Wynford Vaughan-Thomas Memorial and viewpoint...
This stunning viewpoint with its commanding view of the Dovey valley and the mountains to the north, lies just off the spectacular mountain road from Llanidloes to Machynlleth. The spot is marked by a memorial and toposcope dedicated to the great Welshman, writer and broadcaster, Wynford Vaughan-Thomas.
Wynford Vaughan-Thomas was born in Swansea in 1908.
In the mid-1930s he joined the BBC, but it was during World War II that he established a reputation as one of the corporation's most respected correspondents.
One of his first commentaries was during the coronation of King George VI in May 1937, delivered completely in Welsh. His work as an outside broadcaster could be difficult, because he had to convey what was happening around him in a vibrant way, without a script or agenda of any sort, and often bilingually.
When the Second World War started, he took up a post as a home front correspondent. In 1942, following his report on the Blitz, he accepted a post as a War Correspondent.
His most memorable report was on 14 September 1943, where he broadcasted from a Lancaster bomber during a bombing raid on Berlin. Wynford Vaughan-Thomas gave an excellent description of the event and the people of Britain were entranced by his description of the plane flying through the searchlights of Berlin and the terrifying moment when the Lancaster was caught in one of the searchlights! He managed to convey to the listeners the dangers faced daily by RAF crews, and Wynford Vaughan-Thomas’s popularity grew. In 1945 he was awarded the Croix de Guerre.
In 1967 after leaving the BBC, he became one of the founders of the commercial television company Wales and the West (TWW) and became the first director of programmes for Harlech Television (HTV), now ITV Wales in Cardiff, and in 1970 took up a post as the company’s acting director.
Vaughan-Thomas received a number of honours during his lifetime, including being awarded the OBE in 1974, the CBE in 1986 and an Open University honorary MA degree in 1982.
He was also a gifted writer and wrote a number of books as well as radio and TV scripts. Some of his books describe his experiences during the war, such as Madly in All Directions (1967) and Anzio (1962) whilst others concentrate on history - Wales: A History (1985). He also wrote about Wales and the Welsh landscape, including The Shell Guide to Wales (1969) and Portrait of Gower (1976), and co-presented a television series with Gwyn Alfred Williams on the history of Wales called - The Dragon Has Two Tongues.
Wynford Vaughan-Thomas died in his home town of Fishguard on 4th February 1987, leaving his valuable collection of papers and scripts to the National Library of Wales.
Two memorials have been erected for him, one at Ceibwr Bay near Cardigan and this one in the mountains above Aberhosan nr Machynlleth, Powys.
Vaughan-Thomas had served as the President and Chairman for the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) between 1968 and 1975. Following his death in 1987, the CPRW came up with the idea for a memorial, sculptured in Welsh slate and built on ground gifted to them by a local land owner.
This fitting memorial was unveiled by his wife Charlotte in 1990, at one of Wynford's favourite locations high on the slopes of Moel Fadian. The site offers some of the most dramatic views over the Welsh mountains landscape that Wynford loved and wrote about so poetically.
The circular stone memorial with one half raised as a viewing point, spans some three metres (9ft 8ins) and is topped with carved slate depicting the broadcaster in walking gear pointing to Snowdon. The illustration highlights all 13 peaks in Wales above 2,000ft (914m).
Sadly over the years it fell into disrepair and suffered vandalism. Around 2008 with the help of individuals and organisations generously contributing towards the repair funds, the CPRW managed to raise £11,000 towards the restoration of this wonderful landmark, a special and fitting tribute to one of Wales' greatest environmental champions and a person who truly appreciated the importance and magnificence of our Welsh landscapes.
To locate the cache answer the questions with information found around the memorial and on this cache page and then fill in the missing numbers...
N52 a . b c d W00e f . g h
a...WVT was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 19(??) MINUS The number of peaks over 2000ft highlighted on the toposcope
b...When did WVT write The Shell Guide to Wales 196(?)
c...Charlotte Vaughan-Thomas MBE 19(?)4-92
d...When was the memorial unveiled by Charlotte Vaughan-Thomas 19(?)0
e...WVT joined the BBC in 19(?)7
f ...WVT's most memorable report was on 14th September 19(??)
g...When was WVT born 19(?)8
h...How old was WVT when he died?
We would like to give greatful thanks to National Resources Wales for giving us permission to place this cache here.