Caleb Rees (1883–1970) was a Welsh school inspector for over forty years and a writer on educational and ecclesiastical topics.

Life

He was born at "Esgairordd", in Whitchurch, Pembrokeshire, the son of Jacob and Mary Rees. His career started after the 'crucible years' of legislation establishing universal education in

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

and his major achievements coincided with the period when LEAs had taken control of all schools following their creation by the

Education Act 1902 The Education Act 1902 ( 2 Edw. 7. c. 42), also known as the Balfour Act, was a highly controversial act of Parliament that set the pattern of elementary education in England and Wales for four decades. It was brought to Parliament by a Conserva ...

. It was as a beneficiary of the earlier 1889 Intermediate Education Act, pre-dating similar legislation in England by a dozen years, that he received his education at Port Talbot Intermediate School and from which he won a scholarship to

University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies f ...

in 1899. He

matriculated Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term ''matriculation'' is seldom used now ...

with first class honours in 1902 winning the Gladstone Memorial Prize Rees went on to gain the Withers Prize at the

University of Manchester The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The University of Manchester is c ...

before returning to Wales as lecturer in education at

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

and gaining an M.A. there in 1909. In 1912 Rees was appointed as one of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools and thereafter spent over forty years in post, responsible initially for Brecon, Monmouth and Newport. Throughout this period he wrote extensively on the theory and practice of education including articles on teaching Welsh in schools. After three years service in the

RNVR The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two Volunteer Reserves (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve (United Kingdom), ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

he became a leading authority on teacher training as inspector of training colleges and university training departments. Later, as deputy Chief Inspector for Wales, he was an influential national representative advising many governing bodies at county level on a wide range of technical issues. In 1922 he married Dr Laura Powell, Medical Officer to the Welsh Board of Health and they made their home in Newport. At the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Rees succeeded Sir Robert Webber as M.O.I Director for Wales MOI Chief Information Officer for Wales 1939
/ref> but in 1943, after ill health obliged him to reduce his workload, he moved to Island House, Laugharne. From that ancient building, even in later semi-retirement, he continued to conduct selection interviews for ex-servicemen and graduates seeking entry into the teaching profession and also wrote several works on ecclesiastical history. He was named after his famous great-grandfather Caleb Morris o

where he was himself elected honorary

Deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian denominations, such as the Cathol ...

and about which he co-authored a history with his brother Stephen in 1959.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rees, Caleb Welsh non-fiction writers People from Pembrokeshire 20th-century Welsh educators 20th-century Welsh writers 1883 births 1970 deaths People from Carmarthenshire 20th-century British non-fiction writers School inspectors