The obituary notice of Dr Cynlais JENKINS

If he was the Mr. Jenkins who was a French teacher at Tonypandy Comprehensive back in 1979, he left perhaps one of the sweetest memories I have of my stay in Wales back then. I went to the Pandy school only once a week (my major appointment was at Rhydyfelen Comprehensive, in Pontypridd), but we had many things in common — our age, our slight body build, our beard, our shyness, our profession (I was a Spanish assistant, but I had been a French teacher in my home country, Colombia, too), and the fact that I was learning Welsh then, something he found both surprising and endearing.
In particular, I shall never forget that on the last day of classes he invited me to have lunch with his mother at their home. I remember we had to jump a creek to get there. At first, I didn’t want to accept, because I was very shy, but he convinced me when he said, “We may never see each other again in life.” And so it was.
His mother had not been expecting me, yet she opened a metal tin with two muffins and, without hesitation, offered me hers. That simple gesture of kindness has stayed with me for nearly half a century.
Sadly, only now do I find out about him, over a year after his death. But his memory will accompany me every time I remember Wales and the Penygraig school. May he rest in peace.

I only recently heard of his passing. He was a kind and gentle soul, once being my teacher and later a colleague in the NHS. I will miss his freindship.

Living in England I did not meet my second cousin Cynlais until we were both adults, and then only occasionally, though as a teenager I had heard from my Uncle John of Cynlais’ scholastic and academic achievements.

It is so sad after a life spent helping others as a teacher and mental health nurse that Cynlais did not live longer to enjoy his retirement.

Rest in peace Cynlais, you were clearly highly thought of by so many.

Cynlais was aged two when my family emigrated from London to Sydney, Australia in 1954. His dad, Dan, was the elder brother of my dad, Dai, and his mam, Louisa, was a cockney from Battersea. We spent a lot of time together and took baby Cynlais with us on a holiday to Scotland. Not long after our ship sailed away, Cynlais's family moved to Clydach Vale, which had become a second home to the Jenkinses of Aberaeron in coalmining times. I began to phone and write to Cynlais in 2005 and met him at a family get-together in June 2007 and again in September 2009. In later years it became increasingly difficult to communicate with him. It is a great sadness that he is no longer with us.

Fond memories of our cousin Cynlais. Over the years we have enjoyed his visits to our home and more recently having lunch together in Pontypridd. He will be sadly missed. Neil and Val Jenkins and family

You taught me so much in both Welsh & French but never seemed to have the easiest of lives 🙄
RIP Mr Jenkins 💔