Alun Richards
Encyclopedia
Alun Morgun Richards was a Welsh
novel
ist, best known for his novel Ennal's Point
, about the work of a lifeboat
crew in South Wales.
Richards was born in King Edward Avenue, Caerphilly
. After training to be a teacher Richards joined the Royal Navy
which sparked a fascination with the sea that inspired much of his writing.
In 1955 he returned to Wales
from London
but became ill with tuberculosis
and was admitted to the sanatorium
at Talgarth
. After two years he was released and married Helen Howden, a probation officer
, with whom he had three sons and a daughter.
He taught English for 10 years and settled in Mumbles
, Swansea
, which provided the backdrop for much of his writing.
As well as novels and short stories, he wrote extensively for television
and theatre
.
A connoisseur of rugby union
, Richards published A Touch of Glory to mark the centenary of the Welsh Rugby Union
in 1980 and a memoir
of Carwyn James
in 1984.
After suffering a heart attack he died in Singleton Hospital, Swansea
, on June 2, 2004.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist, best known for his novel Ennal's Point
Ennal's Point
Ennal's Point is a novel by Alun Richards, first published in 1977.The story concerns the crew of a south Wales lifeboat, loosely modelled on the Swansea-based Mumbles lifeboat....
, about the work of a lifeboat
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
crew in South Wales.
Richards was born in King Edward Avenue, Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
. After training to be a teacher Richards joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
which sparked a fascination with the sea that inspired much of his writing.
In 1955 he returned to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
but became ill with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and was admitted to the sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
at Talgarth
Talgarth
Talgarth is a small market town and community in southern Powys , Mid Wales, with a population of 1,645. Notable buildings in the town include its 14th-century parish church and 13th century Pele Tower, located in the town centre, now home to the Tourist Information and Resource Centre...
. After two years he was released and married Helen Howden, a probation officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
, with whom he had three sons and a daughter.
He taught English for 10 years and settled in Mumbles
Mumbles
Mumbles or The Mumbles is an area and community in Swansea, Wales which takes its name from the adjacent headland stretching into Swansea Bay...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, which provided the backdrop for much of his writing.
As well as novels and short stories, he wrote extensively for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
.
A connoisseur of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, Richards published A Touch of Glory to mark the centenary of the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
in 1980 and a memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
of Carwyn James
Carwyn James
Carwyn Rees James was a Welsh rugby union player and coach. He won two Welsh international caps but is most famous for his coaching achievements for both Llanelli and the British Lions.-Personal history:...
in 1984.
After suffering a heart attack he died in Singleton Hospital, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, on June 2, 2004.
Other works
- Dai Country (1974) (short stories)
- The Former Miss Merthyr Tydfil (short stories)
- Days of Absence (1986)
- Barque Whisper (1979)