Sad News - GPJ RIP · AditNow Community

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JohnnearCfon
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Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

I learnt last night that Dr. Gwynfor P. Jones had passed away.

He was well known for his incredible knowledge of the slate quarries of the Nantlle Valley. He had written or co-written several books.

His talks were quite an experience. He did a very good impersonation of a stand up comic. They were always lively, entertaining and very informative.

He was due to give a talk at the NAMHO at Bangor in July 2014.

Gwynfor Pierce Jones September 1953 - December 2013 RIP.

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hymac580c
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Newbie

11 years ago

Very sad news. When people like this pass away, it seems there is nobody to take their place to do the work they do.

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

JohnnearCfon
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Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

That is so very true John 😞

grahami
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Newbie

11 years ago

I first met Gwynfor on an IA course based at Bangor Normal College (for a change) w.hen we were looking at his main "site" the Dorothea Quarry in Nantlle.

He was always unstinting in his assistance and not least for the odd fact he would turn up that connected the Nantlle "Mafia"as he called the old quarry owners, foremen etc. to the Blaenau quarries. His knowledge was encyclopeadic and he will be sadly missed.

He wandered around many quarries in the 1960s, making notes and measurements, often of buildings now long destroyed, and also where they were throwing out or destroying old documents he collected them and later donated them to the Gwynedd Archives.

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

That is indeed sad news John. Gwynfor and I had many lengthy e-mail exchanges on the N Wales slate quarries and various quarry steam loco related subjects.

RIP Gwynfor

Clive

Explorans ad inferos

mwynwr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

The news of Gwynfor's passing is very sad.

As a tribute to him I thought I would tell a story that he told me many years ago, when he gave me a tour of Dorothea:-

As some of you will know Gwynfor was for many years the "unofficial" caretaker of the Engine House at Dorothea. Those who have been there will remember the clock on the outside of the building.

One morning he was inside the Engine House, when two ladies stopped outside, while walking their dogs; one proudly said to the other "look at that, the quarry has been closed all these years and the clock is still going ! what a wonderful example of British engineering".

Little did they know that Gwynfor was inside winding up the clock, as he did every week.

RIP Gwynfor.

Graham Levins
Secretary
WMPT

Graham Levins
Sec.
Welsh Mines Preservation Trust

grahami
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Newbie

11 years ago

I have been informed that Gwynfor's funeral will be at 11.00am on Monday 6th January at Bangor Crematorium. Please let anyone know who might want to come.

I am hoping to be there.

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

JohnnearCfon
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Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

A tribute has appeared in the Daily Post:-

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/dr-gwynfor-pierce-jones-tributes-6454136

AndyC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

"mwynwr" wrote:
The news of Gwynfor's passing is very sad.

As a tribute to him I thought I would tell a story that he told me many years ago, when he gave me a tour of Dorothea:-

As some of you will know Gwynfor was for many years the "unofficial" caretaker of the Engine House at Dorothea. Those who have been there will remember the clock on the outside of the building.

One morning he was inside the Engine House, when two ladies stopped outside, while walking their dogs; one proudly said to the other "look at that, the quarry has been closed all these years and the clock is still going ! what a wonderful example of British engineering".

Little did they know that Gwynfor was inside winding up the clock, as he did every week.

RIP Gwynfor.

Graham Levins
Secretary
WMPT

When did his association with the engine house start?

I ask as someone showed me and my Dad around back in the '70s. I remember getting bored after a while. As Douglas Adams said - youth is wasted on the young. Of for that opportunity now.

Been injured while at work and are not to blame?

Get over it.