Merfyn Jones
Encyclopedia
Merfyn Jones CBE
is a historian
, broadcaster
, governor
of the BBC
and former vice-chancellor
of Bangor University
.
He grew up and still lives in Gwynedd
, Wales.
He is an historian specialising in modern and contemporary Welsh history
, and has made several TV documentaries
. His special interest is the history of the process of devolution
(the establishing and development of the National Assembly for Wales
) in Wales
. His books and articles include the book The North Wales Quarrymen for which he was awarded the Welsh Arts Council prize for literature. This book provides an analysis of the economic importance of slate extraction to North Wales
and also of the rise of trades unionism in the area (and covers the industrial dispute at Penrhyn Quarry
of 1900-03). He regularly broadcasts on the BBC and S4C
.
He graduated at the University of Sussex
and the University of Warwick
. He lectured at the University of Wales, Swansea
and was a lecturer
, head of department and dean
at the University of Liverpool
. He then joined the University of Wales, Bangor in 1990 as a senior lecturer
in history
. He became head of the School of Welsh History there in 1993 and was appointed to the Chair in Welsh History in 1994. He then served as Dean of Arts and Social Sciences for two years before being appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor in 1998.
In 2000, he presented a 13 part television series for S4C, entitled Cymru 2000. This was a history of 20th century Wales, which featured over 200 interviews with notable figures from Wales' recent history. He was also responsible for writing the book of the same name that accompanied the series. Cymru 2000 received a BAFTA Cymru
award in 2000 for "outstanding contribution to history on television". This was followed by several other television series, including 'Y Streic Fawr', 'Llafur Gwlad' and 'I'r Gad!'. On 1 January 2003 he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the BBC
as BBC National Governor for Wales
. He will hold that position until the end of 2006.
Following his role as acting vice-chancellor in 2003, his appointment as the sixth vice-chancellor of the University of Wales, Bangor was announced on 4 June 2004 and came into effect on 1 August 2004. He has overseen many big changes in his position at Bangor including in September 2007 the change from a University of Wales College, to a University in its own right, being renamed Bangor University
. In his capacity as Vice-Chancellor, he was the Welsh Supernumerary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
in the academic year 2004–05.
During late 2009, he announced his intention to retire as Vice Chancellor of Bangor University in an e-mail to staff. He said that he would be stepping down in late 2010, and thanked staff for their support during his tenure as Vice Chancellor.
He was also a member of the nominations committee established to appoint the new Director General of the BBC.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
for services to higher education in Wales.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, governor
Board of Governors of the BBC
The Board of Governors of the BBC was the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It consisted of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public. It existed from 1927 until it was replaced by the BBC Trust on 1 January 2007.The governors...
of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and former vice-chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
.
He grew up and still lives in Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, Wales.
He is an historian specialising in modern and contemporary Welsh history
History of Wales
The history of Wales begins with the arrival of human beings in the region thousands of years ago. Neanderthals lived in what is now Wales, or Cymru in Welsh, at least 230,000 years ago, while Homo sapiens arrived by about 29,000 years ago...
, and has made several TV documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. His special interest is the history of the process of devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
(the establishing and development of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
) in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. His books and articles include the book The North Wales Quarrymen for which he was awarded the Welsh Arts Council prize for literature. This book provides an analysis of the economic importance of slate extraction to North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and also of the rise of trades unionism in the area (and covers the industrial dispute at Penrhyn Quarry
Penrhyn Quarry
The Penrhyn Slate Quarry is a slate quarry located near Bethesda in north Wales. At the end of the nineteenth century it was the world's largest slate quarry; the main pit is nearly long and deep, and it was worked by nearly 3,000 quarrymen. It has since been superseded in size by slate quarries...
of 1900-03). He regularly broadcasts on the BBC and S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
.
He graduated at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
and the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. He lectured at the University of Wales, Swansea
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
and was a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
, head of department and dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
. He then joined the University of Wales, Bangor in 1990 as a senior lecturer
Senior lecturer
Senior lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a faculty position at a university or similar institution. Especially in research-intensive universities, lecturers lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He became head of the School of Welsh History there in 1993 and was appointed to the Chair in Welsh History in 1994. He then served as Dean of Arts and Social Sciences for two years before being appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor in 1998.
In 2000, he presented a 13 part television series for S4C, entitled Cymru 2000. This was a history of 20th century Wales, which featured over 200 interviews with notable figures from Wales' recent history. He was also responsible for writing the book of the same name that accompanied the series. Cymru 2000 received a BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
award in 2000 for "outstanding contribution to history on television". This was followed by several other television series, including 'Y Streic Fawr', 'Llafur Gwlad' and 'I'r Gad!'. On 1 January 2003 he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the BBC
Board of Governors of the BBC
The Board of Governors of the BBC was the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It consisted of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public. It existed from 1927 until it was replaced by the BBC Trust on 1 January 2007.The governors...
as BBC National Governor for Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He will hold that position until the end of 2006.
Following his role as acting vice-chancellor in 2003, his appointment as the sixth vice-chancellor of the University of Wales, Bangor was announced on 4 June 2004 and came into effect on 1 August 2004. He has overseen many big changes in his position at Bangor including in September 2007 the change from a University of Wales College, to a University in its own right, being renamed Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
. In his capacity as Vice-Chancellor, he was the Welsh Supernumerary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in the academic year 2004–05.
During late 2009, he announced his intention to retire as Vice Chancellor of Bangor University in an e-mail to staff. He said that he would be stepping down in late 2010, and thanked staff for their support during his tenure as Vice Chancellor.
He was also a member of the nominations committee established to appoint the new Director General of the BBC.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
for services to higher education in Wales.
External links
- About the BBC Governors: Professor Merfyn Jones (includes a biography and register of interests)