ffeil 5/6 - Coleg Y Barri

Sir Ben Bowen Thomas (1899-1977) served as the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Department of the Ministry of Education, 1945-1963. He played an important role in the sphere of education throughout his career, beginning as a tutorial class lecturer in UCW Aberystwyth, 1922-1927, and then as Warden for the newly-founded Coleg Harlech, 1927-1940, working with its founder, Dr Thomas Jones (1870-1955). He also served on the McNair Committee on the Training of Teachers and Youth Leaders, 1942-1944. Sir Ben quickly rose to an international status in the world of education, as a UK delegate to UNESCO, 1946-1962, and a member of the Executive Board, 1954-1962 (being chairman from 1958-1960). His interests in education took him into the field of television, and he was closely involved in the Independent Television Authority (ITA) Commission, 1964-1970. He also became President of University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He wrote numerous articles on education and religion for newspapers and pamphlets, as well as several of an autobiographical nature. His grandfather was the Rev. Benjamin Thomas (1838-1913), a Baptist minister in Ystrad Rhondda, Glamorgan.