John Bancroft Willans (Q63881)

John Bancroft Willans J.P, F.S.A (1881-1957), country landowner, antiquarian and philanthropist of Dolforgan, Kerry, Montgomeryshire. Willans lived in Kerry from 1894 onwards, after his father had bought the Dolforgan estate. J B Willans served in World War I on non-combatant duties mainly in Italy , and on his return he devoted himself to public service in Montgomeryshire and was a member of the Court of Governors National Library of Wales 1942-1957 ; member of Council 1945-1957 . His interests lay mainly in the antiquarian and genealogical fields , in the preservation of the national heritage and in his Unitarian faith. He was a Life Member of the Cambrian Archaeological Association from 1901 and of the Powysland Club from 1899 , being its Chairman of Committee at the time of his death. He published a book The Byways of Montgomeryshire in 1905 ; It is accordingly fitting that U.C.W. decided to perpetuate his memory by establishing the annual J.B. Willans Lecture at the College. He found his own recreation in walking , travelling , voracious reading and in his gardens and woods . Motivated as he was throughout his life by a deep social conscience, sense of public duty and religious faith, his contribution in his fields of interest to the cultural and educational life of Wales , and especially of Montgomeryshire, although always essentially reticent, was substantial. He was unmarried. He died 12 April 1957 at Salop Infirmary and was buried in the churchyard of his beloved Kerry. For further details see Welsh Biography Online.