Emrys Jones
Encyclopedia
Emrys Jones FBA, FRGS (17 August 1920–) was Professor
of Geography
at the London School of Economics
and a renowned author and consultant in the fields of geography and urban planning
.
, Wales
, on the rim of the South Wales coalfield
, when the coal
and iron
industries were about to begin their decline. He was educated at the Aberdare county school for boys.
, and in 1938 went to Aberystwyth University, then a small college of about 700 students at the forefront of the British development of geography. Majoring in geography and anthropology
, he took a particular interest in the geography of cities. He became a pacifist, and, as a conscientious objector
, spent the second world war serving as an orderly in a cancer
hospital and working as an ambulance
driver.
After the war he completed an MSc (1945) and PhD (1947) at Aberystwyth. He was duly appointed to an assistant lectureship at University College London
(1947-50), followed by a lectureship and time as a senior lecturer at Queen's University, Belfast (1950-58). In 1959, he became reader in social geography at London School of Economics
(LSE), and a professor (1961-84).
. He published his Social Geography of Belfast in 1960, and his studies of "the spatial component of human behaviour" resulted in his edited Readings in Social Geography of 1975. He published an Atlas of London with D.J. Sinclair, producing his first maps in 1968. Other works included Human Geography (1964), Towns and Cities (1966), Man and his Habitat (1971), The Future of Planning (with Evan Zandt, 1973) and Introduction to Social Geography (with J. Eyles, 1977), as well as many journal articles. He became an international consultant
in town and regional planning schemes, was involved in the work of the Council for National Academic Awards
, and advised polytechnics which were introducing degree courses.
of the Royal Geographical Society
, of which he was a vice president. He was also awarded an honorary fellowship of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
, and received honorary degrees from Queen's University, Belfast, and the Open University
in 1990. In 2003 he was elected a senior fellow of the British Academy
.
identity since his youth, Jones gave more time to Wales in his retirement. He served as chairman (1983-89) and then president of the council of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
(1989-2002), and edited and wrote The Welsh in London in 2002. He was received into the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod in 2005.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and a renowned author and consultant in the fields of geography and urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
.
Youth
Emrys Jones was born to Samuel and Anne Jones on 17 August 1920, in AberdareAberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
, 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...
, on the rim of the South Wales coalfield
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
, when the coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
industries were about to begin their decline. He was educated at the Aberdare county school for boys.
Marriage & Tertiary Studies
He was married to Iona, of AngleseyAnglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, and in 1938 went to Aberystwyth University, then a small college of about 700 students at the forefront of the British development of geography. Majoring in geography and anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, he took a particular interest in the geography of cities. He became a pacifist, and, as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, spent the second world war serving as an orderly in a cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
hospital and working as an ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
driver.
After the war he completed an MSc (1945) and PhD (1947) at Aberystwyth. He was duly appointed to an assistant lectureship at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(1947-50), followed by a lectureship and time as a senior lecturer at Queen's University, Belfast (1950-58). In 1959, he became reader in social geography at London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE), and a professor (1961-84).
London School of Economics
While at LSE he formed a productive relationship with Professor Michael WiseMichael John Wise
Professor Michael John Wise CBE, MC is Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of London.-Early life:Michael Wise was born in Stafford in 1918, son of Harry Cuthbert Wise and Sarah Evelyn Wise.-Education:...
. He published his Social Geography of Belfast in 1960, and his studies of "the spatial component of human behaviour" resulted in his edited Readings in Social Geography of 1975. He published an Atlas of London with D.J. Sinclair, producing his first maps in 1968. Other works included Human Geography (1964), Towns and Cities (1966), Man and his Habitat (1971), The Future of Planning (with Evan Zandt, 1973) and Introduction to Social Geography (with J. Eyles, 1977), as well as many journal articles. He became an international consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
in town and regional planning schemes, was involved in the work of the Council for National Academic Awards
Council for National Academic Awards
The Council for National Academic Awards was a degree awarding authority in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1992. The CNAA awarded academic degrees at polytechnics, Central Institutions and other non-university institutions such as Colleges of Higher Education until they were awarded university...
, and advised polytechnics which were introducing degree courses.
Honours
Jones was honoured with the Victoria MedalVictoria Medal (geography)
The Victoria Medal is an award presented by the Royal Geographical Society. It is awarded "for conspicuous merit in research in geography" and has been given since 1902.-Past recipients:...
of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, of which he was a vice president. He was also awarded an honorary fellowship of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, and received honorary degrees from Queen's University, Belfast, and the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
in 1990. In 2003 he was elected a senior fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
.
Retirement
Jones continued to write throughout his retirement, producing Metropolis in 1990. Passionate about his WelshWelsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
identity since his youth, Jones gave more time to Wales in his retirement. He served as chairman (1983-89) and then president of the council of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
(1989-2002), and edited and wrote The Welsh in London in 2002. He was received into the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod in 2005.