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John Roderick (Jack) Rees John Roderick (Jack) Rees (b. 1920; d. 12 October 2009) was a Welsh poet.[1] He was born into a family of Welsh Cob Stallion breeders who settled into Bear’s Hill, a small holding, in the village of Penuwch near Tregaron, Ceredigion.[2]
Early Life
When Rees was about three years old his mother, Mary, died. Jane Mary Walters (b. 1894; d. 1981), who had been a long-time servant with the family, took over the care of Rees and became a foster-mother to him.[3]
Education and career
He attended University of Wales, College Aberystwyth from the age of twenty-six. After finishing his studies, he farmed for a few years.[4] Later, he taught at Tregaron County Secondary School in the capacity of Head of the Welsh department while also looking after the small holding and showing his famous Welsh Cob, Brenin Gwalia, at various horse shows.[5] He was a well-liked teacher and was interested in his students. One of his students later reported that Rees was offered a lecturing position at Cardiff’s Cyncoed Teaching Training College but turned it down to stay in Ceredigion. However, Rees resigned his teaching post in Tregaron when his foster-mother suddenly became ill and he remained home at Bear’s Hill in order to look after her.[6]
Poetry
After winning many competitions for essays at eisteddfodau he took a break from writing. Later, Rees began entering his poetry into competitions. In both 1984 at Lampeter and Rhyl in 1985 he won the National Eisteddfod crowns being only the second person to win in successive years since World War Two.[7] His poems were engrained with his love of Ceredigion. His 1984 poem Llygaid (Eyes) gave support to the English migrants in Ceredigion when others sought to push them out. The winning poem in 1985 Glannau, talks of the difficult last days of his foster-mother.[8] The poem, has been translated into English as Shores and a transcription is exhibited in the Aberystwyth Museum along with the crowns won by him.[9]
Penuwch
One of his students, the artist Wynne Melville Jones, produced a painting of Bear’s Hill capturing the essence of the poet in the farm building. In 1993, the children of Penuwch primary school were commissioned to complete a project which illustrated the history of the village. The resulting exhibit is known as the Sculptures of Brynamlwg. John Roderick Rees not only assisted in the research for the project but also became one of the subjects along with his horse Brenin Gwalia.[10]
The man
Those who knew him described him as a gentle, kind reserved man who loved Ceredigion.[11] After his death John Roderick Rees was remembered in a special service at Tregaron on 29 November 2009.[12]
References
edit- ^ BBC News, ‘Celebrated eisteddfod poet dies’ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/8302199.stm12 Oct. 2009, accessed 18 Oct.2018, hereafter BBC, 'Poet dies'.
- ^ Welsh biography, ‘Thomas Rees (1862 - 1951), Breeder of Welsh cobs’ http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-REES-THO-1862.html, accessed 18 Oct. 2018.
- ^ Llangeitho Community Council ‘A flavour of Pen-uwch’ http://www.cyngorllangeithocouncil.org.uk/en/penuwch.php, accessed 18 Oct. 2018. Hereafter, Llangeitho, Pen-uwch.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ BBC Wales ‘John Roderick Rees’ in Cymru Cylchgrawn /Wales Magazine (07 Jan. 2010) (http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/cylchgrawn/llyfrau/awduron/john-roderick-rees.shtml, accessed 22 Oct. 2018.
- ^ Llangeitho, Pen-uwch.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ Aberystwyth Museum, Ceredigion.
- ^ Eirian Jones (ed), Mynydd bach: Ei Hanes – Its history (Talybont, 2013), pp 253-9.
- ^ BBC, 'Poet dies'.
- ^ Wales Online, ‘Remembering bard and breeder’ (24 Nov. 2009; updated 28 Mar. 2013) (https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/remembering-bard-and-breeder-2071718) (accessed 19 Oct. 2018).
External links
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