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Iolo Dyfnan Davies

1920-2009 

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Generations of past pupils of Cowbridge Grammar School and older residents of Cowbridge

will have been saddened to hear of the death of Iolo Davies, the last Headmaster of Cowbridge

Grammar School, on Sunday, April 6^th in Cheltenham at the age of 89.

Iolo received his secondary education at Swansea Grammar School, as had his predecessor,

Idwal Rees.   From there he proceeded to Jesus College, Oxford as a Meyricke Scholar to

read Literae Humaniores, but, as was the case for so many young men of his generation, his

studies were interrupted by the Second World War.   As a commissioned officer in the Royal

Artillery, he saw active service in North Africa and Italy, and as the war in Europe drew to a

close he volunteered to serve in the Far East.   The abrupt end of that campaign negated such

a course of action, and Iolo returned to Oxford to complete his studies.

On graduation he was appointed as Senior Classics Master at Cowbridge Grammar School,

and shortly after taking up the post became a resident master in the boarding house.  

Iolo was a born schoolmaster.   His erudition was widely recognized but for those fortunate

enough to be taught by him the quality of his intellect marked him out as no ordinary teacher,

though he seemed largely unaware of his gifts.  Indeed, a distinguished Professor of Latin, a

former pupil of his, went as far to say in a foreword to one of his many books that Iolo was the

best Latinist he knew.  And the same might truly have been said of his Greek.  He had himself

written a history of Cowbridge Grammar School, but less widely known is that in his retirement

he produced an important translation relating to Alexander the Great, which was published on

the internet. (  http://hum.ucalgary.ca/wheckel/sources/itinerary.pdf  GT)

On the retirement of Idwal Rees in 1971, Iolo was appointed Headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School, a post he held until 1973.   This was a period of bitter argument over comprehensive education and the future of education in Cowbridge.   Given his commitment to the grammar school principle and to the boarding house, Iolo felt he had no choice but to fight for what he believed in at whatever personal cost.   When, despite a county-wide petition of many thousands of signatures urging that the school should continue in its present form, the County Council decided in favour of establishing a comprehensive school in Cowbridge, Iolo resigned.

For a year he worked on the Talyllyn Railway project (steam trains and Talyllyn, in particular,

were also abiding interests of his), before returning to teaching, briefly in a comprehensive

school, and then in the Independent sector.   Eventually, he settled in Cheltenham and taught

until his retirement at Dean Close School where he made many friends who, like the boys he

had taught at Cowbridge, were constant visitors after his retirement.

His death is foremost a blow to his family, of course, but countless past pupils and friends

mourn his passing, too.     (Colin Lewis) 

Iolo was one the most important people in my life, and the most important for my professional life.  I went into Classics because of my admiration for the man, and I owe to him more than anyone any success I’ve enjoyed in the discipline.  Those who went into the Classics sixth are bound to remember Iolo’s eccentric, but highly successful, teaching style, which would make a modern ’educationist’s’ hair stand on end.  Lesson-plan?  You must be joking.

Typical morning:

Iolo appears before us in the Old Hall Classics room.  “Bit under the weather this morning, boys.  Make me a coffee [we had our own hot plate, kettle and jar of Nescafe] while I look over the next few lines [of Euripides or Virgil or Cicero or whatever]’. Then we tackle the translation together, and Iolo is brilliant, gently correcting our mistakes and adding some startling commentary (much of which I remember to this day).  I don’t know anyone else who could do that.  And prose composition?  We all knew that if we wanted our efforts corrected we had to chase after him, sit him down and make him do it (and, again, the results were great—he had that feeling for the two languages.)  But it was a wonderful transition between the structured first five forms and university, and I think we went off to university (and nearly all of us did) better prepared for independent study than most, if not all, of our contemporaries at CGS.  I used to complain to fellow undergraduates that I had a freer learning environment at school.

We remained close friends after I left school, and every year I would fly over from Canada and Colin Lewis and I would visit him in Cheltenham.  Colin and I would take a hotel for the night, and wine and dine him somewhere (usually our hotel) until age put an end to that (though I must add that the last drink and meal the three of us had together was at a pub near Cheltenham just last year, after the 400^th) .  One year he visited me in Ottawa, and another (1997) he and Colin came to Australia, where I had a term of teaching at the University of Newcastle. It was a country Iolo had always wanted to visit, and Col. and I were very happy to make it possible for him finally to do it. Our trip to the Barrier Reef in a very aged Volvo, with Iolo eating high-calorie, cholesterol-filled all-day breakfasts every day (‘the wine combats it, see, John’), was an episode in our lives that Colin and I will never forget.

 He helped me enormously with some translations that I produced of Classical authors, when he was at an age at which most people would have been gardening or taking cruises, and then he went on himself to do a superb job of the Itinerarium Alexandri, an extremely difficult piece of Latin.  The man was a marvel, and I think of him every day when I open my text of Livy, on which I’m working at the moment.  He gave me all his Classics books a few years ago, and the Oxford text of Livy that I’m using is inscribed, in that neat, inimitable handwriting, ‘Iolo D. Davies.  Jesus College, Oxford. 1937.’  If only he could have recognized his own worth even half as much as others did.

John Yardley (boarder, 1954-62).

A Tribute to Iolo Davies.

By Dr David Cole  

Read at Iolo's funeral  

Iolo was my uncle and a close friend and I would like to celebrate his long and in many ways successful life.

Iolo, like all of us, had strengths and weaknesses. His strengths were remarkable and it gives me great pleasure to mention a few of them.

Iolo was born in Newport in 1920, shortly after his father returned from the Great War. He was the eldest of three children, Iolo, Dwynwen and my mother Gwen. In early childhood the family moved to the Mumbles.

Iolo had a gifted intellect and excelled at Swansea Grammar School both in the classroom and as a sportsman. Following his father, he studied the classics he was awarded a Meyrick scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford in 1938.

Two years later he went to war and served in Malta and Italy. He had extraordinary bonds of friendship with his fellow soldiers, particularly those in the ranks.

Returning to Oxford after the war he played college rugby, rowed in the college eight and completed his degree.

In 1947 he was appointed classics master at Cowbridge Grammar School. For the next 25 years he devoted his time and energy to Cowbridge. He was a brilliant schoolmaster. There was a genuine affection for him amongst many of his pupils. Many of these pupils have kept closely in touch with him over the years.

Soon after arriving at the school he established a weekly school magazine, the Lion. This ran until the grammar school closed in the early ’70’s. The complete set of Lions are lodged in the Glamorgan  Records Office in Cardiff and provide a unique educational and social history of their time.

Over many years he worked on the history of the school, publishing “A Certaine School” in the late ‘60’s. He would sharpen his intellect by striving to complete The Times crossword before the headmaster rose from the breakfast table. He had just ten minutes. He was once inspired to compose a Latin word square although he later doubted it could really be original.

During the late 60’s he became headmaster and embarked on a titanic struggle to save the school from becoming a comprehensive. This went on for some years and was ultimately unsuccessful. He was supported in this battle by Josephine who he married in 1973. Alas, the closure of Cowbridge Grammar School took its toll on Iolo’s health and it was some years before he taught again.

He moved to Tywyn and worked for a while in Aberystwyth but although nothing could replace Cowbridge he did return to his profession, finally coming to Dean Close in Cheltenham. He became very attached to the school, teaching classics and running the photographic society.

Retirement was another time of crisis for him. He found it very difficult to move on as he was so driven by teaching. During this time I met with him most weeks and we would go the Foston’s Ash a few miles out of Cheltenham for two pints and a steak. When he was on form he would be a rich source of information and opinion. He loved his classics but he was also a polymath. He often said he would like to have been a scientist.

He loved his sport, especially Welsh rugby. He led the Cowbridge School Harriers for many years. He was an accomplished bell ringer and spent some time in the secretariat of the national bell ringer’s society. He travelled widely.

As a child, I remember him as an exciting and energetic uncle who was always on the move. He skied almost every year from 1950 onwards and taught us small Coles to ski. I think he coined the term “the skiers appetite”. He spoke French or German, depending on which part of Switzerland he was in.

In about 1963, I remember my mother bought a Beatles record for her children. Uncle Iolo was said to have disapproved. For Christmas over several years he bought the Children’s Encyclopedia in 12 volumes for his nieces and nephews. He took a keen interest in their progress through school.

Iolo was a train enthusiast and expert. For many years he spent his school holidays working on the track of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway & again made life-long friends.  In those days he had a strong physique.

During the 1970’s his own children were born, Ann and Chris. He was always proud of Ann’s achievements and particularly so when she was called to the Bar a couple of years ago. He knew how much Jo’s support enabled Chris to grow in confidence & was proud that he has employment that he enjoys

In more recent years Iolo took a special interest in many of his great nieces and nephews. He was happiest in later years when on the touchline of a school rugby or hockey match or watching an afternoon’s prep school cricket despite being hardly able to walk.

A brief glimpse then at Iolo from one of many family, colleagues, friends and particularly former school pupils who are here today. He was a man who many people felt it was a pleasure and a privilege to know. The memories will live on …(David Cole)

Bellringing

Among his many interests Iolo was instrumental in the sucess of the School band of bellringers. His involvement extended to playing a role in running the Llandaf and Monmouth Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers where he served in several capacities: he was Master of the Association in 1967, Llandaff Branch Secretary for five years and for many years he printed the Annual Report of the Association.

David Robinson has been re-reading his copies of The Lion and has sent this poem by Iolo that was published in issue 456, 30 November 1963:

Written to mark Sir Winston's 89th birthday, coincidentally the age that Iolo died. 

To The Rt.Hon.Sir Winston S. Churchill, aetatis suae 89

In honour of “The Old Man”, 89 years of age yesterday, The Lion reprints the following from  issue No. 206, dated September 15^th, 1956.

            "  Battle of Britain Day, 1956  "

“Never in the field of human conflict” – remember ?

Remember what the Old Man said,

His voice booming like the guns of that other September ?

Days of defeat and days of victory, days of endeavour,

Spitfires in the sky, and the jarring thump of the bombs;

So many bombs, and the Spitfires so few,

Few and victorious, victory-rolling, few and fewer;

Ours the suspense, and theirs the glory –

Don’t you remember ?

No, you are too young.

“By so many to so few” – yes, by you who come after

 No less; who never knew

The sad days and the strange days,

The tears and the sudden laughter,

Indian summer of the sunny year, war and narrow triumph;

You who never heard the church bells ring that other message,

Never heard Haw Haw,  huddled into shelters, queued in Naafis

As we did, while the Few were flying,

Tight-lipped heroes, in their special world.

You must think you remember them,

Swear you remember them, believe you remember them;

For men must remember

When we are too old.

                                    Iolo Davies

And from The Lion 496, published on the Sunday on which Sir Winston Churchill died:

Winston, 24 January 1965

He knew the winter weather, storms of war;

Relished strife, smiled at the blast.

Dismissed at last

The soldier sleeps, need fight no more.

It was a quiet morning when he died,

Mild weather, a feel of spring.

Now he is slumbering

There is a sadness, there is a pride.

There is no other like him; he is gone.

Do not forget his praise;

Into these stiller days

Let something of the thunder echo on.

            Iolo  Davies

• Very sad news. End of an era. We should do something. I don’t mean just flowers or a charity donation, but something to honour the man and what he gave to the school, and us as pupils.
  (Stephen Williams)
  
  
• Saddened to hear the news of Iolo's death.  His impact on the lives of so many young men cannot be overestimated.
  (John Barnard)
  
  
• Iolo was my uncle. I saw him a few hours before his death - he was as bright as a button until the end. (Matthew Hudson)
  
  
• Thanks for letting me know the sad news about Iolo.
  He was a first rate colleague
  .     (Reg Whittle)
  
  
• Many thanks, Iolo, for the memories of Switzerland, bell ringing, the choir, The Lion and most of all for your values. (Clive Howells)
  
  
• Every era has to end, but this particular one will seem peculiarly final to many  who were at CGS. (Peter Cobb)

• I can't imagine that Iolo ever made an enemy in his life. I have so many images of him - probably my favourite is him coming up to top dorm on a Sunday evening, after putting the Lion to bed, and giving us one of his spins. (Guy Thornton)
  
  
• Iolo Davies was the backbone of the school - dedicated, scholarly, kind and considerate - what more can you say?  (Michael Jay '58 - '65)
  
  
• Many of us remember Iolo for his expertise in the Classics. In my last year at Cowbridge I sat a French scholarship examination. Iolo was my invigilator, and we were just the two of us in the gym. My task was to comment in English on a poem in French by Heredia. At the end of my allotted time I handed Iolo my work, and he handed me his - an English verse translation of the poem, which he had just knocked off. There was a lot more to Iolo than the Classics. (Graham Spragg)
  
  
• I was a boarder from 48-55, and what a time I had with Iolo and Peter Cobb. They were never like masters, more elder brothers. I have numerous stories about Iolo and myself over the years I was there - especially those involving Don Pugh the PT master who lived in Porthcawl. I last saw Iolo in the early nineties in Cheltenham when he came to a lecture I was giving. Its a sad day to receive this news, and there must be hundreds of old boys who treasure the time they spent with Iolo. (John Michael)
  
  
• Via "The Lion" Iolo ensured my entry to journalism. Above all he was a gentleman in the true sense of the word. Ever the enthusiast, always anxious to hear your news and progress, an impossible act to follow. (Paul Smith iii)
  
  
• The news of Iolo's passing has been circulated to Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society members via our Talyllyn-announce message system. Many of us have lovely memories of working with Iolo, especially 'up the line' working with a track gang. Iolo had such energy and enthusiasm, he put most of us 'younger ones' to shame in the late 1970's. He would often take on exhausting tasks entirely on his own, and fine tuning the heavy to shovel ballast chips at the track shoulders received his special attention. Often this would be out of our normal working hours. He was always a joy to be working with and he paid special attention to the youngsters among us, which is typical of the man he was. I had no idea at the time of his great accademic capabilities and headmastership gifts.  God Bless him and his family.(Bernard Twiddy)
  
  
• He was a good colleague - a dedicated schoolmaster through and through.(Gerry Meek)
  
  
•  Sad news of Iolo’s death. He was a remarkable person, a huge influence on generations of pupils at CGS and a complete individual, with a sharp and acute mind until the end. As a teacher and house-master, he was immensely generous with his time and talents. In his independence of mind and thoughtful approach to Classics – and life – he has been a life-long model for me. He treated his pupils with genuine respect and openness – and gained it in return. Education for him was all about opening doors, which is surely what it should be. Many of his favourite sayings still resonate with me, and many others too, I am sure. Although the years after CGS were more up and down, I know he was happy in his final teaching post at Deans Close, Cheltenham, and that he revived to some extent the mix of inspirational teaching and extra-curricular activities that we knew so well at CGS. (Chris Gill (CGS, Boarder 1957-64)
  
  

• So many memories. The Lion on Sunday evenings, always finished, somehow. His ‘spins’ in Top Dorm, patiently reading with his antique bull’s eye torch tales like the Shottle Bop and The Tay Bridge Disaster. His care to say ‘good-night’ to each by name when turning the lights off.  Enormous bonfires on the town ramparts. The school band of bellringers. The backstage work and lighting for the school plays. His hard work generally in unselfish furtherance of our interests. His principled yet quietly thought-provoking approach which was real education. He did much good and I owe him much.  (David Robinson (1958-1965))
  
  

• One of the best and fondest memories I have of Iolo was his outstanding support for me and others in the production and distribution of the film, 'The College', that was made in 1960-61. Not only did he write and speak a beautifully modulated commentary, which gave the visual sequences coherence and point, but he was also tireless in promoting the film to countless audiences throughout Wales, and in securing its survival as a historical record. Without him, quite simply, the film would no longer exist.
  Learning of his death, I sat down to see and hear it again, and was moved by the quiet strength of the voice, which had emerged practically unscathed by nearly fifty years. And there was a moment, at the very end, that clutched the throat. As the lights in School House are turned out for the night, Iolo gently says, 'Goodnight, children, everywhere'.
  It was a benediction then, and is a benediction now. (Tim Chilcott)  

  
  (A copy of "The College" is part of the Cowbridge400 DVD available from the OBA. Details will be published shortly)
  
  

• I'm the ex brother in law of the late Iolo Davies. I remember him as the only teacher who could stand in front of a class of 30 odd unruly boys and whisper and command the full attention of all class members.
  As a brother in law he extended the same courtesy he had done in school, but family relationships don't always work out and can be damaging for all concerned sadly (C.J.Evans mi).
  
  

• When in my last year, I once again failed to win the annual literary competition, Iolo bought me the book of my choice on his own account as an alternative prize ('The Life of Dylan Thomas') and inscribed it in his distinctive handwriting thus:
  'Richard G Lewis
  For being too good a writer to win the literary competition.'
  This generous gesture and typical encouragement meant a great deal to me. In my mind it sums up 'Big Dai' (I remember him once wishing he had not been christened Iolo!). I owe him a lot; I shall always remember him. And as long as I remember him he will live on.' (Richard Lewis CGS boarder, 1959 - 1966)
  
  

• CASTRA DAII MAGNI sums up Iolo for me. The camp at Llangorse was no reflection of Caesar's conquest of Gaul, but rather a place where, for ten days, Iolo was Primus inter Pares. He gained satisfaction from providing a unique opportunity for boys to experience the outdoor world, and the "chaps" benefitted from his style of leadership.
  MAGNUS is the word that I associate with him - great in stature, erudition and kindness.  His flag continues to fly.   (John Beynon, 1963 - 1970)
  
  

•  I too was saddened to read about Iolo Davies, although there only a short while I can well recall him. He once overheard a few of us discussing "Sniffy" Pugh, and suggested we referred to him as Mr Pugh.
  Coming from a small village school it was something of a culture shock seeing these masters in flowing gowns and mortar boards etc etc. I became an avid eater of walnut whirls as sold at the tuck shop. Good memories. (David Roberts ma 1961-62)
  
  

• Iolo did a lot for me as he urged me to join the Air Training Corps at St Athan from where my career developed.  I work as a pilot for Thomas Cook after serving 19 years in the RAF as a pilot.  I changed base from Gatwick last year to work from Cardiff and now live in Pontyclun. I saw Iolo about a year ago when he was visiting his niece near Salisbury.  (Karl Plummer (boarder 1967-74))
  
  

•  In the fifth and sixth form I studied Classics under Iolo Davies (and learned so much about doing the Times Crossword from him).He also did a huge amount in driving many of us to concerts where we sang with the Dinas Powys Choral Society, or operas in Cardiff. And always backstage in school plays.
  Only this afternoon, I had a sudden urge to Google Iolo's name, and, of course, came across this very sad news. I should very much like to attend the funeral service on June 20th. A truly great teacher.  ( Nick Beeson   1965-1972)
  

• Iolo made me most welcome when I joined the staff of Cowbridge Grammar School in 1956as Head of the newly established department of Biological Sciences. My task was to tutor those boys wishing to study medicine or related sciences at university, in the appropriate biological science at A level. I spent four very happy years at Cowbridge before moving on to a lectureship appointment in Cardiff.  Although the introduction of Biological Sciences into the school's cirriculum at that time was a million miles from Iolo's classical background, we shared one thing in common - Cowbridge Grammar School was the best!.   Although I left in 1960 for a post in higher education, I shall always have fond memories of Iolo and all his colleagues.

   

  An account of my time at Cowbridge Grammar School is recorded in the autobiographical publication "All my Yesterdays", published by Athena Press in October 2007    (John Marsden)
  
  

• Very sorry to hear of Iolo's death.I started at CGS the same year as Iolo.He helped me in many ways and became a friend of the family calling at my parent's farm in ST Nicholas, and then would walk, his long loping walk back to CGS.
  David Evans (Evans septimus)
  
  

• Iolo was my junior ancient history teacher 1955; Form teacher 1955-1960; House/Boarding master 1955-1962.   He attended my wedding in 1965, gave me a kitchen clock which reminded me of him for the next 20 years.
  He encouraged me and valued me as a scholar, athlete and a human being.  In some ways I felt he loved me as a son.
  He understood and lived consistently his view of learning as not primarily passing exams, but developing responsibility, respect and above all relationship.
  In early Nov 2008 I visited him at his residential home in Cheltenham.  I was returning from running the New York marathon with my son.  I was so proud for my son to meet the man who had influenced the life of his Dad so greatly.  We had a photo taken with my NY medal and Iolo said, as he had said so often before, "Well done dear boy".  I knew I owed him so much for his gerat inspiration.
  In March 2009 I visited Iolo in hospital in Cheltenham.  It was to be our last time together before the sands of his earthly life ran out, and the dawn of heaven broke.
  He wrote of Churchill (1965), the man of the century, "There is no other like him, he is gone, do not forget his praise."  For me Iolo was the teacher of the century, there was no other like him.  He was never self-serving, his was a consistent selfless care for others.  He never sought adulation or reward but - let us not forget his praise. (Max Scott-Cook)
  
  
• I was so sorry to hear of Iolo’s demise. He was my House/Boarding master from 1955 to 1962 but, more than that, he was a persistent support and source of encouragement in so many ways: the Lion magazine; the Harriers; my personal decision to play tennis instead of cricket and thereby not compete with my father’s school record; my early dilatory exam results which only motivated him to inspire me to apply myself and eventually become a solicitor and even play rugby at first class levels.
  
  My love for cross country running returned after my fiftieth birthday and I ran marathons with my two daughters, culminating in the Chicago Marathon where we finished and I thanked Iolo for having introduced to what came to be therapy for me.
  Since 1984 I have lived in Cancun, Mexico with my family (daughters being in New York and Mexico City, respectively) so I never had the opportunity of seeing Iolo since his return to teaching in Cheltenham, but Peter Cobb had kept me informed of his well being.
  
  Maxie Scott-Cook’s words from Iolo’s tribute to Churchill are, indeed, well chosen.
  (Robin Hammond )
  
  
• Iolo was a remarkable man - the energy, the commitment to others, the acuity, the learning, the good humour. It was a privilege to be his pupil, and his friend. A footnote to Richard Lewis' message: Iolo brought skills to 'The Lion' which he seems to have started acquiring in his own youth, as editor of the Swansea Grammar magazine; on his appointment, there was a handing-over meeting at which the job was explained to him by the outgoing editor, an older boy - one Dylan Thomas.
  Gerard Livingstone ('64-'70)