DAFYDD JOHN BOWEN LEWIS The Book of your Life
On the 26th of May 2011 at Ffresh restaurant in the Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff, Dafydd and Christine held a party to celebrate his 80th birthday. A surprise element of the evening for Dafydd was ‘This Is Your Life’ presented by Beti George. What follows is a pot pourri of the events of the evening that charted his life, his interests and a celebration by friends and family.
Ancestry
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The Davies Bristol House family came from the line of Baron Owen nicknamed ‘The Hanging Judge’ who, in the nineteenth century had sentenced to death the Gwilltiad Cochion of Dinas Mawddwy for preying on travellers.
The family had been farming at Pant Phylip, Arthog near Barmouth. They set sail in their boat, the ‘Anne & Susan’, accompanied by their children and animals and followed the course of the Mawddach Estuary into Cardigan Bay. Arriving in the thriving harbour town of Porthmadog, full of ships carrying slate from the Ffestiniog quarry to all parts of the world.
yfanwy Davies and David Thomas Lewis, your parents, met at the Wern nursing home in Pentre Felin, Criccieth where your father was recuperating from gas poisoning as a result of his service in World War 1. Your mother was a voluntary nursing aid.
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You were born on the 25th of February 1931 in Risca Road, Newport, 6 years after your sister Lisa was born.
Porthmadog Harbour late 19th Century.
Sadly your father had drowned in the River Usk the previous autumn, and your mother moved back to Porthmadog to be near her family.
They married and your mother left her family home at Bristol House, Porthmadog where the family had a shoe business, and your father rejoined Barclays Bank in Newport, Gwent where he had served before he joined the army.
To the left of the photograph is Bristol House, the family Boot & Shoe Shop. The sign ‘Davies & Son’ is just visible on the side of the house.
Robert Evan Myfanwy John Tryphena Madge Ann Rhys (Dentist) (Shoe Shop) Penry (China Shop) (Sea Captain) m. Elsie m. Nell m. Olwen m. William m. Bill m. David m. Hannah
Jane & John Davies of Bristol House, Porthmadog
Richards Owen Carter Jones (farmer)
m.
Elizabeth Jean b. 1925
David T. Lewis
Dafydd John Bowen b. 1931 m. Christine Kennaugh
m. Ernest Jones (Dr) Sion Sian
m. Pat Lancaster
Ceri Bowen
Rhodri ap Dafydd Guto Lancaster
m. Victoria Haynes m. Aine Denvir m. Valerie Douard
Gethin Holly Jack Eva Myfanwy
Elizabeth Bowen m. David Lewis of Station House, Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire
David Thomas Lewis
Jack Lewis
b. 1896 d. 1930
m. Ogwen
Davies Family Reunion - Spring 1985
School & Army
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T
he widows and orphans fund of Barclays Bank paid for both you
and Lisa to be sent away to school. Lisa to Dr. Williams in Dolgellau and you as a boarder at 8 years old to Lucton School near Hereford.
Morfa Bychan, Golf Links 1936
You look forward to the holidays each summer when your mother rents a Myfanwy, Lisa & Dafydd in the gypsy caravan in Morfa Bychan
Gypsy caravan in the dunes of Morfa Bychan. It is there that she teaches both you and Lisa to play golf she herself is a keen and good golfer. This starts a lifetime passion and interest for you both.
Morfa Bychan, View of the Golf Links 1936
At school you are good enough to pass your school Matriculation Certificate in history, english, biology and physics but not so good at algebra and chemistry. You are a sports all rounder with places in the school first X1 at cricket, the first XV at rugby and in the cross country and high jump squads. Morfa Bychan, Black Rock Sands 1936
Myfanwy with golf prize
Roger Moore
Dafydd
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n your last year at school your mother dies and this probably contributes to your decision to do your National Service immediately. You gain a
Commission from Mons Barracks, Aldershot, in the Transport Corps and are posted to Trieste, Italy. You indulge your passion for fast cars by watching the Mille Miglia, the 1000 mile race with drivers like Stirling Moss and Ascari competing and
Trieste Motorbike Trials
you ride a motor bike as part of your duties in command of a platoon operating 50 lorries carrying ammunition from Trieste to Austria. Sport figures largely still and you play Rugby on the wing for Trieste Command against the British Army in Austria, and play cricket for your company on barrack squares with matting wickets and win the inter company cricket league in your last year there. Le Mans 24 - start line 1958
The Korean War began and your National Service was extended by six months, but you refused the invitation to join the regular army and were posted to Supplementary Reserve when you were demobilised. Posted to Water transport for 2 weeks training every year. One of your fellow officers was Roger Moore then a struggling actor but later to become famous as the second James Bond 007. Water transport training included sea going trips on small boats to the Channel Islands where there was tax free brandy and whisky to be bought. Evading customs duty in the Isle of Wight required ingenuity!
Sailing in the Adriatic
Post Army & Politics
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A passion for fast cars was realised over the years carrying the familiar number plates of DRAIG and CYM 1, sometimes on such diverse vehicles as an E type Jaguar, Porsche 928, Jaguar XJ12 and an Audi TT. Having a notable car had its drawbacks, like when the VAT officer for Porthmadog noticed the CYM 1 heading south for Cardiff on the Friday before a Rugby International and queried whether your expenses were justified. However you always ensured you had a wholesale garment or pottery customer to see during the weekend.
till unclear about your future, you decide to join a fellow soldier from
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Northampton on a production management course in leather technology.
You meet Madge Mcdougall who recalls how your passion for fast driving, in those days in small cars, got you into trouble on two occasions. One when you crashed with Earl Spencer, grandfather of the Princess Diana, and another time crashing into a bank building in Northampton, she drove you in your car whilst you were banned from driving. She was also the beneficiary of an
Northampton College of Leather Technology 1953
introduction to her future husband Lindsay, whom you beat in the final of the Burn Cup at the Northampton County Golf Club.
Multi-Cultural students at Leather College
Madge, Hilary, Guto, Alisdair, Ceri, Rhodri & Lindsay
Since your mothers death, Lisa provided you with a home base, she is now working at the Warneford Hospital, Oxford, where she meets Dr. Ernest Eurfyl Jones. They marry and move back to Wales and he takes up a post as a Consultant Psychiatrist at St. David’s Hospital Carmarthen. Dafydds’ transport at college was an ex army BSA 350cc motorbike
Campaign Photograph - Rhodri, Dafydd, Guto, Pat & Ceri at Brondwyryd
An antique postcard from Jan Morris, a near neighbour from Llanystumdwy
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rnest gets you interested in the politics of Wales and you
are both committed supporters of Plaid Cymru, you campaign for both Gwynfor Evans and Caerwyn James. Lord Wigley described how in later years you supported his efforts by providing pottery for a stall in Petticoat Lane to raise funds for Plaid Cymru, how you stood as the first Plaid candidate for Merioneth, and of your support of the Welsh Language Centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn on the Lleyn Peninsula.
Craftcentre Cymru
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isiting Camarthen makes you aware of your own desire to work and
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live in Wales and to that end you ask your company Strong and Fisher
to move you to their leather manufacturing plant in Newtown, Powys. You soon start to realise that your ambition is to own your own business and in your spare time you start selling Welsh lovespoons and pottery to craft shops. Taffy and Jean Powell of Nannerch give you pottery as your commission so you decide to open your first shop in Llangurig. One of your mothers sisters, Anne has introduced you to Penny and Sam Roberts who own Celtic Crafts and they have taken a liking to you. When
Porthmadog Pottery
you break your leg playing rugby, immediately before opening the shop in Llangurig, they step into the breach and help you while you hobble around on crutches. You meet and marry Patricia Lancaster from Durham. Your sons Ceri Bowen and Rhodri ap Dafydd are born. Expansion to the tourism towns of North Wales is in your sights and so you move to Brondwyryd in
First Shop in Llangurig
Penrhyndeudraeth, North Wales, which becomes your home and office and the birthplace for son number three Guto Lancaster.
The boys outside the Llangurig shop following a renovation
“POTS� by Ed Povey Painted in the Summer of 1980 on the gable end of Porthmadog Pottery which also housed the head office and warehouse of Craftcentre Cymru. As well as people working in the building it portrayed people associated with Porthmadog like Lawrence of Arabia, Bertrand Russell and David Lloyd George.
Povey painted a portrait of Dafydd which featured at the top of his masterpiece.
Opening ‘The Tradition of Wales’ in Stratford with Sir Geraint Evans
Opening ‘The Tradition of Wales’ in Chester with Peter Walker, Secretary of State for Wales
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or thirty years Craftcentre Cymru was your working life. It became a significant business, not only for those directly employed by you but as
a major buyer for Welsh manufacturing. In 1987 you win a prestigious Wales Tourist Board Award and the chairman Prys Edwards was quoted as saying, ‘one of the great pioneers of the Welsh Craft and Tourism Industry’. Your knowledge and experience is sought by the Prince of Wales Investiture Design Council, Craft Council, Tourist
Hazel at the Welsh Craft Fair
Board, Rural Development Board, Welsh Weavers Association and so on, you start marketing schemes like Top Ten Attractions of Snowdonia with other tourism operators. You contribute to many initiatives to promote Wales and its people. In 1982 Christine joins you in the business using the experience she has gained at Marks and Spencer to expand and develop the business. You open larger stores in Porthmadog and Betws y Coed and move across the border to Chester and Stratford on Avon with a new name The Tradition of Wales. Alan Smith commented on what,
Award from the Wales Tourist Board
in his view, makes an entrepreneur, “they are very special people, fearless, single minded, visionaries, hard working and do not suffer fools gladly and generally they are a pain in the arse! Dafydd created a dynamic craft retailing and manufacturing base as the foundation for developing a thriving rural economy.”
Modelling in the 1987 Catalogue
Craftcentre Shops
Craftcentre & Pottery Vehicles
Headlines
Sporting Life
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F
ollowing on from your ancestors arrival in Porthmadog by sea you became a keen yachtsman. Many people at your birthday party will
have been part of a crew, with Dafydd as the skipper in the Mediterranean, West Indies, New Zealand to name a few places around the world, in waters that you have sailed. Emyr Griffith tells a tale from your days as single fathers when you and your boys and Dylan Griffith went on a cycling holiday in southern Ireland. You were persuaded to help sail a yacht to Kinsale from Crookhaven where it was stormbound after the notorious Fastnet race which claimed many lives. Ceri also tells the tale of how, on that trip, he was deputed by the others to suggest the fathers spent too much time in the pubs drinking Guinness and not enough on bikes.
Emyr Griffith
Tralee, Ireland - Rhod, Peggy O’Shea, Em, Dylan, Guto & Ceri 1977
hodri describes how your passion for Porthmadog Rugby Club which he
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for rugby influenced them all. “My founded in an area not famous for rugby.
father played rugby for Northampton in He used to bet us a pound if we beat him the mid-fifties and of course hoped we at all kinds of sports and whilst it took would all play for Wales. Although he was a long time to beat him at some things, busy with Craftcentre he rarely missed a swimming was the first and golf the last. school game, we didn’t win Welsh caps He scored a gross 71 at Harlech when he but we all played for our universities and was 72, playing to his age. Something we club sides and supported him playing will all try to beat!”
Police motorbikes waiting to escort the ‘Amicales Francaise’ to see the France v Wales Rugby match March 2nd 1991.
With Professor Ieuan Jones Jacks Point Golf Club NZ
ou achieved a golf handicap of 3 early in your golfing career and
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competed in the Welsh Amateur Championship on a number of
occasions. You have latterly been a member of Royal St. Davids, Royal Porthcawl and Wanaka NZ golf clubs. Your squash playing continued well into your fifties with the Criccieth Squash Club team.
Cape Kidnappers NZ with Nigel Mansell
Hilton Head Island USA with Peter Morgan, Woolfie & Hugh Child
Winning a meat pack in Wanaka, NZ
WNO Golf Comp, Porthmadog Team Winners with Bryn Terfel
Playing with family in Ohai NZ
Walking in Wales & New Zealand
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n one week you climbed all of the 3000 ft peaks in Snowdonia
and have continued to inspire many others with the beauty of the Welsh mountains. In recent times you have spent time walking with friends all over Europe and New Zealand.
Family top of Snowdon 2001
Navigation with Andrew Jedwell
Snowdonia with Caryl and Dick
Rod, Dafydd, Sian, Janet, Sion & Guto Cwm Pennant ‘81
Music
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unning alongside your business and sporting interests has been your love of music both jazz and classical. You started a music club in your early twenties in a dentists waiting room in Wellingborough and to this day you are still building your ipod library. Mozart is one of your favourite composers and your Devon Yawl sailing boat was named Amadeus after him.
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Lucy Stout is the chairman of trustees of Sinfonia Cymru, a superb orchestra of young musicians embarking on careers in the professional world. She used the occasion of your 80th birthday party to thank you for your contribution as you step down as a trustee, she reminded us all how your love of music started. When you arrived in Trieste, in the army, you meet Loradana whose family had a box at the Teatro Verdi opera house. The first opera you saw was Rigoletto staring Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi. Since then you have supported musical life in Wales as a sponsor with Craftcentre and personally with Christine who has been a member of the Board of Welsh National Opera for 19 years. Loradana Caruana
Amadeus WNO Hong Kong
New York City
Bryn Terfel in Falstaff - Vienna
Lucy Stout - Sinfonia Cymru
Myfanwy Jones Winner of the best souvenir in the Prince of Wales Investiture competition 1969
Presented a Life Vice-Presidency on September 22nd 2008 in recognition of services to Wales Millennium Centre
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n 1992 you decide to sell the business and retire, but you remain as active as ever contributing to life in Wales. As a member of the Council of the National Museum the then president Mathew Prichard asks you to start a trading company to better exploit the commercial potential of the Institution. He also, as chair of the Arts Council for Wales, asks you to chair some things that do not necessarily play to your strengths like the Dance Committee. However, you enjoy your time as Vice Chairman and also make a firm friendship and discover much discussion of Arts issues can be accommodated on a golf course.
You are well know for your republican sympathies but even you put certain aspects of them aside on occasions. Craftcentre wins an award for the best souvenir in the competition to celebrate the Investiture of the Prince of Wales and then accompanying Christine to Buckingham palace in 2002 where she receives the OBE for services to the Food Industry.
The opening of the Wales Millennium Centre being presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Presenting an illuminated manuscript to Sir Alan Cox on his retirement from Chair of Wales Millennium Centre.
Finally the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in 2004 where you have been a Board Member since before the foundations were laid and are immensely proud to have contributed to the founding of Wales’ most iconic building. Lady Cox recalls a tale from the opening night presentation to the Royal Party. “You are quite well known for your flamboyant ties and indeed were wearing the same tie you have on for your party. After being introduced to the Queen you chatted with the Duke of Edinburgh who remarked on your bow tie, “I thought that this was a black tie occasion”? To which you responded, “Sir, it is an Arts building after all.”
Lady Cox
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Friends & Family
Porth y Castell, Portmeirion
afydd, you have had a love of both food and wine over many years and many of us here this evening have shared and enjoyed many occasions in your company and of course there are tales to tell.
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Shan Roberts has known you since she was a girl and remembers how when her family were owners of Ynyhir Hall Hotel, you were the scourge and benefactor of the Welsh Restaurateurs up and down the land. She recalls, “He was swift to praise as he was to complain and his name appeared on myriad reviews in the Good Food Guide. During these years he also embarked on an assiduous and lifelong study of wine, never missing an opportunity to taste something new, studying wine guides, which he still does, and making concerted efforts to find the recommendations, country by country, region by region, bottle by bottle. He also for many years has collected labels, thoughtfully put on a screen by Christine for his 60th birthday. The sharing of food and drink is one of the oldest rituals touching us at our age it is the wonderful glue of friendship. He and Christine are the most generous of hosts, Dafydd is still producing bottle after bottle of thoughtfully chosen wines which they share with great pleasure whether in Wales or Wanaka.�
Shan Roberts
Dafydd’s 75th birthday party, Southgate Cottage, Penarth
Heulwen Haf, Dafydd, Stella Mair, Porth y Castell
Dafydd Wigley, Heulwen Haf, Aneurin Rhys Hughes, Porth y Castell
Shan Roberts at Caernarfon
Bethan & Bryan Rees Jones at Portmeirion to celebrate Dafydd’s 70th birthday.
Chris Harris
Prys & Kath Edwards, Wanaka
Roseanne & Nigel Mansell, Cape Kidnappers
Hazel & Chris, Picton
Dafydd’s 80th birthday, Mount Linton Station
n recent years, you and Christine have made your winter home in New Zealand. The intention at first was to be able to spend more time with Ceri, Tori and their family. But so successful has it been as a way of life that now you have a home of your own in Wanaka, a home you are always pleased to share with friends.
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Picnic, Marlborough Sounds Geraint & Elizabeth Talfan saw for themselves how you’ve adapted to the Kiwi way. “Their involvement in you having a good time in NZ starts before you leave, as now having visited most parts of the country themselves they are first rate planning guides. They of course know all the places to visit to eat, to stay and more especially give you the introductions to their friends. We have especially good memories of our Christmas in the bach in Picton owned by Hazel who lived with Dafydd when the boys were young and who decided with her partner Chris to emigrate to New Zealand some years ago. The house at 22 Willowridge built by Dafydd and Christine is affectionately known by the locals as the ‘Welsh Embassy’ and for any special occasion flies the Draig Goch.
Mount Linton
I would like to finish by thanking them on your behalf for inviting us all this evening to share this special party, how good it is to see all the family here and for us to catch up with many old friends.
We have had this evening locally sourced food, especially selected New Zealand wine and wonderful entertainment from the singers of the Welsh National Opera. The contributions from friends and family that have given us all a fuller picture of the man celebrating his 80th birthday.” “Penblwydd Hapus”
Geraint & Elizabeth Talfan
Alan & Joan Smith, Mount Aspiring National Park
Geraint & Elizabeth, Wanaka
22 Willowridge, Wanaka
Mary & Peter White, Wanaka
Mathew & Lucy Prichard, Queenstown
Kate & David Bowes, Arrowtown
Rhondda & Gary, neighbours, Wanaka
Jill & Robert Sloss, Christchurch
Fatherhood
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e are now drawing to a close with our version of This is Your Life. I hope you have enjoyed this brief walk through the last eighty years of a full and fruitful time. I am going to ask Ceri to say a few words to close this tribute.
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“My earliest memories were of our Brondwyryd home and Dafydd trying to run a rapidly growing business and bring up three boys, every night he made up a Tarzan story while we were tucked up in bed, he never made it to the end before we were shaking him awake to finish the story. When our parents separated we were looked after by Auntie Lisa, Grandma Lancaster and several nannies that never Hazel & boys at Brondwyryd 1975 stayed long, probably because of our behaviour. Eventually Hazel Kirkham came to live with us and kept us all in order. We have fond memories of our holidays with Em and Dylan Griff who was like having another brother around. Hazel & Sion sailing off Porthmadog
Croesor School Photo 1972
Ceri with a huge ‘Captain Cooker’ pig
Rhod with his soft ice cream machine Porthmadog Pottery
Guto ‘Gateaux’ serving Mum Kennaugh Porthmadog
Dafydd has always supported us to achieve our best in school, college, our careers and as we pursue our lives. His support now extends to his grandchildren and both Dafydd and Christine take great pleasure in following and supporting their education and development and we all look forward every year to their arrival at the beginning of November in Wanaka. We have been back to Wales for your 60th, 70th and now your 80th and we very much look forward to coming back for your 90th and 100th. Just keep sloshing back the vino and slogging round the golf course.”
Brittany - Hazel, Em & Gwenda in the Campervan 1972
Moel y Gest 1969
Christine
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n the autumn of 1981 we were introduced by our mutual friend Angela Hancock, Dafydd was looking for somebody to help him update the clothing range of his business, but he got a business partner and a wife. I moved from my job at Marks and Spencer and my home in Muswell Hill to live with him at Wynnstay, an old sea captains house overlooking Porthmadog Harbour. Ceri had been dispatched to New Zealand for some farming experience, Rhodri and Guto were at school and living in Birkenhead but came to us for weekends and holidays.
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Cascade Avenue
Packing my belongings into the Porthmadog Pottery van.
Angela & Ellen Hancock
In October 1982 we married with a wedding breakfast at Llyn Mair, Maentwrog following the Ffestiniog train journey and in the evening a party at Castell Deudraeth, Portmeirion.
Registry Office, Pwllheli
Ffestiniog Train journey
Castell Deudraeth, October 2nd 1982
We soon moved to our new home at Porth y Castell, Minffordd and at various times over the following years the boys lived with us between school, college and jobs. I had the joy of building both a home and garden that gave us all years of pleasure.
Porth y Castell at Christmas
The Gardening Team
During this time my mother came to live in Criccieth. Dafydd and Peggy formed a very special relationship which was to see her live very happily until her 92nd year.
Dafydd & Peggy
Lisa and Peggy on her 80th Birthday
I spent time with Lisa as she came frequently to her little house in Nantlle where she painted watercolours and still life and sold her paintings in various art galleries throughout Wales. She also became the sign writer for the business, this gave us the opportunity to often travel to Stratford together and see performances at the theatre. Lisa had a stroke whilst staying with us and after the death of her second husband Colin went to live in a residential home near Carmarthen. Sadly her daughter Sian died very suddenly, but I was able to take care of her needs and frequently took her for little outings and for the odd glass of wine. Dafydd paid a moving tribute to her at her funeral in 2010, for all the things that she had done for him especially in his early life.
Brother Roger & Peggy
We have also made many new friends together and shared friends from our past, he has made a bevy of girlfriends particularly welcome.
Ceri married Victoria Haynes in 1992 in Hawke’s Bay. It was our first visit to New Zealand together and Madge and Lindsay McDougall joined us to sail in the Bay of Islands and to walk the Milford Track following the wedding. Dafydd returned to meet his first grandchild Gethin the next year. We then visited for holidays each year taking the growing family, Holly and then Jack, to different parts of the country, Russell, Coromandel, Lake Taupo and Marlborough Sounds.
It is quite different now with our home in Wanaka and the family at Mount Linton. We enjoy seeing them with their friends, teaching them to cook, play golf and watching sports and school prize days just like any grandparents.
We welcomed Aine Denvir to the Lewis family when she married Rhodri in 2002. We travelled to Newcastle, Co Down for the wedding. Aine comes from a large Irish family who made us feel most welcome. Dafydd read a lesson in Welsh at the service in the beautiful church at Strangford, Lough.
Guto married Valerie Douard from Brittany, France in May 2011 at the top of the Rockefeller Centre in New York. They expect a baby girl, Eva Myfanwy, in July this year.
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The 80th Party
Beti
Lucy
Madge
Alan
Dafydd
Ros
Shan
Geraint
Emyr
Ceri
Rhodri
Guto
Dafydd’s Closing Words; I had thought to begin with, “My Lords, Ladies etc” (because there are a few of you about), but it hardly fits with such an informal evening. So my friends ... you are a distinguished but motley group and I have variously sailed with you in Thailand, the West Indies, the Mediterranean, New Zealand, walked with you in France, Spain, Italy and Wales, golfed with you in America, Spain, Australia and Scotland, and I value every memory of those times. It all adds up to a wonderful kaleidoscope of some hilarious and memorable adventures together and it gives me great pleasure to see you all gathered together in this iconic building that adds such a lustre to Wales’ international reputation. I am mildly incredulous at having reached such a venerable age. I hope you agree with me that it is due to the ‘love of a good woman’. It may be a well worn cliche, but absolutely true of Chris and she deserves all my love for the companionship we have enjoyed together and with yourselves. She and her able accomplices are responsible for tonight’s show and in particular we owe the staff and musicians of Welsh National Opera a heartfelt thank you, together with Barney and his staff at Ffresh. It is a special pleasure for me to see my three sons and their families here tonight. Ceri, Victoria and their children Gethin, Holly and Jack from New Zealand; Rhodri and Aine from Cardiff and Guto and Valerie who got married on top of the Rockefeller Tower in New York City not long ago. Diolch am dod yma heno i ddathlu y benblwydd pedwar hugain fi. Y mae yn blesur mawr i weld gymaint ohonoch yn mwynhau eich gilydd. Thank you for coming. It is an intense pleasure to see you all gathered here for my 80th birthday.
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uring the years we have enjoyed many great holidays and Dafydd has taught me to appreciate the joys of sailing and walking especially. We now live in our Penarth house which was originally our ‘cultural’ home when visiting Cardiff. Whilst we were sad to leave Porth y Castell, it was a practical solution to our dual life. We both look forward to continuing travel, good health and years more of enjoying our friends and family together. It has given me great pleasure to organise this party and The Book for Dafydd and to have shared 30 happy years together. Christine