School given £2m science legacy

Chemist Mr Jones was a former pupil of Christ College, Brecon

A school in mid Wales is to set up science scholarships after being left £2m by the family of a former pupil.

Christ College, in Brecon, was left the legacy by pharmacist David Hubert Jones, who was a pupil at the school from 1917 until 1921.

He died in 1965, but the school became a beneficiary of his widow Florence's will following her death in 2000.

The money will be used to fund 13 bursaries and to improve the school's science facilities.

The £2m legacy was brought to the school's attention three years ago but it has taken until 2005 for the money to come through.

Science shortages

The money will be used to fund sciences at the independent boarding school in line with Mr Jones' wishes.

The school hopes the new scholarships will help combat the national shortage of pupils choosing science subjects.

The money will be used to fund science teaching at the school

Christ College said that each year, the majority of scholarships will be awarded to boys and girls joining the school in the sixth form.

The college, which was founded by a royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1541, has 310 pupils.

Headmaster Phillip Jones said the £2m legacy would provide opportunities for pupils who may not have been able to attend the fee-paying school.

He added: "The school is extremely grateful for this legacy and the opportunity it gives Christ College to support boys and girls to come to the school to study science who might not have otherwise been able to do so for financial reasons."

David Hubert Jones was born in Glanamman, west Wales, in 1903 and was a pupil at Christ College from 1917 to 1921, playing in the school's football and cricket teams.

He qualified as a pharmacist in 1925 and worked in London before taking over the Central Pharmacy in Glanamman and later establishing a chain of pharmacies in west Wales.

Mr Jones and his wife Florence had no children.

Following Mrs Jones' death in 2000, Christ College became a major beneficiary of her will.