CROWTHER
,
JOHN NEWTON
(
Glanceri
;
1847
-
1928
),
schoolmaster
;
b. at
Cornholme
, near
Todmorden, Lancs.
,
19 Nov. 1847
, son of
William
Crowther
and
Anne
Pickulls
; and educated at
Cornholme British school
, the
Vale Academy
,
Todmorden
, and
Bangor Normal College
. On leaving
Bangor
in
1866
he secured the
headship
of
Rhydlewis Board school
,
Cards.
He m.
Sarah
Lloyd
,
19 Nov. 1869
. At
Rhydlewis
he gained a knowledge of
Welsh
, literary and colloquial, surpassed by few
Welshmen
. In
1890
Crowther
moved to
Bethesda, Caerns.
, to take charge of the
Cefnfaes British school
, one of the first schools in
England
and
Wales
to be converted to higher standard schools. His literary gifts and the felicity with which he translated
Welsh
poetry into
English
were remarkable. He was a frequent contributor in prose and verse to
English
and
Welsh
periodicals and newspapers, and also a
musician
of merit who contributed several musical compositions and Christmas carols to
Cymru (O.M.E.)
. He took a lively interest in the politics of
Cardiganshire
and championed the
Liberal
cause with his pen, his election songs being very popular. He retired in
1924
and resided for a time at
Cardiff
, removing to
Solva, Pembs.
, a few months before his death on
14 Feb. 1928
. A selection of his poems,
Ar Lannau Ceri
, was published in
1930
.
Bibliography:
-
The Welsh Gazette
,
16 Feb. 1928
;
-
South Wales News
, 1770
,
15 Feb. 1928
.
Author:
Idwal Lewis, Aberystwyth
