Wrexham grave of Eifion Wyn Owens
Eifion Wyn Owens, d.1975
Eifion, a geologist and teacher, died at the age of 24 in a road accident in Australia.
Born on 12 August 1951, he was the elder son of Joyce Owens (nee Edwards) and Gwilym Owens of Wrexham. While he was a pupil at Grove Park Boys’ School, he carried out a geological study of a local gravel pit, where Gwilym was a manager. He was good at sports and games, and represented North Wales at a senior level in chess.
He gained his Bachelor of Science degree from Queen Mary College, London University, where he was known for his quick wit and his ingenious explanations for his habitual lateness! He became a Fellow of the Geological Society in February 1974. After a year’s teacher training in Walsall, Eifion began teaching at Brittons School in Havering, London, and took part – as a photographer and geologist – in an expedition in Yugoslavia.
In May 1975 he moved to Sunshine West High School in Melbourne. He believed that working abroad would deepen his understanding and enhance his teaching of global geology and geomorphology. Teaching materials he took to Melbourne included photographs of Snowdonia, where Victorian scientists had made important geological discoveries.
Eifion was fatally injured in an accident at West Brunswick while he was embarking on a tour of Queensland. He died on 1 September 1975. A funeral service was held at the Memorial Park Crematorium in North Altona. Eifion’s ashes were sent to Wrexham for interment in St Giles churchyard.
His cousin Hilary Elizabeth Ross (nee Owens) remembers him as “a special individual, both academically and personality wise” and she was proud to call him her cousin. Eifion’s photograph is shown here courtesy of Elizabeth.
With thanks to the Geological Society and Hilary Elizabeth Ross