ROBERTS, ROBERT ELLIS VAUGHAN (1888 - 1962), headmaster and naturalist
Date of birth: 1888
Date of death: 1962
Spouse: Edith Mary Roberts (née Davies)
Parent: William Roberts
Gender: Male
Occupation: headmaster and naturalist
Area of activity: Education; Nature and Agriculture
Author: Melfyn Richard Williams
Born at Bryn Melyn, Rhyduchaf, near Bala, Merionethshire, 24 March 1888, son of William Roberts. Educated at Bala grammar school for boys and graduating in the sciences from University College, Bangor in 1909, he began his teaching career in Denbigh, Clocaenog, and Rhos-ddu, Wrexham, and in 1920 was appointed headmaster of Llanarmon-yn-Iâl primary school, one year after the retirement of the naturalist, Richard Morgan (1854 - 1939). In 1942 he was appointed the first head of the elementary agricultural technical school at Llysfasi but in 1948 returned to the headship of Llanarmon-yn-Iâl school, a post which he held until his retirement in 1953.
Throughout his life he was a regular contributor to a number of Welsh and English journals incl. Y Cymro, Yr Herald Cymraeg, Meirionnydd, Yr Athro, Llafar, Y Genhinen, Y Gymdogaeth, Countryside, Country Quest and Y Crynhoad. He published ' Stalwm, a play dealing with Welsh life past and present and also Llyfr Blodau (1952).
He became a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 1923 where he was known as ' Vaughan Tegid '. He was also a member of the Welsh Folk Song Society and collected many songs, publishing some of them in Chwe chân werin Gymreig (1938). He was co-editor and contributor to the Chester and North Wales Natural Society from 1947-1954. He was awarded the Kinsey Memorial Medal in 1934 ' for material contributions to several branches of natural science '.
He and Prof. R. Alun Roberts were the first experts on the Welsh radio naturalist programme Byd Natur which started in January 1951. In the last decade of his life he was dealt a crushing blow when he lost his sight but despite this, he remained a panel member of Byd Natur until his death in Wrexham, 3 March 1962. He was buried in Wrexham public cemetery. He married Edith Mary Davies, Wrexham in 1921, and they had one son.
Author
- Melfyn Richard Williams
- Melfyn R. Williams, Gwyddonwyr Sir Ddinbych (1973)(1973), 19-20
- information from his son
Sources
- Wikidata: Q20804755
Additional Links
Published date: 2001
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.
Find out more on our sponsorship page.