GRIFFITHS, EVAN THOMAS (1886 - 1967), teacher, scholar and writer

Born 20 February 1886, in Llanafan, Cardiganshire, the son of David and Anne Griffiths; he was baptised on 11 March at Llanafan parish church. He received his early education at Llanafan primary school and the school's records note that he was a pupil-teacher, 1902-04, and a former pupil-teacher, 1905. In September 1904, he was successful at the University of London's matriculation examination and entered the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, in September 1905. It is on record that, on his departure, the teachers and pupils at Llanafan school gave him a present of books. In 1909, he graduated with first-class honours in French and he was awarded, in 1914, an M.A. of the University of Wales for a textual study: ' The Map-cycle in Italy and especially of the Chantari di Lancilotto, with a short introduction on the history of the Arthurian tradition in Italy '. He also studied at a number of institutes on the continent. During his professional career, he was, in succession, a school-teacher in London; a lecturer at the University of Manchester; a schoolteacher at Newport, Monmouth; the headmaster of Llanfyllin County School; and the headmaster of Barry Grammar School. He retired in 1948 and spent some time, during his retirement, in Australia where he was awarded a D.Litt. degree by the University of Melbourne. He returned to Wales and settled first at Aberaeron and then at Llandre, near Aberystwyth. He died at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, on 6 November 1967.

Griffiths published two scholarly works which reflected his interest in French and Italian, i.e., Oeuvres Poétiques de Jean de Lingendes (Paris, 1916), and Li Chantari di Lancilotto (Oxford, 1924). He also published a number of books containing French exercises for students. In collaboration with William Ll. Davies he published The Tutorial Welsh Course, Parts I and II (in several impressions from 1914). However, he is remembered more for his adaptations and translations into Welsh from the Romance languages and which include the following: Yr Hogyn Pren neu helyntion Pinocio (from Italian, 1938); Cerddi'r Trwbadŵr (1954); Calon (from Italian, 1959); Platero a minnau (with T. Ifor Rees, from Spanish, 1961); Atgofion dyddiau ysgol (from Italian, 1965); Cerddi estron (from several languages, 1966); Y Sgarff felen a storïau eraill (from Italian, 1966), and Y Diriogaeth goll (from French, 1969). He also published a collection of short stories, Storïau glannau Ystwyth (1957). Typescripts and manuscripts of some of his writings are held by N.L.W.

Author

• Griffith Milwyn Griffiths

Sources

• Llanafan parish registers
• Llanafan primary school registers
• Register of deaths, North Cardiganshire Division
• University of Wales Calendar (various years)
• catalogue of printed books, N.L.W.
• Glyn Lewis Jones, Llyfryddiaeth Ceredigion, 1600-1964 (Aberystwyth 1967), (1967)
• idem, A Bibliography of Cardiganshire … 1964-1968 Supplement (Aberystwyth 1970) (1970)
• The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard, 11 November 1967
• NLW Archives: NLW MS 21689C

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20821424

Published date: 2001

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