Major
EDGAR JONES, MA., OBE., LL.D
In this series it is not our intention to observe any order of seniority
or of precedence, for "Personalities’’ may be away or otherwise
inaccessible, and so destroy the sequence of any list which may have
been compiled. Our intention is to place on record such facts as we can
discover of those men and women—who have contributed materially to the
development of Barry.
In 1934 there retired from an appointment in Barry a man who has served
the community well since 1889 and exercised an influence which will be
felt for many years for we do not readily forget our headmaster,
particularly one so well beloved as Major Edgar Jones.
He was born in 1868 at Llanrhaiadr in Mongomeryshire, the son of Mr.
Bellis Jones, who was headmaster of Llanrhaiadr School and organist of
Llanrhaiadr Church.
EARLY
LIFE
After studying for a time at his father’s school, he went to the
Northern Institute at Liverpool and was there at the time of the Fenian
Riots. Everton then played in Stanley Park within a stone’s throw of the
present ground of the Liverpool F.C., and later, whilst at Oswestry,
Major Jones played at outside right, inside right and centre half for
teams representative of Oswestrv and District against Everton and the
Manchester teams.
From Liverpool, he went to Oswestry High School under Mr. Owen Owen (who
later became the first chief inspector of the C.W.B.) and from there in
1885 to the newly established University College of \Vales at
Aberyswyth.
After graduating at Aberyswyth he returned to this old school at
Oswestrv to teach English, French and Athletics, but in a few years he
returned to Aberyswyth to read English and Celtic for the degree of
Master of Arts of London University.
Major Jones’ next appointment was in September, 1894 to Llandilo as one
of the first headmasters under the Intermediate Education Act of 1889
which ushered in the present secondary school education.
WORK IN
BARRY
He stayed at Llandilo for 4½ years until his appointment as headmaster
of the County School at Barry where he commenced on March 1st
, 1889.
At the time of his appointment the School was three years old and had
157 pupils, but the number grew so rapidly that the buildings had to be
enlarged in his first year. Temporary accommodation was found in the
buildings which now serve as the Y.M.C.A. headquarters in Newland Street
and as the Health Clinic in Woodlands Road until the re-building was
completed. In those days the school was almost in the country and the
only approaches from Barry were along field paths or a narrow lane. One
of Major Jones’ early fears was that the boys might do some serious hurt
either to themselves or to other people when "scorching" along this lane
on their bicycles!
Early in his career at Barry Major Edgar Jones appreciated the value of
"differentiation" and in 1913 he started a system which the recent Spens
Report advocates. He divided the School into four departments, one of a
general scholastic nature, another technical, another commercial, and
another agricultural. For the latter department he had a teacher who had
keen trained: in agriculture, and all the farmers within a. radius of
ten miles were circularized asking if they wished their sons to be
attached to this department. One reply was received!
Thus the curriculum of the County School has tried to meet the aptitudes
of its various pupils since 1913, and, and seemingly anticipated events
by 16 years.
In
addition to this important development. 1913 saw another change. Until
then the school had been mixed but in 1913 a new Girls’ School built was
built and the school was divided into two separate departments, one for
boys and the other for girls.
WAR
SERVICE
Throughout the whole of the War Major Jones was away from School with
the Glamorgan Fortress Royal Engineers at Cardiff and the different
ports, hut was able to return occasionally to deal with the appointment
of temporary teachers.
Eventually he was appointed Major and given the command of the Glamorgan
Fortress Royal Engineers, with his headquarters at Cardiff.
Just before the end of the War he was awarded for services as Officer
commanding the Glamorgan F.R.E. the Military O.B.E.,, and also received
the Territorial Decoration.
POST-WAR
RECORD
It was not until February l919 that he was able to resume his school
life and nothing disturbed his tenure until his retirement in 1934,
after 35 years as Headmaster. During that time the School had grown from
a mixed school with 157 pupils to two separate schools with over 1,000
pupils.
Major Jones is proud of the fact that one year his VIth Form was held up
as a model of VIth Form work. As Headmaster his practical policy was
founded on the basis o differentiation having regard to the aptitude of
each pupil in the se1e~tion of studies in the Upper School.
OTHER
ACTIVITIES
Major Jones is a member of the Central Welsh Board and of University
Court of which he has been a member of the Executive, Clerk, Treasurer,
and Warden of the Guild of Graduates.
He is a member of the University Board of Celtic Studies and Honorary
Secretary of its Archaeological Subcommittee.
He is also a member of the Court and Councils of the University College
of South Wales, Cardiff, the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth,
the National Museum of Wales, and of the Art Committee of the University
of Wales and of its Subcommittees.
So far as the Barry Urban District Council is concerned he has been
chairman of its Education Committee and also a member of the Evening
Schools Committee.
Major Jones was vice-chairman of the Eisteddfod; which was held in Barry
in 1920, and is now a member of the staff of the West Region of the
British Broadcasting Corporation, where he is in control of the
Religious Services and Appeals and a member of the Education Committee.
In 1922 the University of Wales conferred on him the coveted distinction
of the honorary degree of Master of Arts, for services rendered to
education and general culture in Wales. (Later an Ll. D. and was made a
Freeman of the town of Barry)
He is
one of the few surviving members of the first Central Welsh Board of
Education which controls examines and inspects secondary education in
Wales.
FAMILY
Shortly after his appointment to Llandilo in 1884 he married Miss A.
Gwen Jones, so culminating a romance which began at Aberystwyth. Mrs.
Jones has played a prominent part in the public life of Barry, for she
is a Justice of the Peace for the Hundred of Dinas Powis, and
ex-President of the 20th Century Club and leader of its Archaeological
Section for many years, Chairman of the women’s sub-committee of the
local Employment Committee and Chairman of the Reception Committee and
Vice-chairman of the Art Committee of the Eisteddfod. She is a former
member of the Council of Aberdare Hall, and of University College,
Cardiff.
Major and Mrs. Jones have had three children, a boy, Gareth, whose
murder on August 12th, 1935, in China is still fresh in the min, and two
daughters. On is the new headmistress of the County School for Girls and
the other is the wife of Dr. J. Stanley Lewis, who is head of the
Chemistry Department of the Royal Naval College and a Kent County Rugby
player, Dr. and Mrs. Lewis have two children, a boy and a girl.
Although the facts reveal that Major Jones is 71, it is difficult to
imagine that he was born so long ago as 1868. His youthful voice belies
the colour of his hair his and his interest in sport and the careers of
his former pupils is keen as ever.
Although his influence on Barry cannot be measured in exact terms—it is
nonetheless real for he has had the guidance through those difficult
years of adolescence of thousands of boys and girls, some of whom have
now reached years of maturity and many of whom will have to guide Barry
through the difficult years ahead.