John HefinMBE (born John Hefin Evans;[1] 14 August 1941 – 19 November 2012[2]) was a Welsh television producer and director who served as head of drama at BBC Wales. He began working for the BBC in 1960, and his career at the corporation included devising the long-running Welsh soap operaPobol y Cwm, co-writing and directing the comedy film Grand Slam, and producing the 1981 biopic The Life and Times of David Lloyd George. He was later involved with the work of Film Cymru, the Film Commission Wales, and the media journal Cyfrwng. He also worked in the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University. He died from cancer in November 2012.
Hefin was born in Aberystwyth in 1941, the youngest son of Huw Evans, the headmaster of a local primary school. Educated at Ardwyn Grammar School, he trained as a teacher at Trinity College, Carmarthen. He also became involved in amateur dramatics, as his parents had been.[1]
In 1962, he was one of two people responsible for painting the graffito "Elis" on a prominent roadside rock in mid Wales, in support of a local Plaid Cymru electoral candidate.[1][3] The wording was later changed from Elis to Elvis, and it became known as the Elvis Rock.[3][1]
Career
Hefin first became involved in television work in 1960, when he responded to a newspaper advertisement for apprentice production assistants. During the 1960s, he worked as a producer and director for BBC Wales.[1] In 1974, he helped create the Welsh languagesoap operaPobol y Cwm, the longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC. He also co-wrote and directed the 1978 TV rugby comedy film Grand Slam, and produced the 1981 drama series The Life and Times of David Lloyd George.[2][4] This nine-part series, a biopic based on the Welsh PM, drew on conversations with Lady Olwen, his eldest daughter, and A J Sylvester, his personal secretary.[1] In 1984, Hefin was the director for the narration for an animated version of Prince Charles's children's story The Old Man of Lochnagar.[1]
Following his post as Head of Drama with BBC Wales, he worked in the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University from 1996 to 2001. There, along with Elan Closs Stephens, Jamie Medhurst and Benjamin Halligan, he established a degree in Film and Television Studies (in both Welsh and English).[citation needed] In 1988, he became the artistic director of Film Cymru (which was later renamed the Wales Film Council), entrusted with the responsibility of commissioning films from independent Welsh producers using S4C funds.[1] He was also Chairman of the Film Commission Wales, and Chair of Cyfrwng, a Welsh media journal and network.[2] He retired from the BBC in 1993. In 2004, he directed and filmed part of a documentary featuring the artist Sir Kyffin Williams, Reflections in a Gondola.[1][5]
Personal life
Hefin was married twice. He had two children with his first marriage, to Non, and a daughter with his second wife, Elin.[1] He died at his home in Borth, Ceredigion, from cancer on 19 November 2012.[4]
Awards
He was awarded the MBE in 2009, for "services to Welsh film and drama".[4][6] In 2012, he was awarded the BAFTA Cymru Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television Drama.[2] New award for Welsh language short film in honor John was announced by Carmarthen Bay Film Festival.
References
^ abcdefghij"John Hefin". The Telegraph. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
^ abcdUniversity of Glamorgan, John Hefin (1941-2012): An Appreciation, 20 November 2012. Accessed 21 November 2012
^ abBBC News, Elvis rock tribute makes comeback, 26 March 2005. Accessed 21 November 2012
^ abcBBC News, John Hefin: TV director and ex-BBC Wales drama head dies, 19 November 2012. Accessed 21 November 2012
^Meredith, David (17 May 2006). "Modest master of mountains, sea and people". The Western Mail.
^"N. Walians Honoured". The Daily Post. 13 June 2009.
john, hefin, born, evans, august, 1941, november, 2012, welsh, television, producer, director, served, head, drama, wales, began, working, 1960, career, corporation, included, devising, long, running, welsh, soap, opera, pobol, writing, directing, comedy, film. John Hefin MBE born John Hefin Evans 1 14 August 1941 19 November 2012 2 was a Welsh television producer and director who served as head of drama at BBC Wales He began working for the BBC in 1960 and his career at the corporation included devising the long running Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm co writing and directing the comedy film Grand Slam and producing the 1981 biopic The Life and Times of David Lloyd George He was later involved with the work of Film Cymru the Film Commission Wales and the media journal Cyfrwng He also worked in the Department of Theatre Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University He died from cancer in November 2012 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Awards 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditHefin was born in Aberystwyth in 1941 the youngest son of Huw Evans the headmaster of a local primary school Educated at Ardwyn Grammar School he trained as a teacher at Trinity College Carmarthen He also became involved in amateur dramatics as his parents had been 1 In 1962 he was one of two people responsible for painting the graffito Elis on a prominent roadside rock in mid Wales in support of a local Plaid Cymru electoral candidate 1 3 The wording was later changed from Elis to Elvis and it became known as the Elvis Rock 3 1 Career EditHefin first became involved in television work in 1960 when he responded to a newspaper advertisement for apprentice production assistants During the 1960s he worked as a producer and director for BBC Wales 1 In 1974 he helped create the Welsh language soap opera Pobol y Cwm the longest running television soap opera produced by the BBC He also co wrote and directed the 1978 TV rugby comedy film Grand Slam and produced the 1981 drama series The Life and Times of David Lloyd George 2 4 This nine part series a biopic based on the Welsh PM drew on conversations with Lady Olwen his eldest daughter and A J Sylvester his personal secretary 1 In 1984 Hefin was the director for the narration for an animated version of Prince Charles s children s story The Old Man of Lochnagar 1 Following his post as Head of Drama with BBC Wales he worked in the Department of Theatre Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University from 1996 to 2001 There along with Elan Closs Stephens Jamie Medhurst and Benjamin Halligan he established a degree in Film and Television Studies in both Welsh and English citation needed In 1988 he became the artistic director of Film Cymru which was later renamed the Wales Film Council entrusted with the responsibility of commissioning films from independent Welsh producers using S4C funds 1 He was also Chairman of the Film Commission Wales and Chair of Cyfrwng a Welsh media journal and network 2 He retired from the BBC in 1993 In 2004 he directed and filmed part of a documentary featuring the artist Sir Kyffin Williams Reflections in a Gondola 1 5 Personal life EditHefin was married twice He had two children with his first marriage to Non and a daughter with his second wife Elin 1 He died at his home in Borth Ceredigion from cancer on 19 November 2012 4 Awards EditHe was awarded the MBE in 2009 for services to Welsh film and drama 4 6 In 2012 he was awarded the BAFTA Cymru Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television Drama 2 New award for Welsh language short film in honor John was announced by Carmarthen Bay Film Festival References Edit a b c d e f g h i j John Hefin The Telegraph 22 November 2012 Retrieved 23 November 2012 a b c d University of Glamorgan John Hefin 1941 2012 An Appreciation 20 November 2012 Accessed 21 November 2012 a b BBC News Elvis rock tribute makes comeback 26 March 2005 Accessed 21 November 2012 a b c BBC News John Hefin TV director and ex BBC Wales drama head dies 19 November 2012 Accessed 21 November 2012 Meredith David 17 May 2006 Modest master of mountains sea and people The Western Mail N Walians Honoured The Daily Post 13 June 2009 External links EditJohn Hefin at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Hefin amp oldid 1102391743, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
