Elwyn Jenkins - Fishguard County School prizewinner

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A copy of Scott's Kenilworth

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Some photos have recently been sent to the website, of two books which were awarded to a pupil of Fishguard County School in recognition of his attainment. Amazingly the books were purchased in a second hand book store in British Columbia, Canada some forty years ago.

Elwyn Jenkins was the young man’s name and in 1916 he was presented with a copy of Sir Walter Scott’s Kenilworth for his success in the midsummer Central Welsh Board Examinations. This was followed up the following year by a second presentation for the English Prize in midsummer 1917. The Headmaster at this time was Owen Gledhill and his name is on the flyleaf.

But who was Elwyn Jenkins?

Well, his full name was actually Thomas Elwyn Maurice Jenkins and he was the third son of Captain Daniel Jenkins and his wife, Elizabeth Ann.  His parents and older brothers were born in Dinas – his mother was the daughter of Reverend W. Maurice who was the minister at Tabor for many years.  Elwyn was born in Birkenhead where his family resided for some time  before returning to live in Dinas in 1904.

Upon leaving school, Elwyn joined the Merchant Navy and received his First Mate’s certificate in 1926. Like his grandfather, father and brothers before him, he went on to become a Master Mariner  and served in the Merchant Navy during WW2.

Post  WW2 he was Captain of various vessels and records show that he frequently crossed the Atlantic and sailed into the Port of Montreal.

After a no doubt adventurous career at sea, it appears that in later life he settled in Flintshire where he died in 1972 aged 69 years.