THOMAS
,
WILLIAM DAVIES
(
1889
-
1954
),
Professor of English
;
b.
5 Aug. 1889
, son of
William
and
Hannah
Thomas
,
Abermule, Mont.
, where his father was a
blacksmith
and
postmaster
. He was educated at
Newtown County School
and at the
University College of Wales
,
Aberystwyth
, where he obtained a first-class honours degree in English in
1910
. He was a
valuable player in the college and town football teams
. After a year as
student assistant
at
Aberystwyth
he proceeded to
Jesus College
,
Oxford
, gaining an
M.A.
in
1913
. He was appointed
lecturer
at
Trinity College
,
Toronto
,
Canada
, becoming
senior Professor of English
at the
University of Saskatchewan
in
1919
, after serving in
France
during
World War I
. In
1921
he returned to
Wales
as the first
Professor of English language and literature
at the newly founded
University College
at
Swansea
, a post he filled with distinction until his death. He helped nurture the college through its early life, being wise in committee, and serving as
vice-principal of the college
1927-31
. He was an excellent
teacher
, generous in encouraging his students, and a master at the art of examining, both at setting question papers and evaluating the scripts. He was sensitive to style and ideas, and wrote lively articles, full of grace and polish, but, being over-critical of his own work, very few of his writings were published. For many years he
held highly successful extramural classes on English literature
at
Neath
and elsewhere. He
gave many radio talks on poetry and literature
and various other topics. He m.
Edith Mary
, daughter of
Richard
Edwards
,
Maesycymer
, and d. at home,
11 Clarendon Road
,
Sketty, Glam.
,
6 Mar. 1954
.
Bibliography:
-
The Biographical Index of W.W. Price,
Aberdâr
(at the National Library of Wales and Aberdare
Public Library)
;
-
Western Mail
,
8 Mar. 1954
;
-
The Times
,
9 and 17 Mar. 1954
.
Author:
Dr Mary Auronwy James, Aberystwyth
