Cricket: A newspaper report of the presentations to the champion House cricket team, 1910.
from The Aberdare Leader, 8 January 1910
County School Cricket.
MR. EDGAR JONES PRESENTS
SHIELD AND MEDALS.
On Saturday, at the Aberdare County School, an interesting function took place,
viz., the presentation of the Shield and Medals to the victorious cricket team in the
“house” contests held under the auspices of the school. The victorious
team was that of Mr. L. M. Thomas, B.A. There were present: Ald. David Hughes, chairman
of the Governors; Mrs. J. Griffiths, another of the Governors; Mrs. T. Walter Williams;
members of the staff of the County School and their wives, and also a large number
of pupils.
A splendid tea was provided by the County School girls.
Ald. David Hughes presided over the presentation meeting. He appreciated the kindness
of Mr. Edgar Jones, M.P., in coming there that day at considerable inconvenience. He
wished to congratulate the house which had won the Shield this year, and hoped they
would not win it next year, but that one of the other houses would be successful.
Mr. Edgar Jones, who was given a rousing reception, said that the house system.
of playing was a most desirable one. He took it that the winners of the Shield were
well-disciplined lads, for the best boys in school were usually the best boys in the
cricket field. He trusted that when the Germans would invade this country the captain
of their team would avail himself of his Shield. (Laughter.) Mr Jones enjoined the
boys to play the game. That was the way to win in every great crisis in life. Stuffing
one’s head with verbs was not of much more use than swallowing a bottle of medicine.
(Hear, hear.) He feared that they as Welshmen were too prone to regard degrees as the
be-all and end-all of education. A handle to one’s name was not of so much importance
as the tune which the manipulation of the handle caused. (Applause.)
Mr. Jones thereupon presented the Shield to the captain and the medals to the members
of the house.
Mr. W.C. Cox, M.A., headmaster, proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Edgar Jones
for his service that evening. It was a great impetus to sport to get Mr. Jones there
to present the Shield.
Mr. J. Aubrey Roberts, B.A., in seconding the vote of thanks, hoped that in future
years the contest for the Shield would be as keen as in past years.
The chairman and the other visitors of the school were then thanked for their presence.
The following entertaining programme was then gone through:— Solo, Gwen James.
Violin solo, F. Dance. Stump speech, Mr. W. R. Williams, B.Sc. Mandoline [sic]
trio, Warren Lewis, Sidney Jenkins, and Austin Lewis. Chorus by Bryn Reynolds’ Male
Voice Party. Selection by W. Jones’s String Band.
The recipients of the medals were: Brinley Reynolds (capt.), Warren Lewis (vice-capt.),
W.J. Evans, W.J. Morris, Donald John, Harry Allen, Trefor Williams, F. Lambert, D.J.
Morris, Rees Davies, Mostyn George, Idwal Davies, and W.J. Davies.
Notes
Louis Meredith Thomas, a native of Llansadwrn, was the senior English master. He
served at the school 1907-46.
David Hughes, originally from Abernant, was apprenticed as an engineer at Abernant
iron works, but later switched to marine engineering for most of his working career.
He became an Alderman of the County Council; a member of the Merthyr Board of Guardians;
one of the first Governors, as well as Chairman, of the Aberdare County School; and
High Constable of Miskin Higher, 1899. He also took a very keen interest in technical
education and was chairman of the Continuation Schools Committee. At the time of his
death he lived at 24, Clifton Street, and was a very wealthy man. He owned several properties
and was a shareholder in The Bwllfa and merthyr Dare Steam Collieries Ltd. He was also
for a time the proprietor of The Boot Hotel.
Mrs J. Griffiths was probably the wife of John Griffiths, Head of Park School.
Mrs. T. Walter Williams, (Elizabeth Frances Williams) was the wife of T. Walter Williams
a barrister and councillor. The family lived at Glenview, Trecynon.
Mr. Edgar Jones, (1878 – 1962), was a Cwmaman born barrister-at-law. He was
at the time of this ceremony one of the two Members of Parliament for Merthyr Boroughs,
which included Aberdare. After the boundary reorganisation he was elected M.P. for Merthyr,
1918-22. He was knighted in 1918.
Aubrey Roberts was the senior history master, and very keen sportsman. There is no
other record of the initial J in his name.
The captain, Brinley Reynolds, became the senior French master at the school and
eventually Headmaster. He was a member of staff from 1913 to 1958. The full names of
the team members shown with initials only, are as follows: William John Evans (Aberaman),
Williams James Morris ((Mountain Ash), Arthur Frank Lambert (Aberaman), David John Morris
(Police Station, Abernant), William John Davies (Aberaman) or William James Davies (Rhigos).
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