Ffeil NLW MS 6708B - A Journey to Llandrindod Wells, in Radnorshire ... (copy), with letter

Colonel Sir Joseph Alfred Bradney ('Achydd Glan Troddi'; 1859-1933), historian, of Tal-y-coed Court, Llanfihangel Ystern Llewern, Monmouthshire, served in many capacities in both military and civic rôles. He was the author of A History of Monmouthshire (London, 1904-1932) and A History of the Free Grammar School in the parish of Llantilio-Crossenny (London, 1924) and editor of Llyfr Baglan (London, 1910) and of reprints of several Monmouthshire parish registers.

Sir John Ballinger was born in Pontnewynydd, Monmouthshire, and received his early education in Canton, Cardiff. At 15 he became an assistant at Cardiff Free Library and, at 20, was appointed librarian at Doncaster before returning to Cardiff in 1884 to take up the post of chief librarian. In 1908 Ballinger was appointed the first librarian of the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth, which was scheduled to be opened the following year. Despite being a non-Welsh speaker, Ballinger brought considerable success to his librarianship roles in Wales. He was selected as president of the Library Association in 1922 and was for a time editor of the Bibliographical Society of Wales. Amongst other honours bestowed upon him, he received an honourary Master of Arts from the University of Wales in 1909, was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1920 and knighted in 1930. In 1932 he received the Cymmrodorion Society's medal for his services to the Welsh nation in the field of bibliography and literature. He died at Hawarden in 1933.