Caernarfon Herald

I’LL MISS MY PAL

TRIBUTES TO THE WELSH NATIONALIS­T RESERVOIR BOMBER

- Mari Jones

Tributes to Nationalis­t:

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Welsh nationalis­t who attempted to stop the flooding of the Tryweryn valley.

John Albert Jones, who died last week at the age of 75, was one of three men who blew up a transforme­r on the site of the Tryweryn dam, changing the history of public protest in Wales.

John Albert, a former military policeman in the Royal Air Force, was joined by Emyr Llywelyn, a university student from Ceredigion, and Owain Williams, a farmer’s son, both of whom were jailed for the bombing.

Mr Jones avoided a prison sentence and instead received three years on probation.

What drew them together was Liverpool Corporatio­n’s plan to flood the village of Capel Celyn and the valley of Tryweryn, in Meirionnyd­d.

The actions of the bombers merely delayed the reservoir project. It was finished and officially opened on October 21, 1965.

John Albert went on to become a father of 10, married to Jackie, who passed away a few years ago. He worked as a painter and lived with his family near Pwllheli.

Owain Williams, who is now a Gwynedd county councillor, said: “John’s death is a huge loss for Wales.

“He was a man of integrity, who had a quiet sense of humour and never really liked a lot of attention.

“He was such a genuine man and totally reliable who could be trusted.”

Mr Williams saw his great friend around six weeks ago and recently received a postcard from him while he was holidaying in South Africa with his son.

“John didn’t have the easiest of starts in life.

“He lost his mother when he was very young and his father when he was a teenager,” said Mr Williams.

“He was a very proud father to his children.”

Mr Williams added: “I remember meeting him for the first time in a coffee bar in Penrhyndeu­draeth where he lived at the time with his aunt.

“He was an imposing looking young man, with very black hair. We got talking and we agreed on most things and I’ll miss my friend very much.”

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 ??  ?? ● John Albert Jones (left) with Owain Williams and (inset) as young men
● John Albert Jones (left) with Owain Williams and (inset) as young men

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