John Haydn Davies (1905 – 1991) was a Welsh schoolmaster and conductor. His family lived in the

Rhondda Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley ( ), is a former coalmining area in South Wales, historically in the county of Glamorgan. It takes its name from the River Rhondda, and embraces two valleys – the larger Rhondda Fawr valley (, 'large') and t ...

area, and he was introduced to music whilst attending

Blaencwm Blaencwm () is a village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, lying at the head the Rhondda Fawr valley. Two collieries were opened here during the Industrial Revolution, the Dunraven Colliery in 1865 and the Glenrhondda Colliery i ...

Welsh Baptist Chapel. He was educated at Blaencwm Elementary School, before winning a scholarship to attend

Tonypandy Tonypandy (, ) is a town, community and electoral ward located in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, the to ...

Grammar School. He then trained as a teacher at Caerleon College, and took up a position at

Primary, Rhondda (where he became the Headmaster). As a young schoolmaster he became conductor of the Blaencwm Choral Society, and was so competent that he was invited to become assistant conductor of the

Treorchy Treorchy (; ) is a town and Community (Wales), community (and electoral ward) in Wales. Once a mining town, it retains such characteristics. Situated in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in the Rhondda Fawr valley. Treorchy is also one of t ...

Male Choir. In 1946 he became the choir's principal conductor, and held the post until he retired in 1968. From 1960 he held the position of Headmaster of Brodringallt Primary in Ystrad, remaining there for the rest of his career. He died of coronary thrombosis at the East

Glamorgan Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the South Wales, south of Wales. Originally an ea ...

Hospital in 1991, and is buried at

Cemetery.

References

1905 births 1991 deaths Welsh choral conductors {{wales-bio-stub