Roland’s obituaries in ‘The Times’, ‘Guardian’ and ‘Independent’ concentrated almost exclusively on his literary achievements. I submitted a small tribute to The Times, published in ‘Lives in Brief’, pointing out how much I and other pupils of a ‘depressed and’ unemployed Pembroke Dock owed to him. In my own case, to my amazement, and my parents, I managed at 16 years of age to get an Exhibition in History at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. In addition to Roland, we had excellent teachers as well, of course: in particular, I remember the scholarly Dewi Elis-Williams and my friend through all the years, Mr. Islwyn Griffiths.

These Reports are fascinating reading and reveal a man of immense energy and vision in the prime of his life, encouraging every kind of school activity from Rugby to House Drama Competitions, from School Plays to the highlight of the year, The Eisteddfod. I found myself singing, playing the piano etc. and when, as House Captain of Tudor in my final year, we at last beat Glyndwr, it seemed to me as important as my Cambridge award!

Sam Adams in his book on Roland Mathias (page 59) notes that each year in his Speech Day Address he addressed his audience on a major issue. He had to defend his regime from critics who said he expected too much of his pupils and pushed them into too many activities. He addresses his audience in a magisterial but humorous way, with polished prose replete with classical allusions - and quite often with a vocabulary which requires the use of a dictionary! Much of this may have gone over the heads of his audience who were listening but not reading - as I have done – the structured and careful analysis of the situation each year.

These reports cover every detail of the school’s activities – no one of the bigger school team is forgotten. The deaths of local supporters of the school are treated with careful wording: the most mundane details seem of poetic significance. There are fascinating reminders of the move from the Old School in Pembroke Dock to the New School at Bush.

I had forgotten many details of school life revealed in these Reports: we had National Savings collections and targets; somehow, a Kyffin Williams painting was acquired, an Honours Board installed. New Prizes were given: five pounds was a generous donation!