On Sunday, September 30. 2007, one of Caernarfon’s best known local historians died at Eryri Hospital aged 79. He was Mr. William Brown, 97 Cae Mur and he leaves a wife, Violet and four sons and their families and we at Caernarfon Online extend to them our deepest sympathy on their sad loss.

Will, as he liked to be called, was born in St. Helen’s and aged 11 at the outbreak of World War II, he came with his brother (Jack) to Caernarfon where their mother's family lived. He soon settled down here, made many friends and in no time learned the Welsh language. Upon leaving school he became an apprentice joiner with Gregory’s the builders and was a member of the Army Cadet Unit at Caernarfon, attaining the rank of Sergeant Major at an early age. He looked forward to the day when he would be called up to the army, but this was not to be as he suffered a serious accident to his hand at work. This disability, however, did not prevent him from becoming an exceptionally skilled carpenter whose services were much in demand. He had his own business in Crown Street for many years and later was employed by the Arfon Borough Council at Bangor, from where he retired.

Then, with time on his hands, he interested himself in local history and spent many hours at the Archives at Victoria Dock, where he was well respected by both the staff and other researchers, many of whom were present at his funeral service at Llanbeblig Church. He was a born researcher, checking and rechecking his findings until he was thoroughly satisfied that they were correct. His interest also included genealogy, persevering to trace the whereabouts of all known members of his own family tree, which included one couple who had seventeen children and he prided himself for having accounted for all of them. What researchers will remember mostly about Will was his readiness to help others, be they Family Historians who had come from far to the Archives to try and trace members of their family or his vast knowledge when answering questions on the history of Caernarfon. He was regarded as an authority on one subject in particular and that is the Cenotaph on Y Maes, which is probably an interest kindled in his early days in the Army Cadets and the disappointment of not being able to join the army. He researched every name on the 4 plaques on the Cenotaph, 3 of them placed there after World War I and with 211 names on them and the other placed after World War II with 75 names. Will researched every one and could tell to what service or regiment they all belonged, where they died and where buried, if known.

The largest project that Will Brown ever tackled took him many months if not years. He read through all the issues of the C.&D. Herald from January 1900 to December 2000, and made a note of the items that he considered important from the point of view of the town of Caernarfon. He then copied them on to what he called his “Diary” for safe keeping and many of us researchers, have often asked him to look in the “Diary” for some information on a project we were looking into at the time and never once did he refuse us. I was unaware of his illness until a month or so ago, I had a question of a military nature and I phoned him up asking whether he could help. He could hardly speak above a whisper and I apologized for having troubled him, thinking that I would not get an answer. But I was wrong, 15 minutes or so later Will phoned back with the information. That is the kind of person he was and I feel honoured to have known him.

Over the last 5 years Caernarfon has lost 2 excellent local historians who have contributed greatly to our town. I refer also to the late Stewart Whiskin with whom I worked very closely. He published 2 pictorial books that are now out of print, but are available in libraries and Record Offices. One can say that they were Stewart’s legacy to his hometown. Unfortunately Will Brown did not live to see the fruits of his labour in print and my only wish is that his “Diary” which was his great contribution to Caernarfon be treasured and if possible copies be made of it for the benefit of Caernarfon Historians not yet born.