Gwyn Haydn Rhys

Gwyn Haydn Rhys was born in Hopkinstown in 1932 and was brought up in Llandaff North. He was educated at Cardiff High School and in 1950 enrolled at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire studying languages. During the first week of term he met his future wife Kathleen. After graduated in 1953, he embarked on two years of National Service with the RAF. Having a flair for languages he undertook a crash course in Russian and trained as a radio and radar operator before being posted to Berlin where he was to monitor, record and transcribe Russian military transmissions.

Gwyn and Kathleen were married in 1955 and had two daughters, Ceridwen in 1956 and Sian in 1962. In 1967 Gwyn started work at the University College Cardiff Registry as an administrative assistant. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy Registrar before taking early retirement in 1987. Kathleen also worked at UCC part time, first in the Finance Office and later in the Library, Sian is a graduate of UCC and Ceridwen worked in the Library for more than 40 years. The University was and is an integral part of family life.

After retirement Gwyn and Kathleen enjoyed many happy years pursuing their hobbies including photography, choral singing and most importantly, family history research. They learnt the craft together and gradually became expert genealogists, gaining great respect and admiration for their expertise in this field. They went on to help people both locally and across the world to discover their ancestry and made many friends in the process. In recognition of his contribution Gwyn was appointed President of the Glamorgan Family History Society.

Gwyn and Kathleen moved to Radyr in 1977 and remained in their much loved home until 2024 when they both moved to a residential care home. He passed away there peacefully on 11th November and is survived by his wife, daughters and grandson.

Sian Rhys and Ceridwen Thomas, November 2024