City school with a ghostly green resident
A FRIENDLY ghost has been making its presence felt for generations at one of Wales’ oldest schools.
Legends abound about the “green lady” or “green man” at Roath Park Primary School in Cardiff.
Some say it’s a former teacher killed in World War I, others that it’s a former caretaker or dinner lady.
The cheeky spectre has been known to slam doors, switch off lights, tamper with phones and knock pencils and books off tables.
However, staff who have experienced its presence say it is friendly and has never frightened anyone.
New pupils, who have never heard about it, have asked surprised teachers who the green form helping in the classroom is.
Some people have reported hearing keys being thrown along the main corridor, something a past caretaker was reported to do.
Others say the belltower in the 19th-century building is haunted.
The school building dates from 1894, covering two world wars, the Blitz bombing of Cardiff and the flu pandemic of 1918, so it is perhaps not surprising that among the many thousands to pass through at least one may have returned, says reception teacher Mike Parsons.
The school in Pen-Y-Wain Road was built in 1894 and opened to children in 1895.
Mr Parsons, who has worked at the school for nearly 25 years, said he has felt and heard a presence when he has been alone in the building after everyone has gone home.
“I don’t dismiss the supernatural,” he said. “The colour green is associated with it, so it could be associated with the green of an Army uniform and a teacher killed in action. It could also be the green uniform of a dinner lady.
“I have never seen it, but a few people have and I have felt its presence.
“I was with a group of teachers after school when a pot of pencils flew off a table for no reason. I have also felt a presence when doors will open or shut for no explanation.
“It’s never made anyone feel uncomfortable or frightened. It feels like part of the school and lets us know it’s here.”
In one incident last year a reception pupil asked another member of staff who the other teacher in the room was.
There was no-one else there. When asked what the other person looked like, the boy just said: “Green, no hair. Friendly.”
Former pupil Chris Webber, now a learning support assistant at the school, remembers hearing about the ghost when he was a child.
He wonders whether it roams the extensive attics, but is certain it’s friendly and said it’s part of the school’s history.
“I was told it was a green lady. The pupils love her and love hearing about her. It’s never frightening.”
The school’s administration manager Bev Lark said the spectre tampers with her phones.
“She definitely trips the phones. I was here on an inset day when noone else was here and the phone in another part of the building suddenly became engaged.
“There’s definitely a friendly person letting us know it’s here. It’s an energy rather than a man or a woman.”
Another former pupil, Julie Summers, who is now a higher level teaching assistant at Roath Park Primary and has been associated with the school for more than 30 years, said staff down the decades have reported feeling a presence and some believe there may be more than one ghost.
“We heard about them as kids. I have been in at weekends and heard footsteps and conversations which were not coming from anywhere else.
“I think it is a benevolent ghost or ghosts and have never felt unsafe.”
Whether it is man or woman, one ghost or many, the school feels protective of its spectre and the myths around it, said Mike. “It’s our ghost. So many teachers and children have been through the school, it’s not surprising some would like to pop back.”