ROBERTS, JOHN IORWERTH (1902 - 1970), schoolmaster and secretary of Llangollen International Eisteddfod
Date of birth: 1902
Date of death: 1970
Spouse: Dilys Roberts (née Jones)
Spouse: Dilys Alwen Roberts (née Jones)
Child: Llinos Neale (née Roberts)
Parent: Harriet Roberts (née Roberts)
Parent: William John Roberts
Gender: Male
Occupation: schoolmaster and secretary of Llangollen International Eisteddfod
Area of activity: Education; Eisteddfod
Author: Mary Auronwy James
Born 8 March 1902 in Warrington, son of William John Roberts, Presb. minister, and his wife Harriet, daughter of Edward Roberts, minister of Engedi (Presb.), Brymbo, onetime chairman of Denbighshire education committee. The family moved to Pontrhythallt, Llanrug, Caernarfonshire in 1911 and he attended Penisa'r'waun school, and then Brynrefail intermediate school (1914-19) and the Normal College, Bangor (1920-22). After teaching in several schools in Denbighshire, including Grango intermediate school, Rhos, and Penycae elementary school, he was appointed headmaster of Pentredwr school, near Llangollen, where he stayed till his retirement in 1964, having succeeded in converting his school into a model 'unofficial' Welsh school. He worked diligently as financial secretary of the New Wales Union and was an elder and secretary of Rehoboth chapel, Llangollen, for many years. As an ardent supporter of eisteddfodau he became associated with the Llangollen International Eisteddfod from its inception in 1947, and gave valuable service as secretary and chairman of the financial committee for a period. He was joint secretary of the Eisteddfod council when he died. Another of his interests was local history. He held classes on the topic for the Workers' Educational Association, and his lecture on the 1858 Llangollen eisteddfod to the Denbighshire History Society was published in the Society's journal in 1959.
He married (1) Dilys Alwen Jones (died 11 July 1965) in Rehoboth chapel, Llangollen, in August 1934 and they had one daughter; and married (2) Dilys Jones of Llangollen in King Street Presbyterian Chapel, Wrexham, in 1969. He lived at Isgaer, Birch Hill, Llangollen, when he died suddenly on 17 March 1970 and was interred in Llantysilio cemetery.
Author
- Dr Mary Auronwy James
- The Wrexham Leader, 20 and 27 March 1970
- Y Goleuad, 22 April 1970
- information from his sister Gwyneth Richards, Denbigh
Sources
- Wikidata: Q20738103
Additional Links
Published date: 2001
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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