Brinley Rees
Encyclopedia
Professor Brinley Roderick Rees (December 27, 1919-October 21, 2004) was a Welsh
academic. He wrote extensively on Classics
, particularly the study of the Greek language
. Early work was devoted to Greek papyri; a later publication was devoted to the Life and Letters of Pelagius. He was educated at Christ College
, Brecon
, Wales
, and Merton College, Oxford
, and took his first academic position at Cardiff High School
for Boys, where he was Assistant Master between 1947 and 1948.
Rees then started his long career in Higher Education. In 1948, he became Lecturer in Classics
and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
, then senior lecturer in Greek at the University of Manchester
from 1956. From there, he went to the University of Wales College, Cardiff
, where he was Professor of Greek from 1958 to 1970. During that time, he was also successively Dean of Arts (1963-1965) and Dean of Students (1967-1968). In 1970 he moved to the University of Birmingham
, but stayed there only five years, for in 1975, he was appointed as Principal of St David's University College, the very first Principal in the college's long history who was not in holy orders
. He was a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
in 1975–1976 by virtue of his position as Principal of St David's.
Rees' time at Lampeter came to an end when he retired in 1980, but his involvement in Higher Education had not come to an end, for he was Vice-President of the University of Wales College, Cardiff
between 1986 and 1988.
In 1981, the University of Wales
awarded him an honorary LLD in recognition of his service to the colleges at Lampeter, Cardiff and Aberystwyth. He died on October 21, 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...
academic. He wrote extensively on Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
, particularly the study of the Greek language
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
. Early work was devoted to Greek papyri; a later publication was devoted to the Life and Letters of Pelagius. He was educated at Christ College
Christ College, Brecon
Christ College, Brecon is a co-educational, boarding and day independent school, located in the market town of Brecon in mid-Wales. It caters for pupils from eleven to eighteen.Christ College was founded by Royal Charter in 1541 by King Henry VIII...
, Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
, 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...
, and Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, and took his first academic position at Cardiff High School
Cardiff High School
Cardiff High School is a comprehensive school in the Cyncoed area of Cardiff, Wales. Cardiff High School is two miles from the city centre, serving a neighbourhood of privately-owned houses. According to the 2007 ESTYN Report, "Cardiff High School is a very good school with many outstanding...
for Boys, where he was Assistant Master between 1947 and 1948.
Rees then started his long career in Higher Education. In 1948, he became Lecturer in Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
, then senior lecturer in Greek at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
from 1956. From there, he went to the University of Wales College, Cardiff
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, where he was Professor of Greek from 1958 to 1970. During that time, he was also successively Dean of Arts (1963-1965) and Dean of Students (1967-1968). In 1970 he moved to the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, but stayed there only five years, for in 1975, he was appointed as Principal of St David's University College, the very first Principal in the college's long history who was not in holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
. He was a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1975–1976 by virtue of his position as Principal of St David's.
Rees' time at Lampeter came to an end when he retired in 1980, but his involvement in Higher Education had not come to an end, for he was Vice-President of the University of Wales College, Cardiff
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
between 1986 and 1988.
In 1981, the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
awarded him an honorary LLD in recognition of his service to the colleges at Lampeter, Cardiff and Aberystwyth. He died on October 21, 2004.