Kitty Idwal Jones (Q67569)

Mrs Kitty Idwal Jones (1898-1984) was the daughter of Liberal MP Sir John Herbert Lewis (1858-1933). She made a notable contribution as a patron of Welsh literature and culture. Born in London, and educated at Aberystwyth, Birmingham, and Grenoble, France, she spent the years from 1922 to 1925 as a missionary at Lushai, India. After returning home, following an accident to her father, she undertook voluntary social work to alleviate the effects of the Depression. In 1930, she visited America, collecting contributions for the Welsh Student Loan Fund Committee. In 1933, she married Professor Idwal Jones (1899-1966) of the Department of Education, University College, Swansea, who researched the life of the Rev. Thomas Jones (1756-1820), his wife's great-great uncle. The family moved to Plas Penucha, Caerwys, Flintshire, in 1946. She was involved in organizing the Caerwys eisteddfod in 1968, and was a prominent figure in the work of Cymdeithas Alawon Gwerin Cymru and a host of literary and historical societies. She contributed articles to Welsh Music on the composer Morfydd Llwyn Owen (1891-1918) and on collecting folk songs. She had one son and two daughters.