Dr W KEN DAVIES
Dr. W. Ken Davies, better known as Ken, was born in the coastal mining village of Ffynnongroyw, North Wales, which he believes was ‘the best start in life a child could have.’ Educated at the village primary and Rhyl Grammar School, he left school at sixteen and went to sea. He travelled the world aboard merchant ships, digesting all that he saw. The world was beautiful and full of interesting people, most of them very poor. The world, he decided, is a very unjust place, and he considers himself very fortunate. These experiences coloured most of his writing, but especially his novel, Chasing the Tide.
After his marriage in 1966, which took place in the Seamen’s Mission at Marsden Point, New Zealand, he worked in a number of unsatisfying jobs ashore, first in his wife’s native Norway, and after in north Wales. At the age of thirty-two he became an adult student at Coleg Harlech, which opened an Alladin’s cave of opportunity. He studied Psychology, Sociology, Welsh History, Language and Anglo Welsh Literature formally. However, in the congenial milieu that prevailed at Harlech he informally gained many insights into Economics, Industrial Relations, Philosophy, Politics and English Literature. To this day he remains grateful to his tutors and fellow students at Harlech.
He gained a BA Joint Honours degree in Psychology and Linguistics from The University of North Wales, Bangor. For his Doctorate he studied the language of bilingual children in the University of Cardiff where he taught for a while. This was followed by sixteen years working in the community empowering disadvantaged people. During this time Ken gained a Certificate in Applied Social Studies from Swansea University and a Certificate in Social Services Management from Birmingham University. He then did some years' consultancy work before returning to teach for the Open University.
Over the years Ken had published many articles on academic and social issues in specialist journals and magazines and following retirement researched maritime and local history, publishing his findings in several journals. He published his first novel ‘Chasing the Tide’ in 2016. ‘Ffynnongroyw and District: a journey through time’ (not yet available on Amazon) appeared in 2020. This was followed in 2021 by ‘The Point Boats: the story of the men and ships that exported coal from the Point of Ayr North Wales.’ A prize-winning short story had already been published in 2014, and this is also included in his collection ‘The Methodical Man, and other disturbing tales,’ published in 2022. An anthology of poetry, ‘Confessions’ followed in July.
Ken lost his eldest son to heart failure in 2000 and became a widower in 2021. He is supported by his two remaining sons, Robert and Gareth.
