Griffith Evans, acclaimed scientist

Gavin Gatehouse’s, a scientist from Abergwyngregyn, greatest achievement was to write a book about the remarkable Griffith Evans (1835-1935), who grew up in Tywyn, Meirionnydd, but spent 45 years in Bangor. 

Gavin’s book was launched at Storiel in May this year and he delivered a special lecture about Evans at BangorUniversity on 18 October.

Griffith Evans was a veterinarian specialising in diseases that killed horses – in an age when horses were very important on land and in warfare. Evans’ achievement was to find a way to treat the condition, much to the amazement of the vets of the time, many of whom opposed his work. Evans stuck to his principles, yes.

The volume is strongly associated with Bangor on many levels, including Griffith Evans’ membership of Pendref Chapel, where he was Sunday School Overseer. He also loved to challenge preachers at the end of the services!

After his retirement in 1890 at the age of 55, having roamed the world as part of his work, he bought a house in Bangor, Brynkynallt on Lôn Popty, in order to be in close contact with the University College founded in 1884, a few years earlier. He contributed extensively to the work of the College through his contacts with the lecturers, particularly in the Department of Agriculture, and was persuaded to lecture to the students of that department for a period of twenty years as ‘Instructor in Veterinary Hygiene’. He was a member of the committees of the College, and was very generous in his contributions. 

Griffith Evans was also influential in his involvement in Bangor’s various societies and movements and highly regarded among the city’s residents. He supported the liberal movement, and Lloyd George would often host Brynkynallt on his visits to Bangor. In 1931, at the age of 96, Bangor City Council representatives visited Griffith Evans in his bed in Brynkynallt to present him with the Freedom of the City of Bangor, an honour he loved. He died in 1935 following his hundredth birthday. The memory of it has now faded but Gavin Gatehouse’s volume revives it and the full story is inspiring.

The volume is part of the Scientists of Wales/Scientists of Wales series and is published by the University of Wales Press. 

You don’t have to be a scientist of sorts in the world to enjoy this particular book! Please follow the link to the University of Wales Press website.

Further Information

Eleri Beynon

Head
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: e.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 01267 676790