Welsh Journals

Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. He was past chairman of the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, Policy Committee of the Council of Social Services for Wales, Offa's Dyke Association, Cambrian Archaeological Association and the Powysland Club. He became a member of the Powysland Club in 1936 but it was not until 1973, shortly after returning home to Kerry, that he was elected a member of its Council. He then served as its chairman for the period 1980-1985, skilfully managing its affairs and rejuvenating its activities through careful reorganisation. In recognition of his contribution to the well-being of the Club, he was elected Vice President on completion of his term as Chairman. He last attended a meeting of the Club on 30 November 1991 when a Civic Reception was given by Welshpool Town Council to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Club. Following that event, he and his wife, Kathleen, hosted a dinner on behalf of the Council of the Club in honour of the guest speaker, P. Ll. Gwynn-Jones, MA, Lancaster Herald. Noel Jerman was keenly interested in gardening and archaeology and through his work on the latter he was admitted a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. It was a great delight to him following his retirement from the Welsh Office to return to the place of his birth. He loved Kerry and wrote and published the Guide to Church and Village of Kerry in 1976. He was quietly spoken with a gentle disposition but yet commanded authority. He was made CBE in 1967 and in 1984 was admitted a member of the Order of St. John. He was high sheriff of Powys 1983-1984. He is survived by Kathleen Edfryn Jones ofLlanwnnog, who he married in 1990 following the death of his first wife, Blodwen, in 1987. Noel Jerman was a Montgomeryshire Worthy. M. LL. CHAPMAN Miss M.C. DEVEREUX Many people in East Montgomeryshire, especially Powysland Club members, will remember Miss Mavis Devereux who was a frequent visitor to the area from her home in the Wirral. She was a direct descendant of Argulus Devereux of Llanllugan and a collateral descendant of the family who, for about 150 years, lived at Vaynor, Berriew, eventually as the Viscounts Hereford. She spent much time delving into the family history, about which she knew more than anyone else: she has corrected many errors in the historical record, particularly concerning the life of Pryce Devereux, whose son Pryce (1664-1740) was the ninth viscount. In a letter to the writer, Mr J.W. Davies, formerly of Aylesbury, now of Welshpool, said Miss Devereux would be the best expert to write an account of some of the Devereux family — 'but she is a very modest lady'. Her charm for me and my wife in her later years was her gentle but firm determination to carry on with her life and her research whatever the obstacles: she was crippled by arthritis, but carried on driving and travelling until a severe stroke in November 1992 made it impossible. She had a terrier which went everywhere with her and it has been almost her only pleasure to feed it with chocolate drops when it was taken to see her on her sick bed. Miss Devereux died on December 2nd, 1993, aged 80, and we shall remember her for her modesty, her courtesy and her determination in the face of many difficulties. Miss Devereux' papers recording her researches have been passed to the Powysland Library and the writer and Mr Davies (and possibly others) have had an extensive correspondence with her. A younger researcher would find her papers rewarding and could possibly include in the research, as Miss Devereux would never have done, the remarkable story recorded in the book by Ann Huxley published by John Long in 1969 under the title Four against the Bank of England. D.W. Smith