.. St.Dials ..

.. This photograph shows the entrance to the former Police Training Centre for Wales situated on Greenmeadow Way ..

The thirty nine acre site, former police training college is owned by the Ministry of Justice,

In 2008 it was announced that Cwmbran was one of four sites in Wales shortlisted for a new 1,500-place prison. The other sites were at Merthyr Tydfil, Wrexham and Caernarfon.

A public consultation on the plans ran to October 31st 2008. Torfaen County Borough Council Leader Bob Wellington,  publicly stated that he was against the prison being built at the proposed site in Cwmbran along with Paul Murphy MP for Torfaen, Torfaen Assembly Member Lynne Neagle, and Cwmbran Community Council.

A local protest group formed, which was supported by T.C.B.Cllr. Elizabeth Haines (St.Dials) and also petitions were available for signing by the public.

In February 2009, David Hanson, Prisons Minister and Delyn MP, announced the former Dynamex factory site in Caernarfon ,Gwynedd would be the chosen site.

A presentation mug circa 1980`s

Click on image to enlarge

 . St. Dials Primary School .

 Builder - Mr. Henry Parfitt (Pontnewydd)

 .. If you have a memory you would like to share, it would be great to hear from you ...

  Click here to email me 

.. St.Dials School 1932 ..

John Jenkins relates: My aunt, (Joan Lloyd nee Bishop), is in the 3rd row on the left.

.. St.Dials School circa 1933 ..

.. Photographs kindly contributed by Elizabeth Williams January 2010 ..

 
Elizabeth Williams relates:  My Nan Dorothea Hopkins nee Vernon remembers the names of all the girls
Front Row L-R
Thelma ?, Joyce Thomas, Marjorie Bevan, Pearl Jones
2nd Row L-R
Margaret Trotman, Dora Compton, Phyllis? Hewings, Glynis Poulton
3rd Row L-R
Bronwyn Cantelo, Edna Ackland, Barbara Cantelo (twin of Bronwyn), Rhona Sly
4th Row L-R
Ray Phillips, Dorothea Vernon (my Nan), Mona Day, Mavis Hutchings, Brenda Loder
Back Row L-R
Betty Brain, Edith Farr

.. St.Dials School circa 1925 ..

Elizabeth Williams relates: First in front row is my Great Aunt, Lilian Hopkins ..

.. St. Dials School  year 1948 (Spring) ..

Photograph kindly contributed by Pat Virgo (nee Strawford) Dec.2009

"I probably have some of these names wrong - haven't seen any of these ladies in 60 years, having lived in Canada since 1957"

Front row:  ?, Margery Davis, Kathleen Trask, Ann Richards, Marjorie Davies, Josephine Leyshon, Gwyneth Evans, Bronwen Cook, Darryl Prosser, Monica Light.

 

"I remember that Mrs. Sullivan was very fond of Shakespeare and lived in The Lowlands (Pontnewydd).  The only other teacher I can recall was Miss Lewis, later Mrs. Roberts (or was it the other way around?).  She was also the leader of the Girl Guide troop which met in the hall at the entrance to the park on Cocker Avenue.  Her family owned a farm on Llantarnam Road opposite Weston's Playing Fields".

 

"Something else I remember is the little shop on the corner of (I believe) Wesley Street, opposite St. Gabriel's, which sold miniature brown Hovis loaves of bread for tuppence (2d.) One `New Penny today` .. These were a real treat to eat on the way home from school!"

 

"I also vaguely recall being issued a gas mark at school and given instructions to run to the Willis' house in the village in case of an air raid (I lived on Oakfield Road).  I seem to remember doing that at least once"

.. St. Dials School - Class circa 1900 ..

This photograph was kindly contributed by Anthony Bradbury who added ..

" The only one known to my wife and myself is her Grandfather, back row first on the left William (known as Billy) Fry. He also appears in the photograph below".

.. Cwmbran Wesleyan Cricket Club.. 2nd X1., 1911 ..

Back Row L to R :- I. Jones, F. C. Scott, E. Jones, G. Nash, A. Kelly, G. E. Bert.

Front Row L to R:- W. G. Stimson, H. C. Carver, G. Prangley, A. H. Couzens (Capt.) C.B. Fry, R. T. Rees, T. Thomas, W. Fry.

.. St.Dials School Year 1956 ..

Back Row.  L-R: Edna Page [Teacher] Irene Griffiths, Judith Compton, Lynnette Morrell, Gwyneth Lewis, Susan Norton, Janet Lloyd, Judith Jones,   ?  . Gillian Phillips  .

 

Middle Row L-R : Angela Moseley, Jennifer Willis, Ursula Bowen , Pat Hurrell, Ann Phillips, Dora Ackerman, Juliet Jones, Dianne Burden, Catherine Owen, June Samways, Jean Nicholas.

 

Front Row L-R: Brenda Hopkins, Ann Whatley, Mary Hodges, Gillian Morgan, Jacquiline Bevan, Helen Medley, Vanda Shepherd, Jill Turton, Janet Compton, Adele Rowlands, Barbara Morgan.

.. The photograph was kindly contributed by Gill Morgan, who has provided the following names. Does anyone know the missing names?

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

  Click here  

Vanda Phipps (nee Sheppard) responds Oct. 2009: I am one of the girls in the picture of St Dials School year 1956. I am Vanda, in the front row, the girl next to me on my right is Helen Medley. The missing one in the middle row I think is Ursula Bowen, the girl on the end of the back row is Gillian Phillips.

Judith Land (nee Compton) responds Nov. 2009: I also have fond memories of this photograph and agree with Vanda (hello!) who is correct in identifying the names. Although I moved to Worcestershire to teach, I regularly keep in touch with Helen Medley and we often reminisce about our younger days and the people in the photograph.

.. St.Dials School Year 1955 ..

Garnet Chapmen has kindly contributed this photograph - can you fill in any of the missing names ? Click here to email me.

Back row L-R: Byron Lewis, John Walters,  ?   ,Tony Jones, Gorden Worsdell, Stuart Murray, Colin Jones, Gregory Jones, Nicholas Bodger. ? Jones, ? Jeff Morgan, Dai Bradbury.

Front row L-R: Roger Skyrme, Graham Davidson,   Paul Wellington , Colin Cousins, Kenny Wilcox,   ?  , Mr. Cox, Lester Davies, Teddy Bishop,

Warren(bunny)Fullwood, Mike Squires, Garnet Chapman.

Colin Cousins responds 11th May2010: I have been married for 44 years, have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

Paul Wellington responds Feb 2010: The boy next to Graham Davidson in the second row is me, Paul Wellington
I still see Roger Skyrme and Greg Jones, but would like to know of the the whereabouts of John Walters and Graham Davidson. Please email
I went on to Abersychan Grammar Technical School as did several others in the photograph. I have pleasant memories of St. Dials. By today's standards it was very good education indeed.

.. St. Dials School  Infants - class of 1951 ..

.. Photograph kindly contributed by Pat Miles ..

.. St. Dials School - Class of 1965 (ish) ..

.. Photograph kindly contributed by Granville Waters ..

 Granville has recalled a few names but would welcome any help for class mates missed ...

Back row: Third girl from left is Kathleen Hurley.

3rd row: Second from left is Wayne Young, 4th from left Sadie Jenkins I am 6th from left.

2nd Row: The girls dressed the same, are the `Bilbao twins`; Last on the right is Brian Chaney

1st row: Left is Glenys Sweeting? third from left is Steven Chamberlin and next to him is Dennis ?

Mr. Sedgewick is the Headmaster on the right.

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

  Click here to email me 

Helen Lloyd (nee Tonks) responds: I recognise most of the class, though sadly not all their surnames:

Front Row left to right: Glynis Sweeting; Rosemary Fleet; Steven Chamberlain; Denis Hurley; Claire Savarin; Glenda ?

Second Row; Janice Edwards; Stephanie Jones; Cheryl Edwards; Ann & Jane Bilbao; Lynnette Johnstone; Kathleen Pitt; David Charlton; Bryan Chainey

Third row; Susan ? (might be Chaney); Wayne Young; Helen Tonks (me!) Sadie Jenkins; Martin Gibbons; Granville Waters; Stuart James; Philippa James.

Back row; Helen ?; Denise Compton; Kathleen Hurley; Dawn Grainger; Helen Macgee; Linda ?; Dianne ?; Stephanie ?

The teachers Mr. Cox and Mr. Sedgewick (Headmaster)

---

Esther Penn responds: The girl who is 1st on left of second row is Susan Chaney as she is my sister.  I attended St. Dials from about 1956 - 1960 but I cannot see any class photos of me in this period.  I was Esther Chaney and I remember Mrs. Paige-Jones, the two Miss Pennels, Mr. Smith and Mr. Cox.  Mr. Sedgewick was the headmaster. Does anyone out there have any photos of the above years?

Some fellow classmates were:  Barbara Smith, Glenda Sullivan, Magaret McKie, Gwyneth Compton to name a few.  Cheers, wonderful site!

.. St.Dials School - Class of circa 1950 ..

.. to view an even larger image click here ..

Front row : Brenda Hopkins, ? , ? , Garnet Chapman, Teddy Bishop, ?. Keith Ainsworth, Peter Chaney, Malcolm White Stanley Rook, Arthur Appleby, Janet Small .

 

Second row: Jenifer Smith. John Skellet, Graham Morgan, Barbara Morgan, Janet Lloyd, Susan Cameron, Terry Booth, Ann Phillips, ? , Catherine Owen, John Denekamp, Gordon Worsdell, Gwyneth Williams.

 

Back row: Sandra Evans, Sandra Hope , Jocelyn Morgan, Gillian Morgan, Jocelyn Morgan, Linda Quirk, Carol Taylor. ? , Janet Compton, Gillian Evans, Gladys Taylor.

Photograph contributed by Allistair Howard , names supplied with the help of old school chums Garnet Chapman and Peter Chaney.

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

  Click here to email me 

April 2009-Ann Phillips responds:

Just to say, I have been looking at this photograph, I'm Ann Phillips, next to me is Dora Mapps ;on the end is Gwyneth Williams next to Gordon Worsdell. S.Hope is next to S.Evans. Jocelyn Morgen is next to Gillian Morgen; then there's Carol Taylor next to `Quirkie`. GladysTaylor (with the pigtails) is directly behind Gordon Worsdell. Next to Gordon is Gwyneth Williams and in front of  Gwyneth is Janet Small.

Sadly a few of them have `passed on` ... Barbara Morgen was only sixteen when she died, she always `called for me` when we started Llantarnam School ... she was a beautiful girl, so intelligent and so kind . Barbara was cremated and the snow was on the ground, I walked all the way home from the crematorium on my own; it took me so long to get over her ....

`Chippy Chapman` was at  a funeral I went to a few months ago, I wouldn't have recognised him, but there we are .... we are all a `lot older !!!` now ..

.. St. Dial School  - Class of circa 1934 ..

Betty Lewis, Gwen Jones, Doreen Thomas, Nina Poulton, Mavis ?, Beryl Jones, Roma Prosser, Olive Sly, Edith Eyre, (Miss Powell)

Maureen Jones, N. Harris, Irene Jenkins, Nancy Lawrence, Florence Powell, Faith Mavasces, Veronica Burci , Pearl Thomas, Gladys Jones, Jessica Phillips,

Doreen Williams, Doris Wilson, Megan ? , Irene Jones, Mary Burr, ? Cissy Gilmore, Doreen Harris, Audrey Simmonds, Betty Flyn, Gwen Jones, Ivy Hinwood,

Margaret Woods,  Francis Mills, Hazel Pritchard, Betty Hurley, Nellie Edwards, Ivy Messurer, Rona Beech , Glenys Morgan,

M. Eckley, Jenny Hughes, Rene Davis , Violet Hinwood, Joyce Leighfield.

.. Photo contributed by Andrew Cruickshanks who relates that Verona (Rona) Beech is his mother ..

.. St.Dials School  Class of 1967 ..

Ron Cooke:- This photograph shows my class mates and teachers from 1967; some of the names I remember are :-

Back Row (L-R):  Steven Elliot, Jane Smith, Julie Jones, Edwina (ed) Powell, Michael Davies, Clive Goddard, Maggie West.
Middle Row (L-R): Ron Cooke, David Andrews, Kevin Phillips, Richard Baber, Keith Goode, Steven Boxhall or Vauxhall.
Front Row (L-R): Kay Davies, Maureen Dancy, Adrian Beake, Steven Mayo,Frank Bishop, Tony Lane, Steven Poole.

.. Teachers are Mr. Sedgewick (Head Master) and Miss Smith ..

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

Dec 2008. Carol Parry (nee White) attended St Dials until 1963 responds:

Regarding the 1967 photo from St Dials.

 

Although I am not on the photo, I can confirm that the name is Steven Boxhall (not Vauxhall) and he was in Anne Browne's choir (so was I) at Coed Eva Secondary School.

 

Maureen Dancy still lives in Cwmbran and her children go to Llantarnam School (don't know her married name sorry).

 

However, I am astounded to see me on several other photographs further down the list with old friends - I have never seen these before and thank you for giving me the opportunity.

.. St. Dial’s Junior Girls School circa 1955 ..

St. Dial's School R. F. T., Cwmbran, 1926-27

.. Winners Ivor Jones Cup (Pontypool & District) ..

Back Row (left to right) :- A. Davies. I Nicholson. A. Spanswick. Mr.W.Scott (Trainer) Mr. F. Dovey. A. Compton. W. Henshaw. P. Harris. Mr. B. G. Tillney. Mr. W. S. Davies.    A. Chapman. A  Williams. R. Williams (Vice-Capt.)  L. Morgan (Capt.) P. Thomas. J. Sly. R. Berrow.   Front Row (left to right) :-  A. Morgan. W. Beale.

.. Class of 1946 ..

.. Do you recognise yourself ? can you name fellow classmates? if so please click here to email me ..

 John Berry responds:- Tony Jenkins is 4th from the left middle row, Terry Jenkins is last on the right front row. I recognize Ken Jayne 7th from the right middle row, I think Ken used to live in one of the semi detached properties between the Salvation Army and Stone Row.

Terry Price relates:

I might be the 1st person on the left hand side, in the second row, perhaps someone could tell me if the `Willis family` were in St. Dials at this time: then I could be sure that it's me in the photo. I can recall Robin Willis or was it his brother, George? who, `ruled the school yard` !`.

My father had a printing business on Coronation Road; it was, I believe before that, near St. Dials School.

The `Price family` were established in Cwmbran; 3 brothers and 3 sisters. I went to St. Dials School for two years leaving when my father died in 1950.

We lived firstly in Pontymoel, then the Blackbirds; Later in life, I went to Abersychan Technical Grammar School , then went on to become a trainee Manager in the Woolworths store in Pontypool.

 I still have some family in Upper Cwmbran, David Cocker; My mother's family are more well known in Pontypool, they were the `Langdons`.

 

My best memories of Cwmbran were the Saturday cinema, and later the Girling dances!!

Great! to have made contact I am 68 now (2007) and live in France.

---

Graham Pattimore relates: I went to this school from 1952 / 1958, I have very fond memories of my time at this school, myself and my school mates used to walk along the canal bank from Forgehammer to Old Cwmbran, it was safe to do so in those days.

I vividly remember most of my teachers at the school, especially Reg Smith, who was a great inspiration to most of the children who attended the school; he was very strict but also very fair.

I remember every morning Mr. Smith, would ask all the class to hold out their hands so that he could inspect them to make sure that they were clean, and if they weren't, then he would send you to the toilets to wash them and re-inspect them when you got back to class. He was a great teacher who was liked by all.

I also remember Mr. Bassett and the head master at that time who was known as `spike` Jones, he was a great character, who insisted all pupils would visit his room at least 4 times a year for a spelling test. I recall that he had a very strong welsh accent and insisted that we all pronounced our rrr`s to the extreme.

I can also recall the huge pile of coal next to the head master's office which was used to run the boilers for the school heating, this was wheel barrowed into the boiler house by Mr. Len Brinkworth, who was everyone's friend.

Another lasting memory relates to my pal, Stewart Cameron and myself; we would come out of school on lunch time and hurry across to Old Cwmbran railway station where we would just be in time to get the train to Pontnewydd; (it was steam in those days) the fare was 1 penny. We would get off at Pontnewydd station and run home for our lunch, this was easy for Stewart as he only had to go to Chapel Street, but I had to go to Woodside road, then after a much hurried lunch I would run back up to Pontnewydd and meet up with Stewart for the return journey back to Cwmbran station to get back to school on time.

We did this religiously, five days a week, all this for a trip on a wonderful steam train.

Gerry King recalls: The Cwmbran Youth Band used it as a rehearsal room at one stage.

Stuart Roberts recalls:  A Youth club being held there.

---

.. Circa 1969/70 ..

.. Photograph contributed by Ralph Williams (`Ladywell`, Pontnewydd) ..

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

Back row (left to right) :- Gillian Morgan, Hayden Powell, Freddy Cross, Malcolm Willis, Michael Trotman, Leslie Jones, Stephen Williams, Jamie Evans, David Williams, 

3rd row (left to right):- Graham Miller,  Ronnie Gray,  Stephen Noakes, Paul Ahern, Alex McGee, Michael Smith, Andrew Dobson, Ian Compton,

2nd row (left to right):- Debra Hurley, Pamela Cottrell, Jackie Bowditch, Marianne Purcell, Sian Morris, Linda Williams, Catherine Jenkins, Heather Jones, Sarah Stevens,

Front row (left to right):- Robert Benjamin, Paul Hendy, Andrew Richards, Richard Wheeler, Julian North, Barry Guy, Trevor Head, Mark Stevens.  

Paul Hendy responds:- I remember when the photo was taken, we were all told by the photographer to shout 'E'. Hence the smiles. Mr smith was such a great teacher, I'll never forget him. He put fear of god into us if we stepped out of line, but most of the time he was full of great stories and would play the clown. Everyone loved his impersonation of Mick Jagger (jick magger) as he'd say, he would pretend to play guitar with his cane and sing 'satisfaction'. He would call Paul Ahern out in front of the class to do his Tom Jones impersonation as well. Some of us were always were always getting up to mischief and most of the time getting caught, [yes i was one]. Then ol'e 'smickers' would deal out the punishment or if he was in a good mood, a lecture. . . .  Happy days.

.. Click here to  email me or send your Photographs ..

.. St. Dial's  Girls School - 1946 - Standard 3 ..

.. Photograph contributed by Joyce Eyre ..

.. St.Dials School class of 1951/2 ..

... St. Dials Primary School ...

.. Circa 1968/9 ..

.. Photograph contributed by Ralph Williams (`Ladywell`, Pontnewydd) ..

Top Row on the end was Lyndon Parry.

Middle Row 2nd in was David Williams, 5th one in was Steven Bowen, 8th one in was Rowen Carter.

Front Row was the Malpas twins.

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

Angela Cooke responds: I was looking at the pictures and I've spotted my Mam!! in the photo above, she is in the back row, in the middle wearing a blue flowery outfit. Her maiden name was Marion Williams (now Cooke) ... It was a bit of a shock to come across her in the photograph, ha, ha.

.. Click here to  email me or send your Photographs ..

.... St.Dials Primary School ....

.. Class of 1948 ..

Top Row (left to right):- Bryn Draper, A.Diaz,  J.Oleman, Ronald Palmer , Ken Jones , John Chapman,  D.Chaney, Dave Toms,  ? , ? .

Middle Row (left to right):- Dai Day, John Perry, P.Jinks, David Graham , Harold Halford, Peter Worsdell, B.Wheeler Jones, Mike Lewis,  ? , Glyn Compton, Josh Evans.

Front Row (left to right):- Glyn Jones(Pinne) J.Berry, D.Hall, Glyn Cousins, M. Lawaun,  Brian Howard (nipper), J.Beal, Malcolm Sykes, Brian Hill, Rhys Hopkins, Tom Jones. Paul Spreadbury.

 (Photograph kindly contributed by Brian Howard )

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

.. Click here to  email me or send your Photographs ..

 

John Berry relates:- it was just great to come across your web site of St Dials school, I am in the class photograph of 1948 and I am surprised that I was recognised and named. I was in this class from about 1944 to 1950 when I left the school to go to Abersychan Tech. a few others in the photograph also went with me.

 

Like many others I have good memories of the school including the cane which I am now glad about, there is no doubt in my mind that this discipline helped shape my future. My cousin Percy Blount (PiP), (a long standing Cwmbran family) was at the school about the same time, he went forward to Abersychan Sec. and is now a resident in Australia.

 

My five brothers followed me through St.Dials, Joe Berry, Don Berry, Robert Berry, Noel Berry & Mike Berry, three of them still live in Cwmbran the other two, no further away than Newport.

I have many memories of my class mates in particular Brian Howard who contributed the photograph, In those days we did play together and he used to live in Abbey Road, I hope he is well. We are all 70 years of age now.

 

I have good recollections of :

 

Bryn Draper, Oak St. on the canal,   Andrew Diaz the tough one in our class,   John Oleman the Bakery Oak St.,  David Chaney & Dave Toms,   Dia Day of Waun Rd.,   Peter Jinks of Pontnewydd who's father lead the youth club both no longer with us,   Glyn Compton of Llantarnam Rd.??   Glyn Jones (Pinne) of Cocker Avenue,   Jeff Beal was a close friend and enjoyed his Cricket,   Malcome Sykes who lived up Hill Top, and Paul Spreadbury playing the Cornet and the shortest of us all.

 

I have just constructed my first web site have a look at the first line www.jberryxgas.co.uk

 

My regards and best wishes to everyone. John B.

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

.. Click here to  email me or send your Photographs ..

 ..... St Dials Infants  School ..... 

   .. circa 1950 ..  

Former `Old Cwmbran boy`- John Jenkins, who now resides in South Africa :- this photograph was taken in Cwmbran Park, (Belle Vue Road and Wire Works in background) of my Class. 

.. If my memory serves me right the names are as follows ..

From left to right - Robin Irving * Jenny Smith * John Jenkins *  David Thomas *  Girl? * Colin Guy *  Roger Wheatstone?* Girl? * Malcolm Davies * Kenneth Thurston * Girl (Possibly Beryl) * Boy? *

Front row - Girl? * Alistair Howard *  Girl?

 .. If you recognize yourself or anyone else it would be great to hear from you ..

.. Click here to  email me or send your Photographs ..