ROBERTS
,
JOHN IORWERTH
(
1902
-
1970
),
schoolmaster and secretary of Llangollen International Eisteddfod
,
b.
8 Mar. 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, Caerns.
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 m. (1)
Dilys Alwen
Jones
(d.
11 July 1965
) in
Rehoboth chapel
,
Llangollen
, in
Aug. 1934
and they had one daughter; and m. (2)
Dilys
Jones
of
Llangollen
in
King Street Presb. Chapel
,
Wrexham
, in
1969
. He lived at
Isgaer
,
Birch Hill
,
Llangollen
, when he d. suddenly on
17 March 1970
and was interred in
Llantysilio
cemetery.
Bibliography:
-
The Wrexham Leader
,
20 and 27 March 1970
;
-
Y Goleuad
,
22 Apr. 1970
;
-
information from his sister
Gwyneth Richards, Denbigh
.
Author:
Dr Mary Auronwy James, Aberystwyth
