I AM currently researching past pupils of Gladstone School who made a name for themselves either in school or afterwards.

One such person is Sir Harold Finch MP and sadly it would appear not a great deal is known about the gentleman in Barry.

Coincidentally I have recently found out that he opened Brecon Court, Barry, in 1965. In recent months the Residents Lounge at Brecon Court has been refurbished and was officially re-opened recently.

The Vale Council, knowing of my interest in Sir Harold Finch, kindly invited me to attend the function which was very enjoyable.

I remember the building of Brecon Court in the mid- 1960s. I lived nearby and was able to observe its construction, passing it daily to go to work at Midland Silicones.

Located between Cornwall Road and Dyfan Road, it was part of the Borough of Barry's plans for the accommodation of elderly people. During the 1939-45 war, on what is now Cornwall Road, a mobile anti-aircraft gun was occasionally positioned.

The immediate locality was serviced by allotments and quite near were orchards belonging to the Fouracre family. The orchards are remembered in the nearby street name of Orchard Drive.

The construction of Brecon Court was in two storeys, with a balcony, at a cost of £90,0000. Accommodation comprised 31 units, which included a flat for the warden. In addition there were visitors' rooms and a common room.

Accompanied by the mayor of Barry, Alderman RD Williams JP, Harold J Finch MP officially opened Brecon Court on October 8, 1965.

At that time Harold Finch was under-secretary of state at the Welsh Office. I did not appreciate the significance of this event in the history of Barry.

In addition to the history of the Finch family there are links to the respective histories of Holton and Gladstone schools, Methodism in Barry Dock and the Barry Railway, together with politics locally and at Westminster.

Harold Josiah Finch was born in Barry Dock. His parents Josiah Coleman Finch and Emily Finch, nee Kidwell, set up home in Evans Street and later in Woodlands Road.

Harold was the eldest of seven children. He started school at what we now know as Holton Road School, which was then two schools - Pyke Street and Court Road Schools. They became known as Holton Road School when Gladstone Road School opened in 1907.

The young Harold Finch transferred to Gladstone along with many other boys and girls from his neighbourhood.

He was brought up in a religious family who attended the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Holton Road. Today, Lloyds TSB Bank and Peacocks occupy this location.

Holton Road Methodist joined with Court Road Methodist to form what is now Crossway Methodist Church. Josiah Finch was a Sunday School teacher at Holton Road whilst Mrs Finch, who had a strong evangelical outlook, was interested in the temperance movement. In 1912, age 14, Harold Finch left Gladstone School and, following in his father's footsteps, took up employment with the Barry Railway Company. He was a clerk in the goods department on a wage of 7/6d a week.

The buildings in which he worked stand today at the western end of No 1 Dock and are known as the Gwalia Buildings.

Harold studied shorthand, book-keeping and typing at evening classes, practising his shorthand speed by taking notes of the sermons in chapel. Having seen his father become secretary of the ASRS (Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants) it was not surprising that he took an interest in trade union affairs. At 17 he became secretary of the Barry branch of the Railway Clerks' Association. He later became clerk at the Tredegar Valley Miners' District office at Blackwood.

Harold was very proud of his father who in 1919 became the first Labour party member to represent Barry on Glamorgan County Council.

Harold was destined to move into the political arena. He progressed to the compensations department of the South Wales Miners' Federation, he became a trade union official of the National Union of Mineworkers and in 1922 he became a member of Mynyddislwyn Urban District Council.

In 1955 he was elected as Labour MP for the Bedwellty division of Monmouthshire and remained so until retirement in 1970.

He was parliamentary under secretary at the Welsh Office from 1964-1966 and also opposition spokesman on fuel and power.

In the 1976 Queen's Birthday Honours he was knighted for his services to the trade union movement and politics and became the first 'Freeman' of Islwyn Borough Council.

Sir Harold Finch was highly thought of in the area of Mynyddislwyn, Bedwellty and Tredegar and in 1982 the Sir Harold Finch Memorial Park was created in his memory at Pontllanfraith. The 'Park', outside the council offices at Pontllanfraith, occupies some 4.5 hectares.

The majority has been designated as a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) in recognition of its conservation value as a traditionally managed hay meadow.

I am indebted to the late Vera Tugwell and her family for their hospitality and willingness to talk about 'The Finch Family' during my frequent visits. Vera was very proud of all her brothers and sisters and the fact that they all attended Gladstone School.

Outside of her family, Vera was possibly best remembered as the 'ticket lady' at Barry Island Fair Ground in the days of the Rogers family.

John Chucas Barry