"Roger Bevan was the first headmaster of the Catholic school of St Mary and St Benedict. Roger Bevan's dream was to use his considerable musical talents to run a choir school.

Fr Beddoes wanted a Catholic school for his flock. Crescent House in Newtown was bought and the plan was for a boarding/prep school with a day department for local Catholic children, but as Fr Beddoes himself put it, "Deo alter visum."

Eventually Crescent House became too small and Dolerw the home of the Pryce Jones family, was bought in 1948 from Sir Victor Pryce Jones, the sole survivor of that family.

Before the school could move in, however, the County Council issued a compulsory purchase order on the property. There was an appeal and Father secured the services of a leading barrister, Mr Burke K.C. who routed the opposition.

They then decided to apply to the Ministry of Education for recognition as an efficient school and eventually a team of Inspectors arrived. During the summer term of '52 the news came that St Mary's had been recognised as an efficient school, so another procession and Mass of thanksgiving followed.

The Church and school were always closely linked, the staff involved in the Liturgy and the children forming the choir.

In July 1953 Roger accepted a post as Director of Music at Downside and the Bevan family left Newtown. For the next six years Fr Beddoes acted as head of the school and was sent help in the form of a succession of curates.

First came Fr David Bottrill, (now Monsignor Bottrill), a gentle and charming young priest, much loved by the children and parishioners alike.

Fr Beddoes and Fr David between them ran the parish and the school, with the help of teachers such as Mr Leo Pentony and Miss Scholley. When Fr David left to take up work in Llanelli parish, Fr Pat Fenton arrived from Ireland.

He in turn was followed by Fr Peter Wilkie (our current priest) and he was succeeded by Fr Robert McKenna. All these young priests taught in the school as well as helping Fr Beddoes run his growing parish.

However, by 1958 Fr Beddoes' money had run out and he could no longer afford to maintain the school, but had secured a teaching order of nuns to come and run the school and so the Sisters of the Society of the Holy Child, Jesus, came to Newtown in 1958, eventually to reside at Dolerw and conduct the school while Fr Beddoes moved into the presbytery although he still remained closely involved with the school.

Thus Fr Beddoes was released to care for his ever-increasing parish work, while the school was cared for, in his words, "with charm and efficiency by the Holy Child nuns."

A good Catholic education continued to be provided with discipline tempered with kindness and the sisters quickly made a niche for themselves in Newtown, much loved by all the parishioners and respected by the whole local community, in which they have always been closely involved.

They continued in this role until 1994, when the last of the teaching sisters in Newtown, Sister Stella, retired and the school passed from their hands to be run with enthusiasm by Mr Peter Lymer, the headmaster who retired in 2003.

The current head teacher is Mrs Barbara Legge under whose leadership the school continues to offer high quality education in a caring, Christian environment to children whose parents wish them to attend the only faith school in the area.

As well as meeting the needs of the local community, the school has recently welcomed pupils from further afield including Gozo, Poland and India, all of whom soon establish friendships with their fellow pupils whose behaviour and positive attitudes to learning continue to be praised by visitors, parishioners, staff and governors."

Article by Paul Lane and Barbara Legge