Guestbook

Well what a shame. I enjoyed my stay at Bedwellty which was around 78 to 81 or so specially the banking (thrown down there a few times).

Shame the school closed, wished I had visited and taken a few photo's for old time sake. Not seen the old school mates I used to know, now and again I bump into Andrew Bradford (Aberbargoed boy) and thats about it, not seen anyone like:

Christina Davis
Christine Harley
Carl Gittings
Anthony (tony) Foster

And M8 from as long as I can remember Neil Upshall (were are you)????

I married at 18 and 25 years later still married, time flies and as a post below says if I knew what I know now I would be a very rich person.

Great reading the messages here but would like a few old photos from around 77 to 82 years if anyone has them.

Well regards all, best wishes,

Brian

hi my name is samantha i went bedwellty skool (1997-2002) i was really sad when i heard they was closeing and knocking the skool down i couldnt belive it i know the skool and teacher will be missed by alot of people who went 2 bedwellty skool like my self my favourit teacher was mrs davies and still is 2 this day i hope 1 day i get 2 see all of my favourits teachers again

I was at Bedwellty from 91-98 had some fantastic times i was one of the ones always messing about,thats all you would hear down the hallways.RICHARDS detention BOY,it was eiter woods or fisher making my day.ive got to say they learnt me a lesson in life, dont know what it is yet i'll let u know when i find out it was like that for about 2 years then i settled down and got on with it.I passed 5 gcse and stayed on for 2 years and passed my btec in bussiness and finance. i just want 2 say thanks 2 all the teachers dinner ladies and everyone for making life so enjoyable.Kids have got too much strain on their lifes thesedays,if we could all reflect back to when we were all tearaways maybe we would give them a chance.
Sad to see you go bedwellty always in are hearts,
thanks again

Well wot can i say the school will be mega missed by everyone who went there. I was very sad to see it close well now i'm in Ystrad Mynach Collage i must say no other education will ever beat this school also i would like to thank all the Teachers names are below that my good friend Daniel Pendry has already mensioned and also all the help we had with all the hard work and the effot we put it to make it a success THANK YOU BEDWELLTY !!!!! we will all never forget what u have done for us all

I have just discovered the sight for Bedwellty Grammar School. How very very sad to hear that the school has been closed and demolished for anew housing estate. I was a pupil at the school in 54-61 when I graduated and went to Trinity College Carmarthen.
I remember my school days with great fondness especially Mr Jones (geography), Miss Jones(Maths), Mrs Burton (Latin), Mr Carwardine (history) and Mr Dally(music),Mr King (biology), Mr Hurn (maths) and Miss Lewis (French).
I was a very shy, introverted student and kept a very low profile, seldom causing "waves", but I well remember getting a very rude awakening one day when I was daydreaming in maths! On another occasion I was called into Mr Gibson's office to be reminded that it would be more prudent to concentrate on my studies and spend less time talking to my 'boyfriend'.
I have been living in Perth, Western Australia for the last 27 years but often think of Bedwellty, the teachers and fellow students. I remember Margaret Whatley, Marie Holloway, Linda Morgan, Enid Phillips, John Purnell, Gareth Evans, John Thomas, Ronald Noakes, Kenneth Mumford, Anthony Price and so many others.
Not having heard news of Bedwellty and its closure I feel I have missed out on expressing my gratitude and appreciation of all that has been part of its history. It was a great school, a good encouraging environment for the development of our personalities and character. Thank you to all the staff who have given so much to so many. It is good to hear that the spirit of the school is living on in Africa. Well done to the inspiring initiative of all those concerned with its development.

I have just discovered the sight for Bedwellty Grammar School. How very very sad to hear that the school has been closed and demolished for anew housing estate. I was a pupil at the school in 54-61 when I graduated and went to Trinity College Carmarthen.
I remember my school days with great fondness especially Mr Jones (geography), Miss Jones(Maths), Mrs Burton (Latin), Mr Carwardine (history) and Mr Dally(music),Mr King (biology), Mr Hurn (maths) and Miss Lewis (French).
I was a very shy, introverted student and kept a very low profile, seldom causing "waves", but I well remember getting a very rude awakening one day when I was daydreaming in maths! On another occasion I was called into Mr Gibson's office to be reminded that it would be more prudent to concentrate on my studies and spend less time talking to my 'boyfriend'.
I have been living in Perth, Western Australia for the last 27 years but often think of Bedwellty, the teachers and fellow students. I remember Margaret Whatley, Marie Holloway, Linda Morgan, Enid Phillips, John Purnell, Gareth Evans, John Thomas, Ronald Noakes, Kenneth Mumford, Anthony Price and so many others.
Not having heard news of Bedwellty and its closure I feel I have missed out on expressing my gratitude and appreciation of all that has been part of its history. It was a great school, a good encouraging environment for the development of our personalities and character. Thank you to all the staff who have given so much to so many. It is good to hear that the spirit of the school is living on in Africa. Well done to the inspiring initiative of all those concerned with its development.

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.

Hello everyone miss Bedwellty so much it is the best school ever finised in heolddu on friday and got a place in ystrad college on a plumbing course just got study fot the g.c.s.e. hope to see everyone soon bye

Does any body on this web site remember any Bryants from bewellty if so could you please contact me on 07980464689 thank you Christina

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!

hi everyone from bedwellty long time no see wats up am driving now passed my test on monday the 18th dec any old school friends want to chat ring me 07815976561 miss every one

hi everyone what u doin up to en w/b rhys x

samantha i gave you my wrong number and since i don't have yours i'll leave it on the site it is 07944743023

I miss bedwelty school oh i miss u gurls DEANNA,KIRSTY,LISA,SAMMIE. wish u luck 4 future.damn i wish u where going with me 2 my new school. i keep in contact wit u gurls c ya soon miss u
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i really miss bedwellty but i made more friends now. i was scared first time but it was oky and now i am moving again but the best place ever and i won't forget iz bedwellty i won't forget that place i wish it iz still up.gona miss u all

hey we are all in Rhymney School and really really missing Bedwellty even
though we have been in our new school for nerly a year now. It's just not the
same we miss everyone and everything because we were such a small school
we all knew each other and were very close. We were in yr8 and we still
knew all the yr 11s. The thing that we miss the most though is the frindliness
that we had in that school. None of the teachers would have any arguing
what so ever, if you did have an argument with someone and stoped talking
then it got sorted out straight away. Well that was if you did argue and that was not very often. With the school I'm in now they just say stay away from each other
or they don't do nothing it's nothing compared to Bedwellty.
2 boys I know have had the school logo tatooed on thier arms (pheonix with Bedwellty underneth insted of sursum). Uualy you don't see boys doing things like
that it, just goes to show how much people LOVED that school and
how good it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well bye for now we will be back to talk soon.
Love Deanna and Sammie, Bedwellty chicks

I am sad to hear that Bedwellty School has closed and in fact been torn down. It has been a trip down memory lane reading the comments in this guestbook and the other pages of this website. I was a pupil form 1950 to 1956

THANX FOR WHATEVER YOU PEOPLE ARE DOING FOR THE BUNAMBUTYE SCHOOL-I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU ONCE BEFORE-MAY I REQUEST YOU TO PUT THE URL ON A FASTER Search Engine-Google etc...- IT IS VERY DIFFICULT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO YOUR UGANDA SITE.

IAM BORN IN THAT AREA WHERE EZRA HAS KINDLY PUT UP THE SCHOOL-I ACTUALLY HAVE A RELATIVE OF MINE WORKING AT THE SCHOOL!!

SO PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAPPY EASTER!!

MALETI
Roma-Italy

Yes I married him.....Oh my, I feel old! I was introduced to this website by my nephew who attended Bedwellty for a short time before the closure. Seeing myself in the two photos on the gallery really brings back some very happy memories. I seem to have lost touch with the friends I had back then. I attended Bedwellty 82 - 89, I met my husband of 13 years there when we were 15 and have Mr Hughes to thank for playing matchmaker on the Alton Towers school trip in the summer of 86 & finally the 6th formers disco at the Empire Club that year (20 years this year, sir). The school holds many memories for lots of people from all walks of life and could probably have told many a tale. The most poignant for me was the warm summer break times spent gossiping on the banking.
I hear myself now telling my children 'I wish I knew then what I know now' and yes I sound like my mother did back then, but unfortunatley I can no longer show them the place where Mum & Dad met & went to school. Even the Empire's gone...... God I am getting old. The teachers most remorable to me will always be:
Mr (Cilla Black) Hughes (Computers) - Did I ever say 'Thank You'
Mrs James (P.E.) - 'I wonder what happened to that blue beetle she drove'
Mrs Morgan ( P.E. 'I think') - 'Come along ladies' she was a classic
Mrs Evans ( Head of Girls) - They just don't make um like her. Brilliant.
Mr Brian Williams ( Business Studies) - He was always ready for a chat. Made me realise teachers were human too...........
I'm rambling. Add your comments if you were there, cause I really enjoyed reminisin and would love to see some memorable names here & see what your all up to. David Hynam good to hear your doing well.

hey we are really missing bedwellty it is so sad to see all our past just
bashed down like that when igo past + see nothing there i get a little bit
upset that was the best school around we all had so many good times in that
school + really miss it + would so much like to be there now!!!!!!!!
missing you all love jaff,dee,samxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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I WENT TO BEDWELLTY IN 1980/85. I MUST SAY I HAD GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES AT THE SCHOOL.IT IS SAD TO SEE IT CLOSED NOW. AS I PASSED IT THE OTHER DAY I COULD SEE MY SELF WALKING AROUND THE YARD WITH MY FREINDS. NOW WHEN I THINK BACK AT MY SCHOOL DAYS THEY DONT SEEM AS BAD AS ALL THAT .MY NICKNAME WAS CONCORD OR SOME USED TO CALL ME JONESEY OR WELL ALL THE BEST TO EVERYONE.MARK

hiya . miss u loads i wish i could go back 2 bedwellty if we ever win the lotto we would rebuild and reopen it we just hope we win it soooooooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kirsty&lisa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bedwellty girls missing bedwellty like mad. We wish bedwellty would reopen for us and miss everyone we miss craige ayesha claire woosy warren jaffas pendry fatty lewis and all the teachers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiya! We can't believe that bedwellty is now completely gone and demolished! We hope everyone from our previous school is having a great time in what they decided to do. We arenow in heolddu! Bye!

we are in rhymney and we all think bedwellty is LUSH and we'd go back 2 it any day it should have NEVER closed. BEDWELLTY YOUR DA BEST WE LOVE YA. JUST REMEMBER! YOU ALL REMEMBER
BEDWELLTY WE LOVE U

hi everyone hope you are ok i still cant belive that bedwellty has closed. heolddu will never compair to bedwellty i had the best time EVER in bedwellty good luck to all the teachers in other schools hope to see you soon! lots of love.

i enjoyed my time at bedwellty comp the teachers were great to all of us im gutted its closed down but im geting on well in my new school

HI EVERYONE I REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME AT BEDWELLTY COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL AND IT IS SAD TO SEE IT BEING SHUT DOWN.THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT ME AND A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO MRS DAVIES FOR PICKING ME FOR THE NETBALL TEAM AND MR WALBEOFF AND MR FISHER FOR LETTING ME COME TO ITALY WITH YOU.

Memories. They say if you remember the 60?s you weren?t there. Well, I was there (Like Paul Luke) ?64 ? ?71 and I remember ? just !

40 years ago, a troop of us dutifully attended Arnold Bennett?s ?40 Years On? at the Bristol Old Vic. I remember, watching the play, being completely unable to contemplate what life in 2005 ? 40 years on from 1965 - would be like. Saying to myself, ?Do not delude yourself?school days, doublers of Latin, Maths and PE are NOT Happy Days. Be warned - do not look back with fond nostalgia.?

Well I?m now doing just that. Particularly to thank those teachers who influenced and made a difference to our lives.

Mr Davey who taught me to learn: to think for myself. That authority isn?t always right. That even the narrator in a novel sees things from their own perspective? they may not be right; they could be entirely misled?

Mille. Ladurelli who taught me that I should seek out the Boulevard St Mich at the earliest opportunity for my impossible chat with Sartre, De Beauvoir, Arthur Rimbaud, Marcel and Jane Birkin in existentialist Fantasyland? and who brought Parisian chic to the valleys in ?68 ? the year of the student barricades. Vivre le mini (car ? grey with silver top) driven at 100mph up the school drive ! The scourge of Lollipop ladies from Risca to Aberbargoed.

When intimations of the world wide web meant gazing at departure boards at Heathrow, how wonderful to be able to meet old friends via the internet. Thank you, John Prosser, for the roll call of names. I should also like to thank the army of dinnerladies, caretakers, cleaners, teaching assistants, lollipops, West Mon bus drivers & conductors who got us to school, fed us, made our learning so easy and so happy. And thank you too to dear mates who are no longer with us.

?and to Mrs Burton, who every day got us to conjugate the verb ?to love? amo, amas, amamus (I love. You love. We love) completely and unintentionally we recited and openly declared the anthem of the 60?s together each morning long before Lennon !!
Lovely to meet up with old friends again at the garden party.

WEBMASTER's NOTE - inverted commas come out as ? - don't know why and don't know how to fix it! Sorry

It is a very sad occasion taht the gates will not open again to pupils at Bedwellty.

I was at the school from 1993-1998 and i have many, many fond memories of the school and the teachers.

Mr Jones, the headteacher - quite literally a towering presence in the school, he could look quite scary, but he was always around to lend a hand or give support to the events and pupils around the school.

Bedwellty also set me up for life, I have now been in the Royal Air Force (Engineer) for seven years.

A few things will stick in my mind, the time where i turn on the PC's in Mr Hughes IT Room, only to find 10 minutes later, i had also turned on the Heater - which Mr Hughes jacket was resting on - SORRY!

Various Music Productions, Wizard Of Oz, Sound Of Music and the one i was involved in Oliver.

MATHS
Easy Going Maths Teachers (Mr Williams) and Scary Ones (Mr Evans),

SCIENCE

I think every lad had a crush on Miss Vaughan at some time (or just me ;p), the other science teachers adding the the theory of eccentric 'Mad Scientists' - Mr Gwynn (Cousin-in-law to Phil ' Power' Taylor), Mr Thomson (or thomas) possibly the oldest (yet funniest) Teacher in Wales or the world, Dr Richardson - i have still never looked at a frog in the same way!.

ENGLISH

MR Watkins, ok i had a few fallings out - but the guy LOVED his rugby, organising a few trips to the arms park.

HISTORY

Mr Conway (Also head of upper school) History was far from boring.

COMPUTERS

Mr Hughes - Sorry Again!

also i can never remeber the other teachers name, but we were constantly winding him up for his use of the Gym!

other teachers who were excellent in my time at Bedwellty.

Mrs Conway - Religous Studies
Mrs Griffiths - Everything!
Mr Fisher - head of lower school
Mr Walbeoff - Computer Design
Mr Williams - Business Studies
Mr Paginton - PE
Mrs Davies - PE
The Geography Teacher! (also same room for Chess Club)

I will try and have a think about the teachers names

But All In All, a sad day!
Mrs Davies

We heard about the school closing celebrations week too late (the garden party is tomorrow) but we would like to pass on our best wishes to anyone who remembers us.
Plural, because this come from both my wife (then Janet Jones) and myself. We both joined the school in 1965 and left in 1972 - I came from New Tredegar (Cwmsyfiog) and Jan from Rhymney. Our first memory of being close was in a French class (Miss Lewis) in the "K" room - Jan had been christened Genevieve by Ma Louw and I was Dominique. That started something that is still strong, 37 years later. We've been in Bangor (north Wales) since 1972 and have few links left with south Wales, unfortunately.
Apart from causing us to get together, Bedwellty provides mixed memories for us both - inevitable maybe as this was our most formative and sensitive years. The charity week and walk from Rhymney to Blackwood was one of the best times, as were the school productions (incredibly good quality, in retrospect) that others have mentioned - the Mikado, South Pacific, Vote, Vote Vote for Nigel Barton (remember the furore about that one?) and, for Jan, Orpheus in the Underworld (she was Venus).
So many of the teachers were characters - Charles Davy (quite superb and inspirational), Charlie Hurn (opposite in personality but an excellent motivator) and of course, Mr King (Fud) who was a one off (remember him falling asleep diring the Eisteddfords?) but must have been a resaon why I am now a microbiologist. The Eisteddfords themselves were excellent days - quality, pathos (Diane Payne's sister weeping on stage) and Caradoc always last. Gregory House (remember all the House family?) munching his way through a huge leek that he'd tied to his lapel...
It would be good to meet up with school contemporaries again, but pretty weird I would imagine in some ways. Much has happened to many of us since we left Bedwellty, but it was a springboard that provided many opportunities.

I'm very sad that bedwellty is closing because if i didn't go to bedwellty school i would have never have met my best friend Kaylee Duggan. Or my boyfriend Rhys and if rhys is reading this now i'm sorry if im being funny with you but it is not inteninal SORRY. but back to Bdwellty i don't want Bedwellty to close part of the reason is that it has become part of my life and the other part is that i don't want to make new friends and go to a new school because it is very hard i know because i've changed schools loads of times but at least this time i'm taking my best friend Kaylee with me because we are both going to Heoldu an partly i'm looking forward to it . I'm very sad and dissapointed that Bedwellty is closing.

had some great times in bedwellty just finished there i am now working for R&M Wiliams as a builder i would like to thank all of the teachers that i had for different lessons Mr Benson, Mrs Sandbrook, Dr Morgan, Mr Paginton, Mrs Vaughan, Mrs Smith, Mrs Banfield, Mrs Bowen, Mr Richard, Mrs Green, Mrs Nind and Mr Woodman did not get on with many of them but i would like to thank them all for there help and the time there spent with me and i would also like to thank mrs hyman for all her help she give me with my mum dieing. Thank you all staff at bedwellty and to all my friends in and out of the school good luck in the furture if i dont see you around thanks bedwellty i will never forget this school and all the people there. Good luck to all the teachers that are going to new schools aswell. I will never say bedwellty was rubbish it is the BEST SCHOOL AROUND and iam proud of it WELL DONE Daniel Pendry

BEDWELLTY SCHOOL THE END OF AN ERA. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO READ ALL THE COMMENTS FROM FORMER PUPILS AS WELL AS PUPILS AT THE SCHOOL TODAY .MY FAVOURITE MOMENTS OF SCHOOL WERE THE PRODUCTIONS WE USED TO PERFORM I WAS INVOLVED WITH OLIVER,FIDDLER ON THE ROOF AND SOUTH PACIFIC .THE STAFF AND PUPILS WORKED VERY HARD ON THOSE THREE NIGHTS OF PERFORMANCES BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH EVERY MINUTE AS EVERY SHOW ENDED THERE WOULD BE A VOID UNTIL THE NEXT ONE BEGAN WHAT GOOD DAYS WE HAD AT BEDWELLY.
NOTE TO MARK MOORE ASKING IF ANYONE REMEMBERS HIM I SHOULD THINK SO HE HAD A LOT OF FEMALE ADMIRERS AT BEDWELLTY.

Member of the first 15 rugby team (6th from the right, back row). See picture in gallery not sure of year.Mark Rutter,Andrew Morgan, Dean Hill also in the photo. Fond memories and good times, sad to see it close down.
(Would like to hear from anyone who remembers Moorsey, lived oppersite the school)

Enjoyed reading comments from old school friends such as john prosser and john roberts i too have very happy memories of my school days from 69 to 71 . Bedwellty school and it's excellent teachers have helped so many of us. I'm in contact with quite a few of my old friends and am looking forward to meeting up with many more at the Garden party

So Bedwellty is closing down! What an awful shame. I attended this school from 1959 to 1963 and I must admit that those years were the best of my life! I remember so much- my first day at school on the bus from Bedwas and older boys singing "Mr Bevans in Devizes!" Later being pushed down the embankment by two boys from form 2C and having my blazer cleaned by Mrs Gibbons!
The Winter of 1960-61 when the school plumbing froze solid and we were all off for two weeks.
One of Mrs Blodwen Jones's lessons on a Summers' day when there was an almighty bang, and She exclaimed "An explosion!" - it was an RAF aircraft going through the sound barrier!
Some of the things that stay with you through the years- Henry V's soliloqy, Pythagoras' Theorem,
Ohm's Law etc.etc.
I also remember winning 1st prize in Art for Glyndwr in the Eisteddfod- what a blast!
Some of my friends at school were Byron Lewis,Alun Williams, Dennis Dunstan and Peter Williams.
The teachers I remember were Mrs Blodwen Jones (Maths), Mr Haydn Jones (Geograpy), Mr Ferdie King (Biology), Mr Cowardine (History) Mr Lewis (General Science),Mrs Gibbons.
THE THING that stands out in my memory the most though ,was when all pupils in my class, including myself, were standing in the corridor on the 1st floor lined up for inoculations and the noise around the corridors was loud enough for the Headmaster (Mr Gibson) to come rushing up the stairs to find out what was going on. He tripped over the last step and fell flat on his face!
The result- three boys including myself got the cane on both hands. I twas worth it!
We all have good and bad memories but I went on to a four year apprenticeship with Bristol Siddeley Engines in Leavesden, Watford Hertfordshire. Completed my London City & Guilds Certificates and then emigrated to Australia to work with Hawker De Havilland. I met my wife Joy
on the "Northern Star'' (Shaw Saville Line) after two and a half years in Sydney and we travelled back to UK where we were married in Bedwas. We returned to Australia in 1972, to Melbourne in Victoria where I have just retired from working with QANTAS for 30 years as a Production Planner.
The wearing of the bottle green uniform and the prefects telling us to wear our hats after school seems a long time ago now,but I am glad to see that SURSUM will live on in Africa.
My best wishes to all old pupils, present pupils and all staff. Perhaps by the wonders of modern technology someone may be able to reply?

Called into the school today, funny but I remember it as being bigger or was I really that small? Great days when you look back, 1966-1971 was my term, made some great friends from Rhymney, Aberbargoed and Bedwas but never see them nowadays,characters like DOLLAR,Alan Saralis,Ian Glencross,Roy Howells(boko) and not forgetting Eggo.Hope I can get a ticket for the garden party and see some old friends.

can any body give me any infomation about bedwellty in 1997 please as soon as possible - it will be very helpfull

all i can say about bedwellty is that i had good times and some bad but the best thing about bedwellty was the teachers they were always on hand to help and give advice i will miss driving passed and not seeing the building with kids coming out of there it will truely be missed

My father Malcolm Rudge is the caretaker now and has been since 1997. Our whole family was really dissapointed that they decided to close the school. I never went to Bewellty as a pupil but i have taken part in the After School Computer Club which i throughly enjoyed, as it has helped me to make friends with some really nice people. A lot of the pupils and teachers have already moved on to pastures new, and the school is not as full as it was.

Theres Rosemary, thats for remembrance?

I started at Bedwellty in September 1964 and left in 1971. For me, some of those years were quite turbulent. I confess I didnt find growing up all that easy and, unfortunately, at 52, Im still waiting for it to happen. At the time, being a bit of a freckly geek with red hair probably didnt help, but at least I dont have to worry about the hair now. Like Paul Luke, I still feel I remember my first day at Bedwellty pretty well, although I have to congratulate Paul for remembering that our very first lesson, (form 1.19), was with the otherwise unforgettable Ray Thomas. I do remember our first year form teacher was the gorgeous Shirley Jones.

Although I didnt realise it then, the influence on me of teachers and friends from Bedwellty, particularly in the sixth form, was huge and lasting and I would like to say a massive thanks for the innumerable good times and in particular the distinctive Bedwellty brand of wit and humour of the staff and pupils, never equalled elsewhere, in my experience. Sorry, but I stole my personality from you lot.

I was a New Tredegar kid, when I started at Bedwellty in 64, and travelled down the valley, in the school West Mon bus, with the likes of James King, Garry Wells, Peter Gay and Jeff Hankins. I remember walking home from school to New Tredegar , through thick snow, with Jeff, when the school was closed in the great winter of 65, or was it 66?

Teachers: Roy Sirhalis, Ray Thomas, Shirley Jones, Rita Evans, Fred Evans, Charlie Hearn, Mrs Bowen, (Blod), Charles Davey, Mervyn Prosser, Mrs Lewis, John Carwardine, Owen Parfitt, Mr (Icky) Lewis, Mrs Burton, Miss Evenden, Dai Flow, Mr King (Fud), AK (Acker) Gibson (MA, Cantab), Mr (Spotty) Watkins. Sheer class. My all too belated, but heartfelt thanks to you all.

A miscellany of unforgettable things in no particular order: John Roberts? fabled impersonations of The Rev Ian Paisley and Charles Davey (snr) (not at the same time); the first time I heard Leonard Cohens song, Suzanne, in the domestic science room; Vaughan Nashs Deputy Dawg impression; Fuds white(ish) coat; the legendary Scottish skiing trip to Braemar; the equally legendary canoeing trip to Talybont on Usk; the Charity Week in 71; brilliant school productions, including Pirates and South Pacific; waiting outside Ackers office. Writing 100 lines for Blod, I must not persecute butterflies. What fun it was to play a sort of reverse Colditz game, trying, as a junior, with Dai Mutlow and others to get back inside the school at lunchtime unobserved, infiltrate the chess club and make it up to our form room unseen. (V. childish, but hey, I was a child!) Easily worth getting the cane for, and even enduring the accompanying verbal evisceration from Acker. Then there were the slow reading competitions in RE. I think Howard Mustoe was all time champion, at about two words a minute. Not forgetting the unofficial Bedwellty pupils social club, The Church Inn.

I would like to thank everyone at Bedwellty who made my life worth living; for some great moments, and some great years; but that would be a very, very long list, so Ill confine it to the following: Garry Adams, Garry Wells, Dai Mutlow, Ray Harris, Linda Morris, Lydia Olak, Paul Rudakov, Sheila Brinkworth, Tony Kauczok, Elfed Powell, John Roberts, Peter English, Gillian Howells, John Harrop, Susan Lane, James King, Stephen Hodges, Evelynne Pearson, Mary Lear, Dai Taylor, Susan Williams, Diane Payne, Peter Gay, Keith Jones, Pat Mosely, Geri Thomas, Vaughan Nash, Clive Jones, Gareth Chapel, Ann Protheroe, Rhian Llewellyn, Jeff Hankins, John Williams, Paul Luke, Lyndon Williamson, Howard Mustoe, Howard Williams, Maureen Davies, Margaret Lewis, Liz Evans. Thanks. Ill never forget Bedwellty, and Ill never forget you.

One of Bedwellty Grammar school's less distingiushed pupils 48-53. Remember well some the great characters who taught there. For good and evil. Yanto, Haydn Jones geography. an inspiring teacher. Toge woodwork and Latin. with a permenent chip on his shoulder. Gentle Mr. Bowen who taught Chemistry when he wasn't hurling satchels about the room. Blackout, Miss Jones, dreadful. Mr. King Biology, the only one who taught me anything even if it was chess. Mrs Burton who I was amazed to learn is was still going strong as recently as 2002. Gibson !Standing outside class rooms having been ejected for no good reason listening for those clip clop footsteps on the marble floor. Here was a man who clearly enjoyed malevolence (an early Darth Vader). And now it's all over.
In spite of my early promise or lack thereof I did make a success of the years that followed, no doubt in some small way Bedwellty contributed to that. Sursum.

We are so sad that Bedwellty is closing . I don't want to go to my new school I wish that it could still be here but bedwellty will alway be in our mind and our souls.

I'm sad that the schools is closing because I have had a good time here at Bedwellty. I will never forget it and the staff have been kind and the dinner landies are good cooks and I enjoyed the food.

It's very sad that Bedwellty is closing. We have had bad and good memories and expierences.We'll never forget Bedwellty as it is so fun here. Rachel Harding.

I think that it is really sad that Bedwellty is closing because we only have 2 year's left to do our G.C.S.E's and it will be really hard to start coursework with new teachers. Clare Edmunds.

There has been rumours that the school was closing for so long and now they decide to close it. I have made new friends over the years but now we will all be going our seperate ways. Nobody wants the school to close but no one can stop it.I have enjoyed coming to this school!!!

I was a pupil of bedwellty school 2000-2005 and I have now finshed here I finished on 13th may this year. Bedwellty was the best thing in my life and I really enjoyed it here. It was great here, the sad thing now is that all my good friends have gone now but I hope to meet up with them again

Mike Mylan fails to mention his efforts at blowing a bugle as part of his efforts to the eisteddfod.Those eisteddfods were memorable..come on Carado House.


..................................
The full story of this incident is recorded elsewhere on this website by Clive Walbeoff SJH

I am a pupil of Bedwellty and when I found out they were
closing it down I wasn't impressed. I have enjoyed Bedwellty school since
the first day I started we have celabrated children in need, red nose day
and sponsering the children in Uganda. If I had my own way I would keep the
school open because people have been going there for over 50 years well I
am really sorry to hear that the school is closing. I will miss all the
teachers expecialy Mrs Hyman my head teacher and Mrs Smith my form tutor.
Thats all I've got to say. Good luck in the future to you all. Donna xx

Bedwellty Grammar was a great school in the 1960s: I know, cos I was there (1964/71)! Indeed, I attended Maesycwmmer Infants and Juniors before that, so was educated in the buildings that housed the previous manifestation of Bedwellty. My career at Bedwellty started badly when I was bitten on the back of the neck by a wasp while waiting for the school bus in Maesy on my very first day! My ignominy was total, as my mother had made me wear shorts, rather than long trousers, with buttons, rather than a zip. Our first lesson was with Ray Thomas who looked down from his desk at us with piercing eyes to say "now let's see, what have we got there, then?" No point in waffling on, but I had a great time there and am still in contact with some of my contemporaries. Although, in those days, the teachers had the right still to whack us, few availed themselves of this right. But when they did (remember Hayden Jones?), it was done with such style and humour you did not mind. It was worth spelling CHICARGO with that extra r just to stimulate the look of ciontempt, followed by put-down, followed ny a whack. My favourite teacher, though, was Miss L M Lewis, a fragile lady, who taught French beautifully and had the best hand-writing ever! I'll be there for the garden party.

I think that bedwellty school is the best school ever. I'm so sad that it's closing and I will miss Mrs Smith. I wish that bedwellty will stay open
yours adam

What a sad day when such an institution will close it's gates for the last time.Some of the happiest days of my life were spent at Bedwellty(1961-1967)I remember many times on the stage in the Eisteddfod.Gwynedd house,Half Day,Smell of leeks.Playing the piano for assemblies when A.K.Gibson (Head)looked over his glasses at me when part of the Sousa march I was playing for dismissal sounded remarkably like 'Dedicated follower of fashions'.Those were the days!School berets perched precariously on the back of our heads,hair back-combed,skirts tucked over and over until they were 'quite mini'-that was up to the school gates where Mrs Burton or Ma Lew was waiting with a tape to measure that they were no higher that an inch'below'our knees!Does anyone remember the 6th form leaving school each year,when the stools were stuck to the floor in the Chemistry Lab and One Way signs chalked around the floorboards.I even remember the certain item of ladies underwear that was hoisted up the flag pole.Oh what innocent fun.Did they really exist or are they figments of the imagination that come to one in middle age?To Staff and pupils of the past(many of whom are no longer with us)THANKS for the wonderful memories that will never leave me.To Staff an pupils of today-Good luck, God bless and Remember the times that you are sharing with each other and with us.I am proud to have been a pupil at Bedwellty

Added by David Willetts to school from Bedwas

I remember the 1st couple of years from 1960 travelling from Bedwas by train to Maesycwmmer, then by bus to school. Also on the train were New Tredegar Tech. kids. Some of the things that went on during the train journey - how nobody got killed I'll never know (there was no supervision). Once somebody ignited sulphur in the compartment and we all just about suffocated.
I remember all the boys being thrown off the bus several times for singing rugby songs, and having to walk to Maesy.

When Beeching shutdown the railway in 1963, we went by bus from Bedwas all the way to school. There were several gambling schools on the bus (3-card brag mostly); as you got older you progressed to more senior group at the back of the bus (with higher stakes). Many boys lost their pocket money during those times, and hopefully learned important lessons about life. Great times!!

Added by Norman Baldwin Bedwellty School at war

I was 11 years old when I joined Bedwellty in the Summer of 1940 and I vividly remember my first air raid warning at the school. We had been at war with Germany for almost a year and every school had a plan of action for when an air raid warning sounded, with most schools simply sending everyone home until the 'all clear' was heard. Bedwellty School, however, had a far more original plan. When the warning siren sounded we were lined up in a column, two abreast on the drive outside the main entrance, senior pupils to the front and juniors to the rear. The column then marched off through a gap which had been made in the railings at the back of the school, and across fields until we came to a tram road which led into the dark, forbidding entrance of a coal mine known as Budd's level. The whole school then disappeared into the bowels of the earth, our way lit by torches carried by teachers and prefects. There we waited, at times in total darkness broken only by the lamps of passing miners, until the 'all clear' sounded. It was great fun, and in the days that followed, especially during Latin lessons, everyone hoped and prayed for the siren to sound. We took shelter in the mine just one more time, but after that it dawned on Dunc, our Headmaster, that Bedwellty School probably did not feature all that high on Hitler's list of strategic targets and, to our great disappointment, he decreed that any further air raid warnings should be ignored.

Added by David Willetts Travelling to school from Bedwas

I remember the 1st couple of years from 1960 travelling from Bedwas by train to Maesycwmmer, then by bus to school. Also on the train were New Tredegar Tech. kids. Some of the things that went on during the train journey - how nobody got killed I'll never know (there was no supervision). Once somebody ignited sulphur in the compartment and we all just about suffocated.
I remember all the boys being thrown off the bus several times for singing rugby songs, and having to walk to Maesy.

When Beeching shutdown the railway in 1963, we went by bus from Bedwas all the way to school. There were several gambling schools on the bus (3-card brag mostly); as you got older you progressed to more senior group at the back of the bus (with higher stakes). Many boys lost their pocket money during those times, and hopefully learned important lessons about life. Great times!!

Added by Susanne Bevan on 18/02/2002 14:26dancing lessons

I well remember the dancing lessons and the Gay Gordons. I also remember the last dance for me and wandreing around the corridors being hassled by the boys. I wish the would hassle me now!!!
Sue Nash(Bevan)


Report AbuseAdded by Arthur Roper on 13/02/2002 00:13Christmas Parties

Further to Donald House`s entry. In the weeks preceding the annual Christmas Party, "Dance Classes" were held in the gym. Can anyone recall the "scratchy" record that was played? I particularly remember the "Gay Gordons" ( no reflection on my personal disposition!).

The Age of Innocence, you can`t beat it!!!

Yours

A Roper


Report AbuseAdded by Arthur Roper on 05/11/2001 23:54Christmas Parties

Do you remember practising dancing for the Christmas Party? I recall "dance classes" being held in the gym where a record was played on a gramophone(!) and various dances practised. I particularly remember "The Gay Gordons"!! - but as Barry Welch would say - "Not in the way that you are thinking!!" Not the most "intimate" of dances, particularly when I was paired with Terry Griffiths from Phillipstown! The Christmas Dance was held in the assembly hall. Part of the entertainment, apart from the Gay Gordons, was a game of charades hosted by Ma` Lew (French Teacher). I recall taking off Michael Bentine! A hero of us young, rebellious(?) teenage boys!
And they call the 60`s liberated? Having said that, I used to get high on the smell of Brylcreem!!!

Cheers

Arthur Roper


Report AbuseAdded by James Roper on 10/10/2001 23:53Mr A G Watkins

Many years after leaving Bedwellty, I went to a police function at the Hollybush, Draethen, Machen. Whilst at the overcrowded bar, I heard a male person in conversation behind me. The conversation was not directed at me but wthout looking at the person the voice was unmistakeable. I looked around and saw Mr Watkins. I did not engage him in conversation as I am sure he would not remember one of his thicker pupils! However, it was one of those moments that bring back such wonderful memories. At the last re-union - in 2000 at the Maes Manor, Mr Watkins was present! With a pint in hand he looked very well indeed! The re-union was OK but lacking in pupils from my era.

Arthur Roper

PS I am trying to keep up with "Bandy" Evan`s memories!!


Report AbuseAdded by Tracey Davies on 02/10/2001 11:14Tech

I will never forget going from Newtredegar on the school bus, having the register taken and then being shipped back up to the Tech building in Elliots Town.
The building was freezing and not a lot of work got done.

Tracey Davies


Report AbuseAdded by Donald House on 01/09/2001 10:11CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Christmas parties where boys were rotated in one direction and the girls the other. When the music stopped the girl opposite was your partner for the buffet...remember the jostling to get in the right position!
Don House(Cousin of David not his dad!)


Report AbuseAdded by David House on 31/08/2001 16:35summer exams

I can't look at Laburnam trees in flower without thinking of exams. This is because summer terminals and GCE O and A levels always happened when the Laburnam trees lining the drive were in flower.

Is it really that long ago? When I sat down and said to myself 1966-73 it seems like another life. Though it was a good one. No one has mentioned the holidays to Austria and Spain which I am sure many of us remember fondly. Bedwellty school with all its memories will live in the hearts of all who went there.

Loved reading all the comments below. I was a Bedwas girl and attended from 1963 - 1969 (I think!). The comments brought back heaps of memories of old pupils (literally these days) and old teachers (even more so).
Now living in Perth, Western Australia where the weather is warm, the wine cold and the people friendly.
I will be in Wales during July to visit the wrinklies and other family members so am looking forward to catching up with someone who might remember me (or me them). My brother Alan (Shrimp) will probably be there as well - he only lives up the road so he should be. Sister, Angela, is also living in Perth but is not coming home this year. Is there an official function, or a day/night/session that will be devoted to oldies? I have added this site to my favourites so will keep up to date. See you in July.

I'm really sorry to hear that Bedwellty is closing. I was
there from 82-89 (and was very pleased to have been Head Boy at the end) -
I now have some great memories of the place - though I guess things always
look a little rosier in hindsight ! Seems like a long time ago but served
me well; went on to get a 1st at Uni and a fantastic career to date that
I've been very fortunate to enjoy. I often reflect how lucky that makes me
- so Bedwellty must have been a decent enough place to attend. Again,
really sorry to see Bedwellty close.

Interview with Mrs T. Cobley

What year did you come to the school?
1947 when she was 10 years old

Has much changed in school since you left?
Yes a lot all the classrooms were in the main block

What was your school uniform like?
A navy slip with green sash with a white blouse at the start of here years in Bedwellty and a similar uniform as today with the exception of no trousers and with a tie

Was the school on different sites? If so how did you get there?
No the whole school was on the one site.

What were the school dinners like?
They used to have the food in what is now Mrs Sanbrooke?s room and there was not much choice in what they would eat

Did you have to work hard in P.E.? What was the kit like?
Yes they had to work very hard, and the kit was Navy shorts and daps with a white top, and white cricket suit for when the boys played cricket and white tennis outfit for when the girls played tennis

How many pupils were there in you class?
Overall there was about 30 pupils

Did you ever have the? If so did it hurt?
No only the boys had the cane but the girls didn?t get away with it they normally got lines

What did you write with?
They wrote with fountain pens and bottled ink
What was the headmaster?s name?
Mr Ted Jones at the start and then an English Head Mr A.K. Gibson who she once led a riot against because of his threats to ban the Eistedfod

What were lessons like?
Very strict

Who was your favourite teacher? What was your favourite subject?
Her favourite subjects were history, French and Latin and her favourite teachers were the French teacher and History teacher

Who was the worst teacher and why?
The Games teacher Mrs Jones and the Maths master

We have fundraisers like ?Children in need? did you have fundraisers too?
Not like we have today

What school trips did you go on?
Manly the theatre and once with the French teacher to Paris

Were you allowed to wear jewellery?
No only a watch

Were school rules strict?
Yes quite strict but no more than other schools at that time

Did the teachers use blackboards?
Yes one teacher even used to throw the board rubber at them

How did you get to school and how far did you come?
She used to walk from Blackwood and sometimes ride a bike, but those further away caught a bus
Was there bullying?
More than likely but none she was aware of

Were you in school during the war?
No but she knew that they used to have people in the tower looking out for fires

Did you have fun here?
Yes she loved plays and the choir and she really loved the Eistedfod

What were the school plays like?
Excellent the younger students and the older students had different jobs but when she was younger she still liked the plays

Did you stay on for sixth form?
Yes she did and she became Head girl

Did you have to wear your hair in a particular way?
Yes

Marion Davies
1945
World war 1

Memories of Bedwellty!

As a child my grandmother once experienced something she found frightening. She was a pupil at Bedwellty and her best friends name was marie. One day when they were in middle of a lesson the school alarm went off and they were all taken from class, taken up through the car park and through a hole in the fence which the caretaker made which led into the miners pit which they used as a war shelter. Although it was a false alarm all of the pupils were very frightened. Especially Marie because she was stuck in the school building while everyone was in the shelter. Once my grandmother realised that Marie was missing she broke out in tears and warned the teachers. After a few minutes they were taken back to school and my grandmother was happy to find that Marie was safe and not hurt.

By Danielle Davies

My mother (Joanne Pickett) , has few memories of Bedwellty but the ones she had were all mainly about her being in trouble.



She got caught many times smoking; she was constantly in detention and she used to skive off and forge my Nans signature when writing a reason why she didnt come.



But the worst memory she has, was that one day when she was mitching off she threw a cigarette in a barn and it caught on fire. Then she ended up in Court for arson

Did you know that the Arch Bishop of Canterbury visited our school when he was the Arch Bishop of Wales? Then after visiting us he became the Arch Bishop of Canterbury.

IT'S A GREAT SHAME THAT BEDWELLTY IS CLOSING AS I HAVE ALOT TO THANK THE SCHOOL FOR, MOST IMPORTANTLY I MET MY HUSBAND GAVIN EVANS HE WAS IN THE YEAR ABOVE ME IN YEAR 6 WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 3 YEARS AND KNOW HAVE TWO LOVELY BOYS. I MADE ALOT OF GOOD FRIENDS WHO I AM STILL VERY CLOSE TO,MY TWO BEST TEACHERS ARE BRIAN BIG PANTS AND MR CLEMANTS ,6TH FORM WAS A REAL LAUGTH, I AM ABOUT TO START A DEGREE IN NURSING IN SEPTEMBER I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME I STARTED SOME WORK!!!

Upper Rhymney Primary School is celebrating its centenary. If anyone attended as pupil or worked here we would love to receive your memories to put in centenary book. E-mail or phone on 01685 840293.
Good luck with your own celebrations.

I have to refute John Roberts? insinuation that it was I who broke the board compasses in Wilf?s class. I do remember who cracked and grassed up the culprit (if my memory is correct the boys surname has something to do with an ecclesiastical building). I can?t quite remember who the culprit was but it weren?t me gov, honest.
I have a photograph that was taken at the prize giving day after my first year (1966 I think). I believe it was published in the local newspaper. I won 1st prize for class 208 with Paul Carter 2nd. I still have the prize, a book entitled ?The Young Scientist?. Just goes to show what I was interested in and how it shaped my future. Sadly the book was never inscribed as being a form prize.
I must have been very enthusiastic in those days as I remember the eisteddfod (do you still have that?) and I entered just about every competition going. I still have some of the entries stashed away in my loft. The one I remember the most was winning the cake making competition, a very nice Victoria sponge (and no that is not in my loft). I have never made another one. I even rounded up a team of (quite useless) gymnasts. Even though we came last at least we had a go and got some points for the house (Tudor).
Another long lasting memory is the cross country running. In those days I was not built for rugby but loved running. I ran for the school and nearly every Saturday could be found somewhere running about in muck and rain. I loved running up and down mountains but hated road work. We didn?t have the luxury of trainers with cushioned soles. No they were the old black daps and your feet hurt like crazy after half a mile on the tarmac. I well remember coming down that hill at the bottom of the rough, if you didn?t walk you soon got out of control and had to run very fast indeed just to keep up with your ever accelerating body. You would never think that that I would ever have been that fit if you could see me now.
The one school production I was involved with was the Pirates of Penzance. I had a deep voice but as they had enough policemen I had to be a pirate but as the pirates were tenors and the police were bass I had to act with the pirates and sing with the police. Made for an interesting spectacle as I remember. Strange thing is I have never taken part in any amateur theatricals since, even though I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Yep they were definitely good days and even though I didn?t believe it then, school days were the best days of my life.

I'm in Bedwellty now and I don't want the school to close but that doesn't mean that I'm not looking forward to going to my new school in September

Im a pupil at Bedwellty and im proud i have stayed in the school till the closure but im still gutted that it is closing but thanks to Bedwellty if it wasnt open i would not of met all my friends and i would not like to thank the people who are closing us down boo!

sad to hear the school is closing had some great times with loads of great teachers!!
a few that spring to mind Mr Fisher, who only ever used to shount don't think he could talk.
Mr Conway fab at History,
Mr Williams room 1 when the rest of the class died from ambarrassment he would smile at my family and other animals,my favorite Mr Jones spanish he was a great form tutor.Mr williams (kesler) used to spend all his time watchin gthe girls playing tennis.Mrs Jones (spot) a lovely maths tutor.how many of you would go to scripture club to cheat the dinner queues?Mrs Thomas P.E the showers were horrible.Mrs Morgan (squeak)she was tall but you knew where you were with her .used to hate Mr Richards (cornflake)if you were crap at maths (like me) he didn't want to know.but all in all good memories

So sorry to hear of the closure of Bedwellty, so many happy memories.I was a pupil from 1954-1961. In 1954 the catchement area of the school was changed and as a result I was in the first batch of pupils from Bedwas. We were all petrified. We caught the train to Maesycwmmer, missed the school bus, got back on the train to Pengam then walked to the school. We found the main entrance, no-one to be seen, so we rung a bell on the wall which unfortunately was the fire bell.That is my memory of my first day. But it was the start of a very happy time in my life, made very special by the staff who always had time for you. Hoping to meet up with some old friends in July.

My name now is Sandy Medway and I was at Bedwellty from 1966 to 1971 and it was the best time! So many great memories came flooding back when reading all the comments below, especially the stage productions, Pirates of Penzance, She Stoops to Conquer, South Pacific, etc. Mrs Evans was a great teacher and I still remember her English 'rules' to this day. Also have fond memories of Mrs Waters as Needlework was my best subject, which has saved me lots of money over the years. I hope to make it to the celebration and definately want a mug. I'm finding it heard to accept that I am now a 50 year old grandmother!

THE PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPH 1972?
I was at the school from Sept. 1969 and I can only remember the one occasion when we all lined up on the back yard behind the gym.were there any others taken from 1969 to 1974? I would love a copy of it if anyone can help, I will of course pay for all expenses,postage etc. I was next to K.S. who moved and became a white blur! Lots of love and best wishes to all those who had to put up with me at the time, I hope you are all well Neil

I was a pupil in bedwellty in 1991-96 i had some good years and i had sum bad years my two sisters was there donna kilby and my sister lisa pendry and my brother is still there now daniel pendry it would be so sad to see a good school like bedwellty to close my best teacher then was mr yule he was always up for a laugh he was great!!!

"Oh, talk not to me of a name great in story;
The days of our youth are the days of our glory;"

(Ma. Ev. - and Lord Byron)

And yes, it was I who planted the stink bombs on the horizontally open corridor windows to await their closure... And it was I who blew air into the laboratory bunsen burner sysem so that they all mysteriously failed: one-by-one... And I who devised the method of wrapping first-formers' legs around the trees in such a manner that they couldnt escape.

Aker always sent for me and caned me 'on suspision' - and on the a**e! - for these events... 'Pour encourager les autres' (Ma Lou). But now I confess ('Mia culpa', Ma Burton) AK was always right (wing!) - which was a position I aspired to on the rugby field, but never achieved... And I wonder if 'Toge' (woodwork & Latin) ever gave up smoking? And I wonder why Hilary Gibson didn't become Prime Minister.... COME BACK BEDWELLTY - all is forgiven!....... Sursum.

I attended Bedwellty Grammar, as it then was, from 1963 to 1971. I remember my first walk up the drive, clutching my latest issue Iyles and Sadler's satchel and wearing, for the one and only time, my cap! Looking back we had some fabulous times. Mr. Dalley, music, was surely years ahead of his time with his aerobic warm up's before lessons. Who was that lovely music teacher who taught us the Welsh National anthem? How I enjoyed performing it for the puzzled locals of my local pub here in Worcestershire following our Gram Slam victory!! I made friends that still remain in touch today, especially former head boy and fellow guitar nut John Prosser. Mike Jeff's memories of the march to Acker's office are as clear as yesterday. I was in that group Mike and if you're out there can you remember the person who cracked and grassed you up? ( No, it wasn't me.)
I also have vivid memories of our charity week, organised by Gareth Chappell. The walk from Rhymney, the Charity Shop in Blackwood with the rather spurious world record non-stop rocking chair competition.What a fabulous time we had.
Teacher's have such a huge influence on people's lives and I'd just like to add my thanks to these personal favourites.
1. Miss Evans. You gave me a love of English that remains tio this day. I just hope you're not going to mark this and send it back!
2. Clive Hughes. You were a pupil in school with me before rising to the dizzy heights of deputy head. and we then went off to the same teacher training college. Thanks for making a speech to "second me" for a Student's Union electionway back at Cyncoed in 1973. You were always an example to everyone, even as a pupil.
3. Ray Thomas. Thanks you, Mr. Thomas for believing in me when I was just the school idiot, mucking about and wasting my school career. You were the one who made a difference, gave me opportunities and inspired me. I've never forgotten you.
4. Mr. Hurn, who attempted to teach me maths against overwhelming odds. Thanks to all my friends that made those school days so special. Here a just a few. Ed Berry, true friend and fellow Bluebirds fan. Pete Gay, great mate. Steve Jackson, I still can't grow a moustache as good as yours! To the gorgeous girls from Rhymany who arrived and brightened up the school,such as, Elaine and Dicey, I still miss you . John Ozzie Prosser- thanks for everything, John. I would never have passed my A levels without your encouragement . Just listen to Bob Dylan's dream and those memories coming flooding back like an incoming tide!
So thanks, Bedwellty. I'm glad that our school will live on in another country. Best wishes to today's staff, especially Clive.
In conclusion, was anybody in Charles Davey's A level class of 1970 to 1971. If so, do you remember him giving us a poem he had written called Perfect Passive Beetle. Thirty three years later and I STILL haven't got a clue what it's about!

i have an old newspaper cutting from about 1975, it features a photograph of all the girls who went on a ten mile sponsored walk from the school to cefn golau pond above tredegar. For some reason none of the boys are on the photo, shame as myself and tony magnus ran the whole ten miles. The cutting is quite fragile but everyone can be seen clearly, i can loan it to the school for the closing celebrations if required.

i am a pupil of bedwellty school now and i dont want to leave i love my school and wish it would stay open i love my cookey class the best i love cooking its great

Thanks for enlightening me as to the use the school site will be put to after closure, but this poor effort wasn't intended to be taken literally. Poetic licence, and all that.

Readers of 'Private Eye' may recognise a similarity in style with the works of E. Jarvis Thribb.

So Bedwellty,
Put out to grass
After so many years.
What will they learn
In the houses they'll build
On the rugby pitch now?

Enjoyed my time at BGS 1953-1960 apart from having to live in the shadow of elder brother Alan. Sad to think it will all now end. However following the re-union on Friday 4th there is no doubt that the spirit of Sursum will live on. Looking forward to seeing many old faces in July.

Sad to see the old school go. Attended 1964-69 and they really were good years. I can still picture Ma Burton standing at the top of the drive waiting to nab any girl who was not wearing the school tam or whose skirt might be to short. Peter Salmon my first art teacher, whom i was madly in love with and broken hearted when he up and went to Canada. Ray Thomas who lived near me on the Crown estate, Lofty Lewis physics, Ma Evans english, Mr Prosser who i feared and the dreaded Gibson. Wilf, a man who kept losing his 'wuler and his wubber', Fud, Biff and the charming Mr Sirhallis all memorable characters of my school days. I look forward to the the open days in july and hope to see some old school mates.

It will be so sad to leave this school and leave all my good friends here. I finish school this year 2005. It will also be sad to leave our friends in Uganda, me and 3 other pupils are going out there in aOctober to say our fair wells and help the children but first we have got to think about our GCSEs before we go. We are trying to raise money to pay for us 4 pupils to go and raise money for the container to take out the things for the children out there as well as money to buy books football rugby balls etc so if you can help us please send us a letter addressed to the Uganda Helpers at

Bedwellty School
Pengam road
Aberbargoed
Caerphilly
CF81 9UA

my brother elfed powell attended bedwellty grammar i think from 1962-3 he's not on the internet ,but if anyone has a message or would like to get in touch with him , please post a message . &i (his sister) will pass it on , he now live's in swindon , and is a chemist or pharmacist . thank's lesley (powell) badge

Am sad the old school is closing.Was back in Wales last September and took a nostalgic drive past the place (Lived in Oz since 94). At the time I was a pupil at times I hated the place,but probably because all my mates were in Rhymney Secondary.
Some teachers I fondly remember were Ma low (French),Mrs Evans(English),and Mrs Hughes (maths).Mr Fisher was a bit of a nazi but did teach me a lot. Mr Prosser on the other hand was a downright b*****d! I did enjoy PE with Dai Flow,the pocket dynamo.
Phillip Hurn if you read this e mail me on terangnat@dodo.com.au.

I attended Bedwellty 1972-1977 aprox,use to be a bit of a rebel then but always went to school because it was a good place to go. teachers at my time were, Dai flo,wilf ,walbeof (he must be nearly 100 ) woods, ma Hughes ect !, i now live in Bridgend but still have family in New Tredegar , and will miss the big place when it is gone, because everytime i pass there it brings back so many good memories. BEDWELLTY R.I.P !.

Character Building! that's what all the teachers of 1966 - 1972 did for us. We had discipline, love of arts and sports, challenges and hardwork.
The memories I have of Bedwellty School are abundant and I am proud to have been a part of its history.

Hello to all Bedwellty pupils,staff,headteachers, governors,past and present,
I passed 'the test' at 11, in the 'Wellington School' Rhymney and after the initial elation, spent the whole summer of 69 worrying about being 'thrown down the bank!' - an initiation ceremony at Bedwellty at the time. I joined the Rhymney and Abertysswg children who caught the Rhymney Transport bus faithfully driven every day by Stan, - who was brilliant. Does anyone else remember the snow day when,on the way home, we got stuck at Tirphil for hours,unable to get up the hill?The school house system was an interesting exercise in colour psychology, there were 3 houses,- Glyndwr (yellow) who usually came first in sports, Caradoc (green) who usually came second,and.....Tudor (red) the house I was in, which always seemed to come last, it certainly did during my time at the school,-1969 to 1976. I have to say though ,that Tudor would sometimes do better in the Arts. Anyone got any theries on this? We people of Rhymney would wind our way down the valley everyday,with our stonger accents and thick coats, or was it the other way round? to the sophisticated environs of lower Aberbargoed. We were treated to the delights of cross country when it rained, - it always rained! Mr. Llewellyn would politely send us,scantily clad, panting up Harry's Hill, which is almost vertical, how did he manage to be standing at the top by the time we got there, without passing any one of us?
I made wonderful new friends at Bedwellty, or should that be fiends, ( you know who you are) it opened up a whole new world of characters and broadened my outlook completely, in a Star Wars bar scene kind of way!
Lunchtime was almost a Dickensian type ritual, am I exaggerating now? where you had 8 to a table with 2 'senior servers' who shared it out, you would run to avoid certain tables! I always enjoyed school dinners, remember the lentil soup,chocolate semolina and sometimes prunes? A Christmas ritual was the rapping of spoons on the tables, I can see A.K. Gibson's face now! I remember the red hair of a young new M.P. Neil Kinnock joining us for lunch as he sat at the top table with the staff. staff.... ah yes!
My lucky teachers included Mr. Mervyn Prosser ( A.M.P.) Geography, who produced the most amazing visuals on the blackboard with coloured chalks, INCREDIBLE, and I am sure that he influenced me visually with his drawings, - no interactive whiteboards or fancy computers and projectors then, well done Mervyn.
Miss Hughes the Maths teacher, who patiently, and against all the odds, made Maths clear to me and allowed me to eventually get my Maths O level A BRILLIANT teacher THANK YOU. and...
Mr. Owen Parfitt, who was my Art teacher, it was Owen who really inspired me to take Art seriously. He took us on amazing trips and introduced us to all sorts of enriching experiences. As keen young artists Owen allowed us to help with the school play scenery, his work included such gems as The Mikado and South Pacific weren't they brilliant? led by that genius Mr.Ray Thomas. Seeing Mr. Parfitt's working drawings and designs being realised into the final production was a massive influence and inspiration.
A number of us ex- Bedwellty Art pupils have gone on to work proffesionally in the area of Art and Design, some to a VERY high level indeed, all nurtured at Bedwellty By Mr. Owen Parfitt, THANK YOU Owen, from all of us.
My whole time at Bedwellty had the most fantastic soundtrack running through it, the music from 1969 to 1976 still sounds better than anything else around now! and the uniform, - the penny round collars, tank tops! platform shoes,long hair clipped up at the back. great stuff!
The influence of Monty Pythons Flying Circus and the great years of Welsh rugby made it a magical era. A time when kids actually sang in Assemblies!
I think Mervyn Williams put it best when he said '' We may have left you Bedwellty but you will not leave us''. very profound. One positive aspect of this is that it may pull us all together and we valleys kids can support and encourage each other.
It' s time to say bye bye now ,love you all. Neil

Hi,
Reading the guest book brought back so many memories, not all good. I attended, and I use the word advisedly, between 1965 and 1969, leaving at the end of the Christmas term to enter the big wide world to earn a living.
I will probably be remembered by those of my time as the kid that used to turn up on a motorcycle and park it outside the caretaker's lodge. That is until "they" stopped me. After that it was parked across the road.
My other distinction was that I was a member of the very small club of people who received a clout across the head from Fud, a man that was very slow to anger. I managed this feat not once but twice, the second knocked me clean off my stool in the biology lab. I put my hand up and admit it was all my own fault and was well deserved. Anybody remember the day when Wilf lost his rag and sent the whole class to Acker, girls and all? The mystery of the broken board compasses.
Mitching off for the afternoon was a pain as it was a 10 mile walk home, so that didn't happen too often and certainly never in the winter.
I suppose I was lucky in a way as my brother, Peter, started the same day as me. Because I was lucky enough to get a transfer from Bedwas Secondary Modern I was a year behind and so was only one year in front of Peter instead of 2. Peter was a bit of a terror and was always in trouble, so at parent's evening all the teachers had a go at my parents for the misdemeanours of Peter. So he got it in the neck every year and I got away with it. I was no angel but he was worse and got caught more often.
On the whole they were happy days and they set me up for the rest of my life. When I started looking 40 in the face I returned to education and after 6 year's of study with the Open University I graduated with a first class honours in Maths and Computing. This enabled me to leave the printing industry after 23 years to become a computer programmer. I also became an OU associated lecturer for 3 years.
I am sorry to hear of the closure of such a fine establishment and believe that the community will be the poorer for it.

Sad to learn of the closure of Bedwellty.I was there from 1943 to 1949! Early years were painful but I settled down eventually.I lived in Cefn FForest.Coming from a very poor family I loved School Dinners even in war time! One of the turning points of my time there was when Mr Haydyn Jones ( Geography) told me to read some decent literature,he recommended a few books from the excellent library ,I've loved reading since then.I also remember the delicious Miss Lewis(French) who once told me off for sliding down the bannister--I was in the 6th form!!.I also remember the stories of Palestine told by the Head Mr E J,I believe he served in the RAMC there.These latter years I've been the Pastor of an independent Church,I've preached in USA, India & Serbia.I owe a great deal to the teachers at Bedwellty.

I was a pupil in bedwellty in Bedwelty and had some grate years i just got married on 01/03/2005 so my maiden name would be Dobbs.It will be sad to see the school close.

shame about the old place, thought i hated it when i was there,but its part of getting old i suppose that you hanker after the past. I was there from 1972 to 1977 or thereabouts and married a girl i met there,20 years and three kids later and here i am.Anyone remember BJ (brian jones), Engy (mark engwell), martyn burridge and all the rest of that gang.Teachers, what about looby loo, mr fisher,hilary pritchard, ma lowe, wilf etc I may have hated it then but i,ve got lots of good memories.

I'm gutted that Bedwellty is closing and I wish it would stay open longer!

I cant belive that the school is closing. This school is part of our culture and our history. We will all miss BEDWLLTY SCHOOL teachers and pupils

I went to Bedwellty in 1955 after scraping over the hurdle of the 11+.
They were not the happiest days of my life but I would have felt that no matter what school I went to. We had some excellent treachers and I wish I had taken some a bit more seriously.
A role of honour to all those students who went on to university and ended up as captains of industry, or teachers, doctors, scientists and the like. We should not forget that irrespective of any further education many went on to run businesses in the area and in the uk. Many took to local politics and local government.
To all those teachers who inspired us we thank you, and to those we tormented we apologise.
Good bye Bedwellty
We may have left you but you will not leave us.

oh my god Bedwellty is the best school EVER

It's sad to see my old school closing, I had some good times there, and actually did enjoy my school days. Memories of Ma Lou, Fud and especially Mr Ackerman who made maths seem so easy for me. For anyone who remembers me, did you ever feel sorry for me as my mum worked lunch times at the school? Mrs Jones made sure her daughter didn't get up to too much mischief at dinner time (or my brothers Phil & Russell)!

It is sad bedwellty is closing because it has been around for so many years .Now i have to start again in another school, which is upseting but i will be with all my friendswhich is good.

It is really sad that Bedwellty is closing .
Because it has been around for so many years.
All the memories will be gone.
Lots of people have came here and people will not have the memory of the years they spent in Bedwellty.
We should have a day where all the x pupils can come and have a look around to see what has changed and see if any of the teachers are still here and try to get x teachers to come and see it to.
the thing that bothes me the most is me and the rest for the pupils left will have to start again in a new school and make new freinds and some of my freinds will be in different schools.

i am sorry that the school is closing down it as been there for years and
i would like it to stay open - now the school is closing down i have to
move to a different school i am not looking forword to it.

Sorry to hear about the old place closing down. The photos on the site brought back memories, I even ransacked the shed to find my old print of the 1972 panoramic - still in fair condition despite years of neglect! Fortunately I'm not in the part you showed, I'm nearer the middle. I think that was in my first/second year at the school, I left in 1978 and became a microbiologist, not a mathematician, so I'll leave it to someone else to work out the numbers.

Sorry to hear about the imminent closure. I have many happy memories of the place (1966 - 73) and sometimes wish I was still there because they were good times although I never really appreciated how good at the time. Teachers to remember were Ma Lou, (Miss Lewis - French) she christened me Guillaume because there is no Graham in French! Iccky (Mr. Lewis - Physics) Mrs. Evans (English); Ray Thomas (History) he's perhaps better remembered for the dramas & musicals, most notably for me South Pacific. Hettie Watkins (Music) later followed by Mr. Protheroe; and perhaps the best loved teacher of all, Fudd! aka Mr. King (Biology). He lectured rather than taught and you had to make your own notes - I don't think he ever handed anything out. Used to write lots of questions on the board though - and could be easily sidetracked off the main subject if you picked on something really obtuse.
Like I said, I don't think I really appreciated what I was getting at the time but I look back with immense gratitude for those days. Every time I do look back however, I can't help but notice that stare, that look of disapproval, that edge of ermine crested academic superiority which was Acker! MA (Cantab.) To be fair, he never did me any harm, but just to hear his withering contempt over some misdemeanour or other during assembly was enough to send shivers down my spine - and still does. Those were the days, huh? Of course, we could all write books about our good times and bad times at Bedwellty - mine would include the episode of "my lungs in my desk", and the "strange case of the volcano in the chem lab". One day maybe ... but I think I've taken up enough space for now.
I'm really looking forward to the celebration week in July.
Thanks for the opportunity to reminisce ...

i love bedwellty and i wish i can spend more time here as i like it so so much i love all my friend here and my teachers aswell

What sad this news is. I have a plaque, photo & press cutting from when we won the Bargoed Rotary Club Public Speaking event (v Lewis Boys, Lewis Girls & others) in 1974 - other team members were Amanda Davies, Lyn Eynon & Brian Rutter.

I guess I was one of the school's rebels and left end of 1969. I can remember being sent to Bedwellty from Bedwas Secondary Modern and to my surprise, Myrtle Wade, my old P.E. teacher, was hanging about outside the Head's Office. Myrtle had been Head Girl, played Hockey for Wales and ended up teaching me. Also, when I moved to Machen, Myrtle was my neighbour - she has since moved down to Portsmouth and I have lost touch, I am sending out smoke signals to get hold of her or her family just in case they have not received the message. Mr Watkins Chemistry also moved to Machen - you'd think they would have learnt their lesson being near me at school. I owe a lot to the school, my love of History; my enquiring mind from Ik the Physics Teacher and I never stopped studying. I was in the netball team - okay at home but useless on away games! Still remember the boys lining up after cookery lessons for cakes and other goodies; Gareth Chapel being thrown out of the boy's changing room causing the girls to swoon and scream; Acker, the Headmaster,making me stand outside his window because I ran across the grass and then asking me 1/2 hour later why I was there!!! WAS ACKER THE TOUGHEST HEAD ??? Cross Country running and trying to run up that amazing hill outside the school - how did we survive?? Made us tough for the real world. Sad to see the school close - isn't anybody fighting to keep it going???

it will be so sad 2 see our school close and it will be sad 2 leave my friends as am a pupil of bedwellty now (2000-2005)

I was a pupil 1966-1971 (Cefn Fforest - all my family still live there) -
been her e in USA since 1986.

FYI, I don't seem to be able to get any luck exploding/viewing any of the
images as the resulting page(s) viewed after clicking them are blank!

With respect to the 1972 boys.... I probably know all of them except I
think the year may be wrong.... it also looks like I may be in there so I
am thinking 1972 may be more like 1969/79??

I also made the first team Rugby (1970) so would liike to see that picture
in all its glory too... team members I recall were:
1-Richard Issacs - center
2-Niel(nickky) Meredith - Standoff
3- Ray Llewellyn - Center
4-Peter Weston - Wing
5-Philip Howells (me) - Full back
6-Roger Blackmore - Lock
7-Porky Roberts - Prop
8-Clive Jones - Hooker
9-Tommy Cox - Wing Forward
10-Tony Evans - Scrum half
11-Tubby Blake - No 8
12-Goliath - Prop
13-Clive Nash - WF
?? hmmm.... need more memory pills I guess!


Would love to hear from you... have bucketloads of memories of teachers and
pupils alike... pupils perhaps later but as for teachers, here are some I
recall...

* Ma burton - Latin
* Ma Evans - French
* Ma Essendon - French (Christian Union Camp)
* Ma Clerk - RI (Christian Union Camp)
* Miss Evans - English - introduced mini-skirt to Bedwellty - how could I
forget!!!!)
* Miss Clissold - Form I teacher for me (1-19)
* Mister Herne - Maths
* Wilf Williams - Match (adored him and blessed me with Geometry - became
hydrographic survey qualified in Royal Navy because of him))
* Ray Thomas - History (gentleman)
* Mr Hunt (won't reveal nickname!!! - good teacher but brutally tough on
kids)
* Mr Parfitt - Art (Rugby)
* Dai Flow - PT - Rugby - Standing Somersaults !!!
* Mr Prosser - Early PT - tough guy but good for you
* Mrs Burton - Latin (touch class)
* Mr Cowardine - History
* Ms Griffith?? - Music (1966???)
* Mr Lewis - Physics - "Ikky" lofty!
* Mr Watkins - Chemistry
* Acker - Head ( OUCH!!!!)
* Ma Evans - English (top of Harry's hill!)
* Mr Nancrief - PT - class act -(Tom Sellick???)
* Mr Sirhallis - Art Woodwork - (Robert Redford???)
* Biff - Biology (strange!)

School sweethearts - Julie Pope, Angela Phillips, Lorraine Jones (I wish!)

Thnx again and please do call on me for insights to my period there as I
will probably be able to assist... I come home to Cefn and would love to
meet and go over the old pictures.

RSVP
Phil (ip) Howells

Hello. Just got an email from Friends Reunited, re school
closure. What a shame! If you're interested I have a few pieces of
memorobilia (1968) - Prize Distribution programme 8th May, Pirates of
Penzance programme 9th April, with entry ticket & 2 newspaper cutting
photos, Phoenix 68 School Magazine. As you can guess, I'm a sad old
squirrel. Look forward to hearing from you. Rob.