We are often delighted to see old Groggs brought back to their birthplace but some are more special than others. Especially those pieces which bring back particular memories or are significant milestones to their makers. My memories of the dragon I made as a ten year old boy in junior school is one of these special pieces although if truth be told not as sophisticated as my old head has imagined over the years. The dragon was made and entered into a schools art competition to celebrate the investiture of Prince Charles in 1969. The idea to do so was my Parc Lewis junior schools Headmaster Mr Evans who had no doubt heard great things about my “abilities” from my doting mother who was teaching in the infant’s school across the yard. However Mr Evans was no fool. Literally an old school headmaster he only allowed me to work on the dragon in his presence and on the school premises to make sure I had no help from Dad! However when the piece was finished I can vividly remember being taken to each classroom in the Junior school building as Mr Evans sang my praises to each class one by one….describing how I had made my creation using only my bare hands and some wooden modelling tools. As you can imagine this was a little nerve racking for me but it’s something I have never forgotten. The dragon went on to win first prize in its age group and I was given the choice of either a one pound premium bond or the cash in hand. One pound was a lot to a ten year old in 1969 and I had already spent it many times over in my head….. however I was convinced that the premium bond was a sure fire investment and one day may make me a very rich man.
Headmaster Joseph Gwyn Evans picture courtesy of Richard Evans
I can remember my grandmother checking to see if I’d won a million every week as the winners were posted in the newspaper but I soon forgot my moment in the spotlight and got on with being a naughty schoolboy…. until Mr Evans grandson Richard reunited me and my only prize winning Grogg 46 years later. I had no idea my rather imposing headmaster had kept my “investiture dragon” and passed it on to his family where it has been ever since. Many thanks to Richard and his family for leaving his heirloom with us where it will be on display in our museum for a while.
Now if I can only find those gorillas and my premium bond!
