Llandudno’s last weatherman has died

Mar 11 2010 by Eva Ketley, North Wales Weekly News

LLANDUDNO’S last official weatherman – who had an encyclopedic knowledge of the resort – has passed away aged 87.

Glyn A Davies, who was two days short of his 88th birthday, was appointed meteorological observer in 1946 at a payment of £35 per year.

The role involved taking rain, wind, temperature, sunshine and barometric pressures on a daily basis.

The information was transmitted to the Air Ministry by telegram twice daily.

An Air Ministry inspector visited the weather station at the Oval annually and made recommendations as to the instruments.

The inspectors were regularly impressed with the work of Mr Roberts and his deputy David Jones.

In 1950, the council paid the necessary fees for Mr Roberts to become a member of the Royal Meteorological Society. He was later elected a Fellow of the Society.

David Jones said: “Our weather results were published in the Telegraph newspaper.

“We took the weather readings at 9am and 5pm in the winter, and 10am and 6pm in the summer.

“If we had any unusual readings then it would make it into the national press. I remember we once got a reading of 60ºF on one December day which caused quite a stir.”

Mr Jones added: “Glyn was a very interesting man who had a great sense of humour.”

Mr Roberts joined Llandudno Urban District Council just before the war and following his return began to study for his qualification as a public health inspector. This involved regular travel to college in Liverpool.

Eventually he became the deputy chief public health inspector and housing manager for Llandudno.

After reorganisation in 1974 he served as principal housing officer for Aberconwy until his retirement in 1988.

His friend Philip Evans said: “I worked with Glyn from 1976 until his retirement.

“He was the mainstay of Aberconwy's housing department and a man of great common sense with a practical approach to lettings and tenancy issues.

“He knew most of the tenants personally and had a tremendous knowledge of Llandudno and its families which was of immense help to his colleagues and councillors.”

Mr Roberts’ funeral took place on Monday. His wife Ethel died a few years ago.

His son John said: “He was a brilliant dad. Very often I would do weather readings with him as a child.

“Dad hated taking any holidays. Once he and mum went to Majorca and he hated every minute of it.

“When asked about where his ideal holiday would be, he would reply that living in Llandudno was like being on holiday!”