Wynne Davies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
19 March 1932
The Doc[1]
Wynne Davies | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | Edgar Wynne Davies 19 March 1932 Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion, Wales |
| Died | 7 December 2021 (aged 89) |
| Other names | Dr Wynne The Doc[1] |
| Education | Aberystwyth University |
| Occupations | Author, pony breeder, judge, historian, teacher |
| Spouse |
Ruth Williams (m. 1961) |
| Children | 2 |
Edgar Wynne Davies MBE (19 March 1932 - 7 December 2021) was a Welsh author, teacher, historian, judge and breeder of Welsh ponies.[2][3] His book Welsh Ponies and Cobs (1980) was the first major publication on the subject.[4] He was the first Welsh person to receive The Showing World's lifetime outstanding achievement award at the Horse of the Year Show in 2012.[5] He set a new record for the oldest person to "trot up at horse" at the Royal Welsh Show in 2015.[6]
Davies was born in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion to Evan Samuel Davies[7] and Janet Mary née Williams. He earned a PhD in spectrophotometric and kinetic studies of complex salt solutions from Aberystwyth University in 1957.[8] He married Ruth Williams in 1961. They moved to Ceulan Farm in Miskin, Pontyclun[9] in 1962. They had two children.[5]
Davies taught chemistry at Rhondda Grammar School,[10] Llandaff College and South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education,[11] which became the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, where he was head of chemistry and deputy head of department. He retired in 1989.[1]
Welsh ponies
Davies was a third-generation breeder of Welsh mountain ponies, Welsh ponies, Welsh ponies of cob type and Welsh cobs. He owned the Ceulan Stud in Pontyclun.[12] Several of his ponies became champions, including:
- Dinarth What Ho – 1947 champion at Royal Welsh Show (RWS)[13]
- Coed Cch Serliw – 1949 champion[1]
- Ceulan Cariad – double RWS winner[13]
- Ceulan Calon Lan – 2015 reserve supreme equine champion at RWS[13]
Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS)
Davies joined the Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS) in 1948. He served on its council from 1955 to 2007,[1] including being its president in 1984.[14] He was also its publicity officer[10] and historian.[15] He served as a judge, both in the UK[16] and abroad - including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada, USA and Europe.[17][18]
Royal Welsh Show (RWS)
Davies became a commentator at the Royal Welsh Show (RWS) in 1976, moving to the main ring in 1980.[7] He won the progeny class[11] at the show a "record" 11 times.[1] In 2015 he set a further record by being the "oldest person to trot up at horse" in the main ring, aged 83.[6]
Writing and publications
Davies wrote for Horse & Hound magazine from 1951 for 58 years.[19] He edited the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Journal from 1992 to 2002.[1] He also contributed to international Welsh Pony and Cob Society magazines.[17]
Davies authored the following books:
- Welsh ponies and cobs. Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. 1980. ISBN 9780851313610.[11]
- Welsh champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1984. ISBN 9780851313962.
- Welsh cob champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1985. ISBN 9780851314105.
- Welsh pony champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1988. ISBN 9780851314587.
- An introduction to Welsh ponies and cobs. Essex, UK: Whittet Books. 1993. ISBN 9781873580073.[9]
- The Welsh Cob. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1998. ISBN 9780851317212.
- The Welsh Mountain Pony. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1999. ISBN 9780851315713.
- One hundred glorious years: The Welsh pony and cob society 1901-2001. Lampeter, UK: The Welsh Pony and Cob Society. 2001. ISBN 9780900439957.
- The early years: A collection of articles from the early Welsh stud book (Vol 1-15). Lampeter, UK: Welsh Pony and Cob Society. 2002.
- The Welsh Pony. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 2006. ISBN 9780851318707.
- Sixty years of Royal Welsh Champions: A celebration of Welsh pony and cob champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 2009. ISBN 9780851319551.
- Welsh ponies and cobs: Ceredigion champions. Llandysul, UK: Gomer Press. 2010. ISBN 9781848512030.
- From the horse's mouth: Dr Wynne's diaries. Llandysul, UK: Gomer Press. 2015. ISBN 9781785620362.
