Dr. Donald. John. Bratton. Summers C.B.E
Dr. Summers 1959 -1975
Dr. Summers was the first and last Head teacher of the Grammar school.) and renowned for his historical nature of teaching, i.e., he had his own chair, headmasters gown and his cane, which "was to be used on very rare occasions".
Dr. Summers was born on the 4th October 1909 in Newport, Monmouth and was the only son of Frederick John Summers, a boot and shoe retailer, of 186 Chepstow Road, Newport.
He was educated at Eveswell Primary then, Newport High School was Queens hill High Coincidently the same as Mr Pomeroy, Mr Summers stayed into further education, (their 6th form (VI) and was part of Form A).
At the age of 16 (1925), he sat his school certificates (an older version of As or O level) the year beginning 1924, with the Central Welsh Board which was later to become the WJEC, (we still have these exams, if you scroll to the bottom of the page).
His chosen subjects include French, English and Pure Maths, although other examinations maybe be lost such as Chemistry, the exact marks are lost, We know that he did fine on these exams because of his university career....
On the 13th October, 1926 he was admitted to Jesus college, Oxford. After two years study, (1928) was awarded a Welsh Scholarship in Natural Sciences worth £80 a year, the equivalent of £2,397.60 in today’s money, which would be the equivalent of a builders wage for 242 days!, (or one cow).
Dr. Summer's entry in the 'Oxford Historical Register' records that he passed Chemistry Part I in 1931, which made him eligible for the degree of BA. This was conferred at a ceremony on 15th October 1931. He then went on to achieve first class honours in Chemistry Part II in 1932.
The Examination Statutes for 1932-3 state that if the examiners deemed a candidate's work in Chemistry Part II to be worthy of the degree of BSc (a postgraduate research degree), they could authorize him with a certificate which entitled him to supplicate for that degree. Dr. Summers' work evidently met that criteria as the degree of BSc was conferred on 30th July 1932, and that of MA (which at that time required no further study or residence) on 2nd May 1935.
Dr. Summers did not seem to have had a particular interest in any sport but he was Vice-president and then President of the Leoline Jenkins Scientific Club in 1930. The Club was named after a 17th Principal and benefactor of the College. His Tutors were David Leonard Chapman and Herbert John George who were responsible for the successful development of the Chemistry Laboratories in Jesus College.
Chapman was a very eminent Chemist who undertook early work on the rate of explosion in gases and is remembered as the co-discoverer of the "Chapman-Jouget point".
Dr. Summers started teaching in Lincolnshire, and then he became a senior Chemistry master for several years. Soon after that he became Headmaster of “Newport High School” (where he had been a pupil in 1920). He later left to become Head teacher at “Croesyceiliog” in 1959, during which time in the late 60s he was awarded his CBE.
Dr. Summers was known for wearing a traditional Head teacher’s gown, and was known for encouraging students to opt for Chemistry.
Dr. Summers died on the 9th March 1999 (Aged 90), He would have been 100 years old had he lived to 2009, he is survived by his wife and three children.
Elizabeth Arthur recounts that - "He used to stand on top landing of stairs, like a vulture looking down on us, in his long black gown!"
Dr. Summers was the first and last Head teacher of the Grammar school.) and renowned for his historical nature of teaching, i.e., he had his own chair, headmasters gown and his cane, which "was to be used on very rare occasions".
Dr. Summers was born on the 4th October 1909 in Newport, Monmouth and was the only son of Frederick John Summers, a boot and shoe retailer, of 186 Chepstow Road, Newport.
He was educated at Eveswell Primary then, Newport High School was Queens hill High Coincidently the same as Mr Pomeroy, Mr Summers stayed into further education, (their 6th form (VI) and was part of Form A).
At the age of 16 (1925), he sat his school certificates (an older version of As or O level) the year beginning 1924, with the Central Welsh Board which was later to become the WJEC, (we still have these exams, if you scroll to the bottom of the page).
His chosen subjects include French, English and Pure Maths, although other examinations maybe be lost such as Chemistry, the exact marks are lost, We know that he did fine on these exams because of his university career....
On the 13th October, 1926 he was admitted to Jesus college, Oxford. After two years study, (1928) was awarded a Welsh Scholarship in Natural Sciences worth £80 a year, the equivalent of £2,397.60 in today’s money, which would be the equivalent of a builders wage for 242 days!, (or one cow).
Dr. Summer's entry in the 'Oxford Historical Register' records that he passed Chemistry Part I in 1931, which made him eligible for the degree of BA. This was conferred at a ceremony on 15th October 1931. He then went on to achieve first class honours in Chemistry Part II in 1932.
The Examination Statutes for 1932-3 state that if the examiners deemed a candidate's work in Chemistry Part II to be worthy of the degree of BSc (a postgraduate research degree), they could authorize him with a certificate which entitled him to supplicate for that degree. Dr. Summers' work evidently met that criteria as the degree of BSc was conferred on 30th July 1932, and that of MA (which at that time required no further study or residence) on 2nd May 1935.
Dr. Summers did not seem to have had a particular interest in any sport but he was Vice-president and then President of the Leoline Jenkins Scientific Club in 1930. The Club was named after a 17th Principal and benefactor of the College. His Tutors were David Leonard Chapman and Herbert John George who were responsible for the successful development of the Chemistry Laboratories in Jesus College.
Chapman was a very eminent Chemist who undertook early work on the rate of explosion in gases and is remembered as the co-discoverer of the "Chapman-Jouget point".
Dr. Summers started teaching in Lincolnshire, and then he became a senior Chemistry master for several years. Soon after that he became Headmaster of “Newport High School” (where he had been a pupil in 1920). He later left to become Head teacher at “Croesyceiliog” in 1959, during which time in the late 60s he was awarded his CBE.
Dr. Summers was known for wearing a traditional Head teacher’s gown, and was known for encouraging students to opt for Chemistry.
Dr. Summers died on the 9th March 1999 (Aged 90), He would have been 100 years old had he lived to 2009, he is survived by his wife and three children.
Elizabeth Arthur recounts that - "He used to stand on top landing of stairs, like a vulture looking down on us, in his long black gown!"