William Price

This week it is a privilege to interview Canon Dr. William Price who taught me when I was an undergraduate student in the University of Wales in the early 1990s.

William Price was born in Colwyn Bay and went to Lampeter in 1970 as a History lecturer, and stayed until 1997. He now lives in Wem, Shropshire. His father was a curate and William read History at Keble College, Oxford. In this hugely insightful conversation he talks about how he was attracted by Lampeter’s Anglican tradition and saw the job as a chance to revive his Welsh. We talk about how Lampeter is a unique town and William recounts how at one point he knew every academic colleague by name.

We learn what William’s earliest memories are, which include walking by the sea during the terrible winter of early 1947 and the birth of his sister. He also remembers his first day at school and he relays what he said to his mother at the end of that first day.

We find out why, at the age of 8, his village school said that they couldn’t teach him any more, and William talks about the role that piano music played in his youth. He also played the organ in church, and indeed sometimes still does to this day. He has no interest whatsoever in sports and recalls that TV was the main form of entertainment when he was growing up. His parents had one of the first TVs in the village and he remembers watching the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

Before TV, radio was an influence, and William discusses how he recently found an old diary from 1954 which recounts how he used to listen to ‘The Archers’ and ‘Dan Dare’ as a child. William was also keen on railways and enjoyed trainspotting. He also remembers travelling on the last train to go through Lampeter in the early 1970s.

At school, his History teachers inspired him and we learn why his ‘O’ level Art teacher summed up his ‘O’ level as the triumph of intellect over ability. At ‘A’ level William studied History, French and Geography and he tells us why his life would have been different if he had been two years younger as he would then have done Modern Languages and might have gone on to do French and Russian at University.

William read History at Keble College. In his first term at Oxford, in October 1962, there was the threat of nuclear war due to the Cuban Missile Crisis, and William explains why his biggest University ‘hero’ (seeing him as a genius and a saint) was Austin Farrer. William discusses how he would like him to be commemorated in the calendar of the Church of England.

We learn whether William’s memories are predominantly positive and he discusses how he has ‘ridden two horses’ in the respect that for 25 years he held twin academic and clerical professions. William reflects on what might have happened if he had ridden just one horse. We learn which of the two professions he ultimately chose and why he has no regrets about the choices he has made.

In the final part of the interview we learn why if he had his time again he would make the same choices and we discover why William is mentally very curious, is a looking forward type of person and why his family is at the centre of his life.

Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and William Price and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.