Alistair Church, Huw Morris and Lionel Ginsberg pay tribute to J Gareth Llewelyn
John Gareth Llewelyn (Gareth) was born on the 2nd of May 1956 in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales. The first child of Eleanor and Samuel Llewelyn, an elder brother to Meirion, Sian and Geraint.
The family moved first to Dolgellau and subsequently settled in Llandyrnog, Denbighshire, where the young Gareth attended Ysgol Glan Clwyd school. Welsh was his first language, only learning to speak English aged 8. Gareth’s passion and love for the Welsh language and culture was a strong thread throughout his life. He excelled at school on the sports field and in the classroom, demonstrating early leadership skills that would stand him in good stead in the years to come. Gareth went to Cardiff Medical School in 1974. During his 6 years as an undergraduate he fully immersed himself in student life. During one of many Friday nights at “Med Club” he met his future wife Bethan. They would marry on the 4th of June 1983 in St Mary’s Church in Pulford, Cheshire.
Gareth’s passion for neurology was kindled during his house jobs and further ignited during his research post under Prof PK Thomas at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London (1984-87) where he completed his PhD on diabetic neuropathy. It was during these 3 years that Gareth was introduced to the world of the peripheral neuropathy. His neurology training continued at the Royal Free, Queen Square and King’s College Hospital and he became a Consultant at the Royal Free Hospital and the National Hospital, Queen Square, as well as consulting in Hertfordshire. During these 12 years in London, Gareth and Bethan had been busy building their family together. John, Dafydd, Owen and Ffion completed the family unit. Despite sending their children to Welsh school and employing a Welsh speaking nanny, the “hiraeth” – longing for home – could not be quelled. The family moved to Cardiff and Gareth took up a post as Consultant Neurologist at the Royal Gwent Hospital in 1996. Gareth was the first Consultant Neurologist at the Royal Gwent and, rolling up his sleeves, set about building the department from the ground up. He would remain the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) Neurology Clinical Director for many years.
Despite moving home to Wales, Gareth continued to run a specialist peripheral nerve clinic in Queen Square, as well as setting up a regional specialist peripheral nerve clinic at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. He published widely and travelled extensively, expanding peripheral neuropathy knowledge across the world. He immersed himself in every aspect of Welsh neurology; being a member of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Wales and taking the lead in constructing the Welsh Neuromuscular Network.
Gareth additionally held several important roles in the wider UK, including being President of the British Peripheral Nerve Society (2015-17), Joint Chair of the Clinical Neuroscience Committee (2008-14) and Member of the Medical Specialties Board (2008-24). Gareth strongly supported the Association of British Neurologists (ABN), chairing several committees including the Acute Neurology Advisory Group (2015-18), the Services and Standards Committee (2008-14) and being a member of Council and of the Education Committee (2008-14).
He represented the UK in Europe, including on the Union of European Medical Societies Board of Neurology (2008-19), and its Examination Committee (2008-14), and was an elected member of the General Neurological Scientific Panel of the European Academy of Neurology (2015-18).
Gareth’s teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate neurology was one of his many strengths. He had it all – using his mastery of neurological concepts and oratorical command to captivate and impassion any audience. Gareth had the invaluable ability to make the mundane, exciting and the complex, understandable. In both a packed auditorium and individual conversation, Gareth’s relaxed charisma fostered strong personal connections amongst colleagues and students alike.
He established the first undergraduate neurology teaching programme at the Royal Gwent Hospital and the first neurology training post at ABUHB. In his role as the Specialty Training Committee Chair and Training Programme Director he advanced neurological training throughout South Wales. He was an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University School of Medicine and was awarded a personal chair in 2021 for his contributions to teaching and research. Through his role as the Royal College of Physicians Vice-President for Wales, he supported the Welsh Government, promoting medical education and training as well as advising on many public health strategies.
Gareth’s energies and passion spread beyond neurology. He was the driving force behind setting up ‘Schwartz rounds’ for ABUHB, working closely with the clinical psychology team to provide forums to support well-being for the wider clinical workforce within his health board. Gareth was honoured with an MBE for services to medicine in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2021.
This, one would think, would be enough to keep most people busy. But not Gareth. He was a member of the Welsh steering group at ABUHB, promoting the use of the Welsh language throughout the health board. He served as the president of Y Gymdeithas Feddygol (Welsh Medical Society) and was honoured by his admission into the Yr Orsedd of the National Eisteddfod of Wales for his promotion of the Welsh language.
Such cultural dedication was not always easy, with Gareth frequently forced to suffer the agony Welsh football fans know so well. Colleagues will be very familiar with his tales of woe as Gareth returned to work, recounting Wales’s seemingly bottomless ability to throw away match after match, finding ever more painful ways to fail to qualify for repeated championships. It was therefore with well-deserved cathartic joy that he, alongside his family (most notably Bethan), had a front row seat at the Welsh football renaissance, travelling to both France in Euro 2016 and the 2023 Qatar World Cup.
Gareth was a keen golfer, cyclist and tennis player. His long striding gait ate up the Black Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). Regular trips to New Zealand to visit the children were a blur of activity.
Gareth was the richest of men. He had such an impressive CV, yet you had to meet him to understand his true worth. Quietly spoken, understated, engaging with a mischievous sense of fun. A quote from his memorial service comes close to capturing his essence. “He represented everything we should aspire to as a doctor: full of good humour and enthusiasm. So keen to share his expertise and passion for neurology with colleagues and trainees.” Everyone loved a different piece of Gareth. Patients, colleagues, friends and family. For junior and senior medical colleagues he provided mentorship, direction and guidance and was always ready to help solve a problem. His presence in clinic, committee, clinical conference and one-to-one meetings always exerted a calming, emollient and positive direction.
Gareth passed away peacefully on the 31st March 2024 at home after a short illness, with his family. He is survived by his mother Eleanor, wife Bethan and four children (3 doctors and a lawyer). Mae’r byd niwroleg wedi colli un o’r goreuon. The neurology world has lost one of its best.
