Wynne Davies

Last updated
Wynne Davies
MBE
Dr Wynne Davies (1932-2021).jpg
Born
Edgar Wynne Davies

(1932-03-19)19 March 1932
Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion, Wales
Died7 December 2021(2021-12-07) (aged 89)
NationalityWelsh
Other namesDr Wynne
The Doc [1]
Education Aberystwyth University
Occupation(s)Author, pony breeder, judge, historian, teacher
Spouse
Ruth Williams
​
(m. 1961)​
Children2

Edgar Wynne Davies MBE (19 March 1932 - 7 December 2021) was a Welsh author, teacher, historian, judge and breeder of Welsh ponies. [2] [3] His book Welsh Ponies and Cobs (1980) was the first major publication on the subject. [4] He was the first Welsh person to receive The Showing World's lifetime outstanding achievement award at the Horse of the Year Show in 2012. [5] He set a new record for the oldest person to "trot up at horse" at the Royal Welsh Show in 2015. [6]

Contents

Personal life, education and career

Davies was born in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion to Evan Samuel Davies [7] and Janet Mary née Williams. He earned a PhD in spectrophotometric and kinetic studies of complex salt solutions from Aberystwyth University in 1957. [8] He married Ruth Williams in 1961. They moved to Ceulan Farm in Miskin, Pontyclun [9] in 1962. They had two children. [5]

Davies taught chemistry at Rhondda Grammar School, [10] Llandaff College and South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education, [11] which became the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, where he was head of chemistry and deputy head of department. He retired in 1989. [1]

Welsh ponies

Davies was a third-generation breeder of Welsh mountain ponies, Welsh ponies, Welsh ponies of cob type and Welsh cobs. He owned the Ceulan Stud in Pontyclun. [12] Several of his ponies became champions, including:

Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS)

Davies joined the Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS) in 1948. He served on its council from 1955 to 2007, [1] including being its president in 1984. [14] He was also its publicity officer [10] and historian. [15] He served as a judge, both in the UK [16] and abroad - including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada, USA and Europe. [17] [18]

Royal Welsh Show (RWS)

Davies became a commentator at the Royal Welsh Show (RWS) in 1976, moving to the main ring in 1980. [7] He won the progeny class [11] at the show a "record" 11 times. [1] In 2015 he set a further record by being the "oldest person to trot up at horse" in the main ring, aged 83. [6]

Writing and publications

Davies wrote for Horse & Hound magazine from 1951 for 58 years. [19] He edited the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Journal from 1992 to 2002. [1] He also contributed to international Welsh Pony and Cob Society magazines. [17]

Davies authored the following books:

Honours

Davies received the following honours: [1]

Other roles

Davies was chairman of the Welsh Agricultural Equine Association. [22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 David Blair (2021-12-19). ""There will never be another Wynne Davies" farewell to one of the greats". horseandhound.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  2. ↑ Mary Shaw Moore (1996-08-29). "Welsh ponies history dates back to days of Henry VIII". The Flint Journal. Michigan, USA. p. 45.
  3. ↑ Lynne Edmunds (1980-05-21). "World-beaters from the lonely Welsh hills". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. p. 17.
  4. ↑ "First major work on Welsh ponies". Neath Guardian. Neath, UK. 1982-04-29. p. 11.
  5. 1 2 3 "Miskin pony breeder is honoured". Cowbridge GEM. Cowbridge, UK. 2012-10-10. p. 13.
  6. 1 2 "Talking Points". Horse & Hound. London, UK: Future plc. 30 July 2015. p. 70.
  7. 1 2 3 Dube, Steve (2009). Welsh farming life. Llandysul, UK: Gwasg Gomer. p. 25. ISBN   9781843239727.
  8. ↑ Davies, Wynne (2015). From the horse's mouth: Dr Wynne's diaries. Llandysul, UK: Gomer Press. p. 44. ISBN   9781785620362.
  9. 1 2 "Perfect for pony lovers". South Wales Argus. Newport, UK. 1993-07-26. p. 4.
  10. 1 2 "Wynne hoofs it to collect top award". Rhondda Leader. Rhondda, UK. 1995-07-06. p. 6.
  11. 1 2 3 Roland Brooks (1983-06-16). "Showing style, and good breeding". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. p. 29.
  12. ↑ M'OR (1993-07-30). "Dr Wynne shows off his four-legged butties". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. p. 26.
  13. 1 2 3 "Royal Welsh Show: Pony breeder, 83, sprints into record books". dailypost.co.uk. 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  14. ↑ Valerie Russell (1986-03-12). "Welsh ponies weekend promises to be a treat". Western Daily Press. Cardiff, UK. p. 25.
  15. ↑ Fred Benton (2002-06-05). "Born to the saddle". Belfast News-Letter. Belfast, UK. p. 86.
  16. ↑ "Judge praises high quality of ponies". Isle of Wight County Press. Isle of Wight, UK. 1989-06-16. p. 51.
  17. 1 2 3 "An expert in cob field". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. 1995-06-17. p. 6.
  18. ↑ "Dr Wynne's double at show!". Cowbridge GEM. Cowbridge, UK. 2015-07-09. p. 5.
  19. ↑ Nicola Jane Swinney (2012-03-15). "Horse and Hound showing reporter Dr Wynne Davies retires". horseandhound.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  20. ↑ David Lloyd (1986-12-30). "Top farm honours for leading fellows". Daily Post. Wrexham, UK. p. 20.
  21. ↑ Hurn, David (2003). Living in Wales. Brigend: Seren. p. 115. ISBN   1854113399.
  22. ↑ "The Welsh Agricultural". Carmarthen Journal. Carmarthen, UK. 1995-05-31. p. 29.
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