 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
July - August 2005 12/08/05 - New Exhibition of Works by Bernard Samson is on display at Hamza/Gallery/studio in partnership with Treherbert & District Art Society. All welcome. The Bernard Samson Exhibition will run until end of August 2005. Opening hours Mon & Tues 10am - 4pm. Thurs 10am to 12noon. Fri 10am - 4pm. Sat. 10am to 12 noon. Closed on Wednesdays.
01:49 22/07/05. Fire. Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets to extinguish a fire involving a two-storey mid-terrace house at Hendrewen Road, Blaencwm.
Barclays
Bank have confirmed that they are considering the installation of a
cashpoint at their Treherbert Branch. Following the announcement that the
HSBC Bank was to withdraw its free service, Treherbert Councillors Kevin
Morgan and Jeff Williams wrote to Barclays to ask them
to provide a free service. Kevin
and Jeff said: “We knew of the petition to request HSBC to retain their
cashpoint, but the banks make these decisions on a commercial basis. The
provision of an alternative cashpoint with
charges is only second best,
so we wrote to Barclays.” Barclays have now confirmed that they will apply their “predictive model” which will estimate, on the basis of population, car parking, other ATMs in the area, etc., whether there are likely to be sufficient transactions to cover their costs. If it appears commercially viable, they will then consider whether there are any physical constraints at the Branch. A decision should be made within a few weeks. * * * Treherbert Infant School Closes (1899-2005)
The display had been set up by the members of staff to mark the closure of the School - which has been serving the local community for the past 106 years.
Past pupils were also welcomed along to visit the school during the open day celebrations, whilst the children performed their final concert to be held on the premises.
The headmistress Mrs Elizabeth Davies also kindly giving permission for some photographs of the children's final concert to be taken.
Thanks to our community photographer Robert Knape. * * *
Reflections from the 1911-1991 log book. By Bev Travess, June 2005 Although our school is a hundred and six
years old, only this single logbook has been found. Covering most of the
twentieth century it shows variety in what each head teacher chose to
record and provides an unique window into by-gone times. Attendance records suggests that numbers on
roll in 1904 was 251, rising to 304 by 1913 (the year of South Wales’
peak coal production). Thereafter, rolls steadily declined – 204 in
1939, 92 in September 1980 and just 48 in September 2004. (There are very
few post-war statistics.) The Log illustrates just how difficult life
was during the first half of the twentieth century. Records show
remarkably frequent and sometimes prolonged absences, when staff fell
victim to ill health. (No ‘medical’ retirements were then available.) All the childhood infectious diseases keep
reappearing in the pre-war decades. During epidemics attendances could
plummet to 50% or even lower. In January 1939 the school was fumigated
after a virulent outbreak of chicken pox. The record of the Asian
‘Flu’ pandemic at the end of World War 1 (July 1918) speaks of ‘many
fatalities’ – and the school closed for a month to reduce the chances
of spreading infection. Another difficulty regularly endured, was
severe weather. The Log shows low attendances and even school closures due
to rainstorms, hail and floods, prolonged periods of blizzards, ice and
frost. We are also given a glimpse of pre-war
poverty with the entry: “children’s feet and clothes
soaking…dried…sent home at lunchtime”. Few families could have
afforded the luxuries of ‘storm proof gear’ then. The Log records show
irrefutable evidence of climate change. One of the surprises the records reveal is
the frequency of extra days holidays – some “By Order of the King”,
others “By Order of the Director”. Six weeks of good attendances
earned a day off, Royal Births, Weddings, Coronations and Funerals, days
off for outings to the seaside, to Bristol Zoo and for Chapel “treats”
and festivals. The ending of wars, miner’s holidays, elections, dealing
with evacuees and the distribution of ration books. For some closures,
staff were engaged in alternative work, for example in 1915 the teachers
were seconded to enlist men for the Great War. On September 27th 1948, Treherbert Infant School and other Schools were closed at the request of Field Marshall, The Viscount Montgomery, so that children could line the route of his Victory Cavalcade, through the valley. During the first half century the
School’s hall had to accommodate three classes; side by side, with no
partitions between them. H.M.I.’s repeatedly commented on the adverse
affects this had on those children’s learning experiences. Our modern
National Curriculum would not have survived there. Throughout the period of the Log, H.M.I.
commend the quality of the teaching, the dedication of the staff and the
achievements of their young charges. In 1948 “five classes in five
rooms…sound training, fluent reading…well developed written
composition”. At 7.45am on Saturday November15th 1952, Dr
John Jones, living next door, gave the alarm that the School had caught
fire. The building was almost completely gutted. The inferno was caused by
the classroom stoves being kept ‘in’ continuously, during cold spells.
The stone hearth of one stove became so hot that it ignited the wooden
floor on which it rested. The coal was stored in the basement. Every day, the caretaker was expected to
carry upstairs enough coal to maintain each classroom stove. Gas heating
replaced coal in June 1983. When Treherbert Infant School reopened in
November 1954, it had improved facilities. Private room and store room for
the Head; a staff lavatory, (previous arrangements are not recorded!); a
new corridor going through the School; electric light had been installed
(until the 1950’s illumination had been by coal-gas mantles). A new
slate roof was fitted only to be later replaced by synthetic slate. Welfare services have played their part
throughout the School’s history. Even in the earlier decades, the
children were examined annually, by a doctor. During epidemics, some
commented on instances of malnutrition though infrequently. There are accounts of the School responding
to the “Act for Necessitous Children”. In April 1912, the Easter
holiday was cancelled by Order of the Council, with daily feeding of
Children due to the Miner’s Strike. This response to the Act, recurs
during the impoverished decades of the 1920’s and 30’s. During the
General Strike, the School even opened at weekends to provide two meals
per day. The Log records how children were cared for
even further by the policies of the Post War Atlee Government; free daily
milk, cod liver oil and orange juice, together with school meals – free
for those “in need”. “Sixty taking School meals” – in the club
room at the top of the hill. To the annual doctor’s examination were
added dental inspection and district nurse visits – to include body and
hair cleanliness checks. The (New) Schools Psychological Service was now
available, if needed. These were the investments the welfare State made
towards abler and fitter forthcoming generations. Throughout its history and in recent years
the school has been remarkably successful. By any other measure it
out-performs most others over the wide range of school activities. Since
the National Curriculum was introduced in the 1990’s, each year the
School achieved a level of success way above National averages. So many people have contributed to this
success. A truly wonderful example of the partnership of a dedicated Staff
and the pride of a Community and its families. * * * YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMME - RCT County Borough Council’s Education Service has arranged a summer programme of events for youngsters in our area. All events are free of charge, but anyone interested will have to pre-book their place by contacting Crawshay Education Centre on 01443 424456 or contact your local youth leaders Emma, Jill or Jim on 07799 131977 / 07799131979 / 07795391759 for an application form. The events planned are as follows.
It will be a case of first come first served for the free places at all events, so don’t delay - make your enquiries now!
|
||
|
* * * * * * * * * * |
||
|
please send your community news items to - Treherbert-info@treorchy.net Treherbert.info aims to provide you with an accurate news section - if you find a factual error, please let us know! © Treherbert.info & Treorchy.net Community Web Sites 2005 www.treherbert.info www.treorchy.net |
Treherbert.info
community web site went along to visit Treherbert Infant School in June
2005, to record the school's display of old photographs.
