ONE OF Wales’ foremost disability rights pioneers and founder of Antur Waunfawr, Robert Gwynn Davies, would have turned 102 years this week.
Born in the Gwynedd village of Waunfawr, Davies attended the village school in Waunfawr before moving on to the County School in Caernarfon.
Davies came from a politically motivated family with a pacifist outlook, and his grandfather was a staunch supporter of Ellis Davies MP, and he sat on Caernarfonshire County Council as a Liberal member.
After completing his education, he enjoyed a successful career in law, firstly at Ellis Davies & Co in Caernarfon followed by a period with R. Gordon Roberts & Co, Llangefni.
He went on to work in local government, serving as assistant solicitor and senior assistant solicitor to Caernarfonshire County Council, before becoming assistant clerk to the council.
He later became the justices clerk of Bangor, Conwy, Llandudno and Betws y Coed.
While training to become a lawyer, Davies registered himself as a conscientious objector during the Second World War and was forced to work the land at Garreg Fawr farm in Waunfawr.
Gwynn Davies’ pacifist leanings were testament to his family’s influence. His father had returned from the First World War with a burning hatred of militarism, professing a version of peaceful socialism.
He himself just missed out on a seat on Caernarfonshire County Council by a handful of votes, standing as a Labour member.
Gwynn Davies himself attested to the fact that the British Empire was a “dirty word in our house”.
However, personal circumstances would considerably shape the rest of Davies’ life and career, with his second child Gwion Rhys being born with learning difficulties.
Driven on by his son’s difficulties, Davies made it his task to transform the general public’s perception of the role of individuals with learning disabilities in society.
He would play an integral role in the establishment of Ysgol Pendalar, a school for children with additional educational needs in Caernarfon.
Davies also worked with the North Wales Advocacy and Advice Service and acted as director of SCOVO (now Learning Disability Wales) to raise more awareness of his cause.
A year after retiring early in 1983 to work for the Mental Health Commission, Davies founded Antur Waunfawr.
Antur Waunfawr remains a progressive social enterprise offering employment, training, well-being and volunteering opportunities to those with learning difficulties.
The enterprise set up shop at Bryn Pistyl, a former village shop that was run by Davies’ family.
The success of this initiative resulted in him being offered an OBE in the 1989 new year honours list, which he firmly rejected.
Menna Jones, now chief executive of Antur Waunfawr, paid tribute to the Davies’ vision and legacy, saying: “Gwynn's legacy is an incredible one.
“He was a doer, he did things, and he practised that philosophy throughout his life.
“Driven by personal circumstances, he revolutionised the way we think about the role of individuals with learning disabilities in society.
“His radical and far-reaching vision continues to have a positive impact on the lives of the area, nearly 40 years after Antur Waunfawr was established.”
Mary Oliver, of Mencap Conwy, added: “He was influential in the delivery of the All-Wales Strategy, forming not only Antur Waunfawr but the Clwyd & Gwynedd Advocacy Group at Bryn y Neuadd.
“His influence and legacy continue to be felt in Learning Disability services across North Wales.”
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