Editing Merfyn Jones

{{Short description|Welsh historian and broadcaster}}
{{For|the Welsh football player|Merfyn Jones (footballer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

'''R. Merfyn Jones''' [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (born January 1948)<ref>{{cite web |title=Merfyn JONES – Personal Appointments |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/AqsFAeiqUiz-MJI7AvZ2d3dPFqo/appointments |publisher=Companies House|accessdate=7 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref> is a Welsh [[historian]] and [[Television presenter|broadcaster]], was [[Chancellor (education)|vice-chancellor]] of [[Bangor University]] (2004 to 2010) and a [[Board of Governors of the BBC|governor]] of the [[BBC]] (2003 to 2006).

He grew up and still lives in [[Gwynedd]], Wales.

== Academic career ==

Jones has specialized as an historian in modern and contemporary [[History of Wales|Welsh history]], and has made several TV [[Documentary film|documentaries]] in this area.  He has a particular interest is the history of the process of [[devolution]] (the establishing and development of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]) in [[Wales]].

His books and articles include ''The North Wales Quarrymen 1874-1922'' (University of Wales Press, 1981), which was awarded the [[Welsh Arts Council]] prize for literature. This book provides an analysis of the economic importance of slate extraction to North [[Wales]] and also of the rise of trades unionism in the area (and covers the industrial dispute at [[Penrhyn Quarry]] of 1900–03).

He graduated at the [[University of Sussex]] and the [[University of Warwick]].  He lectured at the [[Swansea University|University of Wales, Swansea]] and was a [[lecturer]], head of department and [[dean (education)|dean]] at the [[University of Liverpool]].

=== Vice Chancellor of [[Bangor University]] ===

Jones joined the University of Wales, Bangor in 1990 as a [[senior lecturer]] in [[history]]. He became head of the School of Welsh History there in 1993 and was appointed to the chair in Welsh history in 1994. He then served as Dean of Arts and Social Sciences for two years before being appointed [[Pro-Vice Chancellor]] in 1998. He was acting vice-chancellor in 2003.

Jones was appointed as the sixth vice-chancellor of the University of Wales, Bangor in 2004. In September 2007 he oversaw the change in Bangor's status, from a College of the University of Wales to a university in its own right, renamed as [[Bangor University]]. In his capacity as Vice-Chancellor, Jones was the Welsh Supernumerary Fellow of [[Jesus College, Oxford]] in the academic year 2004–05. Jones retired as Vice Chancellor in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/full.php.en?Id=1099|title=Bangor University Vice-Chancellor to retire|date=14 December 2009|publisher=Bangor University|accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref>

=== First Chairman of [[Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol]] ===

Jones was appointed as the first Chair of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (the National Welsh Language College). The Coleg, which launched on 1 April 2011, works with the Welsh universities to increase opportunities for students to study through the Welsh language; and is a major component of the Welsh Assembly Government's strategy for higher education, 'For our Future'.<ref>[https://www.hefcw.ac.uk/documents/news/press_releases/2010%20Press%20Releases/Appointment%20of%20the%20first%20chair%20of%20the%20Coleg%20Cymraeg%20Cenedlaethol%20announced%20-%20English.pdf Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, press release 17 Dec 2010], retrieved 23 November 2017</ref>

== Broadcasting ==

Jones regularly broadcasts on the BBC and [[S4C]]. His broadcasts include broadcasts in the [[Welsh language]].

In 2000, Jones presented a 13-part television series for [[S4C]], entitled ''Cymru 2000.'' This was a history of 20th century Wales, which featured over 200 interviews with notable figures from Wales' recent history.  He was also responsible for writing the book of the same name that accompanied the series.  ''Cymru 2000'' received a [[BAFTA Cymru]] award in 2000 for "outstanding contribution to history on television".

This was followed by several other television series, including 'Y Streic Fawr', 'Llafur Gwlad' and 'I'r Gad!'.

=== BBC Governor ===

On 1 January 2003, Jones was appointed to the [[Board of Governors of the BBC]] as BBC National Governor for [[Wales]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3438987.stm Who are the BBC Governors?], BBC News, 28 Jan 2004, retrieved 22 October 2017</ref> He held that position until the end of 2006 when the BBC's Board of Governors was dissolved and replaced by the [[BBC Trust]].

Jones was a member of the nominations committee established to appoint the new Director General of the BBC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/3492018.stm|title=Search for Dyke successor begins|date=27 February 2004|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref> According to Greg Dyke (BBC director-general), Jones was one of the governors responsible for his departure after the Hutton report 'exonerated' Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell from 'sexing up', exaggerating, the threat of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction [ref: Greg Dyke, Inside Story, p.&nbsp;318]

== Chair of the [[Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board]] ==

Jones was chair of the [[Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board]], a [[local Health Board]] responsible for health services for around 694,000 people across [[north Wales]]. He took up his appointment on 1 April 2013.<ref>[http://www.llandaffnorthmedicalcentre.wales.nhs.uk/news/18738 Health Board Appointments, NHS Wales], accessed 20 March 2018. The announcement also contains a summary of Professor Jones' academic and broadcasting careers.</ref> A report in 2013 by the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the Wales Audit Office found that leadership at the board was "fundamentally compromised" because the relationship between the chairman and chief executive had broken down.<ref>[https://www.wao.gov.uk/publication/betsi-cadwaladr-university-health-board-overview-governance-arrangements-joint-report Welsh Audit Office : Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Overview Governance Arrangements – Joint Report 2013] retrieved 22 October 2017</ref> Following this report, Jones stood down as Chair of the Health Board; the Chief Executive, Mary Burrows, also resigned.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-23073770/resigning-health-chair-prof-merfyn-jones-accepts-criticism BBC News (Wales) 27 Jun 2013] retrieved 23 November 2017</ref>

== Honours ==

Jones was appointed Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[2011 Birthday Honours]] for services to higher education in Wales.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59808 |date=11 June 2011 |page=8 |supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Main list of the 2011 Queen's birthday honours recipients|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_06_11honours_mainlist.pdf|publisher=BBC News UK|accessdate=11 June 2011}}</ref>

Jones is an Honorary Fellow of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol in recognition of his contribution to Welsh medium higher education. In addition to his contribution as one of the most prominent historians of modern Wales, the Coleg also cites his achievements as Chairman of the Coleg: he "played an integral part in establishing the Coleg as a national body. He emphasized particularly the principle that every academic discipline can be taught and debated through the medium of Welsh, a principle that is now central to the Coleg’s academic strategy."<ref>[http://www.colegcymraeg.ac.uk/en/aboutus/honoraryfellows/prof-r-merfyn-jones.aspx Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol : Honorary Fellows : Professor R. Merfyn Jones], retrieved 23 November 2011.</ref>

In July 2016, Jones was made an Honorary Fellow of Bangor University for services to the university.<ref>[https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/latest/bangor-university-award-honorary-fellowships-during-graduation-week-2016-27772 Bangor University Honorary Fellowships, 2016] Bangor University 11 July 2016 retrieved 22 October 2017</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Merfyn}}
[[Category:BBC governors]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex]]
[[Category:Academics of Swansea University]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Liverpool]]
[[Category:Academics of Bangor University]]
[[Category:Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Welsh scholars and academics]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Date of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Labor historians]]