EVANS
,
JANET
(c.
1894
-
1970
),
journalist and civil servant
;
b. in
London
c. 1894
, daughter of
Thomas John
Evans
(
DWB
, 254)
and
Margaret
(née
Davies
)
,
82 Addington Mansions
,
Highbury
, both natives of
Cards.
She received private tuition before going to the
Central Foundation Girls' School
and subsequently attending courses held by
London University
. After obtaining comprehensive secretarial training she eventually became
private secretary to the managing director of the exporting firm
Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries, Ltd.
in
London
. Despite being brought up in
London
, she took a deep interest in everything
Welsh
and was
special correspondent on Welsh affairs to London newspapers
. She travelled widely in
Europe
and twice went to
America
to visit relatives and
give lectures
to
Welsh
communities there. At the beginning of
World War II
she was for 2 years engaged in the intelligence section of the
B.B.C.
at
Evesham
,
monitoring English broadcasts from foreign countries
. During
1942-45
she travelled much in
Wales
as
Woman Power Officer for Wales
. She
gave popular lectures
, particularly on the
London
and
American
Welsh
, and broadcast frequently in the series
Gwraig y tŷ
,
Woman's Hour
, and other programmes,
c. 1947-54
. She played a prominent part in
Welsh
social life in
London
, being the first woman
chair
of the
London Welsh Association
, and the first woman to be elected to the council of the
Hon. Soc. of Cymmrodorion
. She became
president
of the
London Cardiganshire Society
and served as
sub-editor
of the society's
Handbook
,
1936-39
and
editor
for five years when publication of the magazine was resumed in
1952
. She did not marry. After retiring to
Cardiganshire
she d.
11 Dec. 1970
and her ashes were interred at
Capel Erw
,
Cellan
.
Bibliography:
-
The Transactions of the Honourable Society
of Cymmrodorion
,
1970
, part i, 138-40;
-
The Cambrian News
,
25 Dec. 1970
;
- Janet Evans' papers at N.L.W.
Author:
Dr Mary Auronwy James, Aberystwyth
