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YSTALYFERA COUNTY SCHOOL

The first Headmaster of Ystalyfera County School was Arthur Blount Sully who took up the post at the opening of the school in 1896 and left in 1913. He was succeeded by Harry Rees who held the post for thirty years, from 1913 to 1943.

From the book 'The First Fifty Years' by Rees John Davies, M.A. (published 1946) comes this :

This chapter in the history of the Ystalyfera County Intermediate School begins with the appointment as headmaster in May 1913 - to commence duties on 1st August 1913 - of Mr Henry Rees, B.A., N.AL., student of the Middle Temple, and a native of Alltwen, Pontardawe.

Mr Rees, previous to his appointment as headmaster at Ystalyfera, was English Master at Pontypridd County School. Though not an ex-pupil of the Ystalyfera County School, having had his secondary education at the Old Higher Grade School, Swansea, Mr Rees nevertheless was a member of a family who, during almost the whole fifty years of the school's existence, had been intimately associated with its history. Mr Rees' sister was amongst the first pupils of the school; later two brothers followed in her footprints. Between 1906-1909 his father, the Rev. Rees Rees, the respected minister of Alltwen Congregational Chapel for twenty-nine years (1881-1910) was one of the school's governors. Again, Mr Rees' brother, Mr Frederick E. Rees, B.SC., was already in 1913 an inspector of secondary schools under Glamorgan County Council. With the decease of Mr T. Wade Evans, clerk to the school governors, in 1926, Mr F.E. Rees attended often at the school as acting clerk to the governors and deputy to Dr J. James, then chief educational official for Glamorgan, a post he held until September, 1944.

Mr Rees' activities and services in the sphere of education were not limited by the demands of his own school on his time and energies.
At an early date (1921) in his career as headmaster he became secretary of the Welsh Secondary Schools Association, a position he held until 1943. He was also secretary of the Glamorgan Association of Headmasters and Headmistresses for six years; a member of the Court of Governors of the University of Wales, an executive member of the Central Welsh Board, a Council Member of the Incorporated Association of Headmasters for England and Wales, a member of the Burnham Secondary School Committee, and the founder and a member of the Joint Four Association. Mr Rees, during his career, served in association with three permanent secretaries of the Board of Education, and three chief inspectors of the Central Welsh Board.

On 22nd October, 1945, a special meeting of the Welsh Secondary Schools Association was convened at the Shire Hall, Shrewsbury, on the occasion of Mr Rees' resignation as its secretary, to present him and to pay tribute to his services to education. Amongst those present were Sir Wynn Wheldon, then secretary of the Welsh Department of the Board of Education; Mr Eric Evans, M.A., then chief inspector of the Central Welsh Board; and Dr W. J. Williams, then chief inspector in Wales for the Board of Education.

From the South Wales Voice 4th October 1947 came the news of the death of Mr Henry Rees in an extensive front page article:-

PASSING OF A GREAT SCHOOLMASTER AND EDUCATIONALIST
DEATH OF MR HENRY REES

We deeply regret to announce the death of Mr Henry Alfred Rees, formerly headmaster of the Ystalyfera County School, who died at his home at Cofa Park terrace, Ynysforgan, on Monday last. Althought he had been ailing for some weeks, his illnesss was not considered to be serious, and his death came suddenly. Sixty-six years of age, hre retired in 1943 after serving a period of thirty years as headmaster of the County School, but even in his retirement he still held close contact with the school, giving to his followers when needed, liberal advice and direction based upon his own wealth of rich experience. He invariably attended every meeting and function held in connection with the school.
The late Mr Rees dedicated his life to Welsh education, and to the Ystalyfera County School which he venerated and loved with a deep personal affection. To him, being a headmaster was more than a profession. It was a high calling, demanding the complete dedication of service and self to the cause of education. He was the complete headmaster combining an emphasis on academic attainment with wise, practical administration. A lover of noble tradition, he would nevertheless brush aside the trammels of orthodox formalism when development and experiment was needed. The swish of his gown, the quiet clarity of his voice, and his commanding appearance, would rivet attention; his natural probity inspired respect.
There was a sense of finality in all his words and actions. Within the province of his kingdom, his word was law; always valiant in his "no" and majestic in his "yes". There was a positive quality in his character which succeeded in triumphing over difficulties to secure accomplishment. Nothing could deter him, once his course of action had been decided. He was selfless in his zeal and devotion to the work of the school, and he always expected both staff and scholars to follow his example. If the standards someties set by him were exacting then,

"Full well the busy whisper circling round
Convey'd the dismal tidings whe he frown'd
Yet he was kind, or if severe in aught
The love he bore to learning was in fault"

He was a graduate of the University of Wales and had qualified as a barrister. Born at Alltwen, he was the son of the Rev Rees Rees, minister of Alltwen Congregational Chapel. When he began his duties at the Ystalyfera Intermediate School in August 1913, a brother Mr Frederick E Rees who later became Director of Education for Glamorgan, was then an inspector of schools for the county.

SERVICE TO EDUCATION

During his period of service at Ystalyfera, the school underwent great changes and development.In the 1946 Jubilee meetings of the county school, some of his achievements were chronicled in the published history of the school, and without exception, every speaker at the meetings referred to the great work accomplished by the late Mr Rees.

His capabilities as an administrator and devotion to education were fully recognised in important circles of national education in Wales. In 1921, he became secretary of the Welsh Secondary Schools' Association, and continued his office without a break until his retirement in 1843. For six years he was also secretary of the Glamorgan Association of Headmasters and Headmistresses. He was a member of the Court of Governors of the University of Wales, an executive member of the Central Welsh Board, a Council Member of the Incorporated Association of Headmasters for England and Wales, a member of the Burnham Secondary School Committee, and a founder member of the Joint Four Association.

During his career, Mr Rees served in association with three permanent secretaries of the Board of Education, and three chief inspectors of the Central Welsh Board. The History of the School recalls that on October 22, 1943, a special meeting of the Welsh Secondary Schools' Association was convened on the occasion of Mr Rees' resignation as secretary, to present him and pay tribute to his services to educaton. At that meeting Sir Wynn Wheldon, then secretary to the Welsh Department of the Board of Education, stated that "Mr Rees had upheld with dignity and integrity the interests of education," while Mr Eric Evans, chief inspector of the CWB, added the following tribute:

In addition to his capacity for breaking new ground, Mr Rees had, along with his receptiveness of mind, an essential conservatism which is a necessary ingredient of sanity. He had also a happy quality of never departing from the concrete, a sense of pulsating reality underlying all his actions and deliberations, his conclusions being always based on solid experience.

Undoubtedly, the late Mr Henry Rees mirrored and reflected hus pattern of Welsh education in his own school, and followed faithfully his own ideals. But whatever his service and contribution to the general development of education, the commemoration of his life and service will be cut deepest in the hearts of the staff and pupils who worked with him to build memories and achievements of the Ystalyfera County School.

Mr Rees was always proud of the high reputation which the school had earned in Wales. He was proud of the number of distinguished scholars and public leaders which the school had produced. He was proud of the pupils who passed under his care, and his knowledged of their activities in after school days was truly amazing. Perhaps it was this personal interest and sympathy in his old pupils, his readiness to give guidance, and the benevolence of his affection which really showed the great tenderness and feeling which his beneath the resolute character of a Great Headmaster. We unite with the relatives and friends of Ystalyfera County School, the old pupils and staff, and the lovers of Welsh education everywhere, in mourning the loss of Henry Alfred Rees.

His wife, a daughter of a well-known Landore musician, Rees Jones, predeceased him by 15 years. He is survived by a sister, Miss Mary Rees, who resided with him, and three brothers, Mr F G Rees, late Director of Education for the County of Glamorgan; Mr Emrys Rees, HMI (Factories), Bristol and Dr T R Rees, Cardiff, W.S.

From the South Wales Voice 11th October 1947 came the report on the funeral of Henry Rees:-

FUNERAL OF MR HENRY REES

The funeral of Mr Henry A Rees, Ynisforgan, former headmaster of Ystalyfera Grammar School, whose death was announced in our last week's issue, took place on Thursday last. Burial was at Box Cemetery, Llanelly. The Rev Trebor Lloyd Evans, B.A., B.D., officiated. The teaching staff at the Ystalyfera County School acted as bearers.

Mourners were: Miss Mary Rees, Ynisforgan, Swansea; Mr and Mrs F E Rees, Cardiff; Mr and Mrs R M Rees, Bristol; Mr and Mrs T R Rees, Cardiff; Mr Rees Rees, Trimsaran; Mr Howell Rees, Llanelly; Mr D J Walters, Bromsgrove; Miss Evelyn Walters, Neath; Mr Alcwyn Griffiths, Neath; Mr and Mrs T J Davies, Llanelly; Mr William Jones, Llanelly; Mr J Brazell; Rev Edwards Jones, St Clears; Mrs Trefor John, Ynysforgan; Mrs J R Evans, Sketty, Swansea; Messrs Trefor Davies, Ynysforgan, Rhys Lewis, Ynysforgan, Sergt David Davies, Ynysforgan, Mr Silvanus Jenkins, Ynysforgan, Ald. D D Davies, Gwauncaegurwen, Messrs E D Lewis, Ystalyfera, Ben Jones, Ystalyfera, Glyn Davies, Gwauncaegurwen, D B Francis, Morriston, Meurig Williams, Rhiwfawr, A J Mildon, Ystalyfera, Stanley Rees, Pontardawe, T Gwyn Jones, Swansea, Messrs John Morgan, W R G Bell, Stanley Williams, all of Ystalyfera, W Jason Davies, Gwauncaegurwen, and McLeod Jones, Ystalyfera.

Floral tributes: Sister and brothers; Enid; John and Dilys; Surbiton and Rock House; Jennie; Dr D Y Pearson; Doris; Headmaster, staff and pupils, County School, Ystalyfera; Old Pupils Association, County School, Ystalyfera; Mr and Mrs E D Lewis and Gareth, Ardwyn, Ystalyfera; Mr and Mrs J R Evans, Sketty, Swansea; Mr Silvanus Jenkins and family, Ynysforgan; Irene and Joan, Cardiff; Henry Morgan, Bournemouth; Council University College, Swansea.