The Rectory, Church Walks, Llandudno
Many ministers of Llandudno parish and their families have lived here. The Rectory is next to the former St George’s Church of 1840 which closed in 2002, when Holy Trinity Church took over as the parish church.
The Rev John Morgan was the town’s rector for 28 years. His son, also John Morgan, was born at The Rectory in 1886 and was rector of Llandudno in 1933. In 1949 he became the Archbishop of Wales.
In 1903 the Rev Llewelyn Robert Hughes became rector and lived here with his wife and three sons. During the First World War, he was a divisional army chaplain, responsible for the spiritual needs of soldiers of the Welsh Division billeted at Llandudno and those at the Conwy Morfa camp. At the behest of the War Office, he compiled a hymn book for use by Welsh troops.
All three of his sons served in the war. The eldest, Frederick, was wounded and decorated for gallantry while his youngest, Darrell, was killed in 1917. Darrell (pictured) was born in 1897 in Porthmadog, where his father was rector at the time. In December 1914, Darrell was accepted at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, with references from the bishops of Bangor and St Asaph and Lord Mostyn. He had previously attended Llandovery College.
He was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant and joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in July 1915. He was killed in action during the Battle of Kut. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. The lower photo shows his commemorative plaque, given to the family by Llandudno Urban District Council.
Llewelyn’s eldest son, Roddy Hughes, became a well-known theatre and film actor. Born Rhodri Henry Hughes, he “acted, clowned, burlesqued and mimicked incessantly” as a youngster in Llandudno. He trained as a singer and appeared in West End plays during the 1920s, before getting minor roles in films. After the Second World War he landed bigger roles in Dickensian adaptions of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947) and in 1951 A Christmas Carol (Scrooge) starring Alastair Sim and Jack Warner. Roddy played the character of Fezziwig opposite Carry On star Hattie Jacques as Mrs Fezziwig.
Roddy also appeared in films starring Gregory Peck, Richard Attenborough, Alec Guinness, and Norman Wisdom. He died in 1970.
With thanks to Adrian Hughes of the Home Front Museum, Llandudno
Postcode: LL30 2HL View Location Map
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