Born in 1947 and now living in Dwygyfylchi, Penmaenmawr, Mervyn has spent a lifetime serving both his local community and the wider North Wales area. His working life was rooted in highways, traffic engineering, and public service, where he became known for his reliability, technical ability, and strong organisational skills. For 25 years he shared his life with his partner, the late Ruth Belcher, a relationship that meant a great deal to him and remains an important part of his story.
Throughout his career, Mervyn developed strong practical and technical skills in traffic engineering, highways maintenance, and street lighting, as well as technical drawing and draughtsmanship. These abilities carried naturally into his voluntary work, where he became closely involved in radio communications and emergency communication support, along with search and rescue operations. He also built experience in desktop publishing and digital design, outdoor leadership, navigation and mountain craft, and the organisation of community events, all while maintaining a deep interest in local history and heritage.
Alongside his professional career, Mervyn devoted many years to voluntary service across a wide range of community and emergency organisations. He designed and produced the Dwygyfylchi Parish Magazine in a modern digital format, helping to keep local residents informed and connected.
In the field of search and rescue, he was a founder member of Global Rescue Services, where he served as Secretary, designed publicity materials, and actively supported the group at events. He also assisted with search operations and training with SARDA Wales, and supported training and operational readiness with BIRD (British International Rescue Dogs). His practical approach and calm manner made him a dependable presence in demanding situations.
Mervyn also played an important role in emergency communications. As a member of Conwy County RAYNET, he provided radio support during severe weather incidents, public events, and local emergencies, ensuring reliable communication when it was needed most.
His love of the outdoors led him to become deeply involved in local walking, mountaineering, and community events. He was the founder and early organiser of the Penmaenmawr Fell Race, where he also provided safety communications through RAYNET and the Team Dolly CB Club. When Conwy Council ended its Annual Walking Week, Mervyn founded Cerdded Conwy Walks to keep the tradition alive, organising seasonal guided walks and co-leading navigation workshops. He has also been an active member of the Penmaenmawr Walking Club, the Penmaenmawr Mountaineering Club, and the British Mountaineering Council.
Mervyn has always maintained a strong connection to the heritage of his local area. As a member and contributor to the Penmaenmawr Historical and New Museum, he has supported efforts to preserve and share the history of the community for future generations.
Amateur radio remains one of his lifelong passions, and he has been an active member of several local clubs, including the Dragon Amateur Radio Club, Conwy Valley Amateur Radio Club, the North Wales Amateur Radio and Rally Club, and the North Wales Amateur Radio Group. He also serves as a committee member of the Arfon Repeater Group, continuing to support the hobby and the people involved in it.
Mervyn has always believed in learning and self-improvement, and over the years he completed a wide range of qualifications and courses that reflect both his professional career and his personal interests. His studies included construction and technical drawing in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by specialist street works qualifications in the 1990s. He also developed his computing and design skills through a series of courses at Llandrillo College, gaining City & Guilds qualifications in desktop publishing and a National InterAction Computing Award. His interests in the outdoors and radio were reflected in qualifications such as the Personal Mountain Craft certificate and the City & Guilds Radio Amateur’s Examination Certificate. He later completed an Open College Network course in understanding computers, demonstrating his continued commitment to learning new skills throughout his life.
Outside his formal roles, Mervyn enjoys a wide range of interests, including mountaineering, bird watching, desktop publishing, digital design, working with computers, Land Rovers, family history, and researching local heritage. Throughout his life, his interests and voluntary work have reflected the same values that shaped his career: practical skill, quiet dedication, and a strong sense of community.
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