John Owen (author)
Encyclopedia
John Owen was a children's author and director and is best known for his Welsh
teen television drama “Pam fi Duw” (Why me God), a series of books and TV programs which he wrote and directed. In 1995, 1997 and 1999 he won the Tir na n-Og Award for the best Welsh Language fiction book for Children.
Owen was a former drama teacher and Head of Lower school at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen near Pontypridd
, South Wales
.
in Carmarthen
; in the same year he took up his first teaching appointment at his former secondary school.
Later an inquiry was launched by the Children's Commissioner Peter Clarke called the “Clywch Report” which also listed some of the allegation against John Owen, and gave recommendations that should be implemented to stop something similar happening again.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
teen television drama “Pam fi Duw” (Why me God), a series of books and TV programs which he wrote and directed. In 1995, 1997 and 1999 he won the Tir na n-Og Award for the best Welsh Language fiction book for Children.
Owen was a former drama teacher and Head of Lower school at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen near Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
Education
John Owen was a former pupil and prefect at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen. He completed his Bachelor of Education degree in 1974 at Trinity CollegeTrinity College, Carmarthen
Trinity University College was a university college in Carmarthen, Wales. In 2010, it merged with the University of Wales, Lampeter to become the new University of Wales, Trinity Saint David.- History :...
in Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
; in the same year he took up his first teaching appointment at his former secondary school.
Child abuse allegations
In September 2001, John Owen was arrested and charged with serious criminal offences against children at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen. On October the 4th 2001 John Owen was found dead at his caravan in Porthcawl having failed to turn up at court. He had committed suicide.Later an inquiry was launched by the Children's Commissioner Peter Clarke called the “Clywch Report” which also listed some of the allegation against John Owen, and gave recommendations that should be implemented to stop something similar happening again.