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Alun John was educated at Swansea Grammar School, University
Collef Swanse and RAF College Cranwel. His service with the RAF spanned
over 30 years and hewas a qualified pilot for 63 years. An engineer by
profession, he was Secretary of the South Wales Branch of the Institute
of Sheet Metal Engineering., A sometime motorcycle instructor of instructors
and longest serving member and organiser of the West Glamorgan Motorcyle
Traing Scheme nsea, born, bred and based but with work and interests that
have taken him to every part of Wales, by aeroplane, car, motorcycle and
on foot. Sometime Lecturer at Coleg Harlech Summer Schools and Bristol
University Extra[mural Department. He was for many years a Guest Field
Lecturer at the Snowdonia National Park Environmental Studies Centre,
Plas Tan y Bwlch (Which he regarded as his second hom). He is a past a
past chairman of South West Wales Industrial Archaeology Society, Swansea
Art Society, Friends of Tan y Bwlch and for some 20 years President of
South Wales Advanced Motorcyclists.
He wrote several manuals on motorcylec training and wrote
for the press on motorcyling matters. His interests have included, painting,
metal sculture, gliding Italian Literature and Industrial Archaeology.
As an acknowledged authority on Welsh Slate he has written
a number of books on its various aspects and is a consultee on this and
Welsh metal mining for museums and other bodies. His association with
tinplate including a Directorship of E.H.Brooke Ltd led to writing about
that industry. He was Managing Direstor of Kerswell Metals Ltd and a Technical
Director of The 52Group Ltd.
A lover of the Welsh countryside, he chaired the West
Glamogan Branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and
was a member of its National Execiutive. He arraanged the purchase and
mnagement of and organised public access to his beloeved Vale of Maentwrog.
His deep knowledge of its history and folklore led to a fruitful partnership
with photographer Jean Napier in the production of the "Rivers"
books
Alun's wife Delphine (A one-time Royal Naval College, Greenwich
trained Signaller worked as a Tin Broker. and was a director of sevaeral
companies. She later became a Speech Threpapist scialising on Stroke Rehabilitation.
A keen amatrue painter, she colaboratorated and assistedwith Alun's fieldwrk,
mine explorationand research and herself has led Snowdonia walsk
Both are committed Anglicans and celebrated ther Diamind
Wedding in 2007,
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF WELSH SLATE QUARRIES
» AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL
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A SWANSEA BOY
208 Pages
ISBN 978-1-84524-201-5
18 x 12
Growing up in a distant past, bemused by parents, relations, teachers and other such creatures who occupied a mysterious adult world.
£7.50
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» LANDSCAPE & LEGENDS
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A TALE OF TWO RIVERS
Second Edition
128 Pages
ISBN 0-86381-989-3
23 x 19
This book brings together evocative images by Jean Napier and tales, both ancient and modern, by Alun John Richards that take you on a journey the length of the Dyfi and the Mawddach from source to sea
£12.00 |
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TWO SNOWDONIA RIVERS
144 Pages
ISBN 978-1-84527-206-1
23 x 19
Jean Napier's unique images are complemented by Alun John's text as they follow the 'Silver Threads' of the Glaslyn & the Dwyryd
£12.00 |
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THE RIVER CONWY
SOURCE TO SEA
136 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-84527-288-3
23 x 19
Fact and fable of Snowdonia's mightiest river with Jean Napier's images and Alun's
text.
£12.00 |
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» INDUSTRY
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FRAGMENTS
OF MINE & MILL IN WALES
128 Pages
IBSN 0-86381-812-9
25 x 21
A reminisce of some of the industries that once thrived
in Wales. About 200 illustrations, many in colour, show some of
the relics that have now vanished, and others, still with us, that
are either odd, unexpected or just plain peculiar.
£9.50
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TINPLATE IN WALES
152 Pages
ISBN 978-1-84524-125-4
18 x 12
Chronicles an industry that from a small part of a small country whose products reached and benefited the entire world.
£7.50
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» TRANSPORT
RAILS & SAILS OF WELSH SLATE
160 pages
IBSN 978-1-84524-174-2
18 x 12
Draws together the story of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales
’ and the fleets of ships that carried slate to the ends
of the earth
£7.50
THE SLATE RAILWAYS OF WALES
212 Pages
ISBN 0-86381-689-4
21 x 14.5
Starting with Penrhyn Railroad of 1801, this book
gives an account of the proliferation of railways which accompanied
the 19th century expansion of slate working in Wales.
£5.95
» SLATE
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GAZETEER OF SLATE QUARRYING IN WALES
352 Pages
ISBN 1-84524-074-X
18 x 12
A complete update and expansion with a great deal of new material, of the famous and long out of print
£8.95 |
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SLATE QUARRYING IN CORRIS
148 Pages
ISBN 1-84524-08
18 x 12
A new edition, revising, expanding and updating the original popular account of the 500 year history of slate working in the Dulas Valley
£8.95 |
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SLATE
QUARRYING IN WALES
232 Pages
ISBN 3-84527-026-6
18 x 12
A brand new, totally revised edition. A narrative history of slate working in Wales from
the earliest times, through its great nineteenth century heydays
up to the end of the twentieth century.
£8.95 |
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WELSH SLATE CRAFT
104 Pages
ISBN 1-84527-029-0
21 x 14.5
A brief illustrated account of the history, the methods and the people that roofed the world with Welsh Slate. It includes mentions of Enamelled Slate that graced the homes of peasants and princes, of Writing Slates that made universal literacy possible and of the future of slate, particularly as an artistic medium. Welsh Craft Series
£5.50 |
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CWM GWYRFAI
368 Pages
IBSN 0-86381-897-8
18 x 12
In conjunction with Dr, Gwyfor Pierce Jones. An account of the SLATE QUARRIES adjacent to the route of the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway and its successor, the recently revived Welsh Highland Railway. Using mainly previously unpublished text and photographs, it traces the fortunes of slate working in this most interesting area
£9.95 |
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Now out of print:
- A GAZETEER OF THE WELSH SLATE INDUSTRY
- SLATE QUARRYING AT CORRIS
- SLATE QUARRYING IN WALES (1st Ed)
- THE SLATE REGIONS OF NORTH & MID WALES
- CREFFTWYR LLECHI
- THE SLATE QUARRIES OF PEMBROKESHIRE
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