Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School
Memories and Memorabilia
Michael G. Jones in Final of BBC Brain of Britain, 1968
sent via Alun C. Davies
Listeners to BBC Radio 4 will be familiar with the quiz programme Brain of Britain. The quiz evolved from the BBC Light Programme quiz What Do You Know that was first broadcast in 1953. In 1967, the programme title became Brain of Britain. The question master was Franklin Engelmann who remained with the show until his death in 1972.
In 1968, a former pupil of ABGS Michael George Jones, who was at school 1945–1953, fought his way through the preliminary rounds of Brain of Britain when 56 contestants were whittled down to just three for the final. Michael came third, the winner being Ralph Raby, (1918–2013), who went on in the same year to become the winner of the triennial competition to find the “Brain of Brains.”
Michael is on the left in the photograph.
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. After gaining A-levels
in Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, he became a medical student at Cardiff but did not
complete the course. Eventually he became postmaster at Ferndale. As well as being an
accomplished quizzer, he was also a very good chess player.
His brothers were Gareth George Jones, (1937–2004), managing director 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.