ALL good things must come to an end, and so in mid-April the remaining members of Abergavenny Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Association got together for their final Spring Luncheon at the Plas Derwen.

But what a trip it’s been! These ladies belong to a group that has been wining, dining, and doing stuff to raise money for worthwhile causes for nearly a century.

In fact, they’ve been together for 99 years, but due to the ill-health of some of its members and other difficulties, the association decided it was best to bow out just short of a century together.

The Association has certainly come a long way since that distant day in April 1919 when a meeting was held to make a presentation to a member of the teaching staff who was emigrating to Australia.

The success of that meeting let to the formation of the Old Girls’ Association to “foster a spirit of fellowship among old girls of the school.”

In its early days the Association run a tennis and hockey club and indulged in other activities such as keep fit, country dancing, play reading and productions, badminton, table tennis, whit drives and bridge games.

Alas, all these extra activities have ceased over the years as former pupils moved away, married, and found employment elsewhere.

However, the Association remained active, continued to thrive, and was still thriving until their last hurrah!

The Association has always been non-profit making and any funds raised in the course of a year were donated to charitable causes, plus a donation was always sent to King Henry VIII School.

The Association’s Secretary Christine Gething told the Chronicle, “Just prior to disbanding we had 73 members, spread far and wide, most of whom can truly be described as ‘old girls’.

“It was planned that the Association would continue until the Centenary in 2019. However, at the AGM in September of last year, several officers and committee members felt unable to commit to another two years. As no nominations for replacements were received there was a long discussion regarding the future of the Association.

“It was therefore reluctantly, but unanimously agreed, that the Association would be disbanded at the Spring Lunch in 2018.”

It is one of fate’s little ironies that the school buildings and grounds which gave birth to the Abergavenny Old Girls’ Association, still remains one of the most popular educational establishments in Abergavenny and will no doubt continue to prosper and blaze a trail for years to come.

It’s now known as Cantref Primary, but way back in 1898 when it was founded it was named The Girls County Intermediate School, and from its Harold Road base it served the whole of Monmouthshire.

When its doors initially opened, it housed 60 fee-paying pupils, rising quickly to 168 by 1919, and that number rose to 250 in subsequent years.

During these years the school buildings were expanded and extended to take into account the increased educational subjects and sporting and artistic facilities offered to the girls.

The Butler Act of 1944 abolished fees and subsequently all girls were recruited through the the County Grading Examination (The 11 plus).

Between 1944 and 1958 there was ongoing debate in Abergavenny regarding the building of a new multilateral school for both boys and girls of 11 years-of-age and upwards. Despite strong opposition, the plan was ultimately approved.

In the following years, the staged merging of King Henry VIII Boys Grammar School, the Grofield Secondary Modern School and the Girls’ County High School resulted in the establishment of a large comprehensive school, known today as the King Henry VIII School.

During the last decade, the Harold Building has undergone several modernizations and refurbishments, but it has always retained its original facade and has never strayed from its original task - to educate young minds.