Roy Noble

Roy Noble Rotary Fellow (born 1942) is a Welsh radio and television broadcaster, writer and Bevan Commissioner.

Biography Noble was born and raised in Brynamman in the Amman Valley of Carmarthenshire, the only son of coal miner Ivor Noble and his wife Sadie. After passing his 11 Plus entrance examination he attended Amman Valley Grammar School, where fellow pupils included rugby union administrator and barrister Vernon Pugh and John Cale, of the Velvet Underground.

On finishing school, he tried to join the RAF as he had always wanted to be a pilot, but was turned down because he suffers from hay fever. He trained as a teacher at Cardiff Training College, where he was the President of the Students’ Union in his final year.

He was appointed as Brother in the Venerable Order of Saint John in 2000, being appointed as Officer of St.John Cymru Wales in 2002, Commander in 2011 and a Knight of Grace in 2016.

Noble was appointed a commissioner with the Bevan Commission with real responsibilities in the Health and Care sectors in Wales as an independent 'think tank' for the Welsh Government.

In 2009 he was awarded the Chancellor's Medal at the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales) for his contribution to the educational and cultural life of Wales and his commitment to its people, in particular to those in need. In 2012, Noble was asked by the Minister of Education and Skills at the Welsh Government to chair a group looking into the future of the Welsh National Eisteddfod. The group completed its remit and reported back in October 2013.

In 2011 Noble cut the ribbon officially opening the 'Big Pit Branchline' at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway.

Noble was asked to be the Patron of the Senghenydd Mining Disaster 100th Anniversary Memorial Appeal, the memorial being unveiled on 14 October 2013. He acted as narrator of the 'tale of Senghenydd,’ detailing the two explosions at the Universal Pit, and the loss of life that resulted.

Noble was Ambassador for Wales of the WRVS (now RVS) Diamond Champions scheme, initiated by the Duchess of Cornwall to Honour Her Majesty The Queen, in the year of her Diamond Jubilee. He acted as a judge at the Diamond Champions event at St James's Palace that year.

Nobles has appeared as an after-dinner speaker at many organisations, clubs, and societies, including engagements in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Canada. He was a patron of the appeal leading to the establishment of a permanent 'Red Dragon' Bronze Memorial at Passchendaele, which was unveiled in August 2014. In 2017 he hosted the 100th Anniversary Commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Passchendaele at the battlefield site in Flanders.

Awards In the 2024 Birthday Honours, Roy Noble was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Welsh culture and language and to the community in Wales.