NIGEL Jenkins, an associate English literature professor at Swansea University and an award-winning poet, has died after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mr Jenkins, 64, who lived in Mumbles, died early this morning (28th January) at Swansea’s Ty Olwen hospice.
He was born and brought up in the Gower and published several collections of poetry, making a great contribution to Welsh poetry.
He won the Arts of Council of Wales 1996 Book of the Year prize with his travel book Gwalia in Khasia. He was co-editor of The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales and captured his love of the area in his books Real Swansea, Real Swansea 2 and Gower.
He was also co-director of Swansea University’s English department’s creative writing programme.
Many students have taken to Facebook and Twitter, writing tributes to their favourite lecturer.
Natalie Ann Holborow wrote: “Lost not just a tutor and a lecturer, but a role model, an inspirational poet and a good friend. Absolutely devastated. Nigel Jenkins will be missed by so many people. Anyone can teach, but it takes a rare quality to inspire every day.”
Jacques Tsiantar, who runs the HOWL Poetry Open mic night at Mozarts, wrote; “Very sad to hear that Nigel Jenkins has passed away. He was a valued part of the Swansea poetry community and the university. The HOWL would not have started without his help and he shall be missed.”
The Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Davies said: “Nigel’s commanding presence was felt in the university far beyond his own department. For example, he wrote a graduation day celebration poem which has become an integral part of our graduation ceremonies. When he read the poem himself, it became a riveting drama.”
The novelist Professor Stevie Davies, co-founder of the Swansea Creative Writing MA, described Nigel Jenkins as “an inspirational teacher, an outstanding writer and a true friend to authors, poets, dramatists and artists of all kinds throughout and beyond Wales.
“He was much loved by staff and students present and past, and we shall miss him greatly.”
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