John Roland Lloyd Thomas
Encyclopedia
John Roland Lloyd Thomas (22 February 1908 – 11 April 1984) was a noted Anglican clergyman, and later the Principal of St David's University College
from 1953 to 1975. He was, himself, a graduate of St David's College, gaining a BA from the institution before completing a second BA in Theology at Jesus College, Oxford
. He was the first Lampeter graduate to become Principal of St David's.
During his years as principal, he led the college into membership of the federal University of Wales
. Previous principals had fought to maintain the college's independence, and the move was not universally popular, but it ultimately proved to be a turning point in the college's history, and saved it from near-certain bankruptcy. He later wrote about these events in a book, Moth or Phoenix? St David’s College and the University of Wales and the University Grants Committee (ISBN 0-85088-503-5). The title parodies previous claims that the college was like a moth, burning its wings as it tried to escape the light of the University of Wales.
Lloyd Thomas' name lives on at the college in the residential Lloyd Thomas Hall and refectory.
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
from 1953 to 1975. He was, himself, a graduate of St David's College, gaining a BA from the institution before completing a second BA in Theology at 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...
. He was the first Lampeter graduate to become Principal of St David's.
During his years as principal, he led the college into membership of the federal 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...
. Previous principals had fought to maintain the college's independence, and the move was not universally popular, but it ultimately proved to be a turning point in the college's history, and saved it from near-certain bankruptcy. He later wrote about these events in a book, Moth or Phoenix? St David’s College and the University of Wales and the University Grants Committee (ISBN 0-85088-503-5). The title parodies previous claims that the college was like a moth, burning its wings as it tried to escape the light of the University of Wales.
Lloyd Thomas' name lives on at the college in the residential Lloyd Thomas Hall and refectory.