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Preface

Anniversary celebrations these days are ‘ten a penny’. Some may seem absurdly trivial, others of profound significance. Several notable milestones are reached in 2009: it is eighty years since the ‘Wall Street Crash’, seventy years since the outbreak of the Second World War, and fifty years since the death of Buddy Holly. The foundation of a university may not bear comparison, in historical importance or public impact, with such events. Yet it will resonate, personally and deeply, with generations of students, staff and their families. This book is written to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the opening of Bangor University. It depicts a great educational institution, suitably conscious of its past, often unduly modest about its accomplishments and proudly and confidently facing the future.

I have not aimed to produce a comprehensive history of all the departments of the University. There will be many, I suspect, who will lament the absence of a particular subject development or departmental event, or the lack of reference to an individual. The book is, in essence, a general history of the University and a broad overview of its development. I have included what appear to me to be interesting and important episodes and developments. ‘History’, as A. J. P. Taylor once remarked ‘is a version of events’. This is my version.

I should offer one stylistic explanation at the outset. In the interests of consistency, I have treated the names of all persons named, whether living or deceased, in the same way, by normally referring to their first name (or initials) and surname. Except in one or two specific instances, titles are not used.

I have many obligations to acknowledge. First and foremost, I should like to express my deepest appreciation to Professor Emeritus J. Gwynn Williams, whose magisterial book in 1985 on The University College of North Wales. Foundations, 1884–1927 is a compelling starting point for anyone interested in the University’s history and roots. Gwynn is, of course, not only a historian of the University, but also a former student and a senior member of staff during a critical period in its history. I have known him for thirty years, but the generous guidance and support he has given me during this project is far more than I could possibly have expected. Gwynn has read the whole of the book in draft form, and I have benefited greatly from his comments and advice. I am immensely grateful, too, to Professor Merfyn Jones, another distinguished Welsh historian as well as being Vice-Chancellor, for his encouragement and advice throughout.

I am deeply indebted to Einion Thomas, the University’s Archivist, who has guided me expertly through the rich and fascinating University Archives. Einion has been unfailingly helpful at all stages of this project. I have also received assistance from Maxine Willett of the Mountain Heritage Trust, Nicholas Donaldson, the Assistant Archivist of the National Gallery, and Steven Wright of University College London Library Services, on specific issues. Mr Griff Jones kindly lent me material relating to his father E. H. Jones (Registrar during the 1930s), and Mr G. B. Owen, Professor Charles Stirling, and Professor Gareth Roberts gave me valuable documents. I am extremely grateful to Mrs Eleri Wynne Jones for very kindly granting me access to the papers of the late Professor Bedwyr Lewis Jones; and to Mr Dafydd Glyn Jones for drawing my attention to important personal documents which he had deposited in the Archives. Mr Alwyn Owens generously gave me his account of the career of W. E. Williams. Various other colleagues lent me books, papers or guided me to interesting material. I should like to thank Alan Parry, Elinor Elis-Williams, David J. Roberts, Wyn Thomas and Sarah Wale for assistance with illustrations.

I am greatly indebted to numerous former students and former members of staff who have sent me written accounts and reminiscences. In particular I should like to thank Mr Michael Barnett, Dr Gwyn Chambers, Ms Ann Clwyd MP, Dr Meredydd Evans, Dr Raymond Garlick, Dr Geraint Stanley Jones, Dr John Perkins, Ms Mair Barnes, Mr William G. Smith and Mr Andrew R. Thomas. Memories recorded by Dr Keith Ingold, Sir Dai Rees and Professor W. H. Whelan were kindly passed on to me by Sir John Meurig Thomas.

I have also benefited enormously from formal interviews or informal conversations with the following, who had first-hand knowledge of key developments and personalities in the story: Professor Colin Baker, Professor Tony Brown, Professor Juan Castilla, Lord Elis-Thomas AM, Professor Roy Evans, Professor John Farrar, Professor Ted Gardener, Professor W. Gareth Jones, Mr Griff Jones, Dr Geraint Stanley Jones, Mr Huw Elwyn Jones, Professor Fergus Lowe, Professor Densil Morgan, Ms Jan Morris, Mr G. B. Owen, Mr Alwyn Owens, Dr Dafydd Wyn Parry, Mr Jim Perrin, Dr Alwyn Roberts, Professor Gareth Roberts, Dr Gwyneth Roberts, Professor Ray Seed, Professor Eric Sunderland, Professor Charles Stirling, Professor Martin Taylor, Mr Dafydd ap Thomas, Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas, Professor Gwyn Thomas, Mr Gwyn R. Thomas, Ms Nans Wheldon, Professor J. Gwynn Williams, Professor Gareth Wyn-Jones. I am also grateful to Michelle Walker, a Ph.D. student in the School of History and Welsh History for transcripts of her interviews with several long-serving members of staff.

I must record my warm thanks to Dawi Griffiths who has diligently and skilfully translated the book into Welsh and to Sylvia Prys Jones who also read and commented on the Welsh version. This served only to increase my admiration for translators in general, and for the University’s Translation Unit in particular. Sarah Lewis of the University of Wales Press has also been endlessly patient and helpful throughout.

For all secretarial and technical expertise – readily provided on top of her normal workload and the care of two young children – I am extremely grateful to my personal assistant Dawn-Marie Owen.

My final debt is to my wife, Dorreen, without whose unselfish support the book could not have been written.

David Roberts

Bangor