Two former pupils of St Cenydd Comprehensive School have been awarded £1,000 from a memorial trust set-up to honour the victims of the 1913 Universal Colliery disaster.
Film maker Andrew Gough, 23, and drama student Jess Jones, 21, each received £500 from the Senghenydd Memorial Award trust to help them with their chosen careers.
Andrew, a former student of Newport Film School, will use the money towards buying equipment while Jess’ award will help with university living expenses and fees as he studies at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama.
Jess, from Trecenydd, said: “It can be really hard juggling studies and part-time work so this award will help so much – it’s a boost.”
The Senghenydd Memorial Award was established 25 years ago to celebrate the founding of St Cenydd, or Groeswen as it was known then, and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Senghenydd’s Universal Colliery disaster of 1913 in which 440 people died.
For Andrew, the award is particularly poignant because of a personal connection to the disaster. One hundred years ago his great grandfather John Walters decided not to go to work at the colliery after a rough night with his baby daughter keeping him up.
The decision undoubtedly saved his life and the story was retold in an RTS award-winning documentary that Andrew produced last year.
He said: “I grew up in Senghenydd and my great grandfather was lucky not to be in the explosion. It’s a great honour to accept the award and the money will help me equipment for my career.”
Mr DB Davies, a former deputy head at the school, is part of the committee which decides the awards.
He said: “Since 1992 we have given 36 awards to past pupils. The committee was unanimous in awarding Andrew and Jess awards this year.”
Fellow committee member Liz Lloyd, who presented the awards, added: “I am delighted to present them both with the awards – both deserve it.”