Alumni
We Want You!
We have been asked many times over the years, if we knew what happened to one past pupil or another, so have decided to set up an
‘Alumni Database’.
Please send us an email if you would like to be included, or alternatively drop us a line or two about yourself and we will post it on this page, we would love to hear from you.
Old School Photos
If you have any photos of when you were at St John’s, we would love to have a copy to post here on the Alumni Page.
 | John Rosser Our sporting tradition was celebrated with a visit from past pupil and former captain of the school’s football team, Mr John Rosser, of Cowbridge. Mr Rosser attended St John’s in the 1950s and presented the school with a framed photograph of the 1957 football team. In that year Mr Rosser also won the coveted Victor Ludorum cup (winner of the school sports day competition) Mr Rosser also told the pupils about another member of the school’s 1957 football team, former England test cricketer Graham Roope. |
| Dr Patrick J Thompson 1943 - 1946 I was one of the resident "toads beneath the harrow" from 1943 to 1946. The Headmaster was a Mr Fitzmaurice. My particular memory was of Mr PD Lewis - an irascible old gent, but a superb teacher. One wrong move in his class, and you were called "Humbug", and forcibly ejected by the scruff od the neck - yes, masters could do that in those days! Nevertheless, I have Mr Lewis to thank for a lifelong appreciation of the English language |
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| Malcolm Blake 1945 - 1952 I remember my seven years as a boarder at St. Johns with very fond memories. The headmster was Major Russell, a bit of a taskmaster but very fair. The highlight of my time at St. Johns was my final year when I was elected to be head boy - oh, the power!! The educational grounding that I received was without doubt the reason for whatever success that I had in later life. I often wonder what happened to my school friends. I would love to hear from anybody who remembers me - I can be contacted via the school office. I have been living in Southern California (San Diego) for the last twenty years, and am now semi retired. Very happily married, with two beautiful daughters and four grandchildren. Life is good. |
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 | ALice Mnacgillivary Pictured here is Alice Macgillivray, a former boarding pupil of St. John's. She now has a degree in broadcasting and journalism. Currently she is in the final of the Miss Wales. As a sufferer herself of Multiple Schlerosis she is raising funds for the MS society and is looking for people to sponsor her run in the Blackpool Marathon on June 4th. As part of the Miss Wales competition she is involved in raising funds for Save the Children and because of this we are holding a non-uniform day in school next Friday 26th May. There will also be a silent auction for a signed Swansea FC football and some other small competitions organised by pupils. We hope to raise a good amount for the charity. Alice is also looking for a sponsor to help her take part in the Miss Wales contest. |
 | Rob Brydon Rob has fond memories of his days at St John's, from the age of five - his parents still proudly show his photograph in his red and brown cap and blazer! Mrs Morgans had a great day on Saturday as part of the audience for a comedy sketch about his schooldays, to be shown on BBC television later in the year. Rob hopes to be able to visit St John's in the Summer Term and catch up with his past - and we won't divulge how long ago that was! |
| Jonathan Webb (Pupil 1994 - 1999) I spent a very enjoyable 5 years at St Johns benefiting from the small class sizes and the excellent teaching. I returned to St Johns during my year out as the "Gap Year" student which was a fantastic experience if a little bewildering to start with being in the staff room with teachers who had taught me only a couple of years before! My time at St Johns prepared me for my further studies at Christ College Brecon and my university life at Royal Holloway University of London where I read History. At the present I am doing a law conversion course at the College of Law in Guildford and then I am going to go to the Cardiff Law School to complete my Bar Vocational Course to become a barrister. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to St Johns for all the help that I received whilst I was a pupil. The school deserves all the plaudits that it receives and I hope that it continues to prosper and provide the same excellent teaching and grounding that I experienced as a pupil. |
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| Emily Walford(Pupil 1987-1993) I have been in touch previously around a year ago for the first time since I Left. I was a full time border from the age of 7 with Kemi, Nicola and Andrea (still remember their names) the first girl borders. We live in a bungalow across the was from the main building which I know has now been knocked down. We had many matrons once Helen left and none of them could cope as we would make if quite difficult for them. Miss Ledwell is still with you I believe, which is quite impressive. I can remember the scariest one which was Mrs Evans with her floppy slippers, as you would hear when she was near. Mrs Speed, Mrs Owens, Miss Ledwell and Mrs Roberts were wonderful. I was head of the Briton and we won Sports Day that year. I seem to remember also winning the Victrix Ludorum for 3 years in a row. I have very fond memories of the friends I made and also of the teachers who are some are still present, Mr Gatt, Mr Whilkes, Mrs Hughes, Mrs Morgans, Mrs Lougher and Mrs Reffell. Would love a reunion at some point to catch up with people I have lost touch with. I was quite sad when I found out St John's was no longer a boarding school as I spent many great times there. I am currently working for Trafficmaster plc as a Dealer Account Manager in Milton Keynes |
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| Samantha Marshall (Pupil 1992-1997) It's good to see that St John's is still going strong, I had some wonderful years there as a pupil and a boarder before beginning school in Edinburgh. I really feel that without the guidance from the teachers and boarding staff I wouldn't be where I am today. I would especially like to thank Mrs Hughes for helping me develop a love of English, which I am currently studying and Glasgow University. The years of drama, netball, rounders and standing against the naughty wall at break time are all fond memories. I made some wonderful friends... Debbie Rix where are you? I hope the Saxons are still holding strong and the Victrix Ludorum is still being passed down. |
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| Daf Pugh Williams (Pupil 1996-2000) I have been inspired by several mini reunions on my travels through the various public houses in Cowbridge and other towns of South Wales to look the school up on the net. It was fantastic to see some of the updates from past pupils and great to see everyone is doing well and fondly recalling their time at the school. Since leaving after GCSE's in 2000 I have done my a-levels at Cowbridge and gained a place at the University of Durham studying business. Prior to uni I undertook a gap year where i achieved my qualifications as a ski instructor and did a bit of travelling in oz and New Zealand. I'm still playing rugby for uni and town, although as Huw Lougher and the other Cowbridge RFC former St Johns boys will testify, am enjoying the social aspects of the game rather than the fitness side of things (I am addressing that balance this summer I hope) I was reminiscing about my times at St Johns recently. It was really a great crack. The staff were excellent. I still use the odd Geography case study, the lessons I learnt have stuck, well mostly. Unfortunately I haven't really kept in touch with as many people as I would have liked and was wondering as to whether there are any reunions on the horizon? It'd be great to see the people from my St Johns days again. |
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 | Victoria Morgan One of the best ever GCSE students at ICT in St John's School, Newton was our head girl Victoria Morgan. Victoria was invited to the National Assembly in September to receive a Regional ASTAR Award for her outstanding result and was also invited to the national awards at the Victoria and Albert museum on November 16th. Katy Hill (of Blue Peter fame) officiated at the event which was sponsored by a number of leading firms in the computer industry. Everyone enjoyed the occasion immensely and it was probably the first champagne reception that most of the young people had ever attended. The photograph shows Victoria being congratulated by Katy Hill. |
| Ceri James Ex pupil Ceri James is Head Girl of Cowbridge Comprehensive School this year. Her mum tells us that she completed her Duke of Edinburgh's Gold award expedition in the summer. For her gold award she now only needs to complete her skill assignment and Ceri has chosen the Student Cooking module! Well done Ceri, we wish you well for the future. |
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| Frazer James (Pupil 1970-1973) Being an extremely shy boy, boarding at St John's in the 70's gave me the strength of confidence to go forward in life, able to mix with anybody and handle any situation I have since found myself in. |
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| Huw Lougher (Pupil 1988-1999) I spent 11 Years at St John's and am now at University studying for a Degree in Product Design. Some of my closest friendships were made at St John's. The small classes and constant encouragement of the teachers enabled me to achieve grades that I can still be really proud of. I will always have fond memories of the Years I spent there. Hope the Britons are still doing well; I was once House Captain! |
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| Peter Morris (Pupil 1988-2000) St John's was the foundation of my childhood. The teachers helped me enormously with my dyslexia, enabling me to gain GCSE grades I never thought possible. My memories are all happy ones! |
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| Rhys Lougher (Pupil 1987-1997) I was in the first Year going through to GCSE, so we were a bit of an "experiment" really. Mr Hughes always used to tell us that we were the Pioneers. Luckily, the teachers who already knew us led us all through to a superb set of first GCSE results for St John's. My funniest memory? My friend, Shane melting a plastic beaker on a Bunsen burner! |
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| Simon Judd I will never forget the colours of the St John's rugby shirt and have still got a 'thing' about the red/brown Combo..! |
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| Peter Rogers (Former Wales Prop) St John's a fantastic start in life! My first memory of St John's was picking up a rugby ball on the bottom field - this was the start of something wonderful for me! My success on the field, influenced by great sportsmanship, gained me a scholarship and a fine accounting career. Both of these evolved from the educational discipline experienced during my Years at St John's. |
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 | Victoria Morgan (Pupil 1996-2004) I have always played for the school netball and rounders team, which helped me to get selected for the U14 Netball County Squad. I started running when a St John's parent came up to me in Sports Day and advised me to join an athletics club, I have now been running for 6 Years. I have run for Cardiff Athletics Club and Glamorgan Valleys County, and in 2000 became the Welsh Champion over 100m, I also came 2nd in 200m. In 2003 I came 3rd in the Welsh Indoor Championships. My highlight of last Year was being able to represent my country in an International Event. I was selected to do the 200m and the 4 x 100m Relay but to get there I had to undergo a series of qualifying competitions and St John's supported me all the way. Knowing that they were proud of my achievements made me strive to succeed even more. I recently gained an all rounder scholarship to Millfield School, to do my A Levels and am still continuing with my running. I believe St John's has helped me to be the person I am today. They have enabled me to gain, not only a good set of GCSE results but given me the strength, confidence and determination that I have today and which will help me in my future Years. I can't thank the teachers and the school enough. |
| Owain Bailey (Pupil 1985-1997) The small class sizes and excellent teacher:pupil ratio, facilitated the detection of and assistance with my Dyslexia at an early age, to the extent that it is no longer a hindrance to me in my PhD studies. The Geography Department at St John's captured my interest at an early age through outstanding teaching both in the classroom and on field trips, providing me with an excellent geographical grounding for 'A' Level, my undergraduate degree and my current Glaciology Doctoral research. Tell Mike Gatt if ever he is looking for someone to do a physical geaography talk, to give me a shout as I would be more than happy to share some of my current research! |
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| Owen W Rayment (Pupil 1945 - 1948) Having reached the age of maturity and retirement I now have time for reflection. Many and varied have been my experiences in life and through all 'ups and downs' I look back over happy and fulfilled years. At the young age of ten I was privileged to attend St John's School, Porthcawl. For the next few years ahead I was to receive a good solid foundation both morally and spiritually. After an apprenticeship in the building industry, I, like thousands of others entered the armed forces to do two years national service. I started my own business in 1958 which lasted for 43 years. As time slips by and retirement starts to raise its ugly head, the future years take on a different role. I joined Gideon's International as my belief in God became stronger than ever and knowing Jesus as my Saviour is central to my life. I joined the Association of Prison Visitors and was also invited to take over the leadership of the Hospital Christian Fellowship at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend. There is no doubt in my mind that the years that I spent at St John's School enabled me to have the qualities to give back to society a little of what the school gave me. St John's I thank you. |
