- Abertillery Online Discussion Forum -

phil wallace · Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Posts: 24

anyone around that attended Bryngwyn "Academy " from 1959 to 1963 ? we are all approaching or have reached to big 60, would be very nice to have a get together and have a gargle, teachers also welcome, but please dont bring the cane with you as i had more than my share of them in school. thank you.

glen chappelle · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Abergavenny

I just missed 1963 but can remember some of your contemporaries. Clive Humphries, John Bryant etc. Or should i say Binko and Lanky?[/img]

ANN BATH · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Swansea

Hi Phil
I was in the same class as you in bryngwyn. I was there only 2 years but I remember Mrs Guley, Mr Roberts, Mr Phillips and many more. I often wonder what happened to Mary Rees and another girl Joy Mills.
Ann Bath

dianewilsher · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: Bryngwyn

I was at Bryngwyn from 1964 to 1968. I can remember Mrs Guley, Ron Francis, Mrs Huckin, Mr Bath, Miss Dawe, Mrs Holland, headmaster Mr James.

Mrs Guley taught music, Ron Francis taught art, Mrs Huckin taught Needlework and PE, Mr Bath taught science, Miss Dawe taught English, Mrs Holland taught cookery. There was another teacher Gary Williams who taught maths. Where are all these now?

I do believe Mrs Holland is still alive and also Mrs Guley.

Diane
_________________
Diane

ANN BATH · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Swansea

my father was Mr Bath and he died in 1987

aef · Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 2

Hi everyone
This is Mary Rees I am still about and kicking. Hope to hear from you
Mary

ANN BATH · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Swansea

Hello

Were you the Mary that lived in High Street, Six Bells If you are, would love to hear from you

Annie Bath

Haydn · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 71

I just had an enormous flashback! I attended BSM from 65 to 69 and remember all the teachers, in particular the head Mr Philips or was it Lewis? Anyone remember the day we got caned for climbing the cricket nets? There must have been thirty of us lined up down the corridor and 3 on each hand each!! I thought the head was going to have a heart attack by the time hed finished.
Back in the late 80's I tried to find Ron Francis in Blaena Gwent but was told he had passed away. Do you remember following Mr Roberts and the needlework mistress up to the 3 sisters at lunch break Wink

X P O P · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Abertillery

I went to the Academy 1966 - 1970,
The Headmaster was Rumsey James.
Teaching Staff as follows,
Mr.Ron Francis (1B) Art Room
Mr.Mike Williams (1A) Maths
Mrs. Fran Holland (2A) Cookery D/S
Mrs. Mollie Huckin (2B) Needlework & P.E
Mr. Garry Williams (3A) Geography/R.I & P.E
Mr.Albert Bath (3B) Sciences (Retired)
Mr.Bill Abraham .. ..
Mr. Colin James (4B) Woodwork
Mrs. Olga Guley (4A) Music & History
Mr Tom Roberts R.I Then Geography (also acting deputy head?)
Miss Aenied Dawe English / Library (Senior /Head Mistres)

Miss Dawe , Mrs Guley and Mr Bath, deceased, not sure about any others.
Mike Williams and Fran Holland still living in the area , not sure as to the others.

Haydn · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 71

Reading that list of teachers names has brought back so many memories. Why did we call Mrs Dawe 'the witch'? Did I switch from woodwork to domestic science because I had a crush on Mrs Holland or just liked rock cakes? Why did the girls play in front of the cookery building and the boys in front of the woodwork shed at playtime? Did Gaerhard Morgan go to prison for chinning that student teacher? I dont remember him coming back after his suspension!
Does anyone remember going to Bruges on the school trip? It was then that I had my first girlfriend...lasted at least 2 days!
Noahs Ark at St Michaels Church...I was a donkey I think. Years later I was involved in an am dram society and played Bottom in midsummer nights dream....I had a flashback when I was in the asses head costume!!
Last time I was in Abertillery the old school was being used as a factory. It made me very sad. Even six bells juniors was closed. I dread to think what had become of the mountain infants school.
Before I shut up. Can anyone remember the year that they closed the baths up the park? I know it cracked through subsidence but cant recall the year.

Ian · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 256 Location: Abertillery

Bryngwyn is definately still open,(the school at the bottom end of Cemetery Rd is a factory or workplace of some sort though).I went to Bryngwyn in 69/70 so missed your era,although the list of teachers to me looks very familiar,think I've been taught by most of them. Smile

_________________
Politics,n.Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.

Haydn · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 71

Just goes to show how time clouds memories. I was sure the last time I walked past BSM there was a destinct look of factory about it. I recall there were big vans in the yard too. Maybe I passed at a time when some renovations was going on! I also assumed that when they opened the new Abertillery Comp that all the kids from BSM would be sent there.
I left BSM at the end of 68 and spent my last year before going into the Royal Marines at a school in Hampshire. I had just sat the mock O levels! I was still at the Rolling Mill then but left to find my Mum who had moved to Hampshire after splitting up with my Dad.
What happens to the kids who would have gone to Six Bells Juniors? The only other Junior school in the area was down the Arrael.
Does anyone remember when the school playing fields was a big hole in the ground? On old maps it was shown as a quarry. I can remember the earth movers pushing the slag heap into the hole and wondering if there were any bodies in the old house that was in the bottom!

Jayne · Joined: 26 May 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Six Bells

Bryngwyn school is still open but is now a primary school and not a secondary mod. The school in Six Bells at the bottom of the Cemetery Road was a school (Six Bells Junior I think) but is now owned by Nigel Ferguson Fabricators so is a factor of sorts.

Most of the staff that were listed as teaching at Bryngwyn transferred to Roseheyworth Comprehensive school when it opened and would have taught there until the new Abertillery Comp opened and Roseheyworth closed when some moved to the new school and others retired.

Grumpy · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 11

Gerhard Morgan never attended BSM he attended Abertillery Grammer school and certainly did not chin any teacher!!!

Haydn · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 71

Your absolutely right of course....thats what becomes of trying to remember stuff with a 54 year old brain! I think I meant John Webber but that could be wrong too. Damn this brain......