Fonds [WHELDONWP] - Papers of Major W.P. Wheldon,

Son of the Rev. Thomas Jones Wheldon and Mary Elinor Powell, Bronygraig, Ffestiniog. He was educated at Friars School, Bangor, the High School, Oswestry, the University College of North Wales (he was the first secretary of the Students’ Representative Council, 1899-1900) and at St. John’s College, Cambridge. In 1906 he began his career as a lawyer in London and joined a number of societies (among them the Hon. Soc. of Cymmrodorion) and soon became well acquainted with the city’s influential Welshmen. He speedily and unhesitatingly enlisted in the army and served in the 14th Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in France from December 1914 until December 1918. As Major and second in command, he was wounded, his bravery being mentioned in dispatches and recognised by the Distinguished Service Order in 1917. He was Secretary and Registrar of the University College of North Wales from 1919 until 1933 when he was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Department of the Board of Education.

He retired in 1945, however in 1951 he became Chairman of the Welsh Committee of the Festival of Britain; Chairman of the Council of School Broadcasting for Wales, member of the Court and Council of the University of Wales, member of the Court and Council of the University of Wales, Vice-President of the University Council of North Wales and President of the Cymmrodorion Society. In 1939 he was knighted, and appointed K.B.E. in 1952; the University of Wales conferred upon him the degree of Doctor in legibus (honoris causa) in 1947 and the Cymmrodorion Society its Medal in 1955.

(Taken from ‘The National Library of Wales : Dictionary of Welsh Biography.’).