Preece Family Tree

Rhondda : Serious Accident to Mr T. John

Mr Dan Lane, proprietor of the switchback, horses and swings, and Mr Herbert, Mr Gardner, Mr Goodwin, Mr Howard, Professor Page, and Mr Brewer, who also have exhibitions on Pandy Field, devoted Tuesday's takings to the Mid-Rhondda Relief Fund. The Relief Committee were told to make as much as they possibly could. School children sold penny tickets, and admission to the different entertainments was by ticket. Never had such a number of children been seen together in Mid-Rhondda. It is expected that from £80 to £100 will be realised. Willing workers were found in a large number of the Workmen's Committee and the head teachers and staffs of the Mid-Rhondda schools, the School Board having granted a half-holiday for the occasion. An unfortunate accident befel Mr Tom John, so well-known as the member of the executive of the N.U.T. In trying to avert the fall of two little children he was struck by a rotating car, and received a severe cut on the forehead, necessitating nine stitches. Mr John, however, was able to walk with his friends to the surgery of Dr. Williams, who attended to him. He is progressing favourably. The day was the anniversary of his birthday. He had taken a most prominent part in the Mid-Rhondda Relief Committee proceedings, and the most cordial sympathy is felt with him. Aldernam Richard Lewis gave 1,000 tickets for distribution and Councillor D. W. Davies a similar number to destitute children to enable them to participate in the enjoyment, and most of the business men distributed some as well.

PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE UNION.

MR. THOMAS JOHN,

The Welsh member of the Executive of the National Union is the master of the Llwynypia Colliery school. He is the son of Mr David John, Trecynon - a gentleman well-known as a pioneer in musical matters - who introduced the works of Handel and Mozart to the notice of the Aberdare public at a time when there was general ignorance of music other than the old-fashioned Welsh hymn-tune.

Mr Tom John, as he is familiarly called, was brought up as a scholar under the late Mr Dan Isaac Davies, and like most of the old scholars of the "Ysgol Comin", as it was called has made his work in public life. After leaving Ysgol Comin he went to the Normal College, Swansea, and subsequently finished his apprenticeship as a teacher in the new "Ysgol Comin," under Mr Walter Hogg. He then proceeded to the Borough-road Training College in 1869, and came out Christmas, 1870. Since leaving college Mr John has been master in North Wales, near Oswestry, and afterwards for a year and a half in Penygraig, and since 1872 has been master of the Llwynypia School, one of the largest and most successful schools in South Wales.

Mr Tom John is noted for his energy; his sanguine disposition can never know such a thing as failure, while his sympathies are general. The Mid-Rhondda Chamber of Trade is an outcome of his efforts. Mr Tom John is a member of the county cricket club executive, and has been for many years secretary of the Llwynypia Cricket Club. He is an active worker in the intermediate school movement. Since his advent on the executive Wales has come to the front in membership of the union, from 537 in 1887 to 1,200 this year; and in fruitful work for the charities. By a scheme of the Mid-Rhondda teachers, Mr T. John being then secretary and chief organiser, a sum of £1,200 having been raised in Mid-Rhondda alone for the benevolent funds.

This year is the end of his 4th year as a member of the executive, where he is chairman of the organzation committee, a post specially suited to his capacity. He is now 41 years of age.

OBITUARY.

MR TOM JOHN, M.A.

A VERSATILE PUBLIC SERVANT.

The death took place yesterday of Mr Tom John, M.A., J.P., at his residence, Cae Gwyn, Penygraig, in his 75th year. His death, which followed a heart attack, came as a shock to his many friends, for he had appeared to be in his normal health on Wednesday evening.

Mr Tom John 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.

Forty Years as Headmaster.

A native of Aberdare, he 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 established 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 headmaster.

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.

Welsh Revolt Recalled.

During the early stages of the Welsh educational revolt of 1904 Mr John, then president-elect of the N.U.T., initiated a movement for bringing together the four Welsh bishops and representatives of the teachers with a view to establishing a truce in the educational struggle. That conference, at which Mr John was present, took place at the Palace of Llandaff in 1904.

In addition to his long and successful career as a schoolmaster, he served the cause of education in many other capacities. He was closely associated with the administration of Welsh intermediate education since the passing of the Intermediate Education Act up to the time of his death. 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 Central Welsh Board. He also served intermediate education in his own district, and was a Governor of the Porth County School. These services were recognised by the University of Wales in the conferment upon him of the hon. degree of M.A. of the University.

Services for Music.

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 Cor Mawr. His brother, the late Mr. J. W. John, headmaster 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. A hymn composed for the occasion was being sung when Mr Lloyd George appeared, and it is recorded that he smiled as he recognised Mr John and joined heartily in singing under his baton.

Since his retirment he had been very closely associated with Sir Walford Davies' work in connection with the Welsh National Council of Music, of which he was a member.

The Rhondda Plowden.

During his long residence in the Rhondda he was the means of raising thousands of pounds for charity by organising 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 Rhondda 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.

For a period he took an active part in local journalism and was editor of the "Rhondda Leader" and "Glamorgan Free Press."

He is survived by a widow, two daughters and a sister, Mrs Mary Griffiths, J.P., Maesgwyn, Porth, the wife of Mr Thomas Griffiths, M.E., J.P., for many years agent of the Cymmer Collieries, Porth.

DEATHS.
JOHN. - On April 10th, at Cae Gwyn, Penygraig, Tom John, M.E., J.P., beloved husband of Mrs. Diana John, in his 75th year. Funeral Tuesday, 2.30, for Trealaw Cemetery; Gentlemen only.

The Late Mr. Tom John, M.A., J.P.

Mr. Tom John hailed from Trecynon, Aberdare, where he was indentured as a pupil teacher under Mr. Dan Isaac Davies as Ysgol-y-Comin, now Park School. He left Borough Road Training College at Midsummer, 1870, and immediately found a footing at Ysgol-y-Tai, Dinas. It was the day of small things then in the Rhondda. Llwynypia Collieries were gradually developing under Mr Archibald Hood's sound direction; a school became necessary there. The keen Scotsman appreciated Tom John's value, and induced him to leave Dinas for Llwynypia, which, with most of the Rhondda, rapidly developed from then on. The more the Rhondda grew, however, the more the versatile Tom John grew, not only as a schoolmaster, but as a sound member of the community socially, intellectually, politically, and religiously. One often wondered how one small head carried all he knew, but he carried it, and soon and deservedly became an integral part of the Rhondda. No movement flourished long without him, and his abstention from a movement was almost a death warrant to such movement. To an extent - probably a great extent, but by no means entirely - his marvellous success in so many diversified spheres was attributable to his humour, with which he was so abundantly endowed, and which oozed out at all points, and on almost all occasions. Tom John was, however, equally strong in common sense and tact, as was demonstrated on hundreds of occasions on the Bench and at public meetings, counsils, committees, and eisteddfodau. He had supped of Marah's waters in the loss of near and dear ones, but the bitterness thereof never entered his genial and generous soul, which was as free from bitterness as from guile to the end of his honourable and strenuous career as educationist, litterateure, musician, patriot, eisteddfodwr, and true but not gloomy Christian. To me, and thousands of others, a large slice of the Rhondda went to the grave with Tom John. He was to have conducted Llanharan Annual Eisteddfod on Whit-Monday for the 15th time in succession.

JOHN, Tom, M.A., J.P. (Glam., 1914), retired Schoolmaster; b. Trecynon, Aberdare, June 28, 1849; s. Dafydd John, Ebenezer, Aberdare; ed. Ysgoldy Comin, Aberdare, Dr. Evan Davies' College, Swansea 1862-63, and Borough Road, London, 1869-1870; degree: M.A., Honoris Causa, Wales; m. Margaret Lewis, 1873, and Diana Lewis (her sister), 1910; two dau. survive, M. J. John, Domestic Arts Teacher, Mon., and Madeline John, Inspector Ministry of Health. Member N.U.T. and Executive; President, 1905, Llandudno Conference; Member Executive C.W.B. from its inception, oldest existing member of same; Member Welsh University Court, Treasurer 1918 and 1919; Councillor Cardiff University College; Governor Porth County School; Member National Council of Music for Wales. W.A. Military Representative throughout. Rel. Congregationalist; Pol. Advanced Radical, but Constitutional; F.M. Merlin Lodge, not active lately. Recr. Music, Eisteddfodau, Cricket; Tennis and Golf after 60 years of age. Address: Caegwyn, Penygraig. Club: National Liberal.