John Haydn Davies Papers

The fonds comprises papers, 1895, 1922-1991, relating mainly to Treorchy Male Choir and the history of the Rhondda.

John Haydn Davies (1905-1991), musician and local historian, is best remembered as a conductor of choirs and festivals and for his distinguished contribution to Treorchy Male Choir.
He was born in Blaenycwm in the Rhondda Fawr Valley on 3 February 1905, the son of Daniel and Lucy Davies. He received his education at the local school in Blaenycwm, Tonypandy Grammar School and Caerleon Training College. Having completed his course at Caerleon he returned to Blaenycwm as a teacher, becoming headmaster in 1955. In 1960 he was appointed headmaster of Bodrinallt School in the Rhondda. He retired in 1970.
John Haydn Davies became conductor of Blaenselsig Male Choir in 1933, and conducted Blaenycwm Choral Society between 1935 and 1947. After the Second World War he was invited to become conductor of Treorchy Male Choir which, under his baton, gained a huge reputation, performing in concerts throughout Britain and winning eight first prizes at the National Eisteddfod. In 1961 he was awarded the MBE for his contribution to music. He retired as conductor in 1969 but continued as Conductor Emeritus until his death in 1991.
During his tenure as conductor he also adjudicated regularly at local, semi-nationals as well as the National Eisteddfod, and also served on the Music Committee of the Eisteddfod. He took a keen interest in the history of the Rhondda Valley and especially in the Rhondda choral music tradition. He contributed to Rhondda Past and Future, a work published in 1975 under the editorship of K. S. Hopkins. He was a prominent and active member of Blaenycwm Welsh chapel.

Arranged according to provenance at NLW into two groups: Treorchy Male Choir and research papers; and one series: speeches and miscellaneous papers.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Donated by Mr Geraint Davies, Rhondda Cynon Taf, son of John Haydn Davies, November 2002.; 0200213216

John Haydn Davies (1905-1991), musician and local historian, is best remembered as a conductor of choirs and festivals and for his distinguished contribution to Treorchy Male Choir.
He was born in Blaenycwm in the Rhondda Fawr Valley on 3 February 1905, the son of Daniel and Lucy Davies. He received his education at the local school in Blaenycwm, Tonypandy Grammar School and Caerleon Training College. Having completed his course at Caerleon he returned to Blaenycwm as a teacher, becoming headmaster in 1955. In 1960 he was appointed headmaster of Bodrinallt School in the Rhondda. He retired in 1970.
John Haydn Davies became conductor of Blaenselsig Male Choir in 1933, and conducted Blaenycwm Choral Society between 1935 and 1947. After the Second World War he was invited to become conductor of Treorchy Male Choir which, under his baton, gained a huge reputation, performing in concerts throughout Britain and winning eight first prizes at the National Eisteddfod. In 1961 he was awarded the MBE for his contribution to music. He retired as conductor in 1969 but continued as Conductor Emeritus until his death in 1991.
During his tenure as conductor he also adjudicated regularly at local, semi-nationals as well as the National Eisteddfod, and also served on the Music Committee of the Eisteddfod. He took a keen interest in the history of the Rhondda Valley and especially in the Rhondda choral music tradition. He contributed to Rhondda Past and Future, a work published in 1975 under the editorship of K. S. Hopkins. He was a prominent and active member of Blaenycwm Welsh chapel.

A hard copy of this list is available at NLW.

December 2002

Compiled by Barbara Davies.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: obituaries in The Independent (5 July 1991), Seren Cymru (2 August 1991) and Y Gloran (September 1991); Treorchy Male Choir 1946-1996: fifty golden years, edited by Dean Powell (1996).

Usual copyright laws apply.

Action: All papers donated to NLW have been retained..

Accruals are not expected.

Photographs of John Haydn Davies and Blaenycwm Chapel are in NLW, Special Collections.

Published