
Graham Davies
|
Graham
Davies: CV
Updated 16 April 2008
I am a retired
(Emeritus) Professor of Computer Assisted Language Learning, but I continue
to maintain and update the ICT for Language Teachers website at http://www.ict4lt.org,
which was initiated by my former university, Thames Valley University,
London. I do occasional consultancy work in the area of ICT and language
teaching and learning and I sit on a number of national and international
committees (see below). I am a partner in Camsoft, a business that develops
and retails software for Computer Assisted Language Learning.
A less boring
summary of my life, with hyperlinks to my activities and information
on the other members of my family (who are also my business partners)
is on the Web at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/whoare.htm
Alternatively,
have a look at my personal wiki, which also includes an audio recording
about myself: http://grahamdavies.wikispaces.com
If you are looking for my
personal email address, I am afraid you won't find it anywhere at this
site. I have had to remove it to prevent it being harvested by spammers
- hundreds appear to have got hold of it already. Please click here
if you wish to email me: Camsoft's
Contact Form
|
Age
Senior
citizen: I receive my old age pension, I have a free bus pass and I get excellent
discounts on a round of golf at my local course and on my lift pass when I
go skiing in Austria.
Nationality
British
Current activities
- 1982- Partner, Camsoft: CALL
software publishing house and CALL consultancy business:
http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk
- 1995- Member of the Academic
Advisory Panel of the ReCALL journal (EUROCALL & Cambridge University
Press):
http://www.journals.cup.org
- 2000- Member of the EUROCALL
Executive Committee:
http://www.eurocall-languages.org
- 2001- Member of the Editorial
Board of the ReCALL journal (EUROCALL & Cambridge University Press):
http://www.journals.cup.org
- 2003- Evaluator, Linguanet Europa,
a substantial online catalogue of language learning resources. This project
is currently undergoing expansion to incorporate an interface in a number
of new languages and addressing in particular the needs of adult learners:
http://www.linguanet-europa.org
- 2004- Member of the e-Learning
Factory (ELF) team. The ELF team provides a range of courses and support facilities
to enable organisations and individual teachers and trainers to make effective
and appropriate use of ICT in their teaching and training programmes: http://www.inevent.com/elf/
Biographical
landmarks
- 1953-1961: Maidstone Grammar
School: 7 O-levels, 3 A-levels.
- 1964: BA Hons in German and French,
Queen Mary College, University of London.
- 1965: PGCE (Teaching Qualification),
Goldsmiths' College, University of London.
- 1965-1968: Researching for PhD,
Queen Mary College, University of London. Title of thesis: "A lexicon
of tournament and heraldic terminology in Medieval German: 1150-1450."
- 1968-1971: Secondary school teacher
(German and French), Tiverton Grammar School, Devon.
- 1971-1985: Lecturer in German,
Ealing College/Thames Valley University (TVU).
- 1971-1976: Examiner (German),
Institute of Linguists, London.
- 1976: Began researching and working
in the area of new technologies and languages: Computer Assisted Language
Learning (CALL), Machine Translation (MT) and Machine Assisted Translation
(MAT).
- 1977-1979: Governor, Wessex County
Infants School, Maidenhead.
- 1980: Began producing conference
papers, articles and other publications on CALL and in the area of languages
and information technology in general. First printed publication on CALL:
"New technologies for linguists", Computer Age 9: 23-26.
- 1980-1982: Business Partner,
Wida Software, London.
- 1980-1985: Member of the CALL
group, Association for Literary and Linguistic Computing (ALLC).
- 1981: Consultant on CALL, Heinemann.
- 1981-1985: Assistant Editor,
ALLC Journal, Association for Literary and Linguistic Computing.
- 1982: Founded Camsoft, a CALL
software publishing house and CALL consultancy business.
- 1982: Beginning of numerous educational
visits abroad in connection with new technologies and language learning and
teaching: Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands,
Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA.
- 1982: Consultant on CALL, Longman.
- 1982: Consultant on CALL, Oxford
University Press.
- 1982: Consultant on CALL, TV
South, Southampton.
- 1982-1986: Governor, Cox Green
Comprehensive School, Maidenhead.
- 1982-1990: Editor, Callboard
newsletter, Ealing College, London.
- 1983-1985: Member of the German
Language Working Party, The Open University.
- 1983-1993: Registered as Specialist
in CALL, The British Council. Numerous
visits abroad under the auspices of The British Council.
- 1984: Consultant on CALL, Language
Training Centre, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Belgium.
- 1984: External Examiner, MA candidate,
Chelsea College, University of London.
- 1985: Consultant on CALL, Duckworth
(software publishers), Oxford.
- 1985: Keynote Speaker, South
African Association of Language Teachers (SAALT) conference , University of
Natal. Paper entitled "Computer Assisted Language Learning: a time for
realism".
- 1985-1990: Director of the National
Centre for Computer Assisted Language Learning (NCCALL), Ealing College/Thames
Valley University (TVU).
- 1986: Consultant on CALL, Language
Training Centre, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Belgium.
- 1986: Participated in the foundation
meeting of EUROCALL, University of Liège, Belgium.
- 1987: Evaluator, Tovna Translation
Machines, Israel.
- 1988: Consultant on CALL, Royal
Army Educational Corps.
- 1988: Paper entitled "Repurposing
a videodisc for French language teaching", Second International Symposium
on Computer Assisted Language Learning, Kossuth University, Debrecen, Hungary,
1988. Published in Kécskés I. & Agócs L. (eds.) (1989) New tendencies in
CALL, Debrecen, Hungary: Kossuth University: http://www.ict4lt.org/en/Debrecen.doc
- 1989: Conferred with the title
of Professor of Computer Assisted Language Learning, Ealing College/Thames
Valley University (TVU).
- 1989: Keynote Speaker, International
Conference on Computer Assisted Language Learning, Wilhelm-Pieck University,
Rostock, GDR. Paper published as "EXPODISC: an interactive videodisc
package for learners of Spanish" in Buchholz E. (ed.) (1989) Fremdsprachenlernen
mit Mikrocomputer und anderer Informationstechnik, Rostock: Wilhelm-Pieck
University. Available on the Web at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/expodisc.htm.
My conference report entitled "The week the Wall came down" can
be found at http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/berlin.htm
- 1989-2000: Member of the Advisory
Committee, Computers in Teaching Initiative Centre for Modern Languages (CTICML),
University of Hull.
- 1990-1991: Evaluator, ELNET project
(European Business and Languages Computer Conferencing Network), Southampton
Institute, funded by the Learning Technology Unit, UK.
- 1990-1993: Director of the Language
Centre, Ealing College/Thames Valley University (TVU).
- 1990-1993: Member of the Language
Centres Working Party, Standing Conference of Heads of Modern Languages in
Universities (SCHML).
- 1991: Keynote Speaker, EUROCALL
91, Helsinki Wilhelm-Pieck University, Rostock, GDR. Paper published as "EXPODISC:
an interactive videodisc package for learners of Spanish" in Savolainen
H. & Telenius J. (eds.) Eurocall 91 proceedings, Helsinki: Helsinki
School of Economics. Available on the Web at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/expodisc.htm
- 1991-1996: Coordinator, East
European CALL (EECALL) Centre project, Dániel Berzsenyi College, Hungary
(TEMPUS/PHARE Programme, European Commission).
- 1992-2002: Member of the Management
Committee, Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) Consortium, University
of Hull: http://www.hull.ac.uk/cti/tell
- 1993: Keynote Speaker, CCALL2
Conference, University of Victoria, Canada. Paper published as "CALL
in the New Europe: the spirit of cooperation" in Liddell P. (ed.) (1993)
CALL: theory and application: proceedings of CCALL2/CCELAO2, the Second
Canadian CALL Conference, Victoria, Canada: University of Victoria: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/CCALL93Paper.doc
- 1993: Consultant, Cox Green Comprehensive
School, Maidenhead, on setting up a new multimedia language centre.
- 1993: Consultant, University
of Limerick, Ireland, on setting up multimedia language centre.
- 1993-2001: Visiting Professor
of CALL, Thames Valley University (TVU): http://www.tvu.ac.uk
- 1993-1994: Consultant/Animateur,
Council of Europe, Language Learning for European Citizenship Programme: New
Style Workshop 7B.
- 1993-1997: External Examiner,
University of Kent, MA in Applied Languages: Computing.
- 1993-2000: Founder President
of EUROCALL.
- 1994: Consultant to The Open
University on proposed new German language modules.
- 1994: External Examiner, MPhil
candidate, Bradford University.
- 1994: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, Bond University, Australia.
- 1994: Consultant, Lingua Bureau,
DG XXII, European Commission. Survey of vocational language training incorporating
the use of new technologies. Report published.
- 1994: Member of the Evaluation
Panel, BA in Applied Languages, University of Limerick, Ireland.
- 1994-2000: Deputy Chair of the
Management Committee, Centre for Information Technology in Language Learning
(CITLL), Coventry University.
- 1995: Consultant on software
development project, Teleste, Turku, Finland.
- 1995: Evaluator, research project
proposal, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada.
- 1995: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, Griffith University, Australia.
- 1995: Contributor to National
Seminar on Teaching Foreign Languages (English) in Belarus, Minsk State Linguistic
University, Belarus, organised with support from the Council of Europe under
the Modern Languages Programme.
- 1995-1996: Consultant, Socrates
Technical Assistance Office, DG XXII, European Commission.
- 1995-1999: External Examiner,
University of Hull, MA in Applied Language and New Technologies.
- 1996: Consultant, Oxford University
Press.
- 1996-1998: Member of the Steering
Committee, WorldCALL 98, University of Melbourne.
- 1996-1998: Member of the Scholarship
Committee, WorldCALL 98, University of Melbourne.
- 1996-1999: Member of the Scientific
Committee on New Technologies, Thematic Network Project (Languages), Freie
Universität Berlin (Socrates Programme, DG XXII, European Commission).
- 1996-1999: Member of the Policy
Group on New Technologies, European Language Council, Freie Universität
Berlin (initiated under Socrates Programme, DG XXII, European Commission).
- 1996-2004: Member of the Editorial
Board, Language Learning and Technology, a WWW journal: http://llt.msu.edu
- 1997: Consultant, Socrates Programme,
DG XXII, European Commission.
- 1997: External Evaluator, CD-ROM
for intermediate learners of Portuguese, Universidade Aberta, Portugal.
- 1997: Member of the Validation
Panel, Language Learning by Distance Mode, Southampton Institute.
- 1997-1998: Contributor, EUROCALL
Directory of Courseware Development Projects, University of Hull (Socrates
Programme, DG XXII, European Commission).
- 1997-1998: Registered Evaluator,
Telematics Applications Programme, DG XIII, European Commission.
- 1997-1999: Contributor, City
Talk multimedia development project, Libra Multimedia, Windsor (Socrates Programme,
DG XXII, European Commission).
- 1997-1999: Contributor, DIALANG
diagnostic language testing project, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
(Socrates Programme, DG XXII, European Commission).
- 1997-1999: Registered Evaluator,
Phare Distance Education Programme, European Training Foundation, European
Commission.
- 1997-1999: Registered Evaluator,
MLIS and INFO2000 Programmes, DG XIII, European Commission.
- 1997-2001: Academic Coordinator,
Airline Talk multimedia CD-ROM development project, Thames Valley University
(LEONARDO Programme, DG XXII, European Commission).
- 1997-2002 External Examiner,
University of Greenwich, MA in Management of Language Learning.
- 1997-2002 Member of the Board
of the European Language Council, Freie Universität Berlin:
http://www.fu-berlin.de/elc
- 1998: External Referee, GeniCALL
research project proposal, Research Council of the University of Antwerp,
Belgium.
- 1998: Keynote Speaker, WorldCALL
98 Conference, University of Melbourne, Australia. Click here for details
of my paper: WorldCALL 98.
- 1998-1999: Contributor, Teaching
And Language Learning Enhanced by New Technologies (TALLENT) teacher training
project, University of Limerick, Ireland (Socrates Programme, DG XXII, European
Commission).
- 1998-2000: Academic Coordinator,
ICT for Language Teachers (ICT4LT) online training project, Thames Valley
University (Socrates Programme, DG XXII, European Commission).
- 1998-2001 Registered Evaluator,
Fifth Framework Programme (1998-2002), European Commission.
- 1999: Peer Reviewer, MALTED
project, University College London (Educational Multimedia Taskforce Telematics
Applications Programme and Leonardo Programme, DGXIII and DGXXII, European
Commission).
- 2000: NOF trainer, CILT.
- 2000: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, Southampton Institute.
- 2000-2003: Chair of the WorldCALL
2003 Steering Committee: http://www.worldcall.org
- 2000-2005: Series Editor (with
Carol Chapelle), Language Learning and Language Technology, Swets & Zeitlinger
(now taken over by Taylor & Francis):
http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com
- 2001: Consultant to PriceWaterhouseCoopers,
HEFCE E-Languages "Language House" initiative.
- 2001: Keynote Speaker, Didascalia
Symposium, University of Antwerp, Belgium. Paper entitled "Working together:
lessons to be learned in European collaboration".
- 2001-2002: External Examiner,
University of Kent, MA in Applied Languages: Computing.
- 2002: Consultant, Coventry University,
on setting up multimedia language centre.
- 2002: Consultant to the BBC on
the German Steps online language course: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/lj
- 2002-2003: Consultant to the
International Certificate Conference, Frankfurt, on an international survey
carried out for the European Commission (DG E&C) on the impact of ICT
on language learning and teaching. See the published report.
- 2002-2003: NOF Trainer, Learning
Schools Programme: http://www.learningschools.net
- 2002-2005: External Examiner,
University of Manchester (formerly UMIST), MSc in Computer Assisted Language
Learning.
- 2003: Keynote Speaker, Scottish
CILT Conference, "Inspiring your learners with ICT", University
of Stirling. Paper entitled "ICT and Modern Foreign Languages: learning
opportunities and training needs". Click here: SCILT 2003.
- 2003: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, Monash University, Australia.
- 2003: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, UMIST.
- 2003-2004 Consultant/Trainer:
MELTEC (Multimedia Electronic Learning Technologies Education Centre), Kingston
University, UK.
- 2003-2006 Chair of the WorldCALL
2008 Conference Planning Committee: http://www.worldcall.org
- 2004: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, UMIST.
- 2004: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, University of Southampton.
- 2004: Consultant, University
of Reading, on setting up multimedia language centre.
- 2004 & 2005: Contributing
to teaching of the Technology and Language Teaching and Learning module, Institute
of Education, London University, UK:
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/schools/clc/ma-tesol/technology
- 2004-2007 Member of the Advisory
Board, Research Centre for New Media in Language Learning, Monash University,
Australia.
- 2005: Keynote Speaker, UCALL
Conference, University of Ulster at Coleraine. Keynote entitled: "Computer
Assisted Language Learning: Where are we now and where are we going?"
(which is completely different
from my Futurelab article bearing the same title).
The revised outline of the keynote is available on the Web at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/UCALL_Keynote.htm
- 2005: Consultant to the Standards
Unit of the Department of Education and Skills on the production of e-learning
training materials for teachers in adult education.
- 2005: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, University of Manchester.
- 2006: External Examiner, MPhil
candidate, University of Manchester.
- 2006: External Examiner, PhD
candidate, University of Manchester.
- 2007: Keynote Speaker, Conference
on e-Learning and Japanese Language Education, Oxford Brookes University.
Keynote entitled: "Computer Assisted Language Learning: Where are we
now and where are we going?" This
was an update of the keynote first presented at the UCALL conference in 2005
(see above). The revised outline of the keynote is available on the Web at:
http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/UCALL_Keynote.htm
- 2007: Guest lecture, University
of Warwick, entitled: "Computer Assisted Language Learning: Where are
we now and where are we going?" This
was an update of the keynote first presented at the UCALL conference in 2005
(see above). The revised outline of the keynote is available on the Web at:
http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/UCALL_Keynote.htm
Recent
publications
1996: (with Bruzzone M.) GapKit
2.0 (authoring software), Camsoft, Maidenhead: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/gapkit.htm
1997: "Lessons from the past,
lessons for the future: 20 years of CALL". In Korsvold A-K. & Rüschoff
B. (eds.) New technologies in language learning and teaching, Council
of Europe, Strasbourg, France. The full text (regularly updated) is also on
the Web at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/coegdd1.htm.
An abridged version of this article is also published in Kranz D., Legenhausen
L. & Lüking B. (eds.) Multimedia, Internet, Lernsoftware: Fremdsprachenunterricht
vor neuen Herausforderungen?, Edition Volkshochschule Band 4, Agenda Verlag,
Münster.
1997: (with Yu Hong Wei) "Do
grammar checkers work?". In Kohn J., Rüschoff B. & Wolff D. (eds.)
New horizons in CALL: proceedings of EUROCALL 96, Dániel Berzsenyi
College, Szombathely, Hungary. The full text is on the Web at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/euro96b.htm
1997: (with
Bangs P., Burgess G., Harland M., James S., Sandford N. & Sousa C.) German
Encounters CD-ROM, London, Hodder & Stoughton / University of Hull,
The TELL Consortium: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/encounters.htm.
See also: http://www.hull.ac.uk/cti/tell/
1998: Introduction to Chapter 5,
"Commercialisation". In Blin F., Chénik N. & Thompson T.
(eds.) EUROCALL Directory of Courseware Development Projects, University
of Hull: Lingua Project 96-01-CLI-0379-00: http://www.ict4lt.org/en/Courseware_Directory.pdf
1998: Exploiting Internet resources
offline: Conference paper, University of Ghent, Belgium: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/gdghent.htm
1998: "True
creativity often starts where language ends". Abstract published in Debski
R. & Levy M. (eds.) Proceedings of the 1998 WorldCALL Conference on CD-ROM,
University of Melbourne, Australia. Keynote paper presented at WorldCALL 98,
July 1998. The full text is on the Web at:
http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/worldgd1.htm
2000: Editor/Contributor, ICT4LT:
Information and Communications Technology for Language Teachers (website
- continually updated), Slough: Thames Valley University: http://www.ict4lt.org.
Printed version of Basic Level modules published 1999. Printed version of Intermediate
Level and Advanced Level modules published 2000.
2000: Article on Computer Assisted
Language Learning, Routledge Encyclopaedia of Language Teaching and Learning
(ed. Byram M.), London: Routledge: 90-93. Not available online.
2001: "The history of EUROCALL",
TELL&CALL 1/2001: 6-10: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/EuroHist.htm
Also at the EUROCALL website: http://www.eurocall-languages.org/about/history.html
2001: (with Chambers A.) Co-Editor,
New technologies and language learning: a European perspective, Lisse:
Swets & Zeitlinger (now taken over by Taylor & Francis).The first volume
in a new series entitled Language Learning and Language Technology, Series Editors,
Graham Davies & Carol Chapelle. Not available online.
2001: "New technologies and
language learning: a suitable subject for research?" In Chambers A. &
Davies G. (eds.) New technologies and language learning: a European perspective,
Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger (now taken over by Taylor & Francis). Not
available online.
2001: "Doing it on the Web",
Language Learning Journal (ALL) 24: 34-35: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/DoingIt.htm
2002: "ICT
and Modern Foreign Languages: learning opportunities and training needs", published
in International Journal of English Studies 2, 1: Monograph Issue,
New Trends in Computer Assisted Language Learning and Teaching, edited by
Pascual Pérez Paredes & Pascual Cantos Gómez, Servicio de Publicaciones,
Universidad de Murcia, Spain: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/needs.htm
An updated and abridged version of this article appears in Scottish Languages
Review 8, June 2003, Scottish CILT: http://www.scilt.stir.ac.uk/SLR/index.htm
2002: Article on CALL in the
Good Practice Guide at the website of the Subject Centre for Languages,
Linguistics and Area Studies, University of Southampton. You can browse the
guide by author name or subject or go straight to: http://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/goodpractice.aspx?resourceid=61.
This article is also available, with updated links, at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/LLAS_Web_Guide.htm
2003: "Perspectives on online
training initiatives". In Felix U. (ed.) Language learning online: towards
best practice, Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger. Not available online.
Fitzpatrick A.
& Davies G. (eds.) (2003)The Impact of Information and Communications
Technologies on the teaching of foreign languages and on the role of teachers
of foreign languages, EC Directorate General of Education and Culture. The
contribution by Graham Davies, relating specifically to the UK, is available
in HTML format at http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/ICC_Grahams_Report_Final.htm
2003: "Computer
Assisted Language Learning: Where are we now and where are we going?".
Web article at the Futurelab site: http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications_reports_articles/web_articles/Web_Article590.
This is completely different from my UCALL Keynote (2007).
My Futurelab article is also available, with updated links, at: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/Futurelab_CALL_Article.htm
2004: "Aspects of technology
enhanced language learning: a UK perspective". In Fitzpatrick A. (ed.)
Analytical Survey: Information and Communications Technologies in the Teaching
and Learning of Foreign Languages: State-of-the-Art, Needs and Perspectives,
Moscow: UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. My contribution,
relating specifically to the UK, is here: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/UNESCO_Grahams_Report.htm
2004: (with Bruzzone M.) Fun
with Texts 4.0 (authoring software), Camsoft, Maidenhead: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/fwt.htm
2005: (with Bangs P., Frisby R.
& Walton E.) Setting up effective digital language laboratories and multimedia
ICT suites for Modern Foreign Languages, London: CILT: http://www.languages-ict.org.uk/managing/digital_language_labs.pdf
2005: "Computer
Assisted Language Learning: Where are we now and where are we going?" Keynote
paper first presented at the UCALL Conference, University of Ulster, Coleraine,
June 2005. Revised 2007:
http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/docs/UCALL_Keynote.htm
2006: "Computer Assisted Language
Education". In Brown K. (Editor-in-Chief.) Encyclopedia of Language
and Linguistics (2nd Edition), Elsevier: Oxford: Vol. 6, 460-470.
Social
activities
I enjoy an active life, playing
golf (20 handicap) once a week, going downhill skiing once or twice a year,
swimming three or four times a week and taking my greyhound for a one-mile walk
once a day. I enjoy travelling and I can order a beer in fifteen different languages,
but I would describe myself as fluent only in English and German. My French
is tolerable and I can survive in Italian, Russian and Hungarian. I used to
scuba-dive regularly, but I have little time these days. I did, however, manage
to fit in a dive on the Great Barrier Reef in July 1998.
Interesting
ancestors and relatives
I have a few interesting ancestors
and relatives:
1. My paternal grandfather, Samuel
Davies (Sam "Pont"), a coal miner in Maerdy, Rhondda Valley, was the right-hand
man of the militant South Wales miners' leader Arthur Horner around the time
of the General Strike of 1926. Arthur Horner was so left of centre that he was
under constant surveillance by the security services. This probably explains
why I failed to get into the diplomatic corps in 1968.
2. My maternal great-grandfather,
David Davies, gained an entry in the 1976 edition of the Guinness Book of Records
as being the "most durable coal miner", working underground for 73 years from
1849 to 1922 (aged 7 to 80). His portrait hangs in an art gallery in Moscow.
It was painted by a visiting artist from the former Soviet Union.
3. I can just about claim to be
a distant relation of Richard Burton. Richard Burton's first wife was Sybil
Burton (née Williams), with whom I share an aunt, Gwyneth Davies (née
Lewis). Gwyneth was the wife of my father Gomer Davies's brother, John ("Jack")
Davies. Gwyneth's sister, Mabel Lewis, was Sybil's mother. The brother of Gwyneth
and Mabel, Arthur Lewis (whom I always called "uncle"), was leader of the Black
and White Minstrel Show at the Victoria Palace theatre in the 1960s. We often
used to meet for a pint in the pub opposite the stage door. It is said that
Sybil named her New York discotheque "Arthur" after Arthur Lewis, her favourite
uncle. Sybil's elder daughter, Kate Burton (who is an actress), went to visit
my aunt Lizzie ("Betty") Davies in Maerdy, Rhondda Valley, in 2004.
Kate had been invited to attend the opening of the Millennium Centre in Cardiff
and decided pay her a visit while she was in the area.