Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
Mr W. D. Lewis Evans.
Mr W. D. Lewis Evans was born in 1871 at Cardiganshire, the son of John and Martha Evans. He was educated at Conwil Cayo Elementary School, Llansawel Grammar School and Ardwyn Secondary School at Aberystwyth. Mr Lewis Evans then proceeded to University College of Aberystwyth. He had a distinguished university career, obtaining his B.A. (London), degree with First Class Honours in English and later the M.A. degree in Celtic being placed second on the list.
In 1889 Mr W. D. Lewis Evans married Mrs Margaret Ellen Evans nee Lloyd, born 1872 at Aberystwyth, they had a daughter Miss Elizabeth Myfanwy Evans born 1892.
In 1895 Mr W. D. Lewis Evans, at the age of 24, was appointed headmaster at Llanidloes County School.
In the 1880’s the Welsh Education Authorities under the Welsh Intermediate Act of 1889 decided to set up intermediate schools in all areas of Wales able to support them. In the early 1890’s the intermediate school institution at Abertillery was initiated and Mr Lewis Evans was chosen to be become the headmaster of the intermediate school to be opened at the Oddfellows Hall, Abertillery and King Street Chapel, a temporary institution utilising both premises until a new purpose-built school building was erected.
On coming to Abertillery Mr W. D. Lewis Evans lived at the Poplars Houses situated behind the British School. His neighbour was Mr Thomas Bevan and family, Mr Bevan being the then retired headmaster of the British School.
The Opening of the Intermediate Education Institution at the Oddfellows Hall and King Street Vestry, Abertillery.
On Tuesday 22nd of September 1896, the intermediate school institution opened in the Oddfellows Hall, Abertillery and King Street Baptists Vestry. Mr W. D. Lewis Evans M.A. London was (Headmaster), he appointed Mr F. C. Carey B.S.c London A.R.C.S. as (Assistant Master) with Miss Edith M. Ewart M.A. Victoria, as the post of (Headmistress). The school was the first to start in the county with 60 scholars attending, about 30 pupils in each premises, the boys were taught at the Oddfellows Hall and the girls at the King Street Vestry. I found that Mr F. C. Carey the assistant master was paid a salary of £110 per annum and Miss Edith M. Ewart was paid £80 per annum equivalent to £13,860.00 and £10,080.00 respectively in today’s money.
The Official Opening of the Intermediate School Building at Clyn Mawr.
On Wednesday 19th of January 1898, the New Intermediate School, Abertillery was officially opened. It was said that Abertillery were the pioneers of intermediate education in the country. The first teaching staff and subjects were as follows – Mr W. D. Lewis Evans M.A. London (Headmaster); Miss Edith M. Ewart M.A. Victoria (Headmistress); Mr F. J. Stock B.A. London and Mr W. David Arts (Assistant Masters); Miss S. M. Balfour L.L.A. St Andrews and Miss M. E. Blunt Cambridge Higher Local (Assistant Mistresses):
In the early 1900’s Mr Lewis Evans and family moved into Tramerel House, Oak Street, Abertillery.
Miss Elizabeth Myfanwy Evans.
Mr W. D. Lewis Evans’s daughter, Miss Elizabeth Myfanwy Evans left school and began a career in teaching, after passing all her examinations started as assistant mistress at the Warm Turn, Infants School, Six Bells, Aberbeeg. In 1925 she left Abertillery to become the headmistress at the Alexandra Road Infants School, Aberystwyth. In 1929 she was chosen to be the headmistress at the Barnstaple Infants School, Barnstaple, Devon.
In March 1930 after 34 years as headmaster of intermediate school education in Abertillery Mr W. D. Lewis Evans announced he intended to retire. After his announcement 23 applications were received for the post of the new headmaster.
The following month the Board of School Governors drew up a short list of applicants for his successor. The names on the short list were as follows – Mr Martin R. Lewis, B.A.; Mr J. R. Taylor, M.A.; Mr Llewellyn Jones, B.A.; Mr W. J. Osbourne, B.A.; Mr W. L. Hoskins, B.A. and Mr L. Oulton M.Sc.: The names put forth were all members of the staff of the Abertillery Intermediate School, with the exception of Mr Hoskins who was headmaster at the Hafod-y-Ddol Secondary School, Nantyglo.
On Tuesday 15th of April 1930, the Board of School Governors interviewed three candidates off the short list – Mr Martin R. Lewis, B.A., Mr J. Robert Taylor M.A., and Mr Llewellyn Jones, B.A. After a vote Mr Martin Reginald Lewis B.A., was chosen as the successor to Mr W. D. Lewis-Evans.
After his retirement Mr W. D. Lewis Evans and his wife Margaret moved to Crockett Road, Swansea. A short while later he fell ill, attended hospital for surgery and was treated by Sir Charles Watson at the Weymouth Street Nursing Home, London.
The Death of Mr W. D. Lewis Evans.
On Monday 7th of November 1938, Mr W. D. Lewis Evans sadly passed away from heart failure at his home in Sketty, Swansea.
The South Wales Gazette stated in his obituary that Mr Lewis Evans was “a scholar of distinction, a first-class organiser and an essentially practical and progressive teacher. He was responsible for pioneering work in the “direct method” of language instruction. He accorded every sympathy to his assistant teachers and encouraged them to experiment with and to adopt the most up-to-date methods. They found him a loyal supporter in times of doubt and difficulty. In dealing with those under his care he insisted upon a high standard of work and moral conduct. The thoroughness of his academic work of the school was shown by the successes of pupils and ex-pupils in examinations as well as by the long list of Old Tyleryan’s now occupying distinguished positions of high responsibility.
Mr Lewis Evans devoted his entire energies to his school and was hardly seen in public. He sought no honours other than those earned by his pupils. When he spoke, his words were well chosen and his opinions on educational matters were highly esteemed. Mr Lewis Evans showed no tolerance to slackness, hypocrisy or deceit, he forged links of friendship with those who were filled with endeavour – and to these he was easy to approach. Over the years his old pupils had come to value his example more and more highly and pay grateful tribute to all that Mr Lewis Evans stood for in their lives”.