A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

CEMLYN-JONES , Sir ELIAS WYNNE ( 1888 - 1966 ), public figure .

Born 16 May 1888 in Gwredog , Amlwch , Anglesey , son of John Cemlyn Jones , a solicitor from Caerphilly , and Gaynor Hannah , dau. of John Elias Jones , from Penmaen-mawr (and through his wife, of Gwredog , Amlwch ), a prominent figure in the public life of Anglesey and an ardent Liberal . His father d. when he was a child and he was educated privately: at Mostyn School , Parkgate , Cheshire , at Shrewsbury School and in London . He became a barrister . In 1910-11 he and his aunt, his mother's sister, went on a journey round the world, the old ‘grand tour’, through the United States , Canada , Japan , Korea , China , etc. From 1912-14 he was private secretary to Sir Ellis Jones Ellis-Griffith in the Home Office , and between 1914-18 he served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers . He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for South Croydon in 1923 and for Brecon and Radnor in 1929 .

He served on numerous committees and public bodies , e.g. Anglesey county council from 1919 onwards (being chairman ( 1928-30 ) and alderman ), the County Councils Association , the Milne Committee on water supplies , the Athlone Committee on the nursing services , the Rushcliffe Committee on nurses pay , the Central Whitley Council for the health service , the court of the National Museum of Wales , and the council of the University College of North Wales, Bangor . During 1939-46 he was active in the work of the War Agricultural Executive Committee in Anglesey . He received a knighthood in 1941 .

In 1931 he went on a 7000-mile journey through Russia with Frank Owen to capture the atmosphere of the country after the revolution for a novel on which they were collaborating; he described the journey in Y Ford Gron , Sept. 1931 . The novel, Red Rainbow , was published in 1932 . Under the pretence of writing a thriller, the authors sought to warn the British public of the threatening strength of Russia .

In 1914 he m. Muriel Gwendolin , daughter of Owen Owen , Machynlleth and Liverpool , the owner of large stores . They had two sons and two daughters. He d. 6 June 1966 and was buried in Amlwch .

Sources:

Who was who? ;
Who's who in Wales , 1937 ;
the Gwredog papers in the library of the University College of North Wales, Bangor;
information from Miss Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones, Menai Bridge , and Ellis Roberts .

Author:

Bedwyr Lewis Jones (1933-92), Bangor

Published date: 2001