Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School

Memories and Memorabilia

Back to previous page | Home page

A School Picnic Group, circa 1905

Amy Violet Minty’s Book Prize, circa 1910

1911 Edith Tay’s book prize
A rare find from the early days when the school was co-educational

An image of an Honours Board in 1912
A magnified detail from the 1912 photograph of the School’s Main Hall

1913 Laura Ellen Williams’ book prize
Another rare find from the early days of the school

St. David’s Day Celebrations, 1914

Harvest Camp volunteers, 1918
A group of pupils and teachers at Roch, Pembrokeshire

1920s Class in Room 9
from Judith Rist

1920s Chemistry Laboratory Class
from Judith Rist

1922 The Gymnasium
from Roger Excell

1922 The Main Hall
from Roger Excell

1924 Visit to the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley
from Dave Lewis and John Bowen

1924–30 David Walter Morris’s memories of school
Anecdotes about teachers and school life in the 1920s

The Cwmbach Boys, September 1926
A group of pupils of mixed ages, from Delyth Wilson

1930 Sports Day
Informal photos of some upper sixth boys

1932–38 Bob Jones’ memories of school
Bob Jones’ account of the teachers he knew, and stories from his schooldays

1933 Ramblers
A photo of a school rambling group circa 1933 from Tom Evans

1937 Invoice & Receipt
This invoice from E. Davies & Sons (Llwydcoed) was for the transport of a Sports Team

1938 Geography excursion
Details and map of a school trip on June 25th 1938

Malcolm Lloyd’s memories
Malcolm recalls the School and Aberdare in the 30s and 40s

Douglas Cook’s memories of his evacuation from London
Douglas Cook, 1941 – 1943, recalls being evacuated from Ilford to the Aberdare County School in September 1941

Extracts from the Ilford County High School Magazine, Autumn 1941
with reference to the school’s evacuation to Aberdare

Brian Berry’s memories
Brian recalls the School, its masters and wartime Aberdare in the 1940s

1946–47 Chemistry Lab
Sixth form boys in the Chemistry Lab. from Malcolm Lloyd

1947 School Trip to Eindhoven
from Dave Lewis

1948–49 Physics Lab
Sixth form boys in the Physics Lab. from Malcolm Lloyd

Part of a report on 1948 Field Trips
from Gwyn Evans

Christmas Card, 1940s
from Steve White

Chess Club Results
A very brief summary of the 1953 chess club year

1953 Planting the Coronation Tree
from John Bowen

Having a drink in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris Trip 1953
from Alun C. Davies

1953 School Christmas Card
from Roger Williams.

A group of school choristers in Victoria Square, 1956
from School Archives

1958 carol service
Order of service. From Drew Haman.

1958 The Rover comic
The school badge was published on the front page of the comic this year.

Meirion Jenkins & Tom Evans on a field trip, (circa 1957)
from Gwyn Evans

1959 Some of the lower sixth in the Biology lab
from Alwyn Griffiths

1959 Group in the playground
from Drew Haman and Grayson Richards

An account of a geology field trip to Llanharry Iron Ore Mine in 1959
Roger Williams’ account of a geology society trip

Marking the State Scholarship won by Keith Lewis
Summer 1959

Letters to the local Press about ‘The Cowshed‘ / Dining Hall, 1960
from School Archives

Mr Tom Evans & Mr Bernard Evans on a Field Trip
circa 1960

Pre-1960 School Christmas card
from Drew Haman

Post-1960 School Christmas card
from Colin Rees

1960 Another sixth form group in the Biology lab
from Grayson Richards

Relaxing in Room 8 (Trecynon)
from Gwyn Evans

1961 Prefects and upper sixth group photos
from Alwyn Griffiths and Ken Reynolds

Information about State Scholarships 1961
from Alwyn Griffiths

Notification of Award of Fees & Maintenance Grant, 1961
from Alwyn Griffiths

A set of informal photos taken at school & Ystradfellte, circa 1962
from Rob Humphreys and Vic Reynolds

Memories of school vacation work at Eskimo Foods, Cleethorpes, 1962
from Rob Humphreys

Scouts form Guard of Honour, 1962
from Leighton Jones

Some Geography Field Trip Photographs, 1962–63
from Gwyn Evans

Members of 6A (Upper Sixth) 1962–63
from Rob Humphreys

Instructions for Sgwd Yr Eira walk from Penderyn
from Gwyn Evans

Fundraising for the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, 1962–64

1957–64 memorabilia, photographs, and various documents
A large collection of photos and documents from the editors’ schooldays

1957–64 remember this?
Some memories gleaned from correspondence with old pupils of this era

The School Scout Troop Expedition to Snowdonia, 1962

Scout Camp at Llandovery, 1962–63

D of E and Queen’s Scout Badge Award Ceremony, 1963

1963 group
A photo of a mixed group of pupils from Ian Thompson

School Trip to Paris in April 1963
Some photographs of the trip

Staff Dinner to commemorate the retirement of caretaker Mr David Jones, Brecon 1963

School Scout Trip to Eire in August 1963
The logbook entries of the Eire trip

1964 ABGS old boys seven-a-side rugby team
Aberdare Leader cutting

1964 The fossil tree
Notes on the history of the fossil tree in the forecourt of the new school from Geoff Kerley

Summer Work at Beechams in Coleford mid 1960s
Reminiscences from Chris Abbott, Steve Hammonds, Lynn Thomas and Clive Richards

The 1966 Cruise to Portugal & Spain

Presentation of Queen’s Scout Awards, 1967

1968 Charity Walk
From Aberdare to Cardiff in aid of the homeless charity Shelter

1968 Nevasa Cruise
A few memories as recalled by Gerald Carter & Tom Evans

Young Oxfam Group Fundraising, 1968

John Canter’s achievement at Eisteddfod yr Urdd, 1968

Former pupil Michael G. Jones takes part in Brain of Britain final, 1968
from Alun C. Davies

Presentation by members of HMS Bulwark in memory of past student Aneurin Hughes, 1969

1970 sixth form
The first year sixth form, from Gareth Hughes

A Physics Exam
circa 1970

A Geography Field Trip to Dinas Rock new
circa 1970

ABGS Members of The Bridgend Mountain Rescue Team, 1970
from Nigel Watts

Three Oxford Offers, January 1971

1971 sixth form
A small group of upper sixth form boys, from Roland Williams

Duties of Prefects, 1970–1971
from David V. Williams, ABGS 1964–71

Information about the Miners’ Welfare Scholarships
Information for Students about the Miners’ Welfare Scholarships and Exhibitions Scheme – from Alun Powell

Visit of John Morris, Secretary of State for Wales to the School, 1975

1976 Lyndon Davies’ photos from the new school
Some photos of some sixth form pupils at the new school building in Cwmdare

An informal photo of a lower sixth group, 1977
A cheerful group of lads at the end-of-year sports afternoon, July 1977

1979–80 Double Maths A-level group & other photos of students from this year
Several photos including one of a sixth form maths group with their teacher, Mr Bob Childs

Fundraising for Fedw Hir

Sponsored Leapfrog Event, circa 1981–82

Visit to Pontypridd FE College IT Department, 1982

British Association for Young Scientists Group, 1982

Photography Club, 1982–83

A Geography Brecon Beacons Field Trip, early 1980s

British Association for Young Scientists Group, 1983

Innovative Thinking Group, 1983
from Maldwyn Jones