Bedwellty School Closure Celebration

BEDWELLTY SCHOOL WELCOME CROESO!

From Steve Moore now living in Hertfordshire:

I believe the Mikado photos appeared in the Rhumney Valley and Merthyr
Express, probably 1975. The first photo does include a little bit of a
write-up including some names. The second, shows the main characters in the
foreground - Mr Walbeoff (Mikado) Mrs Clark (Katisha) and Ray Thomas
(performer, producer, director and all round great teacher).
Those in the background include ( L to R) Steve Sutton (sadly no longer with
us), ? , Gareth Whitcombe, Mark Evans, Lynn Lerwell (I think) and Me, Steve
More.

The other photo appeared in the same paper some time in 1976, I think. Again
it shows Mr Clive Walbeoff, the woodwork teacher, then me, Steve Moore with
David Garner in the middle with the long hair (and carved head as mentioned
in the write-up). The two on the far side are Steve Noel and Neil Carroll -
neither of whom were woodwork students but just brought in to make up the
numbers. Don`t know who the others are - again I think they were just
brought in to make the photo a bit more interesting.

PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD OF BEDWELLTY

STORIES AND NEWS

We would like to extend our gallery of pictures of Bedwellty School, Past Pupils and special events. If you have any photos scanned into your computer please contact the webmaster via the Enquiries button on the left and we will arrange to have them put on the site for all to see.

If you want to contribute school memories, news or anything else please send your articles to the web master in the same way.

Steve Hodges 3 June 2007 08:18:31 PM
What wonderful memories we all have in attending this great school.Was it really 37 years ago when I walked out of the school gates for the last time with my O levels (except french,I was absolutely useless)Straight away I joined my first ship as a navigating cadet and had the good fortune to sail under a captain who hailed from Pontlottyn who on knowing that I had attended our school ensured that I had the best of training, as in his eyes I was a "Bedwellty boy". The staff and my fellow pupils made my formative school years a wonderful time.Indeed over the years as I have driven past the school to visit my parents in Aberbargoed my three children now all adults were always in the car with me and before I could say anything they used to groan,"Yes dad we know its the best school in the world and you loved your time there,blah blah,blah"Its sad to see it demolished but I suppose thats change for you.What wont change will be the memories we all keep especially that Saturday morning at a cross counrtry competition between our team and another when as a designated route guide I sent the runners all the wrong way and we had to declare it a draw as runners got lost. Mr Prosser the P.E.teacher brought it up at assembly on the Monday and didnt name me but glared at me in such a way as to emphasise that I was the guilty one.Best wishes to everyone especially the staff of my era and its pupils.

It is now over a year since Bedwellty closed its doors for the last time.

This site will remain updated as long as people want to contribute. Therefore, please contact me with stories, memories or news.

A potted history of Bedwedwellty can be found on the sister site. Please contact me if you can add to that history.

Bedwellty School is now not only closed but has been demolished.

Memorabilia from the school was given to the Elliot Colliery Winding HOuse Museum for an exhibition and the remainder to Sursum - the exstudents' society.

However we would like to encourage past pupils and staff to share their memories of Bedwellty and to record them here on this web site.
Please send your memories and stories in through the "Guest Book" for publication on this site.

SURSUM!

THIS SITE IS ABOUT CELEBRATING BEDWELLTY SCHOOL, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE!

Read and hear the digital stories from 4 Bedwellty pupils http://www.oncommonground.co.uk/bed.htm

In all over 770 pupil visited the school during the celebrations week.
The exhibition is currently moving to the Elliots Colliery Winding House Museum in New Tredegar.

The only contact in order to buy a history book is now either via this web site (enquiries) or at the Elliotstown Post Office.

Bedwellty History Book

The pupils have written a history of the school 1921 - 2005. Anyone wishing to buy a copy please contact us via the enquiries button (left). Cost £5 plus p and p.

Some of these memories are on the ABOUT US page.

The school closed its gates for the last time on Friday 22nd July 2005 - a sad time.

This site - researched by Year 9 pupils, has won a prize in the WELSH HERITAGE SCHOOLS Competition. They received a £500 prize at the awards ceremony in July. WELL DONE

THIS SITE IS ABOUT CELEBRATING BEDWELLTY SCHOOL, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE!

The school closed in July 2005, we were determined that the spirit of Bedwellty will live on! We have sponsored a school in Uganda, we have already sent a container of school equipment out there and sent another container in July 2005.

The Kings' Primary School was sent a plaque of our school badge so the phoenix will rise again in Africa and the spirit of Bedwellty will live on.

CONTACTING THE SCHOOL IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. But you can contact the former Head Teacher: Ms S J Hyman via this web site.

E-mail: contact via Enquiry botton on left

Carolyn Smith (nee Davies) 5 February 2007 00:37:32
Wow! Found this site completely by accident in London, Ontario. Left Bedwellty in 1970 and always intended to go back for a visit. Never made it and now never will. Really glad to hear all the equipment, etc., has been put to good use elsewhere. I was looking through the gallery of photos and boy, does it take me back! They may not remember me (short, shy redhead with glasses) but I remember most of them. I can remember helping out as "make-up artist" on some of the productions (Mikado and She Stoops to Conquer). I also remember the cast of She Stoops getting reamed out for walking down to the local sweet shop in full dress - wigs and all. Mrs. Evans was not impressed! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I didn't go in much for sports - I was the kind of athlete who would more probably impale someone with a javelin - even so, we were all forced into the torture of running around a frosty field whacking the hell out of a frozen ball which invariably left bruises when it hit you. I too remember the agony of crawling up Harry's Hill on practically my hand and knees trying to think of suitable curses to inflict on my PE teacher. I could ramble on forever with memories of Bedwellty - walking up the driveway with the cherry blossom in bloom, the fear of having to read the morning verse on stage in front of the whole school as a prefect, the semolina pudding (I still can't eat it!). On the whole though there are some times I wish I could go back and say "thank you" to all of my teachers especially Mrs. Evans. I really loved English! Geography and history were also favourites but my teachers for math, chemistry and physics must have despaired. Now it's gone but hopefully the phoenix will continue in Uganda. Sursum!

BEDWELLTY SCHOOL IS NOW CLOSED but lives on in spirit in Uganda.

Former pupils Amy and Becca along with former Headteacher Sally Hyman visited the King's Primary school in Uganda in October of this year.

As Bedwellty prepared to close it decided that its last year would be a year of opportunity for all, including te pupils of a far away school in Uganda.

The King's Primary School was built by a charity called Ezra, which was started by Mary Griffiths a former Bedwellty pupil.

Over the years Bedwellty has supported Ezra and helped to raise the funds to build the first phase of the school. In November, with so many empty classrooms, the school decided to send a 20' container lorry of surplus equipment to Uganda.

During the year the pupils and staff raised enough money to send a second container out in July; this time a 40' one. It was packed with resources, paper, books, desks, chairs etc.

Bedwellty also led the way in raising the money to pay for a security fence to be built around the school. Bedwas, Heolddu, Lewis Oengam, Oakdale, Pontllanfraith and Rhymney Comprehensive schools also contributed to the cost of the fence.

Web Site Counters

There were a limited number of commemorative mugs made for the celebrations. They are now all sold out but we have a small number of histories of the school for sale at £5.00 (plus pand p 50p)

CELEBRATING BEDWELLTY SCHOOL 1921 - 2005 Programme.

Monday July 11th Tour of school and visit to exhibition.
Tuesday July 12th am. a thanksgiving service of hope at school taken by the Bishop of Monmouth
Wednesday July 13th am and pm Tour of school and visit to exhibition.
Thursday 14th am Ceremony for pupils, parents and invited guests
Garden Party

Friday 15th School to hand over the WWII Roll of Honour to White Rose Primary School, New Tredegar for safe keeping.