Anne. Mam, Mum, Nain, Aunty Anne and friend – she crammed a lot into her 90 years, which broadly covered three phases: North Wales, London and Ruthin.
Brought up in Cerrig-y-Drudion, Conwy, Anne was the daughter of a GP and the eldest of three children. Anne attended Ysgol Glasfryn, Doctor Williams School in Dolgellau and went to ¿ì»îÓ°Ôº to study Botany, graduating in 1953. She went on to become Vice-President of the Students’ Union.
Anne’s first job post-graduation was in Cardiff with the WJEC. She married Geraint, the love of her life, and were each other’s greatest supporter for 60 years. They moved to London in 1957 where they had two sons, Aled and Iwan. Geraint (Agriculture) and Aled (French) are both Bangor alumni.
Anne worked for the FPA – in schools and in an office, then Hounslow Community Education. Her link to healthcare was maintained in her roles of Chair of Hounslow CHC and North West Thames Health Authority.
The family moved to Ruthin in 1989 when Geraint retired, where Anne became Chair of the Clwyd Health Authority. In the meantime, son Iwan had qualified as a doctor.
Anne was a Member of Council at ¿ì»îÓ°Ôº and chaired the Halls Committee, as well as a nurses’ group in Ruthin and was President of both Merched y Wawr and Tabernacl Ladies. Anne was awarded an honorary MA from the University of Wales and became Deputy Lord Lieutenant. She received an OBE from the then Prince Charles, but did not curtsey – a little bit cheeky!
In preparing this tribute, we tried to find adjectives to describe Mum. We ended up with Resilient, Tenacious and Uncomplaining, even after her health issues. She was Formidable and Generous - always thinking of others, always lending an ear and Fair, always trying to find the balance.
Anne was proud of her roots and kept in contact with long-distant family and extended family and was faithful to friends. Anne was immensely proud of her six grandchildren, with individual pictures of each on the Welsh dresser that is now on its way to Aled’s home in Australia.
Aled Roberts