Hywel Jones from Caernarfon tells us about J E Jones's long career as a journalist and his successes at the National Eisteddfod.
"He was educated at Oxford and Aberystwyth universities before starting his career as a staff journalist on the Western Mail, then later the Daily Mail and the BBC where during the war years he was head of the BBC's European service.
He was a founder member of Y Ford Gron magazine in 1930 and edited the series Llyfrau'r Ford Gron too. He also established the first Daily Welsh newspaper, Y Cymro.
In 1947 he was the Chaired Bard at the National Eisteddfod in Colwyn Bay and in 1949 he was successful again but this time as the Crowned Bard at the National Eisteddfod in Dolgellau - in itself a rare achievement.
He then settled for over 25 years in North Wales as managing editor of the Herald Newspapers in Caernarfon, which included the Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald and Holyhead and Anglesey Mail. It was the only Welsh organisation still publishing English and Welsh newspapers. They were printed at the Brunswick Buildings in Caernarfon Square. The building was burnt down in January 1984.
In 1970 he stood as Conservative Candidate for Anglesey and collected 11000 votes. Had it not been for the personal following of the long standing MP Cledwyn Hughes he could very well have won the seat. In later life he voted for Dafydd Wigley because he was good for Gwynedd.
He was awarded OBE for services to journalism, probably encouraged by his paper's pro-monarchy stance at the time leading up to Prince Charles's Investiture at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
In Caernarfon there is a mural painted on the wall near the turning to the library with many infamous characters of the past, including John Eilian - he's the one with the pile of newspapers. He died in 1985."
Journalist, poet and broadcaster.
