Brynmawr Comprehensive
I think overall I enjoyed my time at the comp. It had its bad times, Billy Raybould, Welsh master, I hated him, he was a mental and at times a physical bully. And him a Welsh International to. Ended up wagging his lessons for ages, he was told I'd already gone to Brum. It had to end, and I was collared, got what I presumed he thought I deserved, via head, Mr James. By far the best teacher there was Sinclair Ramsey Atkins, history. Very much old school, but what a man. He loved his cricket, but eh, he was not very good, but always encouraged me, even when I didn't deserve it. The rugby matches, Christ, we used to get hammered at times, Twmpeth, Pontypool for starters, but eh ho! I can remember the cross country runs, ha ha, we used to curtail those buggers, especially when they were filming the Dr Who series, John Percival, about the big maggots, remember them, at the CD factory just of the Havard. Academically, not great, but proved I could do it my last year there, just to say I could if I tried. And of course good friends, unfortunately I don't get to see, but they are always in my head.
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RE: RE: Brynmawr Comprehensive
Hello Colin,
We didn't know each other, probably because I am older and went to the old Grammar school 1954-1959.
When I left in 1959, the foundations were being levelled for the construction of the new school. But I am an ex-Brynmawr boy and I have to agree with you that Mr Atkins was a great teacher and although he did not like me, (I was a bit of a dreamer and not always attentive), I always enjoyed his lessons and his tales of being a despatch rider during the War.
I worked really hard at History to make sure I passed at 'O' level so that I did not let him down. He was that kind of man, he had no time for 'wasters' and expected results from his pupils. He did not know that I was a keen pupil. Anyway, I never saw him again after the exams and I had left.
Incidentally, it was John Pertwee who played Dr Who and I remember the film shooting at the time and was lucky enough to see him entertaining himself on a forklift truck during a break.
Regards,
Rob
Comment from Robert Watkins on Friday, 3rd September 2010.
RE: RE: Brynmawr Comprehensive
I think I was at school the same time as you, Colin. I remember Mr Atkins and his scruffy briefcase really well and can still see him walking across Intermediate Road with his old spaniel dog. He was a great teacher. He made you keep a pristine notebook and marked it out of 10, taking 1 point off for every mistake you made! You were lucky if you got any points at all. I also had Billy Raybauld - I wonder where he is now? I also remember Jim Beddoes and his little sports car. I took A level Biology with him and he used to pile us all in for nature trips across the Hafod and up to Llangynidyr Mountain. He used to play ping- pong with Don Durham at lunch time in the chemistry lab. I too still think of Brynmawr as home even though I have lived in New York for the past 29 years! Great memories of Hugo's cafe, Welsh Society dances, playing field hockey in the snow and Rees's buses always breaking down on the way to netball matches!
Comment from Lindsey Russo(Gane) on Sunday, 31st October 2010.
RE: RE: Brynmawr Comprehensive
Thanks Lynsey/Robert for your comments. Other than my sister Eileen going to the old grammer school I've no other recall I'm afraid. But old Sinclair Ramsey, Robert, oh yes. He also loved his cricket, very keen, but not too clever and what a stance. His daughter Sarah was in our class. John Pertwee, that's it, well done Robert. The old RCA factory on the Havard, I remember it well. Lynsey, you certainly brought out some long dormant info. Hugo's cafe, bloody hell my mom worked there, I spent many a time there. Again SRA, yes, skeleton notes, then in INK not biro in yer proper book.Old Durham/ Beddoes, I'm not sure I think old Beddoes is still active in the area, I believe he's on the local council. Durham, he had a son called Nicholas, from Gilwern. I was very much sports orientated, still am, but my last year at comp did actually work at exam time, just to prove I could, did well too. All except Welsh, which having wagged that man Raybould's lessons for nigh on a year, I did as expected. He'd actually thought I'd already left to go Birmingham, until I bumped into him one fateful day, I thank John Davies from Llanely Hill for that. Spent some time with old Jake for that, could have been worse, it might have been Pearce, bloody hurt though, but life goes on eh? Character building! Lynsey, we were obviously there at the same time. I was the sports-orientated idiot who was taken to Birmingham, much against his will, and 40 yrs later the only one of us left there. We lived on the new houses estate, 5 Tudor Crescent, then moved into the old synagogue after my dad renovated the place, leaving 1970. So if any of this has rung any more tales of old Brynmawr, please share.
Comment from Colin Bennett on Tuesday, 9th November 2010.
RE: RE: Brynmawr Comprehensive
HI THERE. I am Mr Atkins' middle daughter, Jane. My father died 6 years ago but yesterday he would have reached his 100th birthday. It's nice to read the comments about him considering he retired 35 years ago. My main memoires of the Grammar School was sitting at the back of the class (particularly in Welsh and Chemistry) hearing my dad bellowing at some poor boy who had the misfortune to fall asleep in class. I also remember that after school, he was able to clock all the courting couples going across the Hafod so much of the time he knew who was busy doing their homework and those who were otherwise engaged. He had two Welsh Springers who he was always devoted to and one night was arrested in Alma Street by a new young copper for loitering. He was not well pleased. He outlived most of his contempories but Mr James used to come round for musical evenings and dad kept up tennis, swimming and interminable walk until his late 80s. Thanks for your comments. He loved that school and took to writing textbooks to fill up his days after retirement. Jane
Comment from Elizabeth Ede on Sunday, 14th August 2011.
RE: RE: Brynmawr Comprehensive
Hi Jane. If I recall correctly, post-Brynmawr, you attended Durham University, as did I, in the late 1960's, when you were a friend of Bob Catell, fellow Cuthbertsman. I fully endorse the comments concerning the teaching of your late father, and compare him favourably with John (Major) Morgan, an immense character, who enthused me about geography and geology, upon which I built my career.
Robert Jones
Comment from Robert Jones on Thursday, 1st September 2011.
RE: RE: Brynmawr Comprehensive
Hello Jane,
I don't remember you at the grammar school, but maybe you weren't there at the same time, I was there 1954 to 1959.
That was good to hear about your Dad, Mr Atkins, I often wondered what happened to him in his later years and glad to know he lived such a long life, I am sure he made the most of it. A great character as I remember him and the sort we could do with now to sort out the country, although I suspect he was probably a conservative!
I was not the poor boy being bellowed at for falling asleep, but I was the unlucky wretch being bellowed at for doing the wrong homework! One of my attention lapses I'm afraid. Ah, happy days! I still have my elongated school photograph from 1956 so you could possibly be on it, if you have one maybe you could let me know where you are on the picture, like the row and number from left, it may jog my memory.
Best wishes,
Robert Watkins
Comment from Robert Watkins on Thursday, 1st December 2011.