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1956 - 1996
On 13th March 1958, after 4 years of Headship, Mr P T Williams died suddenly. He was a highly respected and much
liked man who had a very good rapport with both staff and children alike. The Deputy Head, Mr D I Thomas took over
temporarily until a new Headmaster was found, and quoted “The children have lost a true friend, and the staff have
also suffered a great loss. It is his going that leaves us the sadder.”
 In 1958 Mr B Bowyer took over the Headship. Mr Bowyer was from a family of 4
brothers all of whom became teachers. He trained at Bangor Normal College and taught first in Manchester,
where he coached the Manchester Schoolboys Football Team, producing future internationals such as Stan Pearson
of Manchester United.
Mr Bowyer’s staff at this time were; Miss Allen (top class), Mr Hywel Jones (Welsh Hockey International
goalkeeper), Mr Blease, Miss Mary Birtwhistle and Mrs Williams. One student from this era remembers Mr Bowyer as
having ‘a shiny bald head and a bad temper’.
The school system as it was then went from Infants to class 10 and then in descending order up to class 1. It
was a two-tiered system with, A-stream pupils being in the odd numbered classes. One of the teachers who taught in
the A-stream was Mr Hwyel Jones, who expected a high standard of discipline and because of this his students
achieved a high level of results. As well as the A-stream, there were also the B-stream pupils in the even numbered
classes, who were taught by Mr Emyr Thomas. Once a child was put into one stream or the other it was virtually
impossible to change. When the A-stream children reached class 1, they would sit the 11 plus examination and if
they passed this exam they would then go on to the Grammar School, which was Eirias. The children who were in the
B-stream went to the Secondary Modern School which was Pendorlan or to the Llandrillo Technical College. Exams were
taken every Friday afternoon in the school and you were seated afterwards in the order in which you came in the
exams. If you were in the bottom of the class then you would have to sit at the bottom desk. The majority of pupils
who were always sitting at the top end of the class were the boys. (I don't remember that
bit at all !!!! Shirley )
Miss Birtwhistle would take the girls for sewing in what is the present
attic room, were the girls were required to make a variety of clothing garments as well as teacloths, napkins and
more.
At this time the children were allowed to listen to the BBC Services to Schools on the radio, where they would
learn traditional songs. One of the traditional hymns of this time was ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’, which is
still a favourite at the school now.
Mr E. Thomas took over as Headmaster in January of 1969, he would be the last Headteacher to take the helm over
Conway Road as a Junior school. He was involved with the discussions involving the 3 new junior schools to be
introduced in Colwyn Bay, Ysgol Cwstenin in Mochdre, Ysgol Pen-Y-Bryn in Colwyn Heights and Ysgol Pendorlan in
Colwyn Bay center. However Pen-Y-Bryn was to come at a later date. These schools were introduced to accommodate the
overwhelming number of children in Conway Road School, but also the senior children in Eirias School. Bryn Elian
was built to accommodate some of the secondary age children, and the old Central Colwyn Bay School (on the
Pendorlan site) was knocked down and rebuilt to become a junior school as well as Ysgol Cwstenin, leaving Conway
Road to become an Infant school. He acted as Headmaster to these 3 schools during the transition stage. He was
based in Pendorlan and would visit Conway Road once a week to take Assemblies or for any special occasions, so Mrs
Bryon Williams was appointed as the senior teacher in charge of the school in his absence until a new Head was
appointed.
At this time there were 550 pupils attending Conway Road School and due to this huge amount of children the
school was severely overcrowded. In 1970/71, 2 classes were put into a mobile outside what is now Year 2’s
classroom. The land at the back of the school was then opened and tarmaced and 5 new classes were put into 4
mobiles to accommodate the ever increasing numbers. At one stage the old staffroom building across the yard was
used for the infant classes. There were now 5 mobiles on the school premises as well as the 11 classrooms in the
school building and some classes were taught in 2 churches close to the school, St.Andrew’s on King’s Road and
Hemron church in Rhos (just off the A55). This was only for a short time. The children would report to Conway Road
premises for Assemblies and other incidental functions and activities, such as sports days, concerts, prize giving
ceremonies and other events. The registers would be taken on the church premises every morning.
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