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THE WELSH SECONDARY SCHOOLS REVIEW
Retirement From Barry School for Boys
Among the Freshers at Abervstwyth in 1895 we find the name of Edgar W. Jones. Here, while successfully pursuing his studies, he found time to take an active part in several of the College Societies and to keep up his interest in Athletics, a department in which he had shone at school. It is worthy of note that Edgar Jones captained the College Soccer XI., and when later he turned his attention to the Rugby code he was chosen captain of the Rugger team. His prowess on the sports field is borne out by the fact that he gained the coveted distinction of Victor Ludorum.
After graduating in the University of London, Mr. Edgar Jones returned to his old school as a master, and remained at Oswestry for three years. At the beginning of 1894 we find him again at Aberystwyth, reading for the London M.A. degree, which he gained in that year. Mr. Edgar Jones always speaks in terms bordering on veneration of his old College, and he recalls with gratitude his indebtedness to Professors Herford, Angus and Anwyl. In his students days he made many enduring friendships, and his election as President of the Old Abervstwythians Association shows the high esteem in which he is held by the general body of old ‘Aber’ students. Mr. Edgar Jones still keeps in touch with his old College, for he is a member of its Court and Council.
The starting of the County Schools in ales under the Intermediate Education Act of 1889 gave Mr. Edgar Jones his opportunity for on the opening of the Llandilo School, in October, 1894, he became its first Headmaster. Shortly after he entered into the bond of matrimony with Miss A. Gwen Jones, B.A., who was his fellow-student at Aberystwyth. To tell of her many virtues and beneficent activities would require another chapter. Let it suffice to say that Mrs. Edgar Jones has been a worthy comrade and help-meet and a constant inspiration to her husband.
After four years of successful work at Llandilo, Mr. Edgar Jones was appointed in March, 1899, to the Headship of the Barry County School, and from that time unto the present day he has successfully guided the destinies of that important School.
With a true conception of the meaning of Education, Mr. Edgar Jones placed Art, Music and the Drama under tribute in order to make the school a centre of culture as well as of learning. His interest in Art and Architecture is of long-standing, and he has used every opportunity to visit Art Galleries and historic churches in this country and on the Continent in order to study the works of the Great Masters. Lectures on these subjects, illustrated from loan collections at the School, have been a regular feature of the Barry curriculum. The pupils are also trained in the right appreciation of Music, and year by year the works of the great composers are performed by the School Orchestra. The success of these experiments and the achievements of the Barry School in scholarship and in sport should be highly gratifying to its devoted Headmaster, and afford eloquent testimony to his courage, his insight and his superb organising abilities.
The list of activities in which Mr. Edgar Jones is engaged is both long and impressive. In addition to being a member of both Court and Council of Aberystwvth and Cardiff University Colleges, he has been a member of the University Court for about thirty-five years. He is also a member of the University Council. Mr. Edgar Jones has also occupied successively the offices of Clerk, Treasurer and Warden of The Guild of Graduates, and the University of Wales conferred the honorary degree of M.A. upon him in appreciation of his services.
Thoroughly Welsh in language and sympathy, he is an ardent supporter of the National Eisteddfod, and when it came to Barry in 1920 Mr. Edgar Jones was Vice-Chairman of the General and Executive Committees.
An active member and Treasurer of the Welsh Language Society, he is greatly interested in the Welsh Summer School. That Mr. Edgar Jones is Principal of the Glamorgan Summer School is well known, and he has done much to popularise the study of Art and Architecture in South Wales. Finally may be added that Mr. Edgar Jones is President of the Barry Players and Vice-President of the Barry Little Theatre.
Nor can we forget that during the War Mr. Edgar Jones became O.C. of the Glam. F.R.E., with rank of Acting-Major, and he was the recipient of the O.B.E. and Territorial Decoration in recognition of his services.
Members of the Association will be glad to know that Mr. Edgar Jones’s appointment as Welsh Adviser to the Welsh Regional Director of the B.B.C., and it is particularly appropriate that he should be in charge of the Schools Broadcasting for Wales. This should be a sufficient guarantee of well organised and efficient service. It will be some compensation to know that though we may not see him so often “in the flesh,” we may still count on listening to his familiar voice “ on the air.”
If it is true that the best form of rest is change of occupation, then we may still wish Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jones many long and happy years of strenuous retirement.
E. MADOC JONES.
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