Summer 2010 Newsletter - Old Dominicans Association

ODA Contacts
Chairman Dr Gareth W Griffiths
Gorwelion
Ffordd Penrhyngeiriol
Trearddur Bay
LL65 2YW
Tel: 01407 860137
Secretary (Temp). Elfyn M. Edwards
3, Cae Mair
Beaumaris
LL58 8YN
Tel: 01248 810340
E-mail: [email protected]
Treasurer (Temp) Colin Ll Dixon
2 Belmont Drive
Bangor
LL57 2HS
Tel: 01248 362032
E-mail: [email protected]
Welsh Affairs John Bryan Jones
Heulfryn
7 Victoria Rd
Old Colwyn
LL29 9SN
Tel: 01492 515558 & fax
E-mail: [email protected]
Committee members
Barry A Wynn
7, Ffordd Islwyn
Bangor
LL57 1AR
Tel:01248 353851
Co-opted member responsible for IT
Don Parry-Jones
21 Laurel Avenue
Bangor on Dee
Wrexham LL13 0BQ
Tel: 01978 780005
E-mail: [email protected]
Co-opted members with responsibilities for recruiting younger members
Paul D Smith
Patrick R Hemphill
5 Parc Derwen
Springhill
The Green
George Lane
Denbigh
Glemsford
LL16 5TJ
CO10 7SB
Tel: 01824 708017
Tel: 01787 282307
E-mail; [email protected]
2
Message from the Editor
In the summer a young man’s fancy turns to love. At least so it is said. And then
again, we could make hay while the sun shines. Or we could go on holiday. On
my travels I meet many “new” people of all levels of society. In recent weeks
those travels have taken me far afield to the wastes of Alaska. To exist there
one must have love. Love of the savage wilderness especially in the depths of
Winter when temperatures can be as low as minus 70 degrees F, and love of
your fellow man. Nothing is too much trouble when you find someone in need of
help. There is no holding back but quite the contrary, totally, give all you can to
help a fellow human in need. You might think, dear reader, that this is a rather
overactive way of bringing home the point to DA members. Well think on!
Remember Geoffrey Glynne in his efforts to establish Friars School. His motives
were entirely altruistic. He was thinking of the “poore” children. His motto “In
Foedere Fraterno” clearly show the need for brotherly love. What can we do as
ODA members? Maybe it is to share in a brotherly way our memories, thoughts
and, when we can, help fellow members. This aspect was brought home when
reading Bill Cunningham’s obituary for Geoffrey Illing. Bill mentioned that
Geoffrey was “a gentle person with no side to him. He was a person Friars
Grammar School could be proud to have educated. The school taught him to go
forward into the world. A gentle person, greatly admired in the local community,
always prepared to help others not so fortunate”
How many other unsung heroes do we have who passed through the
portals of our Alma Mater, Friars? We have yet another unsung hero in Iorys
Hughes, the designer of Mulberry harbour. 1942 / 44 is a long time ago and long
forgotten, yet it was to Iorys that Churchill turned to formulate an idea into
something concrete (please excuse the bad pun!) Yet from his relatively humble
beginnings in Bangor to the saviour of so many lives at the Normandy landings
in 1944. In this issue we focus on Iorys and his story. Bangor have now started
erecting blue plaques to commemorate “notable” citizens. Iorys Hughes and
Dewi Bebb are two ex Friars boys honoured in this way. It is a shame, though
that the plaques just state “engineer” or “rugby player” without any defining
preamble.
In our own way we commemorate many of our departed school friends
when we meet and reminisce. These occasions arise quite frequently with the
Rucksack Club walks and the occasional lunches. Do any of you meet with your
more local ex school friends? Then why not recall or remind the rest of us,
wherever we are that there is still much “Foedere Fraterno” in this disturbed world
of ours. Do keep in touch with us. We always welcome letters or articles to
circulate in the family newsletter.
Cliff Jones
3
Secretary's Report (or more of Elfyn's meandering pen)
So a General Election has come and gone along with the government since our
last Newsletter and we march along in foedere fraterno through 2010 clutching
our revitalised and reformatted editions.
So cheering to see a number of new and younger members in our ranks this
year and so sad to lose a number of old friends and school colleagues,
and especially devastating to lose our treasurer and friend, Trefor Griffiths.
How are we going to manage without him? Colin Dixon has taken on the job until
the next AGM. Diolch Colin. We really appreciate this.
We have around 200 members though we still need some of you to cough up
your £10 for this year so come on before the budget deals a nasty surprise.
For your diaries, the AGM will be held at the Regency Hotel, Bangor, on
Saturday 16th April, 2011 followed by our Annual Dinner at Carreg Môn Hotel,
Llanfair PG at 7 pm. Details of lunch buffet and dinner costs to follow. Also the
Guest Speaker will be announced at a later date.
Good to learn that the London Reunion was again a success and the Rucksack
Club goes from strength to, well, occasionally strength. We do sometimes
weaken, but only if the terrain is too steep or the weather too bad. Seriously, the
ODRC is a core activity in bringing us together in walking friendship twice a month
with an enjoyable lunch or two for good measure. Recently we have had an
obsession with mines. from slate to copper. Has anyone found Snow White yet?
Hi Ho! Hi Ho!
The web site is in really good shape thanks to Don and Hefin. The information
on the site and photographs are invaluable not only for us in our dotage but as
our kids’ heritage. Do hit that site as often as possible and maybe get the family
on as well. - Pregeth drosodd.
Gobeithio ichi gael Haf braf a difyr. A warm and pleasant summer to you all.
Elfyn
4
Letters
Daniel Owen was the first pupil at Friars to receive the Old Dominican Association
award of £200.00. Colin Dixon has received the following résumé of his career
since then.
Dear Editor
When I achieved the award I was in my first year at Loughborough University
studying Automotive Engineering having left Ysgol Friars after completing my A
Levels in Maths, Physics & Chemistry, Five years on, I find myself as a Director
for a local Property Management Company, I graduated from Loughborough
University in the summer of 2008, having achieved a Second Class Honours in a
Bachelors of Engineering degree in the field of Automotive Engineering.
Between my second and final year of study, I undertook an Industrial Placement
working for Toyota in the Manufacturing Plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, where
I spent 12 months working in the External Logistics Department before going
on to complete my studies in Loughborough.
Upon leaving University I found work in an established Property Management
Company called M&J Lettings’, based in Bangor. Here I gained some experience
in the industry as a Property Advisor in the Lettings’ Department, since being with
the company I have gained the ‘NFOPP Technical Award n Residential Letting's
& Property Management’ which has allowed the company to become a member
of the ' Association of Residential Letting Agents' and have been promoted to a
Company Director.
We have opened a second branch on Anglesey and hope to open a third in the
near future. Personally I am looking to begin studying for the 'NFOPP Technical
Award in the Sales of Residential Property' in April. This will allow the company
to professionally sell properties. Being in the Industry has allowed me to get a
foothold on the property ladder and I am in the process of obtaining my first
mortgage. I hope I keep progressing in my growth personally and professionally
as I have done these past few years.
Daniel Owen
5
We published a letter from Sarah in the Winter edition 2009, she has kindly teamed
up with her friend Katherine to provide the following interesting article.
Friars Today
Over the years subjects at Ysgol Friars have offered a range of opportunities
whilst covering a variety of topics. As we have both taken History and Geography
at GCSE and at A-level, we have been given several opportunities to undertake
study trips overseas. Between us, we have been to Kenya, where we
experienced the hospitality of the Masai people and enjoyed a safari and also
to Poland where we visited the concentration camp at Auschwitz. We have also
made two trips to France and Belgium visiting the historic battlefields of the
Somme, Verdun and Paschendale, and also visited a gorgeous Belgian
chocolate shop, which was closed to the public to prepare for our arrival. Sixth
form today offers a wide variety of subjects and between us we are studying
Biology, Chemistry, English, History and Geography.
We are both taking full advantage of these opportunities although neither of us
actually live in the school catchment area we chose to attend school at Friars.
However, sometimes it feels like nearly all of our school life has been taken up
by exams! For example, years seven and eight were spent preparing for the
SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) which we sat in year nine, whilst years ten
and eleven were a run up to GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary
Education). The latter was incredibly stressful as there were at least eleven
subjects in which we each sat exams.
Over the last few years our sixth form has grown and grown and become very
popular. There are still pupils who wish to leave school as soon as possible but
a large number of our year group has stayed on whether they’re particularly
academic or not.
The range of courses available to study at Friars has expanded over the years,
even including subjects such as Law, Travel and Tourism and Psychology. This
broad variety has encouraged students from other schools to join our sixth form.
Reading a few articles from the previous newsletters teacher-pupil relationships
have changed quite a bit. There is a more relaxed relationship with our teachers
in sixth form. They give us a huge amount of support, especially in senior years
as there is increasing pressure due to exams, coursework and applying for
university. The decrease in class sizes means the bond between pupils and
teachers is much stronger. Also as we have been in the school since year seven
we are much more confident around the teachers and have a very active role in
classroom debates, in which we are not hesitant in raising questions or offering
opinions.
6
Sports teams sit in high regard with well established, successful rugby and
netball teams with many members of the netball teams playing for the Welsh
and Eryri squad. Trials and tournaments are held on a regular basis in which
our squad competes against other schools in the area such as Saint Gerard's
and Dyffryn Ogwen. We always achieve good positions and the key players of
our teams receive praise and acknowledgment in school assemblies. As well as
these main stream sports, dance is held in good standing also with the female
teachers having an active role in our school production which have included
‘High School Musical’, ‘We will Rock You’ and this year, ‘Grease’.
There is a lot of help available now to less able pupils in the lower years in which
we have both taken active roles in. These include reading and numeracy
schemes in which a year seven pupil is ‘buddied up’ with a volunteer from the
sixth form in order to go through basic maths and reading skills with the aim of
raising the confidence of younger pupils and bridging the gap between sixth form
and the lower years. All of these have great success.
Very recently, a peer support scheme has been set up in which sixth formers
are trained for a day by members of the NSPCC. These pupils then have the
role of listening to and aiding pupils in the lower years with any problems that
they may have such as bullying or confidence issues.
The school has most certainly grown in size and offers a great deal to its pupils.
We both think that it has given us the best support and guidance in our secondary
education.
Sarah Paton and Katherine Taylor
School Pride ---- another Tiny Tale
School Pride. We all have it. A few or more of us get together on occasions
and off we jointly plunge into the fizzy nostalgic water of Friars Past. With long
recollections this becomes Friars Perfect. Well, for most of us. Thence, Proud
Friars must follow.
My schooling was split. Early part in Lancashire (good Grammar School) but
latterly in the absorbing, effective scholastic world of learning, strong friendships,
daring forbidden games, lunchtime forays to Antoniazzi’s in town, cooling drinks
from the chained iron cup, ----- and a Head who paraded an Ogwen salmon
around classes, or who marched us to see the Irish Mail exiting the tunnel into
Bangor station.
But now the tale. Around 1957 I was in Wrexham with the Coal Board. I
supported the town football team, incurring much results-discussion with work
colleagues. There happened to be an away game coming up against Oldham
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Athletic which was the local dream team of my youth. I organised a car full outing
to see this match and was personally somewhat overcome by wondering which
team to support. Came the day and off I drove with much loud chat in the car.
Skirting Oldham centre we were going up a wide road called Broadway.
I became excited and told the gang to look out on the left to see my (first) ‘alma
mater’, Chadderton Grammar School, and extolled its virtues. Here we are, and
there’s the name board : it read “South Chadderton School for Girls”.
You can well imagine the reactions and responses of my colleagues and also
my own! It was later I learned of the extensive school building/switching during
post-war delayed expansions by the Authority. Gratitude for Friars knows no
bounds.
John Renshaw
From the Archivist
By the time this latest Newsletter is published all of the photos that I have
received will be on the ODA web page for your viewing pleasure.
On some of the photos there are question marks as to the name or names of
the persons in the photos. If you can recognise any individual could you please
let me know his name? There is a Ref. No. that is usually on the bottom left hand
corner of the picture.
My e-mail address is as follows [email protected] my telephone
No. is 01248 714 471 and my home address is 50 Trem Eryri, Llanfairpwll,
Ynys Môn, LL61 5JF
If you have any photos that we could borrow to add to the collection I would be
very grateful to have them and I promise you that they will be returned to you
immediately.
I hope that you enjoy the viewing as much as I have enjoyed the work.
" Foedere Fraterno"
Hefin Williams
8
To be a train boy.
By Warren Martin 47-53
As soon as I knew that I had passed the Scholarship examination I realized that
my life was going to change considerably. As I heard stories of sporting
possibilities, the dreaded Latin and the terrible things that could happen to one,
particularly on the “train”, enthusiasm and optimism were tempered by
apprehension.
Friars began to influence my life long before my first day in school. Bayne and
Dargie, in Upper Bangor to purchase a blazer and black cap, without yellow
bands, then down to Saddler Bach for a satchel, meant a whole day in Bangor
with Mam. Summoned with “Parent or Guardian”, Dad and I sat at long tables
while this large glowering man spelt out what it meant to be attending Grammar
School. It seemed a very long way from the Station, we did not know about
Convent Lane. The next day, to the Railway Station in Llanfairfechan to make
a contract with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company, with Dad
complaining about the cost of two pounds and five shillings (£2.25) although this
would be refunded by the Caernarvonshire Education Committee at the end of
term.
Suddenly, an early morning in September, with a smell of new clothes and
leather, I was on my way to the Station. Groups of boys were standing around;
many looking like men, girls in red many looking like my Mam. John Bellis looking
superior but sporting a ridiculously small cap on his head, this balancing act was
to be continued by his brother David. A big dark man from Pen looking out
through a lowered window, (now our assistant Editor). It was rumoured that he
had painted the yellow rings on his cap. Suddenly grabbed by Gareth Woodfine
with a “You’re with us” I was pulled into a railway carriage.
This was not like the village school. There was much discussion about changes
in the timetable, subjects being dropped and whether Boss would have forgotten
crimes committed last year. Bangor station and I had difficulty keeping up with
the Gang as they sped up Convent Lane. After a bewildering day, the bell at last
rang for four o’clock and we were walking quickly down for the 4.20 pm train as
part of a long, moving mass of black and yellow joined by the red of the County
School girls.
Into a railway compartment, with the same crowd as in the morning. This group
was known as Taffy Lloyd’s Gang though everyone in the group denied such a
fact. There was much talk about the iniquities of the system and the fact that
some poor wretch had already received six of the best for a minor
misdemeanour! It was agreed that there was no justice! I just sat silent in awe
and wonder. Llanfairfechan Station and the red and black made its way out. I
said “Cheers” to Hugh Murray. Tomorrow lessons. That night I went to sleep
content that I had coped with the day and had missed the dreaded “de-bagging”.
9
This was a Train Boy ritual where some individual would have his trousers
removed and hung out of the window. If this could be done close to a
compartment full of County School Girls the resulting screams were considered
an added bonus. It meant the careful use of braces, belt or even string and it
could lead to disaster. During my time I knew of two instances when someone
had to walk back towards Aber with bare legs and a raincoat to find his trousers.
I knew that it would eventually catch up with me and it did. However, like many
things, once one experienced it, it turned out to be no big deal. To complain was
“Bad form” and those who did had to live with a lingering suspicion for quite
some time, although they may have had a brief pleasure in seeing Boss go
berserk and rant about “Those from the outer darkness”.
In the Summer Newsletter of 2009, you will find a picture of the servers of
Llanfairfechan Church under the heading “Is this the answer to Boss’ assertion
that ‘Train Boys’ came from the outer darkness”. This is followed by a Christmas
cake recipe which caused Phil to muse that Boss might have been right about
those from Llan after all. I do not think that you can sub-divide; we were all of
one “genus”. Particularly as we grew older many friendships were formed and
not all were with County School girls. Train Boys tended to gravitate in the
direction of Llandudno in pursuit of pleasure. We went to Bangor to play football
or other sports and returned by train. This has led to some embarrassment in
the “Old Doms” as the majority are Bangor Lads whom I did not know.
In my early days some of the worst bullies came from Pen. (Not all Pen train
boys were of this nature - Ass. Ed.) If they got into your compartment they were
trouble and even someone like Gomer Hughes found it difficult to stand up to
them. When they caused damage they would report some unsuspecting
individual as the cause. Once Jimmy Ashwells gang got themselves into
considerable trouble for singing “The LMS is a hell of a mess” on the platform
in Bangor when the train was late. That gang was one of the milder ones. Several
times Boss marched an individual or a group up to the County School to
apologize to a young lady who not been treated with the respect she deserved.
Anyone who thought that was the end of the matter had a rude awakening about
an hour later. The Railway Police Sergeant was a regular visitor to Friars, Boss
and he would invariably get down to locating the cause of any particular incident.
There were no court appearances. Compensation from the family and normal
school discipline were considered sufficient and invariably were.
Boss made me responsible for the Train Boys, I had to watch out for general
behaviour and for insuring that everyone waited in the Station if it was raining
heavily. It had been an old trick to get yourself well and truly soaked on the way
up to school and then have to spend the morning drying off in the boiler room.
It was a difficult job and often I was pleased to be on a later train. One day I was
walking along the platform to catch the 4.20, when I saw one of the senior girls
alone in a single compartment, I jumped in and we were off. At Llanfairfechan
10
several of the younger boys looked at me in a very old fashioned way. I took no
notice and asserted my authority with a “Button up your mac”. Next morning one
of my mates in the sixth said “Boss wants to see you in his study - now”. With
foreboding I knocked on the door and entered. “Were you on the train last night?”
“Yes Sir”. “Where were you?” “In a single compartment, Sir”. “Good God Martin
you are responsible”. He then told me that there had been some unruly
behaviour, damage and complaints. “Go and find the culprits and bring them to
me after break. You have to learn to be responsible”. Even to a fairly fit and
strong man growing up Boss could be truly terrifying. On the journey home that
night I joined them and all were very subdued. Some were sullen but not one
wanted to take me on. Being in charge was no sinecure but Boss was good
enough to refer to this duty in a reference he was to give me latter on.
Only the other day (January 2010) Gwyn our photographer, a Pen train boy,
told me of an incident which I had not heard before. A group from Pen kept
Hugh Murray in a compartment and would not let him get out at
Llanfairfechan. He managed to jump out as the train gathered speed towards
Pen Clip. The full storey of “The Train Boys”, like the full story of the “Friars
Boys” will never be told.
One of the trains used by “The Train Boys” or the one Boss used?
11
Hanes ac anturiaethau hogyn o’r wlad yn mynd i Ysgol
Friars, Bangor.
Beth yr wyf wedi ceisio ei ysgrifennu yma, yw, beth a ddigwyddodd pan y ces
fy ngorfodi i ddysgu’r Saesneg yn unarddeg oed. Nid wyf wedi datgelu sefyllfa
hon i neb, hyd yn oed i fy nheulu fy hun, am ei bod yn embaras mawr i mi. Dyma
hanes hogyn o’r wlad yn ceisio cymeryd ei le mewn sefyllfa hollol chwithig i’w
ffordd arferol, mewn dinas fawr.
Roedd y flwyddyn 1945 yn gofiadwy i mi am wahanol resymau. Daeth diwedd
y rhyfel byd yn Europ ac hefyd yn Japan, cefais y cyfle i wella fy hun drwy basio’r
arholiad i fynd i ysgol uwchradd a hefyd symud i fyw o ardal Bethesda i’r
“Metropolis” mawr, sef Bangor yn Haf 1945. Yn ychwanegol cyflwynwyd i mi,
wyrth y flwyddyn, drwy i mi ddechrau dysgu siarad Saesneg. Tan yr amser yr
eis i fyw i Fangor nid oedd angen siarad dim ond Cymraeg ym Methesda, yn y
cartref, yn yr Ysgol, tra yn chwarae hefo fy ffrindiau ac hefyd yn yr Ysgol Sul ac
yng Nghymdeithas y Capel ar noson waith.
Cefais fywyd hamddenol a difyr iawn yn hogyn ifanc yn chwarae â’m ffrindiau ar
y strydoedd a’r caeau o amgylch fy nghartef mewn Ty Cyngor yn Adwy’r Nant,
Bethesda. Byddwn yn mynd i bartis pen blwydd gwahnol ffrindiau ac ar un adeg
parti ci; person heb blant a fyddai yn cynnal parti pob blwyddyn i’r ci!! Ni
feddyliais fod yna ffasiwn iaith a Saesneg tan fy mod tua saith i wyth oed.
Dechreuais feddwl am yr iaith fain am y tro cyntaf pan ddaeth tua dwsin o ddynion
o’r RAF i weithio ac aros ym Methesda i helpu achos y rhyfel drwy chwilio am
awyrenau a oedd wedi disgyn o amgylch y mynyddoedd yn y cyffiniau. Fe caem
gyfle i gael da da a siocled ganddynt os y gallem ddweud rhywbeth yn Saesneg.
Nid oeddem yn siwr os oeddynt yn deall y gableth yr oeddem yn ceisio ei ddweud
wrthynt, ond cofiaf ein bod yn “ddigon da” i gael da da!!
Fe wawriodd y diwrnod mawr! Roeddem fel teulu eisioes wedi symud i fyw i
Fangor ym Mis Mehefin pan ddechreuodd fy nhad ar ei swydd newydd mewn
swyddfa ym Mangor. Roedd Emyr a minnau eisioes wedi gwneud amryw o
ffrindiau yn Stryd Fawr Bangor, ger y Plaza yn nhop y Dre, Sef Elwyn a Gwynfor
Oswald Jones a Meirion Jones eu cefnder a hefyd rhyw ddau neu dri arall o’r
ardal. Ar y 3ydd o Fedi 1945 bu’n rhaid paratoi fy hun i fynd i Ysgol Friars i
ddechrau fy addysg uwchradd yn y dosbarth cyntaf pan bron yn ddeuddeg oed.
Yr adeg honno ni feddyliais fod fy holl fywyd am newid o’r diwrnod cyntaf yn
Friars hyd ddiwedd fy oes. ‘Rwy’n cofio gerdded i fyny Lon y Cwfaint tuag at yr
Ysgol a chyfarfod a llawer o blant yn cydgerdded a mi, y rhan fwyaf ohonnynt
wedi dod o’r orsaf tren, “Plant y Tren”y gelwid y rhai hynny. Diolch i’r nef
amdanynt oherwydd roeddent hwy i gyd bron yn siarad Cymaeg yn unig, fy iaith
i. Cofias yn glir am ddau ohonnynt yn dod i siarad a mi yn y “Quad” y diwrnod
cyntaf hwnnw, gan sylweddoli fy mod yn ei chael hi’n anodd cyfarthrebu a phobl
eraill.
Fe wnes ffrindiau ac Aelwyn Jones a Leslie Jones, y ddau o
12
Benmaenmawr, am weddill fy amser yn Ysgol Friars. Llawer tro ar ol gadael yr
ysgol cyfarfyddais ag Aelwyn ar wahanol gaeau pel droed, yn ngogledd Cymru,
Roedd yn chwarae yn rheolaidd i dim Penmaenmawr am flynyddoedd wedyn.
Am y tri mis cyntaf yn Ysgol Friars roedd hi’n anodd iawn i mi gadw i fyny â’r
hogiau eraill yn y dosbarth, Nid oeddwn yn medru deall pob gair o’r Saesneg a
oedd yn cael ei lefaru gan y plant a’r athrawon. Rhoedd y pynciau hefyd yn
niferus, o Fathemateg i Ddearyddiaeth, i gyd yn cael eu dysgu trwy’r iaith fain.
Yr unig bwnc y medrwn wneud synnwyr ohonno oedd y Gymraeg a oedd yn cael
ei dysgu gan Mr D. Park Jones, Edrychwn ymlaen yn fawr at y pwnc hwnnw.
Teimlwn ar goll ym mysg fy nghyd-ddisgyblion yn y dosbarth. Yn raddol gwelais
fy mod bob dydd yn deall ac yn medru gwrando yn fwy astud oherwydd fy mod
yn dechrau deall yr Iaith Saesneg yn well pob dydd. Un o’r rhesymau am hyn
oedd chwarae pel-droed , yn ystod yr awr ginio ac hefyd pan y cawn wersi
chwareon ddwywaith yr wythnos. Fy mhleser mwyaf oedd pel-droed a hefyd
criced yn yr håf, a phleserus oedd cael chwarae nid yn unig hefo fy ffrindiau ond
hefyd hefo’r goreuon y dosbarth, y rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn siarad Saesneg. Cyn
y Nadolig roeddwn wedi dod i hoffi mynd i’r ysgol yn lle casau mynd bob dydd.
Fedrwn i ddim peidio a mynd i’r ysgol yn rhy gynnar am bod hi’n posibl cael cic
neu ddwy cyn mynd i mewn i’m gwersi. Ar ôl yr amser cas a blin am y tri mis
cyntaf rhoeddwn yn awr yn rhan llawn o’r dosbarth ac yn dysgu cymaint ac
unrhyw un arall. Fe fuasai wedi bod yn well os y byddai’r athrawon, credaf bod
mwy na hanner ohonynt yn Gymru Cymraeg pur, wedi medru gwneud mwy o
ymdrech i ddeall y sefyllfa. Mae’n siwr bod y sefyllfa y cefais i fy hun ynddi wedi
bodoli gyda llawer o blant cyn ac ar ol yr amser yr oeddwn i yn Friars.
Fe fyddaf yn ddiolchgar i Ysgol Friars ar hyd fy oes am wneud yn siwr fy mod
wedi cael yr addysg orau posib, a bod yr hogyn bach o’r wlad yn medru mynd
drwy ei fywyd hefo’r brwdfrydedd a’r gallu i fynd ymlaen at bethau gwell mewn
bywyd. Diolchaf beunydd fy mod wedi cael addysg mor gyflawn yn yr ysgol orau
yn y byd. Mentraf ddweud mai y ffridniau pennaf o fy amser yn Friars oedd “plant
y iaith fain“. ‘Rwyn dal mewn cysylltiad a llawer o honnynt hyd heddiw.
Wedi’r dyddiau a oedd yn anodd ar y dechrau, efallai bu dyddiau Friars yn rhai
da ac hapus iawn i mi.
And for those of you who are not bi-lingual like Gwyn.
This is the Story and the adventures of a country boy going to
Friars School Bangor
What I have written here is what happened when I was compelled to learn
English at the age of eleven years. I have never revealed this situation to any
13
one, not even my own family because it was such an embarrassment to me.
This is the story of a Country lad attempting to take his place, in a difficult
situation totally foreign to his ordinary life, in the big City.
The year 1945 will always be unforgettable to me for various reasons. The end
of the second world war came in Europe and also in Japan, I also had the
opportunity to improve myself by passing the scholarship to go to the Secondary
School and also to move to live from Bethesda to the big Metropolis of Bangor
in the Summer of 1945. I was also presented with the miracle of the year in
starting to speak English. Until the time I went to live to Bangor I had no need
of any other language other than Welsh whilst living in Bethesda, in the home,
at school, whilst playing and at Sunday School and in the Chapel society.
I has a pleasurable and pleasant life as a small boy, playing with my friends in
the streets and fields around my home near our council house in Adwy’r Nant
Bethesda. We would go to each other’s birthday parties and more than once to
a dog’s birthday party, this person would hold a party because she had no
children. I never thought there was such a language as English until I was seven
or eight years old. I started thinking then of English for the first time when a
dozen airmen came to live in Bethesda to help the war effort by looking for
crashed aircraft on the Mountains nearby. We were given the opportunity to
have some sweets and chocolate if we could say a few words in English. I don’t
think we understood what rubbish we spoke with them, it must have been
sufficient, we received sweets on many occasions.
The very big day dawned! We, as a family, moved to live to Bangor in June
when my father started work in an office, Emyr and I had made friends before
we started school. We had moved to live opposite the Plaza cinema near the
railway station, our friends were Gwynfor and Elwyn Oswald Jones and their
cousin Meirion Jones and also a few others from the area. On the 3 of
September I had to make myself ready to go to Friars School to start my
secondary education in form one. I never realised my whole life would change
from then on. I remember walking up Convent Lane towards the school
accompanied by Emyr and meeting others most of whom were “Train Boys”,
thank the Lord, most of them spoke Welsh and I could understand them.
I distinctly remember two lads coming to speak to me in the Quad that first day
when they realised I looked completely lost for words, unable to chat to anyone
in that foreign language. Aelwyn Jones and Leslie Jones put me at ease and
we remained friends throughout my time at school and afterwards, I used to
meet Aelwyn on different football fields for many years, he played regularly for
Penmaenmawr in the Welsh League.
For the first three months I found it hard to keep up with the lessons, I could not
understand every English word that was spoken by the teachers or the children.
The subjects such as Mathematics and Geography, I could not make head or
14
tails of the situation, the only subject I liked was Welsh, taught by Mr D. Park
Jones, I used to look forward to those lessons.
I felt very lost among my fellow pupils, but gradually I realised I could understand
more and more of the language. I took more interest and listened attentively
each day, I started realising what they were talking about. The main reason for
this was playing football, during breaks and also in games lessons which
happened twice a week. I played not only with friends but with the best in class
both English and Welsh. Before Christmas time I looked forward to going to
school instead of hating every minute of every day and used to get there very
early to play football before school started with my friends. I felt now part and
parcel of the class and of the school and learning as much as any other pupil.
I feel it would have been even better if the teachers had taken account of our
handicap, most of them were Welsh speakers and I feel they should have made
more of an effort to ease the situation. I’m sure that situation has always been
there with some children before and after the time I was at Friars.
I shall always be grateful to Friars School for the rest of my life for the best
education anyone could have had, the young lad from the country could go
through the rest of his life with confidence and knowledge gained at Friars. I still
think my time at Friars was such a happy one and can honestly say the friends
I made at Friars, most of whom spoke English, were the best I ever made.
After the very difficult early days my time at Friars were the happiest of my life.
Gwyn Buckland 45-51
If at first you don’t succeed
This sounds like a reprise of that famous tale of Robert the Bruce and his spider, but
it is not.
Throughout the history of man and the discovery of important innovations many
mistakes have been made by the discoverers. Yet in today's educational system the
notion that you have to be correct each time is constantly being redelivered. Many
schoolboy howlers can be recalled in answer to examination papers. No! it was not
correct that there were twelve Apostrophes at the Last Supper. St Helens was not
where Napoleon spent his last years in exile. And in answer to that wag who said
that on entering Athens by road, the sign said "Welcome to Athens the Bangor of
Greece" there is absolutely no truth. Tales of error and misconception are legion in
the world of invention and discovery. Have you any idea of how many mistakes
Alexander Fleming made prior to his discovery of penicillin? Or how many false routes
that Marie Curie had gone down when researching X Rays? Discoveries are made
after many years of toil and frustration in most cases. Scientists of all shades are like
15
terriers. They do not give up. You may ask yourself, "this is all very interesting, but
what has it to do with the ODA?"
This is a true tale of a young man who went to Friars School in 1913. He was a
highly-strung boy with sandy curls and a slight stammer, which he disguised by talking
slowly. He was educated at a local Preparatory school prior to Friars. As a lad he was
extremely keen on sailing with his father in the Straits. In that period during the First
World War life was difficult. Children were still seen but not heard. As a young pupil at
Friars no doubt he kept his nose to the grindstone to suppress any sign of his stammer.
He was obviously a dedicated student for out of his siblings he was the only one who
reached the necessary heights to gain entry to university There were six children in the
family, four boys and two girls. The eldest boy, Leslie was wounded in 1918 (He enlisted
after falsifying his age). So our young student had much to live up to in order to prove
himself.
As background to this tale of success remember that the then headmaster was William
Glynn Williams who was head for forty years, from 1879 - 1919. He had seen the school
through many changes. He had taken the school from being an independent grammar
to one of county controlled status.. He had also seen the move from Glynne Road to the
new buildings at Ffriddoedd Road. During his reign there had also been a typhoid
epidemic in 1882 when the school moved, temporarily to Penmaenmawr. He was also
instrumental in launching the original "The Dominican" in 1908. He was a man of
character who, on one occasion caned all thirty boys in a class for not answering his
questions well enough! Even after his retirement he was very vocal in his criticism of
state schools. He called them "Factories for the mass production of mediocrities." So
this is the context in which our young student prospered academically.
In 1919 our student gains entry into Sheffield University. He reads engineering. His
underlying anxieties were still worrying him. Perhaps it was the thought of his previous
experiences with William Glynn Williams at Friars? On the night before his final
examinations, he very nearly withdrew because of the extent of his worry. His
Professor advised him otherwise. He accepted this advice and sat his finals. He
gained a First Class Honours Degree. Is this a tale of persistence? It must
certainly be for he did not look back afterwards. The engineering world became
his oyster. Following graduation, one of his earliest jobs was to design a bridge
in Scotland. He suspected that the contractors for the foundations were using
inferior materials. Although only a novice diver himself, he still insisted on diving
down to inspect the works and found that the foundations were not to his
specifications and ordered the work redone.
Other projects followed including working with Sir E. Owen Williams and Mr
Fitzsimons. In 1942, after translating Sir Owen's concept for the concrete arch
of the Empire Pool at Wembley into a working possibility, he left to work from new
offices at 66, Victoria Street, London. He proceeded to work on, amongst other
things, the Hyde Park underpass and the design of the dock in which the Cutty
Sark now sits. As the Cutty Sark was undergoing reconstruction, our
16
intrepid engineer travelled to the Menai Straits in Anglesey, to retrieve the
spars from the stricken HMS. Conway, and transported them to London for use
in the Cutty Sark.
Iorys after the dive
Our engineer then applies his thinking to problems of the future. Don’t forget
at this time the country was suffering the Blitz and the embarrassment of the
retreat from Dunkirk. Morale was at an all time low. Following the evacuation
from Dunkirk, it was clear to him that special equipment would, eventually,
be required for the invasion of north-west Europe. He tried to enter the navy,
but access was refused as he was employed in a reserved occupation.
However, on 1 June 1942 Winston Churchill had his staff send a letter to him
requesting him to produce proposals for the design of prototypes for landing
piers for what would become the cornerstone of the D-Day landings. If
accepted, he was to proceed with their construction and testing.
Three designs were selected for further evaluation. The first from the War Office
was for flexible steel bridges on pontoons of steel or concrete with pier-head
units on adjustable legs to take account of the tides. The second from the
Admiralty was a flexible floating construction of timber and canvas held together
with steel cables and similar in appearance to a Swiss Roll in its stored
condition. The third from Iorys Hughes envisaged the use of steel bridges to be
mounted on concrete caissons and floated to the sites and sunk in position.
Initially none were to be protected by breakwaters.
The prototypes were constructed at "the Morfa," Conwy in North Wales where
over 1000 local and outside workers were drafted in for the purpose. The Morfa
area was transformed into a huge construction site Hughes' three 'Hippo'
caissons were towed to a site in Rigg Bay near Garlieston. Two 'Croc' roadways
were attached to the metal bars on the Hippos and various combinations were
tested in a variety of weather and tidal conditions. Fully laden vehicles were
17
driven across the roadway. The testing proved invaluable since the behaviour
of the components could be analysed and corrective action taken where
necessary. It was found that the floating piers did not rise and fall with the tide
as predicted but Hughes found a solution in the provision of adjustable spans
between the Hippos and the roadway. A more serious problem was the unexpected pitching and yawing of the Hippos causing the attached Croc roadways
to buckle. Hughes proposed the construction of Hippos of diminishing size on
which the roadways would sit
One of Iory’s Hippos being towed past Deganwy on route
To Rigg Bay from the Morfa.
Hughes' design was not alone in experiencing problems. When Hamilton's
Swiss Roll roadway was tested with a 3 ton tipper truck the roadway sank in
under two hours. Adjustments were made but further tests in the open sea
confirmed that the heaviest load that could be carried was 7 tons - far below
what was necessary for the movement of tanks. The Swiss Roll roadway design
was soon abandoned. In the end it was Beckett's flexible bridging units, supported on pontoons, that produced the best results.
On conclusion of the tests a final design was decided upon. There would be two
harbours each comprising two breakwaters, offshore and flanking, made from
hollow ferro-concrete caissons. To provide extra protection 70 obsolete merchant
and navy vessels (block-ships) would be sunk to fill gaps in the protection
provided by the caissons. Inside the resultant protective cordons there would
18
be pier-heads connected to the shore by Beckett's floating steel roadways. In
view of Iorys Hughes' commitment to the project and expertise he was invited
by Churchill to serve the project as a consultant.
Memorial Stone set up by Conwy Borough Council on the Morfa
At a ceremony on 6 June 1978.
Hughes involvement continued throughout the manufacturing period and beyond. He helped identify Selsey and Dungeness on the south coast of England
as ideal places to "park" the completed caissons until needed.
When the war ended Iorys sent in his bill, for his war work, to the War
Office who delayed payment and then suggested that he accept a much
reduced fee, to which he agreed, not wanting to be thought of as a ”war
profiteer”. This reduced fee scarcely covered the cost of his staff and
overheads so that he finished the war worse off financially than he
began it, and three stones lighter in weight.
lorys died in 1977 and received numerous tributes in the press from many
sources. His work during the Second World War was much acknowledged.
Without his remarkable work, it is questionable whether the Allies, following
D-Day, could have been supplied and sustained in France, and one could
speculate whether the war could have been won without the Mulbery Harbours
Cliff Jones.
19
Y Gorllewin Gwyllt -The Wild West.
Faint ohonoch sydd yn cofio gweld eich “ffilm” gyntaf am y Gorllewin
Gwyllt. Y Cowboi yn erbyn yr Indiaiad Cochion. Wedyn ar ôl gwylio’r “ffilm” mynd
allan i chwarae ac action’r cymeriadau. Sôn am lefydd fel Dodge City, Wichita,
OK Corral a llawer o lefydd eraill, hefyd am lwybrau’r Oregon a Santa Fe. Yn
ystod mis Medi 2008 mi es gyda fy nghefnder ar daith yn dechrau o Newton,
Kansas, nepell o Wichita yn nhalaith Kansas. Wedi teithio o Chicago trwy St.
Charles, Missouri ac yno ymweld ag Amgueddfa Lewis a Clark. Fel y gwyddoch
aeth Lewis a Clark o’r dwyrain i’r gorllewin gan ddefnyddio map John Evans,
Waunfawr aeth allan trwy gefnogaeth Cymmrodorion, Llundain yn 1792. Ei brif
bwrpas oedd cael hyd I dylwyth o Indiaid sef y Mandan.(Mae’r hanes hwnnw yn
ddiddorol iawn ynddo’i hyn)
Gadael Newton ar fore dydd Iau ar daith tua 2,250 o filltiroedd am lle o’r enw
Dubois yn nhalaith Wyoming; siwrne car tri diwrnod. Teithio .i fyny i’r Gogledd
i Nebraska cyn troi am y Gorllewin gan ddilyn rhywfaint o lwybr yr Oregon. Gweld
rhyfeddodau mawr fel “ruts” y “wagon train”. Gweld tir a gedwir gan i’r Indiaid
sef yr Arapaho a’r Shoshone. Rroeddent yn enfawr. Amgueddfeydd diddorol
dros ben, un ohonynt, amgueddfa dylwyth Pawnee - ar y ffin rhwng Kansas a
Nebraska. Mewn lle o’r enw Fort Washakie, yn Nhalaith Wyoming gweld bedd
pennaeth tylwyth y Shoshone sef Chief Washakie. Nepell yr oedd bedd
Sacajewea, hi oedd y cyfieithydd tywysydd ar daith enwog hanesyddol Lewis a
Clark. Priododd wr o Ffrainc, Toussaint Charbonneau oedd ei enw ac yn faglwr
ffwr. Ar garregfedd Sacajawea yr oedd enw Y Parch John Roberts. Ef a’i
claddodd hi. Cenhadwr oedd Y Parch John Roberts gyda’r Shoshone hefyd yr
Arapaho am 66 mlynedd. Cymro oedd o yn enedigol o fferm Llewerllyd, Dyserth,
ganwyd yn 1853 a bu farw yn 1944. Wedi ei gladdu gyda’i deulu ym mynwent
Lander, talaith Wyoming. Mae hanes diddorol Y Parch John Roberts ei hun yn
ddiddoprol iawn.
.
Mae’r Cymry wedi chwarae rhan mawr yn hanes datblygiad yr UDA a dyma
Gymro arall eto i ychwanegu at y rhestr hir honno.
A brief resume - The Wild West. A brief story of my experience in 2008 of
following part of the Oregon Trail. Starting from Newton, Kansas, through
Nebraska to Dubois, Wyoming, a journey of some 2,250 miles which took us 3
days by car in September 2008, with a cousin of mine who lives in Newton,
Kansas. Whilst undertaking that journey we passed through a place called Fort
Washakie in Wyoming. This area of Wyoming is an Indian Reservation for the
Arapahoe and Shoshone Indians. The name Fort Washakie named after a great
Indian Chief, and head of the Shoshone Indian Nation. We also visited the grave
of Sacajawea an Indian who had been a guide and interpreter on the Lewis
Clark expedition 1804-1806. On her headstone is the name of Rev. John Roberts
20
who officiated at her burial. He was born at Llewerllyd Farm, Dyserth. Another
Welshman of the many who played a part in the making of America.
John Brian Jones 48-55
London Reunion
On the 24th April this year, members of the ODA again attended a reunion at the
RAC Club in London. The first was in April 2006 when 28 members attended.
Unfortunately, although interest was initially high with some 34 members
expressing a desire to attend, when the date was finalised the inevitable clashes
occurred. Nevertheless, a total of 19 members and wives sat down to an excellent
meal of Woodland mushroom soup, Roast fillet of “Mey selection” beef with all
the trimmings, Lemon tart and coffee etc.
We were well served by the staff with only one hiccup in the service but that was
due to the kitchen, However, this did not detract from the success of the evening.
We should have been 21 but, unfortunately, Warren and Mair Martin were unable
to attend owing to Warren being stuck in Korea (south of course!), where he had
been attending a reunion, all on account of a certain volcano in Iceland. However,
it would seem that he had a fantastic time while waiting for a flight back!
Those attending were: Roy Thomas, Barry Wynne, Len Jones, Mike Mallett
Jones, Colin and Medi Dixon, Don and Val Parry Jones, Gwyn and Jennie Rees
Jones, Tom and Margaret Jones, Clive and Lorna Williams, Gwyn and Ann
Buckland, Alwyn Pritchard, and Mike and Barbara Doherty.
Once again we have to thank Clive Williams, a member of the RAC club, for
being our host for the evening and as usual it was good to meet old and new
friends.
Colin Dixon 48-56
21
Old Dominican Rucksack Club News
Llyn Dinas Circuit Friday March 12th. 2010
The walkers at the roadside near Llyn Dinas
A day which threatened rain but in fact was blessed by fresh wind and clearing
skies. Ten members and friends met at Lyn Dinas near Beddgelert and seven
of us set off to walk the full circuit while three of us set off to explore the river
walk and Craflwyn Hall run by the National Trust.
The group including Jim the ODRC mascot, walked along the east shore of
delightful Llyn Dinas, surely one of Snowdonias prettiest lakes, until we reached
Pont Bethania. At this point we joined the Watkin Path where lunch was enjoyed
among the trees with views up Nant Gwynant to delight us.
A further mile up the path and we turned off the Watkin along an old miners path
along Cwm Bleiddiaid (though not a wolf was seen). Several old mines were
passed until we dropped down to explore Castell Dinas Emrys, site of an ancient
celtic castle with a dark history associated with the betrayal of Welsh forces to the
English by Vortigen and the subsequent curse on his castle by Myrddin (Merlin).
Only the foundations of the castle now remain and we agreed that it was a superb
vantage point if somewhat brooding in its woodland setting.
22
We returned to our starting point via a magnificent waterfall where Jim braved
the icy waters. An eventful and interesting walk which is well worth repeating in
the future.
Elfyn Edwards
Cnicht (The Matterhorn of Wales) Friday April 9th. 2010.
Cnicht looks so challenging from the western approach that from the car park
at Croesor village the 11 members and friends (including Ken Baines 7 year old
23
grandson) threw an occasional apprehensive look at the looming peak in the
background. Our first debate involved the origins of such a strange name for a
Welsh hill. No less than four possible explanations were suggested. 1. A Viking
word for "peak" 2. An old English word for "helmet". 3. An old English word for
the neck piece supporting the helmet. 4. A corruption of "conical" by local
villagers.
We should have saved our breath for the ascent. On a lovely, idyllic Spring day
the views were glorious with pockets of Winter snow along the way for Thomas
(the boy) and Jim (the dog) to enjoy. A final airy scramble with dizzying drops
down to Cwm Croesor below and we were rewarded with spectacular views of
Snowdonia while we lunched on the summit. There were more delights to come
as we ridge walked along to Llyn yr Adar then Llyn Corsiog and Llynnau Diffwys
then picked up the old miners track down to Croesor. A rare sight these days
was the sighting of a mountain hare as it sped up towards Moelwyn Mawr, no
doubt searching for a spring mate.
Elfyn and Lin took a welcome tea in the neat new cafe in the village. A great
place to ruminate on a very satisfying day in our lovely hills.
. Elfyn Edwards
ODRC Walk. Llanfairfechan to Aber Ogwen. 23rd April 2010.
In contrast to the club's usual mountain walks, on this one we were rarely
more than ten feet above and sometimes below mean high tide level. Also
some of the party had not joined us before. It was pleasant to meet Gareth
Woodfine again, a fellow 'train boy’ over sixty years ago. Since those days
the sea has caused great changes to the four miles or so of coast we
traversed. A recent storm has smashed a hole through Llanfairfechan's Cob
and, further on, the lower fields of Madryn Farm have been given over to a
wetland nature reserve. Several of us had first fired 303 rifles on the range
near the river mouth at Aber with Friars 1557 ATC. Now there is only a low
mound where the targets stood and the butts have disappeared below the
present high tide mark. A mile further on at Y Dalar Hir, near where some of
the party left us to catch their bus on the A55, there appears to have been
even greater erosion. The peninsular must have been longer when the
Royalists dug in there for one of the last skirmishes of the Civil War in June
1648. We continued along the beach to the mouth of the Ogwen River, where
the hides of the Spinnies Nature Reserve give excellent views over the
estuary and inland ponds. Several hundred yards of road ended the walk at
the bus stop near the spot some still remember as Gypsy Corner.
John Pilling
24
Approching Aber Ogwen with Penrhyn Castle beyond
ODRC Walk. Moel Wnion 11th May 2010.
We met at the new car park below Aber village. Nearly opposite the old mill
(now an excellent cafe) we took the steep path up the hillside. The views there
open rapidly, back over the village and out over the Straits. There was much
discussion of Aber's history and the origin of the name Moel Wnion. We reached
the open mountain by the dry stone pens used to sort sheep after the communal
mountain gatherings. From here to the top of Moel Wnion our route was
somewhat laborious through low bilberry and over several false summits. By the
ruined trig point we sheltered in the hollow cairn to eat. I call this the 'Gladstone
Walk' because it was a favourite of William Gladstone during his holidays at
Penmaenmawr. In his diary for the 14 Sept. 1868 he wrote "Expedition to Moel
Wnion [1902 ft], which offers grand views: our finest." We could not confirm his
opinion because the Nant Ffrancon and Tryfan were hidden by rain, almost the
first for several weeks. Our return route was by Nant Gam, past the little known
slate quarry, closed I think about 1810, to the Aber Falls, where we met another
Old Dominican, Tony Pumphrey with some of his family. Down the valley, past
25
the cottage by Bont Newydd where Gladstone had afternoon tea for 6d in 1862,
we continued through the village to our starting place
John Pilling
It was a little damp at times on Moel Wnion
ODRC Walk 28th May 2010
A friend described Cwm Orthin as follows:- "There can be an ethereal
atmosphere about Cwm Orthin it is surely born from the fact that in this unlikely
location people had so recently worked, played and died, and all that remains
as an epitaph to their lives is this gaunt, abandoned valley." (from Cwm Orthin
by Tom Dodd, Creative Monochrome Ltd 1997)
So it was with some sense of anticipation that nine members met with Dave
Mobbs, recently retired head of Plas Dol y Moch Centre in Maentwrog, who has
years of experience leading adventure courses in the area.
Dave explained that though not wild and isolated by present standards, the 200
men working there in the 1860s would have felt remote from their own
communities in such an inhospitable place.
26
Cwm Orthin is reached from Tanygrisiau by a rough track and to our surprise
we came across an ornamental water garden built with love by an old quarryman,
now sadly abandoned to the elements.
Further up the track was the mine entrance which led to over 3 miles of tunnels
at 14 levels. The men’s barracks was a haunting reminder of the cramped and
often desperate conditions endured during hard winters in the hills. Now only
the birds songs reminded us of the chatter and hymns from the old chapel.
The quarry managers house though also roofless now, was, by comparison,
almost spacious with several fireplaces visible and a kitchen garden.
When we climbed up to the
highest quarry at Rhosydd,
there were rows of cut slate
slabs waiting to be split for
roofing as if the men had
suddenly dropped tools and
walked out into the mist.
The sun shone on us and
Dave regaled us with tales
of roof falls in long wet and
unlit shafts. A sudden chill
descended on the party and
we hurried back down with to
the warmth of the greener valley and lake below.
A haunting and strangely lovely place we agreed, but on a wild and misty winters
day, perhaps a place to linger only for the lover of the eerie and atmospheric.
For superb photo images of the valley, Tom Dodds book is a must.
Elfyn Edwards
27
Rucksack Club Summer Lunch 11 June 2010.
It was one of those rare warm summer days when instead of going walking
nineteen of us met in the Orme View Restaurant at Coleg Llandrillo. We
enjoyed a very tasty lunch, superbly served by attentive young students in
excellent company. After lunch the wives departed to Llandudno for some
exercise around shops, whilst some eight hardy members went in search of
Snow White down in the Copper Mines on the Great Orme. This was most
enjoyable but they failed in their main objective and did not see even a single
dwarf
28
We regret having to report the deaths of the
following Old Dominicans.
Our sincere condolences go to their families
Wyn Davies (37-43)
Wyn Davies died of pneumonia on 16th. January 2010 at the age of 83 years,.
He remained a perceptive witty man who was regarded by all as a true ’gentleman’.
Wyn was born in Bangor in 1926 and moved to the
Post Office in Penmaenmawr where his father was
the Postmaster. Wyn and his ‘big brother’ Gwyl, had
an exciting childhood during WWII, he often
reminisced about watching German bombers on their
way to Liverpool and of bombs exploding out to sea.
He adored Friars, his school pals and the journey
every day to and from school on the train. After Friars
he went to Normal College where he met Beti his wife
to be. After Normal he was called up for National
Service, and joined the RAF, spending most of his
service in Nottingham, which time he again enjoyed
greatly.
With Beti he settled in Aberystwyth where they both
taught. Later they moved to Cardiff where Wyn attended Art College. He then
taught Art in Glantâf and Howardian. He loved teaching and he loved his
co-workers
Sadly, Beti died five years ago. Wyn continued to contact friends from the past
and loved reminiscing about North Wales and Anglesey where his mother came
from.
He was very proud to have had an article published in the Summer 2005 edition
of the Old Dominican Newsletter.
He leaves a daughter Delyth, son Jonathan and his five grand children, who will
continue to smile when they think of this Grand Gentleman.
29
Iorwerth Wynn Jones (Known to all as Iori)
Iorwerth Wynn Jones passed away on 1 April
2010 at the age of 97 years. He entered Friars
in 1924, and wrote a very interesting article in
the summer 2002 edition of the Newsletter,
describing the school as it was during his time.
When he left school in 1930 lori got a job as
Clerk/Pupil with the Health Department of
Bangor Corporation and qualified as Sanitary
Inspector in 1932. He stayed on in Bangor to
be part of the great clearance of unfit houses
in Dean Street area, supervised the transfer
of families to Ffriddoedd and Maesgeirchen
(including the fumigation of all effects to kill
bedbugs with Hydro organic Acid Gas (the
deadly Zyclon B). His career progressed as
additional Sanitary Inspector and Civil
Defence Officer Colwyn Bay Borough Council
(1939), Public Health Inspector Prestatyn
U.D.C (1947), County Health Officer, Anglesey County Council (1954) and after
Local Government re-organisation in 1974 as, Environmental Health Officer for
the Arfon District. Additionally Iori has been Chairman and Judge of the Best Kept
Village competition, He served on many and varied Committees in Anglesey
and Gwynedd.
In 1938/39 as a member of the Toc-H Rover Scouts, he volunteered to man
the telephone switchboard at the C&A Hospital in the evenings after his normal
day’s work, it was here that he met Nurse Glenys Williams, they were married
in St. Paul’s Weslyan Methodist Chapel on 16 November 1940 and moved to
live in Colwyn Bay.
His long association with Scouting started in 1922; he was a founder member
of the First. Wolf Cub Pack formed in Bangor, .Miss Thomas, daughter of Dr
Thomas, Nantllys, Deiniol Rd., Bangor came to Garth School to tell them about
forming a Pack. Three boys were interested. She went then to Cae Top School
and got another three boys. They met on the lawn at Nantllys and worked for
their Tenderpad. After they had achieved this they recruited another six boys.
Norman D. Jones took over the Pack. They met in the Christian Science room
near the Town Clock where the precinct is today.
When Iori was at Friars He joined the 1st. Bangor Scouts, where there was a
strong contingent of Friars Boys. The Scout Master was Mr. N. Woodhead, a
lecturer at the University. Mr. Woodhead was a keen hill walker and climber who
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encouraged the Scouts to take to the hills. Their summer camps started at
Dolwyddelan but after a while moved down to Nant Gwynant. Iorweth gained All
Round Cords, Bushman’s Thong and the King’s Scout badge. He became ASM
of First Bangor Scout Group and was a member of the Toc-H Rovers at Port
Penrhyn, with Mr Aspden as Rover Mate. These Rovers also helped out as
judges at some of the Anglesey Rallies.
In 1933, Iori was a member of the contingent who went to the Jamboree in
Godollo, Hungary. David Butter and Llew Hughes (St Mary’s vicar later, and
before then, Curate and SM Menai Bridge) also went. He kept a Log book which
is now lodged with the Welsh Scout Council. At the end they went to Budapest
by train and stayed at a Hotel which possessed a swimming pool with waves!
Iori formed the First Eryri Scouts. They met in Nantgwynant and were keen on
climbing. They held a number of Climber Badge Camps at Nantgwynant. This
became a National event and went on until the early 1950s.
Iori attended two memorable climbing camps in Kandersteg, Switzerland. the
first was a “pilot” in 1936 in preparation for taking a group of 21 Scouts the
following year. On their way home in 1936 they stopped in Paris to see the
exhibition and watched television for the very first time!
The Climber Badge Camps evolved from the summer camps at Hafod y Llan,
in Nant Gwynant. Iori continued to assist with these camps even after he had
left school and moved away from Bangor. Taking the train to Roman Bridge he
would walk across the 1100 ft. ridge and down to Nant Gwynant, a distance of
about 12 miles, carrying all his gear and food for the week. A substantial number
of Friars boys always attended these camps, which had started in the late 1920’s
and continued into the 1950’s. Iori continued his Membership of Scout
Movement, becoming a member of the Welsh Scout Council, The Welsh
Jamborees Organising Staff, County Commissioner for Anglesey in 1955 and
later Gwynedd, until at the AGM of Gwynedd County Scout Council, on Thursday
5 May 1988, in Bangor Iori Wynn Jones attended his last meeting as County
Chairman. There he stated that he was proud of 66 years of unbroken service,
22 years as County Commissioner and County Chairman from 1977. He was
staying on as a Vice President of the Welsh Scout Council and of Gwynedd
County Scout Council. He also served as part time warden of Cornel Camp site
on the shore of Llyn Crafnant, and the Scout Mountain Centre, at Hafod, in Nant
Ffrancon. He said that his proudest possession was his Silver Wolf award.
Iorweth leaves his wife Glenys, Daughter Menai and her husband Richard,
grandsons, Andrew and Damian and great-granddaughter Nia.
PWJ with help from Daughter Menai Jenkins
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Geoffrey Hugh Illing (42-47).
It is with sadness that the death of Geoffrey Illing on 28 April 2010 is recorded.
Geoff as he was known to all his school friends was evacuated from London at
the start of the World War II when the Liverpool Victoria Insurance Coy moved
their London HQ to the Vaynol Estate, Bangor.
Geoff originated from Kenton near Harrow in Middlesex.
The Illing family moved into a house in Penrhos Road (near the new Hospital)
which overlooked the Snowdonia Mountain Range. As a Londoner, the war
forced the family move to the country which in turn had a profound effect on
Geoff. His love of the countryside and mountains never abated for the remainder
of his life. Holidays in the Lake District in particular were a must in any future
yearly holidays being considered.
Geoff was always a very able, competent and clever student with a particular
ability to deal with numbers. Always in the top stream of the 'A' group classes,
learning was never a real problem. Apart from being a very bright scholar,
Geoff was a very good cricketer becoming a member of the school 1st eleven
as a slow left hand bowler of considerable ability. In the 1st eleven of 1947 he
was John Cowell's vice captain. The picture portrays that team with members
of considerable cricket and football ability.
Friars First XI Cricket team 1947. Geoff is third from the right front row
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Towards the end of his years in Friars, Timber Lloyd (as he was known) arrived
as a very progressive Woodwork and Sports Master. He arranged the first annual
sports day (one of many to follow). One of the activities was the sport of 'throwing
the cricket ball'. Now Timber Lloyd was unaware that Geoff who entered this
competition, had a tremendous ability to throw a cricket ball a considerable
distance. All was in order until it was Geoff's turn. From the far corner of the school
playing field the throwing area was defined. Geoff expressed concern at the vicinity
of the other athletes and spectators, but was told in no uncertain terms to get on
with it. The ball left his left hand and proceeded to reach the school quadrangle
(Boss’s school assembly point) first bounce. Result: Instant abandonment of this
event as too dangerous. - How to make Masters sit up with no justification to
remonstrate. - Throwing the cricket ball never reinstated on future annual sports
days.
After Matriculation in 1947 he moved back to London to join Accountancy firm,
Bagshaw & Co in the City of London. He remained with this Accountancy firm
throughout his 40 year working life, becoming a Partner.
His National Service was deferred for 5 years to enable him to gain his
Accountancy qualifications. National Service was in the RAF with a posting to
Egypt. The RAF soon recognised his accountancy ability and enlisted him into
keeping 'pay, bill and mess' accounts. Service life was suddenly a luxury, as
one did not mess about, with the one who looked after one's weekly pay. On
his return to civilian life Geoff continued his Accountancy work in the City of London
with his cricket ability being recognised by the Kenton Cricket Club (One of the top
London Cricket Clubs) for whom he played for a number of years.
He also had a considerable ability as a Squash player. A very physical sport if one
was playing against him.
Geoff and I have always kept in touch over 67 years of knowing each other. We
were 'best man' at each other's weddings. He was a gentle person with no sides
to him. He however had definite views on many aspects of life and personal
standards.
His last twelve months were particularly trying for himself and his family as he
bravely fought cancer. He died peacefully at home near Great Missenden,
Buckinghamshire
He leaves wife Shelagh, son Andrew with wife Isabelle, grand children Matthew
and Peter, sisters Fiona and Denise with husband Harry and daughter Susan.
Geoff was a person Friars Grammar School could be proud to have educated. The
school taught him the way to go forward positively into the world. A gentle person,
greatly admired in the local community, ready and prepared to prosper, always
prepared to help others not so fortunate.
Bill Cunningham
33
New Members March 2010 onwards
Dr Michael John Vaughan Sørensen-Jones
Rydevej 6
Tisvildeleje
3220
Denmark
E-mail:- [email protected]
Tel:-+45 25 11 04 43
1958-63
Address while in school Perthi, Portdinorwic.
Rev Geoffrey Thomas Heywood,
5 Meadow Rd,
Leyhill,
Wooton-under-Edge,
GL12 8HW.
E-mail:- [email protected]
Tel:- 01454 261 863
1936-41;
Glyder;
Address whilst in school 83 Beach Rd, Bangor, R/91
Graham D R Parry
5 Deneshey Road
Hoylake
CH47 3AB
Email [email protected]
Telephone 01516320945
1960-65
Quellyn
Address whilst in school 'Gwenmon' Coetmor Estate Bethesda
Gareth Hughes,
'Bodlondeb', 142 Battenhall Road,
Worcester,
WR5 2BT
Tel: 01905 357352: Fax 01905 769134;
1945- 50.
Quellyn.
Address whilst in school Maesgeirchen.
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If you have enjoyed reading what we have produced in this News
letter please send along your own contribution! No later than the
end of October for the Winter edition. Or let us have your
suggestions as to what changes you would like to see. Short news
items particularly welcome.
Don’t forget to let us know if you change your address.
Editor
Clifford Michael Jones,
Manor Lodge,
Aston Ingham,
Ross on Wye,
HR9 7LS.
Tel: 01989 720 575
E-mail [email protected]
Assistant Editors
Phil Williams-Jones
E-mail [email protected]
Warren Martin
E-mail [email protected]
Archivist
Hefin Williams
E-mail [email protected]
Telephone 01248 714471
Check out
The Old Dominicans Web Page at
http://oldda.synthasite.com
Also the School Web page at
http://www.friars.gwynedd.sch.uk
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