Myfanwy Haycock
Encyclopedia
Myfanwy Haycock born Blodwen Myfanwy Haycock in Pontnewynydd
near Pontypool
in the traditional county of Monmouthshire
, was a poet
, artist and broadcaster.
She was the youngest of three daughters born to James David Haycock, a stonemason and his wife, Alice Maud (née Perry).
Grammar School for Girls, entering Cardiff
Technical College, later to become Cardiff College of Art, to study art and design.
in 1932 where WH Davies, a local Monmouthshire poet was the adjudicator.
She decided to forsake a career as an art teacher for that of a freelance journalist.
she initially became a wages clerk in a munitions factory at ROF Glascoed
between Pontypool
and Usk
, then Assistant Welfare Officer in a Cardiff barrage balloon
factory, a teacher and then an Information Officer at the local agricultural college at Usk
.
in London
where two of her radio plays were broadcast and she gave regular readings over the airwaves and she entered journalism in 1945, also in London, writing articles for various papers.
She also designed cards, had poems published, illustrated books and became a member of the Society of Women Journalists.
, a hospital Consultant based in Surrey
. They lived at Buckland
near Reigate
and brought up three children.
Her health gradually deteriorated although she still wrote articles and even read some of her poems on television.
However she died in 1963.
She is best known for 'Mountain Over Paddington' 1964 and collections of her poetry, 'Poems' 1944 and 'More Poems' 1945.
Pontnewynydd
Pontnewynydd is a predominantly working class suburb of Pontypool, Torfaen in Wales. It should not be confused with Pontnewydd in nearby Cwmbran.- Location :...
near Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
in the traditional county of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, was a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, artist and broadcaster.
She was the youngest of three daughters born to James David Haycock, a stonemason and his wife, Alice Maud (née Perry).
Education
She was educated locally at Cwm-ffrwd-oer Primary School and PontypoolPontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
Grammar School for Girls, entering Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
Technical College, later to become Cardiff College of Art, to study art and design.
Teaching or Journalism?
Her first skill was as a black and white illustrator. But she also entered a lyric poem, in English, in the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Port TalbotPort Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
in 1932 where WH Davies, a local Monmouthshire poet was the adjudicator.
She decided to forsake a career as an art teacher for that of a freelance journalist.
Gaining Success
From 1936 she wrote poems and short stories and often illustrated them with woodcuts and black and white illustrations. These were regularly published in the Western Mail newspaper, based in Cardiff, and other South Wales papers and she also submitted work to journals and other publications.World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she initially became a wages clerk in a munitions factory at ROF Glascoed
ROF Glascoed
ROF Glascoed was a UK government-owned, Royal Ordnance Factory. It was designed as one of 20 munitions filling factories. It was planned as a Permanent Royal Ordnance Factory with the intention that, unlike some other similar facilities, it would remain open for production after the end of World...
between Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
and Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
, then Assistant Welfare Officer in a Cardiff barrage balloon
Barrage balloon
A barrage balloon is a large balloon tethered with metal cables, used to defend against low-level aircraft attack by damaging the aircraft on collision with the cables, or at least making the attacker's approach more difficult. Some versions carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up...
factory, a teacher and then an Information Officer at the local agricultural college at Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
.
At the BBC
In 1943 she joined the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 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...
where two of her radio plays were broadcast and she gave regular readings over the airwaves and she entered journalism in 1945, also in London, writing articles for various papers.
She also designed cards, had poems published, illustrated books and became a member of the Society of Women Journalists.
Marriage & Family Life
In the summer of 1947 she married a Dr. Arthur Meirion Williams of BorthBorth
Borth ) is a coastal village 7 miles north of Aberystwyth in the county of Ceredigion, Mid Wales. The population was 1,523 in 2001.-Features and history:Borth has a sandy beach and is a popular holiday seaside resort...
, a hospital Consultant based in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. They lived at Buckland
Buckland, Surrey
Buckland is a village and civil parish in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. The village is situated between Dorking and Reigate. The civil parish of Buckland covers 515 hectares and is bordered by the North Downs escarpment in the north. The area contains a number of clay pits.Buckland...
near Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
and brought up three children.
Her health gradually deteriorated although she still wrote articles and even read some of her poems on television.
However she died in 1963.
Legacy
Her work is still remembered, although not widely known and rarely heard, reading her work repays the effort of discovering it.She is best known for 'Mountain Over Paddington' 1964 and collections of her poetry, 'Poems' 1944 and 'More Poems' 1945.