsh, geography.
Pat Edwina Lewis: Botany.
Christine Llewellyn: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
Beryl Thomas: Pure and applied mathematics.
Lilian Kathleen Wignall: Latin.
Beryl Williams: Geography, botany, zoology.
VAYNOR AND PENDERYN
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
T. Evans: Physics, chemistry.
W. Gwillim: Chemistry, biology.
C. Morris: Pure and applied mathematics, physics, chemistry.
J. Morris: English, history, Welsh.
W. D. Smith: Chemistry, botany, zoology.
C. Thomas: Pure and applied mathematics, physics, chemistry.
GCE Ordinary Level was taken at the age of 16, unlike School Certificate,
there was no minimum number of subjects required to gain a certificate. GCE Ordinary
Level ceased to exist in 1994 when the General Certificate of Secondary Education, GCSE,
was introduced.
GCE Advanced Level was normally taken after two years in the sixth
form and was awarded in separate subjects. Students started their Advanced Level course
normally taking three subjects.
Notes
- Alun Harris Maddy and John Yockney have entries in the Former Pupils section of this website, where you can read more about their careers.
- Victor John Carney was brought up in Maes-y-Dre. He left school with a State Scholarship. He was a councillor in Aberdare, and later became Registrar of the University College, Swansea. He lived in Langland Bay, Swansea at the time of his death in September 2015. He was a graduate of U.C.W. Aberystwyth.
- Morton John Davies Morton was from Broniestyn Terrace. He left
school for Imperial College, London and eventually became a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics
at U.C.W. Aberystwyth.
(NB: There was another Morton Davies at school, but he was Morton Rees Davies. He was from Werfa, Rhigos, and attended ABGS a little later, 1949–57. He went to the universities of Swansea and Oxford and in 1995 was appointed to the Chair of Public Administration and Management, Liverpool University.) Both Mortons were Head Boys in their final year. - Victor Henry Evans (now living in Swansea) was from Cwmdare. He became a Welsh Baptist minister, then lecturer at Swansea Institute of Education, before returning to the ministry. His last pastorate before retirement was at Gorseinon and Loughor.
- David Lloyd Jones spent almost his whole career teaching at Aberdare Boys Grammar School, and later Comprehensive School. He joined the school as Head of Physics in January1960.
- Michael George Jones (1935–2012) was one of the three sons
of Maldwyn E. Jones and his wife Margaret, née George, of Penrhiw, Graig Place.
He was a medical student at Cardiff but did not complete the course. Eventually
he became post master at Ferndale. He was a one-time contestant in a BBC
Brain of Britain competition. He was also a very good chess player.
His brothers were Gareth George Jones, (1937–2004), M.D. of the family business, Stephens & George - printers. The youngest brother was Richard George Jones, Ll.B., (1943–2016), a solicitor. Richard was also a very good chess player and was involved in the Student Representative Council whilst at UCW Aberystwyth. Richard lived in the family home, Penrhiw. - Derek Morgan was brought up in Abernant. He taught music, and deputised at ABGS for the music master, Gethin Evans, when he was on sick-leave. Derek was the organist at Calfaria W.B. Chapel, Monk Street.
- William Arwyn Richards played rugby for some top clubs of his era. He became Chairman of Cwmbach Male Voice Choir. His sister, Glenys married Robert Servini.
- Brian Robert Riden was from Beacon Road and then The Bryn, Rhigos.
- Thomas Gwynfryn Thomas played rugby on the wing for the school’s first XV, but also he won a schoolboy cap at soccer for Wales, playing at Penydarren Park, Merthyr. His father was a councillor for Blaengwawr Ward.
- David Stuart Bird is the son of G. Spencer Bird, solicitor. David married Menna Davies, a State Scholar at the Girls’ Grammar School.
- John Rhys Condon Dr John Rhys Condon, BSc MB BCh FRCP became a consultant physician at Greenwich Hospital, London. He was born in 1932, the son of Nan & Jack Condon the undertaker. He married Peggy Price of Graig St, Foundry Town in 1958. He died in August 2019, and Peggy in 2023.
- Raymond Erasmus was the son of County Councillor Jim Erasmus. He was a talented pianist and linguist. He went on to teach French in the Caerphilly area.
- Jean Agnes Burke married Keith Alun Rowlands, the acclaimed Welsh rugby international player, and rugby administrator.