Welsh Journals

LORD KENYON (1917-1993) Lloyd, 5th Baron Kenyon of Gredington, C.B.E., D.L., F.S.A., died on 16 May 1993 in his seventy-fifth year after a slow, crippling illness which, at the end, left him with almost complete loss of sight. Although he may have been an unfamiliar figure to some members, he had served as President of the Flintshire Historical Society since its revival in 1951. He had taken a prominent part in the efforts which led to the re-formation of the Society in that year, and retained a continuing interest in its fortunes. He was not a frequent attender of meetings, but did preside at a memorable 75th anniversary lunch held at St. Asaph in October 1986. Many obituaries have already given full details of his life and of his public offices and interests. He was active in so many fields of public life in north Wales, particularly those of health and education. These included service as President of the University College of North Wales, Bangor, 1947-82, chairman of the Wrexham, Powys and Mawddach Hospital Management Committee, 1960-74, and subsequently of the Clwyd Area Health Authority, 1974-8. Of the numerous posts he held, he derived particular pleasure from those involved with the arts, libraries and museums. Among them he was President of the National Museum of Wales, 1952-7, a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery from 1953, and its chairman between 1966 and 1988. He was chairman of the Friends of the National Libraries, 1962-85, where he made full use of his interests as a bibliophile and noted book- collector. He was also concerned to preserve the written heritage of the nation and served as a member of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts from 1966 until he resigned shortly before his death. As a county councillor, he had been appointed to the first Flintshire County Records Committee in 1953, and remained a co-opted member of succeeding committees and records advisory panels of Flintshire and later Clwyd County Councils until his death. This is an outstanding record of service. He was from the beginning a committed and active supporter of the work of the Flintshire (afterwards Clwyd) Record Office, and of any efforts to obtain adequate premises and funding for it. He was a generous benefactor of books and documents from his own collections, and two year ago supervised the deposit on loan at Hawarden of a considerable and important collection of Gredington estate deeds. He was always willing to assist with any enquiries about his own family papers, in which he took a deep interest. For an exhibition on the history of printing I was allowed to choose any books from his library, and to bring away a volume printed by Caxton and a selection of valuable examples of fine bindings in the boot of my car. He was continually on the look-out in sale catalogues for books and documents which might be of Flintshire interest, and often telephoned me at