Prestatyn High School hall renamed to honour ‘extraordinary’ teacher

Mat Williams, who taught English and drama across two spells at the school, died aged 40 on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 after a battle with bowel cancer.

On Wednesday (February 8), the school held an event to unveil the hall’s new name: “Neuadd Mathew Williams” (“Mathew Williams Hall”).

A wall is also adorned with a picture of Mat, and a quote from Victor Hugo, the late French poet, playwright, novelist, statesman and human rights activist.

The quote reads: “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”

The Victor Hugo quote written on one of the walls of the school hall (Image: Prestatyn High School)

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Prestatyn High School said yesterday (February 9): “Last night, we officially opened our newly renamed hall – ‘Neuadd Mathew Williams’.

“Mat Williams taught drama and English at the school and was a huge inspiration to both pupils and staff.”

Mat joined Prestatyn High School in 2007, initially as an English teacher, and after leaving to teach in Vietnam, returned in 2020 to lead the school’s drama department.

He is survived by his wife, Tuoc, as well as his mother, father, two brothers, and sister.

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Jordan King, a journalist who was taught drama by Mat while at Prestatyn High School and was directed by him in various shows, said how privileged he felt to attend Wednesday's event.

He said: "Stepping back into my old school to be met with Mat’s face was a surreal experience - my heart broke a little and swelled at the same time.

"Hearing from Mat’s former colleagues and pupils who, like myself, discovered another, better way of living for having known him, I was reminded again of the immense legacy he has left behind.

"As someone who didn’t have the best start in life, I always say that, in Prestatyn High School, I found a home, and within its creative arts, I found a family.

"Mat was a massive part of fostering that feeling within me, and in that school hall and on its stage, so many of us were given a chance to find ourselves and discover our passions because of Mat.

"That it’s now been renamed in his honour is an amazing thing for the school to have done, and it’s the right thing, too.

"His magic lives on in that space, and now he will continue to do in death as he did in life, inspiring the future generations to be the best versions of themselves they can be, to look to the future with a head full of dreams and a heart full of love.

"I hope his family and friends will take some small comfort in the knowledge that whenever people take to Prestatyn High School’s stage in years to come, they’ll be guided at least in some small way by the absolute best of men any of us ever met.”

In October, colleagues and friends of Mat paid tribute to an “extraordinary” man.

A Prestatyn High School statement read: “Mat was immediately adored by his colleagues and pupils because of his witty sense of humour and love of teaching.

“Mat directed amazing school productions during his time at Prestatyn High School. He had the ability to embrace the whole school community.

“The one show that will always remain his legacy was the school production of ‘Les Misérables’; it was breathtaking.

“Mat will always be remembered for his extraordinary ability to bring the best out in everyone. He always remained positive, even as he faced his own personal battle.

“Mat may no longer be with us, but his legacy will remain in the heart of Prestatyn High School.”