Death of an officer, Abertillery school fees abolished and Newport man forced to pay for care of his father were all in the headlines 100 years ago

Death of A Newport Officer

Lieut. Horace Bowden

Lieut. Horace A V Bowden, of Newport, has died at the Bryngwyn Nursing Home, Newport, after a short illness, which was originally contracted while on active service in France. In civil life, he was an architect and surveyor on Lord Treowen's Llanover estate. He was mobilised on August 4, 1914, being a member of the Royal Gloucester Hussars Yeomanry. He afterwards obtained a commission in the Royal Field Artillery (Welsh Brigade), and was attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery, with whom he served in France. While there he was wounded and gassed. He was well known in South Wales as a keen Association footballer, being a former member of the Caerleon Association Football Club. He was selected to play for Monmouthshire, and was a reserve goalkeeper for Wales. He leaves a widow and two young children.

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Abertillery County School

Pupils fees to be abolished

As a result of conferences on Thursday between the Governors of the Abertillery County School and the Monmouthshire Higher Education Committee, some important changes will be brought about in the immediate future. In the first place, the entrance examinations for fee paying pupils, which have hitherto been held at the beginning of each term, will be abolished. Their place will be taken by one, and only one, entrance examination in the year. This examination will be considerably more difficult than the superseded entrance examinations and will usually be held annually in May and June (parts I and II), this year, however, it will be held in June and July. As a matter of fact, the new entrance examination will be the same as the present entrance scholarship examination. Those at the top of the list, if qualified by age and the other usual conditions, will receive scholarships, and the remaining candidates, if they succeed in getting at least half the total marks, and do not fall below 35 per cent, in any one subject, will be admitted into school. An exceptionally important feature of the new scheme is that the Monmouthshire Higher Education Committee have undertaken to pay the school fees of all candidates who thus secure admission, irrespective of their parents' financial circumstances. Thus the long desired result of free education in the Secondary Schools will be gradually attained. It is the special wish of the Monmouthshire Higher Education Committee and the Abertillery County School governors that the new arrangements should be widely known throughout the school district, as there will be no avenue of entrance into the school other than the examination alluded to. Further particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

Good Earnings

Newport trimmers' wages

At Newport, on Friday, Richard T Llewellyn, Portland Street, was summoned to show cause why he should not be ordered to contribute towards the support of his father. Mr J H Griffiths, appearing on behalf of Newport Guardians stated that the father was receiving 8s 6d a week in relief. The defendant was a coal trimmer, and his earnings were £6 10s every week; and he had certain obligations to meet. His father had married a young woman, and had a family. The Bench ordered payment of 8s 6d a week.