24/9/2002

Cyril Fox was keeper of archeology at the National Museum of Wales and one of Britain’s most influential archaeologists of the twentieth century.

To celebrate his extraordinary achievements a biography, written by Cyril Fox’s son, Charles Scott-Fox will be launched next week at the National Museum & Gallery in Cardiff,.

Cyril Fred Fox was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire in 1882, the eldest of four children of Charles Frederick and Henrietta Fox. Leaving school at the age of 16 with no qualifications he became a nursery gardener. At the age of 36 he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge to study towards a Ph.D. His thesis The Archeology of the Cambridge Region brought him instant recognition and the start of a prolific career.

He became director of the National Museum of Wales only eighteen months after being appointed as the keeper of archeology at the museum. His vision and dedication of developing the National Museum into a truly Welsh national institution with an international reputation brought success and he ensured the creation of what is now the Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans before his retirement.

His major publications, The Archaeology of the Cambridge Region, The Personality of Britain, Pattern and Purpose and with Lord Raglan, Monmouthshire Houses were all to profoundly influence the thought of archeologists of his day.

Charles Scott-Fox is the eldest son of Cyril Fox and his second wife Aileen. He served in the Royal Navy from 1952 until 1958 and today combines his hotel business with writing and voluntary prison works.

Source:	National Museums and Galleries of Wales
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