Preece Family Tree

A LOSS TO THE RHONDDA.

Funeral of Mr. Tom John, M.A., J.P., Penygraig

The death of Mr. Tom John, M.A., J.P., educationist, philosopher, litterateur, musician, and Eisteddfodwr, to mention a few of this versatile man's qualifications, on Thursday evening last removes one of the "grand old men," not only of the Rhondda but of Wales.

The death of Mr. John, who was in his seventy-fifth year, followed a heart attack, and came as a shock to his many friends, for he had appeared to be in his normal health on Wednesday evening. He was one of the best known and most highly respected figures in the public life of the Rhondda, and was an educationist of national fame. During a long lifetime devoted to public service, he became widely known not only for his sterling work for democratic education, but as a talented musician and a staunch and loyal worker in the cause of Liberalism.

A native of Aberdare, Mr. John received his early education at the old "Ysgol y Comin," and was trained for the scholastic profession at the Borough-road Training College, London. After a short stay in North Wales, he came to the Rhondda. For a time he was a teacher at Penygraig, and later took charge of the colliery school establishd by the Glamorgan Coal Company, which subsequently was taken over by the local authority. He retired from this post several years ago, after forty years' service as head master.

In 1884 he was elected a member of the executive committee of the National Union of Teachers, and he remained a member of that body until he retired in 1904. His fellow members of the scholastic profession conferred on him the highest honour in their gift by electing him president of the N.U.T. He occupied the chair at the annual conference at Llandudno in 1905, and was one of the delegates appointed by the N.U.T. to present the Union's address to his Majesty King George V at the Court at St. James' Palace in July, 1910. He was a member of the Court of the University of Wales, a governor of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, and a member of the National Council of the General Welsh Board. He also served intermediate education in his own district, and was a governor of the Porth County School. These services were recognized by the University of Wales in the conferment upon him of the hon. degree of M.A. of the University.

Few men, if any, did more to create a love of music in the minds of the Rhondda people. He was one of the few remaining survivors of Caradog's famous Côr Mawr. His brother, the late J.W. John, head master of the Ynyshir Schools, was also one of Caradog's famous band of singers. Mr. Tom John was for many years precentor of Salem Congregational Church, Llwynypia, and was conductor of the Salem Choral Society. In his youthful days he and the late Mr. J. W. Jones, Tonypandy, carried a harmonium from Aberdare to Ferndale to assist in the formation of a choral society in the latter district. His last appearance as a musical conductor was at the Westminster Hall, London, in January, 1922, on the occasion of a Coalition meeting at which Mr. Lloyd George was present.

During his long residence in the Rhondda he was the means of raising thousands of pounds for charity by organizing various musical events. In his youth he was well known locally as a cricketer, and was up to the time of his death a keen golfer. In politics he was a staunch life-long Liberal and was an ex-president of the old Rhonnda Labour-Liberal Association, which was disbanded a year or two ago. He was very diligent in the discharge of his duties on the magisterial bench, and was a well known figure at the Rhondda courts, where his rich sense of humour earned for him the title of "The Rhondda Plowden". If always prepared with a jest in season, he served the public faithfully in this as in every other capacity, and took particular interest in the reformation of youthful offenders.

THE FUNERAL.

The funeral took place on Tuesday at Trealaw Cemetery. The services at the house were conducted by the Rev. George Evans, B.A., B.D., and the Rev. Dyfan Thomas (Soar, Penygraig), while at the graveside the Rev. G. Evans and the Rev. D. G. Evans, Rhydyfelin (past pastor of Tabor Church) officiated. Deacons of Tabor Church and sergeants of the Glamorgan Constabulary, under Police sergeant I. J. Beirne, acted as bearers.

A brief address was delivered at the graveside by Mr. Enoch Davies, J.P., one of the deceased's colleagues on the magisterial bench. He said that Mr. John's sayings and happy expressions would live long in the memory of those who were privileged to have known him. He was a versatile, able, and most kind-hearted man, and his colleagues on the bench would miss him greatly.

The principal mourners were Mrs. D. John (widow), Mrs. T. Griffiths, J.P., Cymmer (sister), the Misses John (daughters), Mrs J. W. John, Porth (sister-in-law), Messrs. Moy John, Fred Lewis (Penygraig), Fred Lewis (Bridgend) and Tom Lewis (nephews); Mr. John Preece (brother-in-law), Messrs. Arthur and David Preece (nephews), Mr. David Davies, Llanweda (cousin), Mrs. P. Davies, Abercynon (cousin), and Messrs. Tom Ford (Aberaman), Evan Lewis (Swansea) and D. Evans, Llandilo (cousins).

The cortege was preceded by about 100 members of the Glamorgan Constabulary, under Superintendents James Davies and J. L. Rees and Inspectors E. Jones (Ton Pentre), John Davies (Tonypandy), James Griffiths (Porth) and W. E. Rees (Ferndale).

The ministers of religion present included the Revs. Principal Thomas Rees, M.A., Ph.D., Bangor College; Geo. Evans, B.A., B.D, Tabor, Penygraig (of which the late Mr. John was a deacon); Joseph Walters, Blaenclydach; E. C. Davies, Ynyshir; J. Williams, Hafod; Fred Jones, B.A., B.D., Treorchy; R. E. Peregrine, Williamstown; D. T. Jones, Noddfa, Blaenclydach; D. Overton, Ynyshir; D. Jeremy Jones, M.A., Tonypandy; D. Mark, vicar of Cymmer, Porth; D. G. Evans, Rhydyfelin (past pastor of Tabor, Penygraig), and R. Williams, Trinity, Tonypandy.

The Bench was strongly represented, and amongst magistrates and members of the Rhondda Council present were Mr. D. Lleufer Thomas, M.A., stipendiary magistrate for the Rhondda and Pontypridd; Messrs. John Hughes, J.P., David Lewis, J.P., Stephen Evans, J.P., Alderman James Evans, J.P., Messrs. Enoch Davies, J.P., Tom Taylow, J.P. (chairman of the Pontypridd Ubran District Council), Tom Morgan, J.P., David Lewis, J.P., Tudor Jenkins (representing Mr. T. Pascoe Jenkins, J.P.), J. W. John, J.P., J.W. Richards J.P., William Jones, J.P., H. H. Evans, M.E., J.P. (general manager of the Cambrian Combine Company), and Walter Williams, J.P., together with Councillors James James, J.P., Dan Davies, J.P., Dr. W. E. Thomas, J.P., Edgar Morgan, J. T. Jones, Abel Jacob, and Gwilym Rowlands, and Mr. T. W. Berry (director of education).

The scholastic profession and the National Union of Teachers, of which the late Mr. John was a past president, were very strongly represented, among those present being Messrs. Dan Edwards, Port Talblot (representing the N.U.T. Executive); Rhys Nicholas, Cwmavon; Philip Thomas, Neath; T. Morgan, Cwm pare; Urien Edwards, Bodringallt; Ben Nicholas (members of the central countil of the N.U.T. benvolent and orphan fund); T. Goodwin (president of the Rhondda Association of the N.U.T.); Gomer Evans (past president of the Rhondda Association); Dan Phillips (a former president of the Rhondda Association); J. T. Lewis (vice-president of the Welsh Head Master's Association); Morgan Rees, Harry Harries, Griffith Davies, J. W. Thomas, Edward Hugh, M.A., R. O. Davies, B.Sc., G. Davies, B.Sc., R. Bowen, A. Evans, J. D. Lewis, T. D. John, J. R. Jones, Jack Griffiths, Gwilym Lewis, R. J. Oriel, W. Jones, M.A., W. Chubb, Llandwit Fardre; Rhys Morgan, M.A., Pontypridd; and E. Samuel, M.A., Porth.

Amongst the general public present were Messrs. Willie Griffiths and W. Thomas, Cardiff; J. Victor Evans, M.A., London; T. W. Williams (representing the Church of Salem, Llwynypia, of which Mr. John was for many years precentor); Charles Woosnam, Porth; T. P. Davies and John Hughes (representing West Rhondda Liberal Association); Gomer Jones, Tonypandy; U. R. Edwards, Ystrad Rhondda, E. Edwards (representing the Rhondda district of the Typographical Association); L. E. Morgan, Barclays Bank, Tonypandy; Albert Thomas, Blaenllechau; Llewellyn Evans, Tonypandy; J. H. Llewellyn and George Llewellyn, Griffith Davies, David Rees (coroner for East Glamorgan); Thomas Morris, Trealaw; D. G. Hughes, Clydach Vale; T. Osborne, Porth; M. E. Williams, Llanharry; and Thomas Rees, Penygraig.

Beautiful floral tributes were received from Mrs. John (widow); Maggie and Madeline (daughters); Mr. and Mrs. T. Griffiths, J.P., Cymmer (sister and brother-in-law); Mrs J.W. John and Mr. Moy John; Mr. J. Preece and family; Head master and staff, Porth County School; Miss E. M. Harries, Girls' County School; Rhondda Head Teacher's Association; Dr. J. D. Jenkins (medical officer of health), Pentre; Rhondda branch of the National Union of Teachers; National Union of Teachers; Misses Gwladys and Violet Watkins; Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, Craig-y-nos, Llandrindod Wells; girls of Porth Intermediate School; Mrs. Harries and family, Prewylfa, Dinas; National Council of Music, University of Wales; Mr. and Mrs. Dean Davies, Clydach Vale; Council of U.C.S.W.; Mr. R. Love; staff, Tonypandy Secondary School, Rhondda Gold Club; Mr. Alf and Miss Annie Evans, Penrhyns; and Rhondda Liberal Association.