School days

Going to school

Do you remember your first day at school? Well, I do even though it’s nearly seventy years ago since
that unforgettable occasion.

I was the eldest child, I used to go to Taid and Nain’s house every morning to be looked after as they
lived so close as was the coal yard. Lias Roberts (Lei Grafn), Taid’s cousin worked there, doing odd
jobs, repairing harnesses, mucking out the stables, chopping firewood and weighing coal for the
customers who called to collect coal at the yard. I must admit I was quite a handful for Nain and Lias
Roberts, especially when I climbed the five foot wall between the yard and the Lenten Pool school
yard. The sound of the children rushing out at playtime, enraged me so much I collected a handful
of loose coal and attacked them with it from the top of the wall. One morning, hearing the
commotion the headmistress Miss Gwladys Price came to investigate. “What can I do with this lad?”
Nain pleaded. Miss Price said “Come here you little rascal” and she grabbed me under her arm,
despite my kicking and screaming carried me towards the school’s back door.

Do you remember Miss Price? She was a kind and thoughtful lady who was well aware of the
poverty of upper Denbigh at that time. Even though she was single, she cared for the children as
though they were her family.

Do you remember Miss Ella Edwards and her sister Ruby who was headmistress of the Girls’ school
next door? Ella was a busy bee, responsible for the younger children, with her no-fuss manner; she
soon made us aware of school rules.

Do you remember how faithful Miss Price and the Edwards’ were to the church? Miss Price was the
organist in the Welsh services for years, also the secretary of the Parish council and a Sunday school
teacher. Ella and Ruby Edwards were both busy with their church activities; Young Women’s Guild,
bazaars, whist drives and concerts.

Do you remember Father Christmas visiting school? Miss Price used to warn us for weeks prior to
behave, on the big day we all used to listen attentively for his footsteps approaching, and the sheer
pleasure of opening our little presents. I was under the illusion that Mr T.R. Hughes, the headmaster
of the Boys School was Father Christmas!

Do you remember the Christmas productions? Were you ever Mary, Joseph or one of the shepherds
or wise men? I was once Joseph, and my partner was a real Mair (Mary) Mair Williams, the daughter
of Griff Copi of Maes y Dre. I wonder whatever happened to her? Unforgettable Christmas
memories.

Do you remember seeing the first flake of the season’s snow, with the word SNOW whispered
excitedly round the class? Do you remember past winters when snow was certain to fall for
Christmas and the excitement of sledging down Glas Meadows and Galch Hill?

I don’t recall much formal learning in Primary school; even though I did master basic reading, writing
and arithmetic (I learnt to read Welsh at Sunday school).
Do you remember the shock of moving to Secondary School which was full of tall strong boys?
Central School did not exist then and apart to those which passed the Scholarship to attend County
School, everyone else stayed in Lenten Pool until their fourteenth birthday. Only the bravest of the
new boys ventured to play football with these big boys with their heavy boots.

Do you recall the other popular playground games we used to play? Flicking cigarette cards to the
corner, whoever covered their opponents’ card wholly or partially won all the cards; flicking marbles
at a larger central marble with a red centre (called blood). Do boys still play conkers? Do you
remember baking them in the oven or soaking them in vinegar to harden them ready for the
following year? From what I recall, hopscotch, skipping and playing with a ball were the main games
played by girls, we daren’t be caught climbing the wall to spy on them.

What about the teachers at the Boys school? Do you remember the headmaster David Williams, the
brother of Mrs. Nellie Vaughan Wynne (ap Tudur), he moved to Coed-Poeth. Even though, in his
twenties he was a member of Taid’s choir in Llanfair Talhaearn, I was shown no favours from him. I
still have my school reports from this time and his tidy handwriting reminds me of the importance of
writing lessons at the time.

Do you remember Mrs E.T. Williams, the wife of Twm Death the undertaker, with her squeaky voice
and scarlet face? She was responsible for Class 1 – a lively, kind conscientious lady. I can recall her
voice today, “Come on cariad, the bell is ringing”. Do you remember the old bell? The residents
hardly required a clock them days!

Do you remember Miss. Lil Pierce, the daughter of the past headmaster W.M. Pierce, ruled at the
school from 1895 to 1930? I wasn’t in her class; I remember her being at the forefront of the Girl
Guide movement in the town. Then there were two cousins, Gwyn Williams, likeable and full of fun
and Emyr Bartley Williams, active and busy. Following their military service in the Second World
War, both were promoted as headmasters – Gwyn at Clocaenog and Emyr at Llannefydd, Cefn Mawr
and Abergele.

Not much fuss was made at Christmas at this school, the most important Christmas event at this
time was the annual visit by Solly Hyman (a wealthy Jew who owned a large fruit shop on the site of
today’s Co-op). Fair play to Solly, we all were given an apple and orange. We were all warned by our
parents to take the fruit home – I’ll never forget watching one poor boy, falling into temptation and
eating his orange on his way home – yes eating it like an apple, peel and all!

It is impossible to forget the tough discipline of school, with the cane often in use. Did the use of a
hair on the palm lessen the impact of the cane? We were often clipped round the ear for
misbehaving; seldom did parents go to school to complain. I didn’t witness anyone having to wear
the ‘dunce’ hat, but some pupils were sent to stand in a corner for long periods. Thank heavens I am
too young to remember the ‘Welsh Not’. I was not aware of any pupil being refused to speak Welsh,
but its use was minimal in formal education. Children were not allowed to wander around the class.
More often than not children had to sit still with arms crossed or placed on their heads, often
reciting times tables and Church Catechism, which were compulsory at Church School.

Rev. Maurice Hughes, the vicar, or the curate Rev. G.O. Willaims (who was subsequently elected
Archbishop of Wales), visited the school weekly to test our knowledge of the scriptures. W.T.
Williams a past town clerk for the Borough of Denbigh, also a staunch Methodist, thanked Lenten
Pool School for his biblical knowledge. External examiners visited the school annually to test pupils.
The presentation of certificates was one of the highlights of the school year. Do you remember the
various colours of success on the certificates? Have you kept them safely?

During Lent, according to Church tradition, we attended morning services at Saint Mary’s church
opposite.

Another important occasion of the school year was the annual school trip. Do you remember
catching the train from Denbigh train station to The Big Exhibition in Edinburgh and to the soap
factory at Port Sunlight? Disappointingly, Moel Fammau was the destination of the trip one year.
Only a small minority of boys could pay for these trips outright, usually they were funded by saving
pennies with more often than not being supplemented by the teachers.

In 1933, before my time, a momentous day was the opening of Cae Hywel. The project was funded
by the girls of Howell’s School and the work was carried out voluntarily by the unemployed men of
Upper Denbigh. The official opening ceremony was a massive celebration – sports, competitions and
an open air party. The highlight of the day was the football match between the pupils of Lenten Pool
and Love Lane schools. I’m happy to report we won 2-1.

Do you remember having milk at school? Halfpenny a bottle if I remember rightly with it provided
free for the poorest of us. Were you ever ‘a milk boy’, that is one of the fortunate boys employed by
local farmers to help distribute milk around the town? These lucky boys were allowed to arrive at
school quarter of an hour late. Do you remember the floats – Ty’n yr Eithin, y Goblin, Cotton Hall,
Kilford, Y Graig, Llys Allen and others?

Do you remember the ink ritual? Two of the older boys were responsible for mixing the powder and
water and pour the ink into large pots. These were then distributed; one to each class, the monitors
then filled the ink pots in each desk every Monday. Our main challenge from Year 2 onwards was
mastering the use of the fountain pen.

Do you remember learning to write ‘copper plate’ – narrow upstrokes and thick downstrokes,
following the red and blue guidelines without blotting? That was the unforgivable error; the pink
blotting paper came in very handy. The children of today should thank Mr. Biro for his marvellous
invention.

Learning the times tables was a very monotonous task, and even worse was learning the modulator
(Curwen, of course). Mrs. E.T. taught us sol-fa so we could hit our notes easily. Did you have to
learn long verses of English poetry and sections from the Bible? We may have developed skills that
children nowadays don’t master.

Do you remember the large green cupboard with the brass commemorative plaque for the past
headmaster W.M. Pierce above it? Its doors hid treasures – volumes of English literature – Treasure
Island, Gorilla Hunters, Tom Brown’s schooldays etc. Only on Friday afternoons were we allowed to
delve into these treasures. Even though a great many of us were Welsh only when we started
school, we were educated through the medium of English. We were not encouraged to talk, read or
write in Welsh, even though the teachers were all Welsh speakers.
Do you remember how dim the gas lamps were? Electricity hadn’t reached Lenten Pool in the
1930’s – it was a precarious job for the caretaker to climb the ladder to change the mantles as they
were so fragile, a whisper of wind would be enough to smash them to smithereens.

How could you forget the toilets! Open to the elements and closed during the winter months
because of the frost. Do you remember how we used to envy those who could ‘pass water’ over the
seven foot high wall?

What about the scholarship. The chosen few were drilled for months beforehand, and on the fateful
day we walked down to the County School to sit the exam that would decide our future. As far as I
recall I didn’t receive anything for succeeding, but I still remember that feeling of jealousy seeing one
boy rewarded with a bike for passing.

Were you ever awarded a book for a full year’s attendance at school? You were awarded an
engraved silver watch for five years full attendance. Ivor Lloyd, Henllan Street, the son of Fred
Seacombe received one of those. If the class attendance reached 98% for the week (the percentage
is still engraved on my memory today) the class were allowed to finish an hour early on Fridays.

Do you remember the ‘plismon plant’ (truant officer?)? Old Edward Roberts, The Castle, dressed in
his uniform, peak cap and silver buttons on his coat. Edward Roberts, was a stern, tall man, seeing
him would send a shiver down even the toughest’ spine. Mr. Roberts was once a member of the
Welsh Guards, and also he was a servant for the Duke of Windsor for years.

Do you remember the school aromas? Disinfectant throughout the building especially on the first
day of a new term; the smell of well moulded old clay; the fresh smell of new exercise books; the
stale smell of the children’s’ wet clothes drying on the pipes; the smell of gas from the hissing pipes
overhead and the whiff of the unfortunate children who were unwashed themselves as well as their
clothes from one term to the next.

Do you remember that small room above the school’s front door? During my schooldays it was used
as a storeroom, but it used to be part of the schoolhouse, where the headmaster lived. Dr. Frank
Jones (North Wales Hospital) was born there, during the time his father was headmaster. It was said
that the ghosts of past headmasters roamed the school building, including that of John Williams
(Glanmor), author of ‘Ancient and Modern Denbigh’.

Do you remember the old knots dotted on the floors of the classrooms? They reminded us of the
generations before us who’d trodden those floors.

Primary schooldays during the 1930’s were tough, but fond memories remain of favours bestowed
on us by teachers and the camaraderie between us pupils, which reflected the closeness of the
community.

Do you remember the awful effects of polio – many lame children having to wear callipers? No one
suffered more than poor Donny Jones, who was restricted to his wheelchair throughout his life, with
various people pushing him to school from his home in Myddleton Avenue to school every day.
Donny lived to a good age, residing in a Cheshire Home in Glyn Ceiriog, keeping his mischievous
spirit till the end.
Unfortunately, many of my peers have since died – Bob Top Note the tenor; Roy Pierce Jones the
athlete; George Tough; Denis Richards who suffered terribly with arthritis; Elfed Boyo, Maes Glas;
George Lake…I don’t think I’ll go on. Thankfully many more of my friends are still around, and when
we meet the conversation often starts, ‘Do you remember….?’

The County School

The first day at County School was truly a massive day. There were three routes to school – down
Barker’s Well Lane, down Beacon’s Hill or through town. We seldom went that way, even though
there were the attractions of market day stalls on the High Street and the Town Hall. As Barker’s
Well Lane was quieter and more flat we chose that route, practising passing tennis balls on the way.
Mrs. Addie kept the shop on the corner of Post Office Lane and Beacons Hill. Mrs Addie was a kind
lovely lady, Welsh to the core; we used to buy sweets, cakes, biscuits and fruit. The older boys, who
knew her well, were allowed secretly to buy Woodbines or Players Weights for a h’penny each.

I usually walked with past-pupils from Lenten Pool School, Roy Price Jones, Arthur Roberts, Anthony
Roberts, John Ffoulkes and Meirion Wynne. It is sad to think that many of my peers have died or left
the area.

I remember like yesterday, the excitement of my first day, smartly dressed in my uniform with cap
and school tie. The official colours of the uniform was yellow and navy blue, with a small dragon on
the front of the cap with the motto ‘Gorau arf, arf dysg’ (The greatest weapon is education) written
under it.

It took me years to realise the importance of those words. My mother didn’t have to buy my
uniform; it was handed down to me from my cousin Griff Elis (The son of Mrs. Elis, manageress of
Dicks shoe shop). Woe if you were found in the street without your school cap!

I got my leather satchel from Griff too, it contained on that first day, only a metal box full of
geometry items which rattled noisily in the huge satchel. The fountain pen was the one vital item
required to go to County School, which was kept very visible in your coat breast pocket! Uncle David
Edward, Dad’s brother, gave me my fountain pen, a Conway Stewart of which I was immensely
proud of.

On that first day, being new pupils, feeling like fish out of water, we were in awe of the big boys,
some of them eighteen years old and already shaving. It was also strange to attend a mixed school
with the girls having previously attended a boys school for four years.

As in our previous school we were called into school with a hand rung bell – we gathered into
Bodawen chapel which was used as the County School hall. We sat on rows of benches - the
nervous newbies at the front with the confident sixth formers at the rear. The teachers stood on the
stage attired in their academic gowns, Stan Rees, the English teacher, being the only familiar one, as
he used to attend the Baptist Chapel on Sundays.

Suddenly, there was a deathly silence and approaching footsteps could be heard nearing the back
door and making their way purposefully towards the stage. There he was, the Boss – W.A. Evans
MC, MA, MSc (and later MBE and JP). An enormous presences, though he was only of slight build.
I’m not sure how he became MC, but the effects of mustard gas from the First World War were
evident on his face. Everyone, including the teachers stood up, there was an air of respectful fear, I
decided I would never cross this individual. W.A. Evans was appointed headmaster in 1925, from
that moment until his retirement discipline ruled at Denbigh County School.

Do you remember receiving stripes from him? I did – several times, the Boss was a dab hand with
the use of the cane, which lay menacingly on his desk. Even though Gwyn Thomas was just as
naughty as me, I don’t recall him ever having the cane, but wasn’t his father, Dr. Thomas one of the
school governors?

It was years later until I realised that the Boss could speak fluent Welsh, he was a deacon at Lon
Swan chapel. Physics and arithmetic were his subjects. Do you remember that unforgettable day,
during a science experiment in the laboratory; a drip fell from the Boss’ nose directly into the science
flask? Denis Butler couldn’t contain his laughter, and even though we were so scared of him the
laughter spread throughout the class, how many stripes did poor Denis get I wonder?

How many of the other teachers do you remember? Stan Rees the English teacher was a small,
active, smart chap, full of humour and imagination. J.W. Askew the Chemistry teacher, a long time
member of staff, was a quiet man, it was said he could see what happened behind him through the
reflection in his glasses. J.W. Harding’s nickname was Jack Tar because he swayed from side to side
like a sailor as he walked. He taught mathematics, and his results in external exams were excellent.
Stan Jones was the history teacher; he had a particular interest in the development and history of
the Welsh Sunday School. His lessons often digressed to his experience down the coal mines in
South Wales and the trenches of the First World War. The Rev. Edward Jones or Ned as he was
known was a unique character, taught Latin and Welsh. On one occasion while he was invigilating
an exam, being a professional cricketer he caught a note thrown from one pupil to another. He read
the note victoriously, but was taken aback with the unexpected scribble of ‘go wipe your bum with
this paper’. O. H. Tordoff, a Yorkshire man, was a hero to most boys because of his football prowess,
playing for the Asylum team and also he opened the batting for Denbigh cricket team. He taught
Geography, he followed the famous Dr. D E Jenkins into his post, who was the author of the literary
work on Thomas Charles. Dutton Williams (Dutt), the Biology teacher was an unusual character, as
well as Leslie Collins, who came from Epworth College to teach Mathematics to the Lower school.
They were both good patrons of the back room of the Railway pub. Collins, unmarried, lodged with
Miss Alice Jones, ‘Dwy Ferch’ shop. In school he had no sympathy with the Welshness of the ‘gog
gogs’ as we referred to the country children, even though I think they were quite fond of him. Clem
Edwards taught Wood work. My father was a carpenter, but I didn’t inherit any of his skill, I dropped
word work as soon as possible. Clem Edwards’ favourite pastime was fishing; he was often seen
hurrying towards his car just before the four o’clock bell. Do you remember Sylvanus Marston, the
art teacher, who gave a good clipping round the ear while smiling broadly? Even though he knew
my mother, since they were both pupils at Abergele County School, he showed me no favours.

Do you remember the female teachers? The French teacher, Miss Olwen Williams had no discipline
over the boys in her class. Looking back, I feel a pang of guilt about how we used to misbehave in
her lessons. Following her retirement, she married the Aldermaster Mars Jones, Llansannan (the
father of the famous judge). Do you remember Miss L C Hughes or ‘Duck’ as she was called by the
pupils of Ysgol Brynhyfryd prior to arriving at Denbigh? She taught Physical Education to the girls,
she looked a sight prancing about the yard in a gym slip, her being middle aged! Miss Edna Jenkins
was a good effective teacher, her subjects being English and Geography. She was originally from
Maesteg, she died young.

I have only a vague recollection about Miss Morris, the music teacher, a petite, active lady. She used
to arrange the annual visits of the Bangor Trio to the school, everyone except the Boss, had to sit
patiently through their performance. Miss Walters taught Domestic Science to the girls. We were
often found like the ‘Bisto kids’ standing outside the D.S. classroom smelling the cooling cakes, often
than not, begging for some.

On the whole, I’m sure you’ll agree the teachers were very conscientious and hard working, the
academic achievements of the school was due to their dedication.

School interests

In County School we were separated into four houses – Stanley, Salusbury, Mytton and Myddleton.
There was fierce competition between them for silver shields in football, cricket, hockey, the
eisteddfod, exams and sports.

This is when I started taking a keen interest in cricket; Tordoff was our inspiration, being one of the
stars of the town’s team. Even though I was very eager footballer, I never made the mark. One
memorable occasion was when Emlyn Hooson, the captain of Myddleton House chose me to pay for
the team. The great footballers at the time were Ron Roberts (Jailer), John Owen Jones,
Cefnmeiradog and Idris Davies, Y Fron (Mrs. Gwyneth Morris’ brother). Osian Ellis used to be the
goalkeeper until his father prevented him playing in case he damaged his fingers and jeopardised his
career as a harpist.

The Eisteddfodau were held at Bodawen. I have never been keen on Eisteddfods either; it was a
painful experience listening to singing and reciting for a whole day. One competition has remained
in my memory – the piano playing competition. Do you remember the maestros Osian Ellis and
Mona Roberts (Mrs. Mona Evans, Yr Erw) competing, and Buxton Orr, an English boy from
Llandyrnog coming forward without a copy and playing amazingly, winning the competition? Not
one of us knew he was a musician, as he was a science student in the sixth form. Following a
successful career as a doctor, he changed career and became a famous classical jazz musician.

Do you remember Peter John Thomas (Outfitters) being the official sports starter? The sports were
held partly on Graig fields and Middle Lane. The renowned athletes were Gordon Evans, The
Anchor; Eric Andrews and Nolan Owen from Llandyrnog; Huw Gwyn Lloyd, The Green (author of a
work of literature on the fox); Roy Price Jones and Arthur Roberts (organist of the Welsh services at
St. Mary’s). Once a year, the cross country races were also held – the younger boys ran towards Plas
Clough, and back past the gypsy camp near Colomendy Farm, with the older boys following the
route past Graig Farm, round the Crest up to Chweffordd and back to school.

The ‘Lit and Deb’ was a popular organisation, with lectures, readings, speeches and a miscellany of
oral presentations in English and Welsh. The meetings were held in Mr Askew’s lecture room. John
Gwyn Hughes (a Labour candidate in the 1950 West Denbigh election), Margaret Darkes and Ronwy
Rodgers were active in the organisation’s activities. John Gwyn Jones could be seen often
accompanying his father, Sergeant E.D. Hughes, along the public footpaths in the area. Do you
remember when the naughty children were awarded a caning by the magistrate’s bench? Did Sgt
Hughes carry out the punishment? I wonder if Sgt Hughes, Sgt Barnard, W.A. Evans, E .J. Roberts
(Headmaster Love Lane school), Edward Roberts (truant officer) and King Chris (Cae Hywel
caretaker) were still around , as well as the threat of the cane, would the behaviour of today’s youth
be different?

One occasion at the ‘Lit and Deb’ has been chronicled forever in the ‘Bych’ - the school journal. A
mock hearing, with the following taking part – The judge, Osian Ellis, Counsellor for the defence,
Haydn Lloyd Davies (Cae Drain), Prosecution counsellor , Ken Evans; the accused, Bobi Owen (yes,
me!), court clerk, Peter Thomas; witnesses, Ronwy Rodgers, Dafydd Owen and Gwyn Thomas.
Would you like to know the verdict? Innocent, as expected! What was the crime?

Here are a few of the subjects of the Welsh meetings – 1941, lectures by Owen Llewelyn Hughes
(Welsh teacher at Brynhyfryd School, Rhuthun later) on Daniel Owen and Goronwy Lloyd Jones
(Gron Bach, Llansannan) on Twm o’r Nant. The chairman was Margaret Rees Evans (do you
remember her as a local journalist?). Margaret Darkes was so talented; she could orate on any
subject. Her posh accent was strange to many at the start, but by the time of the Second World
War, many children had moved from across the border. Contrary to the usual pattern three Welsh
speaking boys – Ronwy Rogers and the brothers Gwyn and Iolo Llewelyn moved here from
Merseyside.

Do you remember on November 11th, remembrance day, Boss used to read out the names of past
pupils who had fallen in the war? I could swear that was the only occasion Boss showed any
emotion, his rasping voice shaking with emotion. W.A. himself had felt the horrors of the trenches.

Pitar Williams, Middle Lane, maybe was the most important person in the school, the kindly
caretaker – the father of Gwyn Bach the goalkeeper. He governed the buildings and playing fields
like a sergeant major. Do you remember the morning when Pitar informed Boss about the pot which
hung precariously above the school’s front door? The rumour was Deri, Gwyn Thomas’ brother was
the culprit. The problem was how to get it down. One suggestion was to call for the aid of one of
the ‘Yanks’ lodging in town to shoot it down. How was it resolved on the end?

Pitar Williams’ predecessor was the old Daddy, who was often seen trotting across the field by the
school with his wheelbarrow, to the orchard in the corner. He reminded me of Mr. Chips. He lived
to a ripe old age, it was said that he, his wife and their daughter were on their pensions at the same
time.

Another interesting character at the time was Mary J.C., clerk to the Board of Governors. She was
the daughter of J.C. Davies, past member of Parliament for Denbigh West (1922=23), and
Denbighshire’s Director of Education for a long period. Mary J.C. was a fussy lady; she really enjoyed
invigilating the Scholarship exams.

Do you remember some of the characters among the children? Rosy cheeked Isaac John Evans
(Rhosyn Saron) was like a mad bull around the place; Eric Griffiths, Nantglyn Smithy, with his deep
bass voice booming along the corridors; Denis Kegan, Llandyrnog, full of adventure, with the horns
on his bike nearly dragging the floor; Haydn Lloyd Davies, Cae Drain, clumsy but brainy; Gwyn
Thomas who smoked like a chimney, always eyeing the girls and gentle Eric Andrews, who kept an
eye on me during my early school years. Meirion Wynne (Pudding) and Denis Butler, with their
military tendencies – Pudding was responsible for ringing the school bell, a task I would have liked to
do; Idris Williams (Big) from Llanrhaeadr, with his heavy boots, a constant threat out on the school
field, Gwyn Lloyd (Honey) thin as a rake and very clever; Ivor Watkin Lloyd, Llannefydd, who had a
tough upbringing, through dogged determination had a successful career with Kodak; Arthur Roberts
(Ginge) a nimble, marvellous athlete.

Did you ever see two brothers so unalike as Colin and Graham, the sons of Stan Rees – one tall and
loud and the other puny and quiet? I met both recently for the first time since nearly sixty years;
surprisingly Graham had made a career in international science similar to his brother.

I could name several boys who have reached successes in differing careers, but I better stop there.

In case you accuse me of forgetting the ladies, I must admit I did tend to ignore them in those days,
except for watching the hockey teams with Edna Pierce, Monica Pierce (Henllan), Beryl Parry and
Mary Hughes (Trefnant) and Luned Roberts (Tremeirchion) and Margaret Lloyd (Prion).

Do you remember the Christmas parties, and those arranged by school years? The boys made a bee
line for the prettiest girls, with Laura Crellin and Eroica Jones enjoying the admiration, with us no
hopers having to lower our sights to the not so pretty. Do you remember the childish games Stanley
Jones arranged for us and we wanted more mature activities?

Pupils attended the school from surrounding areas as well as from town. Some travelled on the
train from Trefnant, Waun and Llanrhaeadr, others travelled by bus from Llandyrnog, Henllan,
Llansannan, Nantglyn, Groes, Prion and Saron. The rest cycled or walked. Pupils from further afield,
where it was inconvenient to travel daily, such as Cerrig, Pentrellyncymer and other remote areas of
Uwchaled, lodged in Denbigh from Monday mornings until Friday afternoons. Several stayed with
Miss Alice Jones, Two Ladies shop, Bridge Street.

The County School, similar to Lenten Pool School conducted all lessons in English; English was the
official language of the school. There was no attempt to stop us talking together in Welsh, the only
difference – Welsh was taught as a subject.

As I’ve previously mentioned, Ned was responsible for teaching Welsh. He himself was a past
student of John Morris Jones of Bangor, the Welsh lessons were taught in English!

Do you remember your favourite lessons, and the ones you detested? On my own part, I managed
quite well in all subjects apart from four – Latin, French, Woodwork and Art. My marks were
disappointing in those subjects.

My time in the County School at Denbigh was profitable and blessed. I benefitted from my
attendance there, not only through the education but in many other ways; I met several life-long
friends there.