- Abertillery Online Discussion Forum -

Mumsold · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North West

There is a Miss J Gatfield mentioned at the end of the Marie Stopes clinic article on here. My grandfather was at school in Six Bells with a Jinny Gatfield who went on to be a teacher possibly at the Grammar School in Abertillery . I belive she was the equivalent to head girl or something and he may have been head boy . Does anyone know anything about Jinny Gatfield or Albert Rees?

Jim Nicholas · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Eastbourne

Jinny Gatfield was headmistress of the British School in the 1930's at the same time that my aunt, Annie Gregory was headmistress of Queen Street Mixed.

Mumsold · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North West

Thanks for that Jim. So she did make it to Headmistress! Which school is the British School ? Is it still a school now? What was it in the 30's then, primary, secondary?

sachaboo · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 4

Hi, Miss Gatfield was my nan's teacher in the 30's at the british school and later her neighbour in Richmond Road...this was in the late 60's and she was quite old then. Seeing her name is quite strange as she's been a bit of a legend in my family

Mumsold · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North West

Hi Sachaboo. Funny isnt it, how the past keeps getting pulled back into the present every so often. Seems certain then that Jinny Gatfield remained a teacher/head teacher. Do you remember hearing if she was ever married? Where exactly was the British School ? Can you tell if it was a secondary school from the age your Nan was when she went?

sachaboo · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 4

she never married....it was Miss Gatfield....i'm trying to remember what nan said...i know she left school at 14 to work at the gazette office but i always got the impression she was quite young when taught by miss gatfield. I'll ask her tomorrow, its a bit late for her now - she's 84. I'll have a dig around for some more information -

Mumsold · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North West

Thats the quickest reply Ive ever had! Thanks. Yes, you never know, your Gran might know more.

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

The Bristish School was demolished in the ealy 80's I think and Cwrt Myton nursing home was built in its foundations.

In 1921 the Abertillery and District Hospital Linen League was voluntarily formed. The Ladies of the Linen League repaired all the hospital linen, everything was done by them on a voluntary basis and they even paid their own bus fares back and forth the hospital. In 1949 the Linen league retired when the hospital was taken over by the National Health Service and the League of Friends was formed. Miss Gatfield was one of the orginal members. My Great Grandmother was also one of the linen ladies
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My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

Mumsold · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North West

Thanks Caroline. Amazing how hospital systems have changed isnt it with their disposable this and thats. Mum was telling me only today that when she was in hospital 60 odd years ago, her bed was next to the 'steam room' which is I presume where stuff was sterilized , and that she woke up from an operation to find steam flies all round her pillow/bed . It seems they could be quite a problem in hospitals, kitchens, hotels etc at one time.
Im not at all familiar with Abertillery area, so was the British School actually in Six Bells then, or Abertillary?

Carolyn · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 1618 Location: Abertillery

The British School was in Abertillery close the to left side of the Foundry Bridge. This is a very early picture of it taken circa 1899

_________________
My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more!

Mumsold · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North West

Brilliant. Thanks Caroline.

sachaboo · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 4

Hi, the British went up to 11 years so was a primary school. She definately never married; my nan took sunday lunch around to her for ten years so she must have died in the early 70's late 60's. She was a very wealthy woman apparently who left her money to charity....hope this helps

Mumsold · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North West

Thanks Sachaboo. Extremely interesting to find out what happened to people who meant something to your ancestors! Makes you wonder whether if she and my grandfather had both gone on to study and be teachers together as theyd planned , whether I would have ended up related to her as well!