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Dr. Edgar
W. Jones, a great gentleman, and a great Headmaster of the school from
1899 to 1933.
All old boys of
the school, past and present members of the staff will always remember
his great personal interest in them, his many acts of kindness towards
them. This interest in the old boys did not cease even when they left
his immediate personal contact and influence, and he was always
delighted to hear details of their careers. After many years he was
happy to renew contacts, and it was a source of pride to old boys
themselves that he never forgot even their names.
Dr. Jones was
an advocate of a truly liberal education, and his talks on literature,
art and music proved an inspiration to the whole school. His connection
with the wider cultural life of Wales, through the University, the Welsh
Council of Music, the National Museum, served the school in good stead,
by keeping it closely linked with all that was of real worth. It alsc
brought into the school such outstanding men as Sir Edward Annwyl, Dr
Thomas Jones, Sir Walford Davies, and many others. As Headmaster, hc
strove to build up a happy community, and those privileged to have been
ir school with him will long remember his enthusiastic conducting of th
community singing every Friday morning and his smile when he found (so
often) that he had exceeded the time. The Friday morning “sing-songs”
consisted of the popular national songs of Wales, England, Scotland and
and Ireland, and wherever Old Barrians meet these songs are still
lustily sung.
Another feature
of the school under Dr. Edgar was the truly magnificent reading of great
poetry and prose on Tuesday mornings.
Dr. Jones in
his young days had been a fine athlete and his love for all sport was
quickly instilled into his pupils with whom he was always ready to play,
at football, cricket or hockey.
We in the
school were always glad to see him, after his retirement, at our sports
meetings, in which he acted as judge, and maintaining a lively interest
in all the activities of the old school.
The school is
very proud that its old Headmaster’s sterling qualities were recognized
by the King, the University of Wales and the Borough of Barry, the town
of his adoption.
Some of us
remember two impressive memorial services to old boys of the school who
fell in the wars, and it was Dr. Jones who unveiled each of the tablets;
those tablets can never be read without recalling to mind the great man
who had presided over us for so long.
J.W.L. and
G.C.H.
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