JONES, RICHARD IDWAL MERVYN (1895 - 1937), much better known as Idwal Jones, schoolmaster, poet, and dramatist

Born 8 June 1895 at Rhoslwyn, LampeterLampeter, Cardiganshire, the son of D. Teifi Jones, a native of Cwmerfin who became a well-known Liberal and conductor of eisteddfodau, and his wife Mary, who was descended from the Jones family of Llwynrhys - she was the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Jones, Tynygwndwn and Bethel Parc-y-rhos. He was educated at the Lampeter primary school (1900-8) and S. David's College School, Lampeter (1909-11). After spending a short time as a clerk in the office of a solicitor at Lampeter, he became a clerk to his father who had relinquished school-mastering after a dispute with the governors of his school (Felin-fach) and had started in business in Lampeter as a coal-merchant. He joined the army in March 1915 and saw service in East Africa; he left the army in March 1919. He entered the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, in the autumn of 1919, and graduated three years later with second class honours in English. Afterwards he was a schoolmaster at Devil's Bridge and, later, tutor of extra-mural classes conducted under the auspices of Aberystwyth College.

Idwal Jones contributed to such journals as Y Llwyfan, Y Ford Gron, Welsh Outlook, Manchester Guardian, South Wales News, and The Dragon (the journal of Aberystwyth College students). He wrote the following plays: Codwn Hwyl (in manuscript); Gwrid y Wawr (in manuscript); My Piffle, a skit on the work of Caradoc Evans (in typescript); P'un, a one-act comedy, 1927; Toddi'r Ia, a short comedy in the dialect of mid-Cardiganshire, 1926; Pobl yr Ymylon , a play in four acts, 1927; Yr Anfarwol Ifan Harris, a play in three acts which was awarded the prize offered at the Holyhead national eisteddfod, [1927] (in typescript); Ffarwel Tibit y Popty, a play for children; Sh - ! Dim Swn, a play containing some light lyrics, 1936; and Yr Eosiaid, a comedy in verse dealing with life in a college, 1936. He published two books of humorous poems and parodies: Cerddi Digri a Rhai Pethau Eraill, 1934, and Cerddi Digri Newydd a Phethau o'r Fath, 1937. He also wrote light programmes for broadcasting. He died 18 May 1937.

Author

• David Gwenallt Jones, (1899 - 1968)

Sources

• Material accumulated by the writer for a biography
• personal acquaintance
• and information given, by Idwal Jones's sister
• and by Mr. John Edwards, Kingston-on-Thames

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Idwal Jones

Additional Links

• VIAF: 9618214
• Wikidata: Q5989892

Published date: 1959

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