INVITATION: On July 10, I was invited to attend a special assembly at Pontnewydd Primary School. The chair of governors Allan Tait and the head, Kerry Waters, invited me to talk about my years at the school, as pupil, governor and local TCBC councillor. 

All the pupils were present and Allan Tait, chair of governors, gave a brief introduction explaining details of my connection with the school. 

I began my talk by giving best wishes for the future to those who were leaving to start at secondary school in September. 

Then I explained that I had left the school over 60 years ago to attend Pontypool Girls Grammar School (The County). 

Seven years later I left for university, the first female of my extended family to do so. 

I had started at Pontnewydd School when it opened; it had been built to deal with the post-war increase in UK wide pupil numbers. 

I then explained to the pupils how wonderful the school was and how amazed we all were when we started at this school: a large, airy, school with masses of playground and grassed areas, with lots of windows and indoor toilets! 

A great difference from the old building (The Church School and its overflow accommodation in The Welfare Hall), in which we were educated formerly. 
There was then, as now, superb teaching, directed by headteacher Mr Hill but mostly an old Victorian Building, windows too high to look out of, a  miniscule playground, no grass, but we increased play space by playing on the coke pile and in the cemetery! 
There were only outside toilets and no toilet paper as it would get too wet when it rained! 

The pupils were also interested in my memories of sweet rationing; especially how we eked out our meagre rations by standing in a circle with friends, passing around a boiled sweet. 

Naturally I praised enthusiastically the wonderful start in life I had been given by staff in Pontnewydd School; which resulted in me becoming a teacher and lecturer. 

My connection with the school began when I was about nine years of age and has continued on and off ever since as I became a governor of the school many decades ago, standing down recently when I retired as a TCBC councillor. 

I had served also for some time as executive member for Children and Young People, chair of the WJEC and as mayor of Torfaen. Indeed I had visited the school as my first official duty as mayor.

I ended by encouraging all pupils to take every advantage of the modern education they are offered and to aim high with their career aspirations. 

Amazingly I was then presented with an original card, crafted by Mrs Helen Tait, signed by governors, and a lovely bouquet. 

Thank you to all, past and present staff and pupils at Pontnewydd Primary School for 60+ glorious years.

(Mary Barnett)