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Stephen Griffith Obituary... cont'd |
He went to Bangor University, where he read Physics, and was awarded an MSc. in 1958 for his statistical work and analysis of reasons for failure in Grammar School. He spent his career as a Physics teacher in Hereford. Buckinghamshire and, from 1949, in Pembrokeshire. In 1942 he married Clemency, and 3 daughters were born to them, Dilys, Margaret and Enid. As a conscientious objector and enthusiastic pacifist, he drove an ambulance during the Second World War, and after the war he and Clemency became Quakers.
He then became a member of Plaid Cymru, and as a close friend of his fellow Quaker, Waldo Williams, he backed Waldo's campaign in the 1950's as Pembrokeshire's first Plaid Cymru candidate.
During his days at Pembroke Grammar School, he, and Islwyn Griffiths, a great friend and colleague, with the help of others, ran an International Camp for overseas students and others who were studying in Britain, for a fortnight every summer for 15 years in succession. They were eager to foster understanding and good relations between the countries represented. After his school days in Pembroke, he went as a volunteer to teach physics in a school in Ghana to make his contribution to the third world. After that he taught Science, Maths and Welsh locally.
The decade that followed was his most fruitful as regards literary output. He was the author of 7 books, 5 of them in Welsh. He was an enthusiastic Eisteddfod goer, and in recognition of his contribution to the literary life of Wales, he was privileged to be admitted in white robes to the Gorsedd Circle in Rhyl in 1985.
Among his many interests were bee keeping, enjoying the Cleddau Waterway in his little boat, watching travel programmes on television, taking interest in his tiny pond with its frogs, water lilies, and solar fountain, reading Welsh books and battling the gremlins in his computer! He was very keen on the environment and had solar panels installed on the roof of his bungalow in Neyland. In his latter years he used to be seen from time to time on his scooter for the disabled. As long as he was able to, he took a great interest in life and issues of the day.
His funeral took place at Parc Gwyn on 17th December 2010 and a Memorial Meeting to give thanks for the grace of God in the life of Stephen Griffith was held in the Quaker Meeting House, Priory Road, Milford Haven on Saturday, 29th Jan., 2011 at 2pm. |
 Stephen Griffith at home
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Stephen Griffith is 2nd from right. On the left: Islwyn Griffiths and
Miss Julian Jones -
International Camp Days
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At The Quaker Memorial Service
for Stephen Griffiths
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There was silence for about 4 or 5 minutes, while everyone sat in thought. Then Dilys, Stephen's daughter, got up and read snippets from some of the letters she and her mother had received. One of them was from Islwyn, recalling Stephen's sense of humour and the twinkle in his eye. She read from another by ex-Pembroke Grammar School pupil Peter Hussey, in which he suggested that everything that Stephen did stemmed from his Quaker spirituality and that his inspiration lives on in so many people. I later discovered that Peter was actually in the congregation. Dilys went on to talk about her childhood and, specifically, how Stephen built a little boat, which disappeared on the high tide overnight, then building another and having such fun.
After some more minutes of private thought by those present, another speaker rose to his feet and spoke - this time in Welsh. There followed about 4 or 5 Welsh speakers, each interspersed by a few minutes of silence. One of these was Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Plaid AM and Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales.) Another contributor was a nephew who spoke about the good times he had in his childhood with Stephen.
He also told us about Stephen's time in Ghana and how he would send messages home asking for things to be sent out - once for four tyres! I got the impression that, somehow, the request was fulfilled . He went on to speak about Stephen's many experiments, eg: building his own TV, 'which was never finished, because there was always so much to do with this and that'.
A lady then recalled her memories of making a tapestry about the founding of the Quaker Meeting House in Milford, which had been tackled at the suggestion of Stephen. This had been completed by eight ladies - apart from a few Welsh words at the bottom of the tapestry, which had been done by Stephen himself. The panel was embroidered in wool on a piece of coarse linen and Stephen had learnt the skill specifically to contribute those words. Another lady recalled a conversation with him about the concept of Quakerism - Faith, Hope and Love and how the most important of those is Love.
There was a short bible reading and then the lady who had spoken first thanked everyone for being there and invited everyone to have a cup of tea and some refreshments.
A very nice afternoon. Obviously, Stephen was very much respected and loved by everyone there. Dilys thanked me for being there and her mother did too.
Rosalie Lilwall (Minchin), represented The Penvro.com at the meeting. |
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