Alun John was educated at Swansea Grammar School, University College Swansea and RAF College Cranwell . His service with the RAF spanned over 30 years and he was a qualified pilot for 63 years. An engineer by profession, he was Secretary of the South Wales Branch of the Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering., A sometime motorcycle instructor of instructors and longest serving member and organiser of the West Glamorgan Motorcyle Training Scheme nsea, born, bred and based but with work and interests that have taken him to every part of Wales, by aeroplane, car, motorcycle and on foot. Sometime Lecturer at Coleg Harlech Summer Schools and Bristol University Extramural Department. He was for many years a Guest Field Lecturer at the Snowdonia National Park Environmental Studies Centre, Plas Tan y Bwlch (Which he regarded as his second home). He is a past chairman of South West Wales Industrial Archaeology Society, Swansea Art Society, Friends of Tan y Bwlch and for some 20 years President of South Wales Advanced Motorcyclists.

He wrote several manuals on motorcycle training and wrote for the press on motorcyling matters. His interests have included, painting, metal sculture, gliding Italian Literature and Industrial Archaeology.

As an acknowledged authority on Welsh Slate he has written a number of books on its various aspects and is a consultee on this and Welsh metal mining for museums and other bodies. His association with tinplate including a Directorship of E.H.Brooke Ltd led to writing about that industry. He was Managing Director of Kerswell Metals Ltd and a Technical Director of The 52 Group Ltd.

A lover of the Welsh countryside, he chaired the West Glamogan Branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and was a member of its National Executive. He arraanged the purchase and mnagement of and organised public access to his beloved Vale of Maentwrog. His deep knowledge of its history and folklore led to a fruitful partnership with photographer Jean Napier in the production of the "Rivers" books

Alun's wife Delphine (A one-time Royal Naval College, Greenwich trained Signaller) worked as a Tin Broker. and was a director of several companies. She later became a Speech Therapist assisting in Stroke Rehabilitation. A keen amature painter, she colaborated with and assisted Alun's fieldwork, mine exploratiion and research and herself has led Snowdonia walks.

Both are committed Churchgoers and celebrated their Diamond Wedding in 2007,

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF WELSH SLATE QUARRIES

» AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL

TROLLEYBUS PILOT 192 Pages ISBN 978-1-78461-242-9 21.5 x 14 An irreverant RAF romp inspired by the airman's constant mantra 'If you cant take a joke you should not have joined'. £9.99

A SWANSEA BOY 208 Pages ISBN 978-1-84524-201-5 18 x 12 Growing up in a distant past, bemused by parents, relations, teachers and other such creatures who occupied a mysterious adult world. £7.50

» LANDSCAPE & LEGENDS

		A TALE OF TWO RIVERS Second Edition 128 Pages ISBN 0-86381-989-3 23 x 19 This book brings together evocative images by Jean Napier and tales, both ancient and modern, by Alun John Richards that take you on a journey the length of the Dyfi and the Mawddach from source to sea £12.00

		TWO SNOWDONIA RIVERS 144 Pages ISBN 978-1-84527-206-1 23 x 19 Jean Napier's unique images are complemented by Alun John's text as they follow the 'Silver Threads' of the Glaslyn & the Dwyryd £12.00

		THE RIVER CONWY SOURCE TO SEA 136 Pages ISBN: 978-1-84527-288-3 23 x 19 Fact and fable of Snowdonia's mightiest river with Jean Napier's images and Alun's text. £12.00

» INDUSTRY

		FRAGMENTS OF MINE & MILL IN WALES 128 Pages IBSN 0-86381-812-9 25 x 21 A reminisce of some of the industries that once thrived in Wales. About 200 illustrations, many in colour, show some of the relics that have now vanished, and others, still with us, that are either odd, unexpected or just plain peculiar. £9.50

		TINPLATE IN WALES 152 Pages ISBN 978-1-84524-125-4 18 x 12 Chronicles an industry that from a small part of a small country whose products reached and benefited the entire world. £7.50

 

RAILS & SAILS OF WELSH SLATE

160 pages
IBSN 978-1-84524-174-2
18 x 12

Draws together the story of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales
’ and the fleets of ships that carried slate to the ends
of the earth

£7.50

 

THE SLATE RAILWAYS OF WALES

212 Pages
ISBN 0-86381-689-4
21 x 14.5

Starting with Penrhyn Railroad of 1801, this book gives an account of the proliferation of railways which accompanied the 19th century expansion of slate working in Wales.

£5.95

» SLATE

		GAZETEER OF SLATE QUARRYING IN WALES 352 Pages ISBN 1-84524-074-X 18 x 12 A complete update and expansion with a great deal of new material, of the famous and long out of print £8.95

		SLATE QUARRYING IN CORRIS 148 Pages ISBN 1-84524-08 18 x 12 A new edition, revising, expanding and updating the original popular account of the 500 year history of slate working in the Dulas Valley £8.95

		SLATE QUARRYING IN WALES 232 Pages ISBN 3-84527-026-6 18 x 12 A brand new, totally revised edition. A narrative history of slate working in Wales from the earliest times, through its great nineteenth century heydays up to the end of the twentieth century. £8.95

		CWM GWYRFAI 368 Pages IBSN 0-86381-897-8 18 x 12 In conjunction with Dr, Gwyfor Pierce Jones. An account of the SLATE QUARRIES adjacent to the route of the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway and its successor, the recently revived Welsh Highland Railway. Using mainly previously unpublished text and photographs, it traces the fortunes of slate working in this most interesting area £9.95

		The Slate Quarries of Pembrokeshire 195 Pages IBSN 978-1-84524-189-6 18 x 12 A reissue of the long out of print standard work on the slate quarries of Pembrokeshire, South Cardigan and Western Carmarthenshire, a small but once significant area that roofed many houses and public buildings in South Wales and beyond. £5.50

• A GAZETEER OF THE WELSH SLATE INDUSTRY
• SLATE QUARRYING AT CORRIS
• SLATE QUARRYING IN WALES (1st Ed)
• THE SLATE REGIONS OF NORTH & MID WALES
• CREFFTWYR LLECHI
• WELSH SLATE CRAFT