Wynne Davies

Wynne Davies
MBE
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]
EducationAberystwyth University
Occupation(s)Author, pony breeder, judge, historian, teacher
Spouse
Ruth Williams
​
(m. 1961)​
Children2

Edgar Wynne Davies (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]

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.[10]

Davies taught chemistry at Rhondda Grammar School,[11] Llandaff College and South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education,[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] Several of his ponies became champions, including:

  • Dinarth What Ho – 1947 champion at Royal Welsh Show (RWS)[15]
  • Coed Cch Serliw – 1949 champion[16]
  • Ceulan Cariad – double RWS winner[17]
  • Ceulan Calon Lan – 2015 reserve supreme equine champion at RWS[18]

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,[19] including being its president in 1984.[20] He was also its publicity officer[21] and historian.[22] He served as a judge, both in the UK[23] and abroad - including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada, USA and Europe.[24][25]

Royal Welsh Show (RWS)

Davies became a commentator at the Royal Welsh Show (RWS) in 1976, moving to the main ring in 1980.[26] He won the progeny class[27] at the show a "record" 11 times.[28] In 2015 he set a further record by being the "oldest person to trot up at horse" in the main ring, aged 83.[29]

Writing and publications

Davies wrote for Horse & Hound magazine from 1951 for 58 years.[30] He edited the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Journal from 1992 to 2002.[31] He also contributed to international Welsh Pony and Cob Society magazines.[32]

Davies authored the following books:

  • Welsh ponies and cobs. Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. 1980. ISBN 9780851313610.[33]
  • Welsh champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1984. ISBN 9780851313962.
  • Welsh cob champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1985. ISBN 9780851314105.
  • Welsh pony champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1988. ISBN 9780851314587.
  • An introduction to Welsh ponies and cobs. Essex, UK: Whittet Books. 1993. ISBN 9781873580073.[34]
  • The Welsh Cob. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1998. ISBN 9780851317212.
  • The Welsh Mountain Pony. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 1999. ISBN 9780851315713.
  • One hundred glorious years: The Welsh pony and cob society 1901-2001. Lampeter, UK: The Welsh Pony and Cob Society. 2001. ISBN 9780900439957.
  • The early years: A collection of articles from the early Welsh stud book (Vol 1-15). Lampeter, UK: Welsh Pony and Cob Society. 2002.
  • The Welsh Pony. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 2006. ISBN 9780851318707.
  • Sixty years of Royal Welsh Champions: A celebration of Welsh pony and cob champions. Wiltshire, UK: J A Allen. 2009. ISBN 9780851319551.
  • Welsh ponies and cobs: Ceredigion champions. Llandysul, UK: Gomer Press. 2010. ISBN 9781848512030.
  • From the horse's mouth: Dr Wynne's diaries. Llandysul, UK: Gomer Press. 2015. ISBN 9781785620362.

Honours

Davies received the following honours:[35]

  • 1986: Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society (FRAgS), in recognition of his service to the WPCS[36]
  • 1995: MBE[37]
  • 2002: Sir Bryner Jones Memorial Trophy, for his service to the RWS[38]
  • 2003: Honorary life governorship of the RWS[39]
  • 2012: The Showing World's Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award, Horse of the Year Show[40]
  • 2021: Honorary life vice-president of the RWS
  • 2021: RWS silver medal

Other roles

Davies was chairman of the Welsh Agricultural Equine Association.[41]

References

  1. ^ 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. ^ "Miskin pony breeder is honoured". Cowbridge GEM. Cowbridge, UK. 2012-10-10. p. 13.
  6. ^ "Talking Points". Horse & Hound. London, UK: Future plc. 30 July 2015. p. 70.
  7. ^ 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. ^ "Perfect for pony lovers". South Wales Argus. Newport, UK. 1993-07-26. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Dr Wynne's double at show!". Cowbridge GEM. Cowbridge, UK. 2015-07-09. p. 5.
  11. ^ "Wynne hoofs it to collect top award". Rhondda Leader. Rhondda, UK. 1995-07-06. p. 6.
  12. ^ Roland Brooks (1983-06-16). "Showing style, and good breeding". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. p. 29.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ M'OR (1993-07-30). "Dr Wynne shows off his four-legged butties". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. p. 26.
  15. ^ "Royal Welsh Show: Pony breeder, 83, sprints into record books". dailypost.co.uk. 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Royal Welsh Show: Pony breeder, 83, sprints into record books". dailypost.co.uk. 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  18. ^ "Royal Welsh Show: Pony breeder, 83, sprints into record books". dailypost.co.uk. 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Valerie Russell (1986-03-12). "Welsh ponies weekend promises to be a treat". Western Daily Press. Cardiff, UK. p. 25.
  21. ^ "Wynne hoofs it to collect top award". Rhondda Leader. Rhondda, UK. 1995-07-06. p. 6.
  22. ^ Fred Benton (2002-06-05). "Born to the saddle". Belfast News-Letter. Belfast, UK. p. 86.
  23. ^ "Judge praises high quality of ponies". Isle of Wight County Press. Isle of Wight, UK. 1989-06-16. p. 51.
  24. ^ "An expert in cob field". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. 1995-06-17. p. 6.
  25. ^ "Dr Wynne's double at show!". Cowbridge GEM. Cowbridge, UK. 2015-07-09. p. 5.
  26. ^ Dube, Steve (2009). Welsh farming life. Llandysul, UK: Gwasg Gomer. p. 25. ISBN 9781843239727.
  27. ^ Roland Brooks (1983-06-16). "Showing style, and good breeding". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. p. 29.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "Talking Points". Horse & Hound. London, UK: Future plc. 30 July 2015. p. 70.
  30. ^ Nicola Jane Swinney (2012-03-15). "Horse and Hound showing reporter Dr Wynne Davies retires". horseandhound.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ "An expert in cob field". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. 1995-06-17. p. 6.
  33. ^ Roland Brooks (1983-06-16). "Showing style, and good breeding". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. p. 29.
  34. ^ "Perfect for pony lovers". South Wales Argus. Newport, UK. 1993-07-26. p. 4.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ David Lloyd (1986-12-30). "Top farm honours for leading fellows". Daily Post. Wrexham, UK. p. 20.
  37. ^ "An expert in cob field". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, UK. 1995-06-17. p. 6.
  38. ^ Hurn, David (2003). Living in Wales. Brigend: Seren. p. 115. ISBN 1854113399.
  39. ^ Dube, Steve (2009). Welsh farming life. Llandysul, UK: Gwasg Gomer. p. 25. ISBN 9781843239727.
  40. ^ "Miskin pony breeder is honoured". Cowbridge GEM. Cowbridge, UK. 2012-10-10. p. 13.
  41. ^ "The Welsh Agricultural". Carmarthen Journal. Carmarthen, UK. 1995-05-31. p. 29.
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