Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School

Amy’s book is The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay by his nephew Sir George Otto Trevelyan, Bart., published by Longmans, Green & Co. and dated 1909. It is bound in red leather with the words Aberdare County School written in gold lettering on the front; it also has a handsome ribbed spine. Inside the front cover we see that the book was presented to Amy Violet Minty for General Proficiency; the handwriting is that of Mr Cox, the headmaster.

Amy entered the Trecynon School in September 1907 from Park Schools. Initially her family lived in Prospect Place Trecynon, before moving to 24 Lambert Terrace, Gadlys. She was academically very able, passing Junior Cert. in 1910, Senior Cert. in 1911, Higher Cert. in 1912, and the Honours Cert. in 1913. She transferred to the newly opened Plasdraw School in September 1913, possibly to complete her year as a student teacher. Amy’s younger brother William Edward Minty also attended the school, in his case from 1909-13. Their father W.J. Minty was a foreman platelayer on the Great Western Railway. Mr & Mrs Minty came from Dilton in Wiltshire, but Amy and her brother were both born in Gelligaer. Amy married William J. Evans in Birmingham in 1931; she died in 1986 aged 90 in Berkshire.

Amy spent one year as a student teacher before going to university. The Aberdare Leader of 6 June 1914 reported her success in gaining financial support for her university education thus:
“BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENT.— Miss Amy Minty, Lambert Terrace, a student teacher, has achieved a double distinction. She has won the Glamorgan County Scholarship of £40, and the Caroline Williams’ Scholarship of £25, which is the highest open scholarship at the Cardiff University. Miss Minty was a very promising scholar at the Aberdare County School, and took her honours certificate there. She has written several little dramas illustrating Welsh history, and one or two of them were performed by the Park Girls at the St. David’s Day celebrations. The editor of The Teachers’ World has accepted one of her dramas for publication.”

Amy’s handwriting on the inside
front cover of the book