The Writers of Wales Database

NOBLE, ROY

Website: http://www.malpope.com/rn/index.php

Roy Noble OBE is a native of Brynaman in the Amman Valley of Carmarthenshire and attended Amman Valley Grammar School in Ammanford. He has lived in Aberdare for the past thirty years. The former headteacher is now one of Wales' best known broadcasters.

His move from teaching to broadcasting was gradual and part-time, writing and presenting a weekly 'Letter from Aberdare' on the A.M. Programme. In 1994 he joined the Welsh Language evening magazine programme 'Heno', on S4C.  He eventually joined the BBC full time and his daily morning radio programme on BBC Wales has attained some of the highest listening figures in Wales for a number of years. In 1999 he received a Sony Award.

Roy is also well known in the television world having presented a number of shows including the BBC Diet Programme with Barbara Dickson; a series of 'Noble Guides' covering many subjects from Paris to Manliness and Mortality. This popular series also covered a journey along the Celtic Rim of Europe. More recently his series 'Common Ground' was highly acclaimed gaining him the Royal Television Society award as 2000 Regional Presenter of the Year.

Roy is also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, a special envoy for the Welsh Tourist Board and the current Ambassador for the United Nations International Youth Movement. In 2001 Roy was awarded an OBE for his charity work. He has published a number of non-fiction books.

Reviews:
With respect to Noble Ways: Lay-bys in My Life (Accent Press, 2010)

"…Roy Noble's writing is like his radio broadcasting - witty, good natured and quirky..."
The Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan

"...Funny, thought-provoking and unbearably tragic in parts, this is a book that will remain with the reader long after the final page has been turned..."
Catrin Collier

"...Many uplifting tales which had me laughing out loud..."
Dennis Gethin, President of the Welsh Rugby Union


Selected Publications:
Noble Expressions: Roy Noble's Expressions of Love (BBC Wales, 1992)
Roy Noble's Welsh Nicknames (Western Mail Books) (University of Wales Press, 1998)
Roy Noble's Wales (University of Wales Press, 1999)
Noble Thoughts (Gomer, 2002)
Noble Ways: Lay-bys in My Life (Accent Press, 2010)

Contributed to:
Bachan Noble (co-writer) (Gomer, 2001)