Anne Griffith-Jones
Encyclopedia
Anne Laugharne Phillips Griffith-Jones (1890–1973) was the founder of Tanglin Preparatory School (now known as Tanglin Trust School
), a well-known international school primarily catering for British
expatriate
students in Singapore
.
Griffith-Jones was born in Wales
in 1890. During World War I
, she served as a welfare officer at a munitions factory in Wales, for which she was awarded an MBE.
In 1923, Griffith-Jones travelled to Singapore for what was intended to be a three-month holiday to visit her brother, who was living there at the time. However she decided to stay and, in spite of having no formal teaching qualifications, opened a primary
school. At the time, many British expatriates living in Singapore sent their children away to boarding school in Britain at an early age. Griffith-Jones saw a gap in the market to provide British-style education in Singapore so that parents could postpone boarding school until an older age. The school opened initially within the premises of the Tanglin Club
, with just five students. It soon became very popular and grew rapidly. Within the school, Griffith-Jones was affectionately known as "Miss Griff".
In 1935, Griffith-Jones opened a second school, the Tanglin Boarding School in the Cameron Highlands
(now part of Malaysia). This too was intended as a near-by alternative for expatriate families living in the region who would otherwise have to send their children to boarding schools in Britain. Many children who attended the school in Singapore up to the age of eight then went on to the boarding school in the Cameron Highlands, which catered for students up to the age of 13. Miss Griffith-Jones had strong features and iron grey hair in the early 1930's, and was a good disciplinarian. There was much emphasis on the British Empire at the school, and in preparing the boys for English Preparatory Schools Griffith-Jones would teach them football, taking the forward line across the playing field and showing them how to pass the ball. Similarly at cricket Griffith-Jones demonstrated the 'straight bat' and footwork at the crease.
Following the outbreak of World War II
, the Malay Peninsula
was occupied by Japan
in 1942. The two schools were forced to close, and Griffith-Jones was interned in Changi Prison
. She apparently rose to the challenge of internment, and set about establishing a school in the prison for children.
After the war, the two schools reopened. However in 1948, the school in the Cameron Highlands had to be put under full-time armed guard after terrorists surrounded the school, and was eventually forced to close by the Federal Government for security reasons.
The school in Singapore continued to flourish. In 1958, Griffith-Jones decided to retire and sold the private company Tanglin School Ltd to the British European Association in Singapore. (In 1961, governance of the school was handed over to a non-profit education Trust known as the Tanglin Trust Ltd.)
Griffith-Jones was awarded an OBE for her services to education. She was also bestowed a Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (Meritorious Service Medal) by the Sultan
of Pahang
in Malaysia in 1962.
After retirement, Griffith-Jones moved to the Cameron Highlands. She died in Ipoh
Hospital in 1973 at the age of 83.
Tanglin Trust School
Tanglin Trust School is an international school in Singapore. The school teaches a British-based curriculum and is primarily intended to serve the British expatriate community in Singapore. Approximately 70%-80% of the students in the school are British...
), a well-known international school primarily catering for British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
students in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Griffith-Jones was born in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1890. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, she served as a welfare officer at a munitions factory in Wales, for which she was awarded an MBE.
In 1923, Griffith-Jones travelled to Singapore for what was intended to be a three-month holiday to visit her brother, who was living there at the time. However she decided to stay and, in spite of having no formal teaching qualifications, opened a primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
school. At the time, many British expatriates living in Singapore sent their children away to boarding school in Britain at an early age. Griffith-Jones saw a gap in the market to provide British-style education in Singapore so that parents could postpone boarding school until an older age. The school opened initially within the premises of the Tanglin Club
The Tanglin Club
The Tanglin Club is one of the most prominent and prestigious social clubs in Singapore. As of end 2009 the club had an active membership of 7,810, comprising approximately 70 different nationalities. Its clubhouse is located off Stevens Road, near the centre of town in Singapore...
, with just five students. It soon became very popular and grew rapidly. Within the school, Griffith-Jones was affectionately known as "Miss Griff".
In 1935, Griffith-Jones opened a second school, the Tanglin Boarding School in the Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. It covers an area of .To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak....
(now part of Malaysia). This too was intended as a near-by alternative for expatriate families living in the region who would otherwise have to send their children to boarding schools in Britain. Many children who attended the school in Singapore up to the age of eight then went on to the boarding school in the Cameron Highlands, which catered for students up to the age of 13. Miss Griffith-Jones had strong features and iron grey hair in the early 1930's, and was a good disciplinarian. There was much emphasis on the British Empire at the school, and in preparing the boys for English Preparatory Schools Griffith-Jones would teach them football, taking the forward line across the playing field and showing them how to pass the ball. Similarly at cricket Griffith-Jones demonstrated the 'straight bat' and footwork at the crease.
Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
was occupied by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1942. The two schools were forced to close, and Griffith-Jones was interned in Changi Prison
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
. She apparently rose to the challenge of internment, and set about establishing a school in the prison for children.
After the war, the two schools reopened. However in 1948, the school in the Cameron Highlands had to be put under full-time armed guard after terrorists surrounded the school, and was eventually forced to close by the Federal Government for security reasons.
The school in Singapore continued to flourish. In 1958, Griffith-Jones decided to retire and sold the private company Tanglin School Ltd to the British European Association in Singapore. (In 1961, governance of the school was handed over to a non-profit education Trust known as the Tanglin Trust Ltd.)
Griffith-Jones was awarded an OBE for her services to education. She was also bestowed a Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (Meritorious Service Medal) by the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
in Malaysia in 1962.
After retirement, Griffith-Jones moved to the Cameron Highlands. She died in Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
Hospital in 1973 at the age of 83.