Ffeil / File AHB/1 - Interview notes taken from academic and work colleagues of Alun Lewis

Gwyn Prosser was the editor (later Managing Editor) of the Aberdare Leader, for which Alun Lewis worked in an informal capacity during the summer of 1938 (see John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), p. 73). Despite being noted both in the interview notes and in John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984) as 'Glyn Prosser', please note that all online searches for the Aberdare Leader editor have turned up 'Gwyn', rather than 'Glyn', Prosser. For Gwyn Prosser, see, for example: https://archive.rctcbc.gov.uk/view-item?key=SnsiUCI6eyJpdGVtaWQiOjI0ODg2LCJwZXJjZW50VGVybXNUb01hdGNoIjoiMC42IiwibWF4UXVlcnlUZXJtcyI6IjIwIiwibWluRG9jRnJlcSI6IjEiLCJtaW5UZXJtRnJlcSI6IjEifX0&pg=3&WINID=1691596337793#ggMTlxFxbKsAAAG..

Andrew Davies and Alun Lewis were both teachers at what was then known as the Lewis Boys' Grammar School, Pengam, where Lewis taught from 1938 until his military enlistment in 1940. Founded in 1729, the school is now known simply as Lewis School Pengam (see, for example: https://lsp.wales/, also indexed references to Andrew Davies in John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984)).

Barry Davies was a university friend of Alun Lewis, with whom he undertook a cycling tour during Easter 1940 (see John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), p. 82).

David Sims was a lecturer at Swansea University from 1946 to 1984. In his interview notes, John Pikoulis describes Sims as a former pupil of Lewis's. See, for example: https://www.walesartsreview.org/kingsley-amis-and-swansea-part-one/).

Sir Idwal Vaughan Pugh was Permanent Secretary at the Welsh Office and Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, Scotland and Wales (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman). He was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog but raised by relatives in Ton Pentre in the Rhondda Valley and educated at Cowbridge Grammar School, which Alun Lewis attended from 1926 to 1932 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idwal_Pugh)

Bryn Edwards was a schoolfellow of Alun Lewis's at Cowbridge Grammar School, which Lewis attended from 1926 to 1932.

Glyn Rees was formerly headmaster of what was then known as the Lewis Boys' Grammar School (now simply Lewis School) at Pengam, where Alun Lewis taught from 1938 until his military enlistment in 1940.