Dr John Davies FLSW (ob. 16 February / Chwefror 2015)

Dr John Davies began lecturing history at Swansea University in 1963, and remained at the university until the early 1970s. It was during this time he was instrumental in the establishment of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society). As the first secretary for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, he helped co-ordinate the language campaigners’ first protest in 1963 on Trefechan Bridge in Aberystwyth.

An author, broadcaster and educator, Dr Davies was one of the leading historians of his generation, and is primarily recognised as the author of Hanes Cymru (A History of Wales). First published in Welsh in 1990, Hanes Cymru is a pioneering and authoritative volume that many consider to be the definitive work on Welsh history. It was later translated into English and published in 1993, with both editions revised in 2007. Dr Davies also co-edited The Encyclopaedia of Wales.

 

Born in Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley, Dr Davies and his family moved from Llwynypia to Bwlchllan in Ceredigion at the end of the Second World War, and hence was affectionately known by many as John Bwllchllan. He received his education in schools at Treorchy, Bwlchllan and Tregaron before attending University College Cardiff and Trinity College Cambridge. Having completed research on the family links of the Bute family with the city of Cardiff, he was later appointed lecturer at Swansea University.

 

In the early 1970s, Dr Davies moved to Aberystwyth where he lectured, mainly through the medium of Welsh, at the Department of History and Welsh History. As well as his academic career, Dr Davies was also a popular warden for many years, overseeing the student population of the Neuadd Pantycelyn halls of residence at Aberystwyth University.

 

Emeritus Professor Prys Morgan, said: “John Davies was the first person to comprehensively chronicle the entire history of Wales, and did so through the medium of Welsh; a practice with which he continued throughout his career.

 

“During our time together at Swansea University, he ignited my interest in Welsh history through his infectious passion for Wales and its great history. He will be remembered as a genial and convivial character, and as one of our great historians who leaves behind an indispensable legacy”.

 

 

Emeritus Professor Prys Morgan FRHistS FLSW

 

Cychwynnodd gyrfa Dr John Davies fel darlithydd hanes ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe ym 1963, lle bu’n darlithio tan y 70au cynnar. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, bu’n un o sylfaenwyr Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, ac fel ysgrifennydd cyntaf y Gymdeithas, fe drefnodd brotest gyntaf y mudiad ar bont Trefechan ym 1963.

Yn awdur, darlledwr ac addysgwr, roedd Dr Davies yn un o brif haneswyr ei genhedlaeth, ac mae ei gyfrol Hanes Cymru, gafodd ei chyhoeddi gyntaf yn Gymraeg ym 1990 wedi’i disgrifio fel y cofnod mwyaf cynhwysfawr o hanes y genedl. Roedd Dr Davies hefyd yn olygydd ymgynghorol a chyd-olygydd Gwyddoniadur Cymru.

 

Enillodd wobr Llyfr y Flwyddyn yn 2010 am ei gyfrol Cymru: 100 Lle i’w Gweld Cyn Marw. Ymhlith ei lyfrau eraill, mae hanes teulu Ardalydd Bute a Chaerdydd, a hanes y BBC yng Nghymru.

 

Yn frodor o’r Rhondda, derbyniodd ei addysg mewn ysgolion yn Nhreorci, Bwlchllan a Thregaron cyn mynychu Coleg Prifysgol Caerdydd a Choleg y Drindod, Caergrawnt. Wedi cwblhau ymchwil ar gysylltiadau teulu Bute a dinas Caerdydd fe’i penodwyd yn ddarlithydd ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe.

 

Ar ddechrau’r 1970au symudodd i Aberystwyth, lle bu am ddeunaw mlynedd yn warden Neuadd Pantycelyn ac yn darlithio, yn bennaf drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, yn yr Adran Hanes a Hanes Cymru.

 

Meddai’r Athro Emeritws Prys Morgan: “Ac yntau yn hanesydd, addysgwr a darlledwr carismataidd a phoblogaidd, roedd ynddo’r gallu arobryn i danio chwilfrydedd, goleuo a rhyfeddu ystod eang ac amrywiol o gynulleidfaoedd. Yn fwyaf arbennig, yn ei gyhoeddiadau Hanes Cymru a A History of Wales, fe ail-gyflwynodd y genedl i’w  hanes hi ei hun, a thrwy wneud, dadlennodd iddi ddealltwriaeth ddyfnach o’i hanian a’i hunaniaeth.

 

“Yn ystod ein cyfnod o ddarlithio yn yr adran hanes ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe gyda’n gilydd, fe daniodd fy niddordeb yn hanes Cymru drwy ei frwdfrydedd heintus. Caiff John ei gofio fel cymeriad rhadlon, ac fel un o Gymry mwyaf dylanwadol ein hoes. Mae ar Gymru ddyled mawr iddo”.

 

 

Yr Athro Emeritws Prys Morgan FRHistS FLSW