Love is still in the air for Cardiff Met graduates 78 years on
When Bryn and Enid Richards met in 1938 at the then Cardiff College of Art, little did they know that the friendship they forged would last a lifetime, and bring them together as husband and wife 12 years later.
Both Cardiff-born, Bryn and Enid, now both 93 years old, shared a love of art that inspired them to enrol on an Art Teacher Diploma programme at the college, now known as Cardiff Metropolitan University.
They had a brief relationship during the four year course, which ended in 1942 when they went their separate ways and Bryn enlisted in the British Royal Navy. Bryn spent four years in the Navy altogether before he returned home to his native Cardiff.
He said: “I undertook a very intensive one year course as an electrician in the Navy, then went on to Scotland, then Ceylon, and finally on to Japan when I joined the New Zealand Navy on the HMNZS Achilles.”
After his service in the Navy, Bryn returned to Cardiff briefly, before heading off to Accrington where he started his first full-time teaching position as Head of Art for a period of four years.
He finally settled back to his home town in 1950, and secured a position as Head of Art at Cardiff High School, the very same school that he attended as a young boy.
Speaking about this period, Bryn said “As a bachelor, I lived in many ‘digs’ all over the city, but my bachelordom ended in 1954 when Enid and I were reunited. We were engaged in October, and married one month later at Bethel Baptist Chapel in Whitchurch.
“We then went on to have our children Rachel and Sarah, who are still very much a part of our day-to-day lives, and also live here in Cardiff.”
Bryn held his position at Cardiff High for the remainder of his career, up until his retirement at the age of 60 in 1982.
Rather than sink himself in to full-time retirement, he continued his love of teaching art, with positions at the Glamorgan Summer School, and teaching landscape and portrait painting at The Hill Educational Centre in Abergavenny.
He also spent a brief time writing for the Guardian, reviewing art galleries throughout South Wales and the South West.
He retired full time in 1997 when he turned seventy-five, but never gave up his love of art and painting. Bryn continues to paint on a daily basis at his Colchester Avenue home, where he and Enid have spent the remaining years of their retirement.
Looking fondly back at his time at the Cardiff College of Art, Bryn said “As well as my studies, I also enjoyed taking part in extra-curricular activities, including being part of the college rugby team, as well as playing both tennis and badminton.
“The majority of friends I have made over the years were made during my time at the College, of which I am extremely grateful. I also have to thank my time there for introducing me to my wife Enid, who I may never have met otherwise.”
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