One of Cardiff’s best known schools, whose past pupils world boxing champion Joe Cordina, is celebrating its 100th academic year. And to mark the occasion St Illtyd’s Catholic High School will be holding a centenary dinner at the Principality Stadium on May 10th.
Other alumni of the school include former chair of the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board Walter Marshall (Baron Marshall of Goring), entrepreneur and Cardiff City director Steve Borley and former principal investigator on research projects for NASA Tim Killeen.
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From the world of sport rugby players Alex Finlayson, Martyn Madden, Dan Fish and David Bishop and Welsh football internationals Katie Sherwood and Laura O’ Sullivan, also attend the school.
As well as the current world featherweight champion Joe Cordina the late former British heavyweight champion Jack Petersen was a pupil. The late Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn, author and poet Danny Abse, broadcaster Vincent Kane and rock music bassist Pino Paladino, also attended.
Illtyd’s College was founded in the Splott areas of the city in 1923, when the De La Salle Brothers came to Cardiff at the invitation of the then Archbishop Mostyn to open what the first Roman Catholic grammar school for boys in Wales.
Such was demand for places that its drew students not just from the city but from Newport, Barry, the Valleys and a far west at Port Talbot.
It’s distinctive blazer of green and gold, dating back to the 1920s, still remains one of the city's most iconic school uniforms.
The main school building was badly damaged by German bombing during the Second World War. Severe overcrowding due to the damage continued after the war and with growing pupil demand the school moved to its current location on Newport Road in Rumney.
St Illtyd’s was merged with Heathfield House, a Roman Catholic grammar school for girls, in 1987 as part of the re-organisation of catholic education. Sixth form provision was later transferred to the to St David’s Catholic College situated in the vacated Heathfield campus on Ty Gwyn Road.
The school’s current headteacher, David Thomas, said: “Lifelong friendships and memories are made at school and the centenary dinner is a chance for us to meet old friends and remember fellow pupils, teachers, parents, clergy and support staff who have contributed to the success of St Illtyd’s Catholic High School throughout the last 100 years. It should be an amazing night.”
The dinner at the stadium’s President’s Suite, has spaces for 285. Tickets cost £65 with a formal dress code.
