One of the most respected and well-networked business journalists in Wales, Robert Llewellyn-Jones, has died aged 80.
Born and raised in Merthyr, Robert’s journey into journalism came relatively late in his career, after teaching English at Dyffryn Comprehensive School in Port Talbot for more than 25 years.
His initial focus was on commercial feature writing at the Western Mail and Echo Ltd, which put him in touch with the Welsh business community.
It was a perfect match, and would eventually see him joining the Western Mail business desk as a reporter – firstly under the guidance of business editor Neil Jones and later his successor, myself.
There was something of the thespian in Robert, with his love of literature and his poetic prose evident in his business feature writing, which saw him interview many of the leading lights of Welsh business, both in Wales and further afield.
He had a unique interviewing style, allowing the interviewee to talk, and interjecting only gently, but succinctly, when required.
This approach – rather than being adversarial for its own sake – ensured he elicited far more depth and detail for his profiles than perhaps the interviewee had ever intended.
Whether it was the former governor of the Bank of England, Sir Eddie George, or Welsh tech billionaire Sir Terry Matthews, his Big Interview feature in the weekly Western Mail business supplement was staple reading.
While some people moan on the morning of a business event – having willingly accepted the invitation months earlier – there was never such regret from Robert. It was where he was at his most vibrant, loquacious and, yes, mischievously good-humoured. He loved to socialise.
Always immaculately dressed, with his trademark silk handkerchief in his blazer pocket, he was the “eyes and ears” of the Western Mail business desk. In an age when the immediacy of the internet was still in its infancy, he had an effortless ability to work the room at business events.
It was not uncommon for Robert to attend a breakfast business event, then one at lunch, and – with military-style planning and plenty of running around central Cardiff – several more in the evening, too, before catching the late train home to Port Talbot.
He would return to the business desk with a great storyline to pursue, and yes, gossip of the highest order, too.
If there had been an Olympic sport for attending events, Robert – who also went by the moniker Mr Network and hosted his own WalesOnline podcast describing, with great charm, the latest tales from the Welsh business networking circuit – would have been a gold medallist.
It was often joked about in the Western Mail office that Robert, who always took it in good humour, covered more metres during a Welsh international at the Millennium/Principality Stadium – going from one corporate hospitality box to the next – than the entire Welsh team managed on the pitch below.
On one official visit of several days’ duration by the then Prince Charles to his Welsh residence, Llwynywermod, he managed to appear on the official reception guest list not once but twice – prompting the now monarch to smile, point at him, and remark: “Back again.”
Rugby was also an important part of Robert’s life. He was a devoted supporter of his beloved Aberavon RFC, and while at his “London residence” was often to be found at Old Deer Park cheering on London Welsh. And of course, Wales too, at the Principality Stadium.
He undertook his teacher training with Welsh rugby legend the late Barry John at Trinity College Carmarthen in the 1960s. When Barry came into the office to pen his Wales on Sunday column, his chats with his old friend – with whom he once played rugby during their student days – were priceless to overhear.
Robert left the Western Mail and its business desk a few years ago after reaching retirement age. By his own admission, he had a remarkable run, but that was not the end of his media career.
He went on to join Bay TV, broadcasting across Swansea Bay, where his Richard Burtonesque speaking qualities and journalistic skills were given free rein as a presenter.
During his time at the Western Mail, he was often found lunching at the Cardiff and County Club on Westgate Street, at the invitation of a member.
Over a few months, he would dine there more often than many members managed to achieve over several years.
He eventually became a member himself and was a frequent visitor, particularly for lunch on Fridays.
Despite having left the Western Mail years earlier, countless people in the business community would ask: “And how is Robert?” It was testament to the high esteem and respect in which he was held. He remained a great champion of the paper, where he will be dearly missed, but always remembered with fondness and a smile.
Robert, who often quoted the famous Dylan Thomas line of “do not go gentle into that good night” is survived by his two sons, Ioan and Steffan, grandchildren Katie and Lewis and great-grandchild Layla.
