Meurig Giles Morgan was born in Mbabane Swaziland on 13th November 1965 into a family that had been in Africa since the mid-50’s. He was a welcome little brother to me and my sister, and together we were called by our mother her ‘bushbabies’.
As the youngest, Meurig was the cheeky little chappy, ever curious and into everything. Somehow he managed to investigate the meat mincer in the kitchen and sliced off the top of a finger leaving it shaped like a hammerhead shark – our father nicknamed him ‘Minimus’ – henceforth his interest in all things digital! And onwards to a corporate life spent in IT.
Meurig’s childhood was certainly a varied and most interesting one. When still a toddler the family left Africa on a three week sea voyage back to the UK in 1968. After a short stay in South Wales with family they moved on to India. It was here in 1969 that Meurig first entered education at playschool in New Delhi.
After a year or so the family moved yet again, this time to America in 1970 and Meurig started proper school with his sister Sarah at the Washington International School. Here they faced the challenge of lessons being taught on alternate days in English and then in French. There is a famous lunchbox banana scenario that dates to this period when he doggedly carried it back and forth to home, ever browner, but never eaten.
With a view to attending a British university Meurig followed me to boarding school in the UK – at the age of 12 he started at Christ College Brecon, near his grandfather in South Wales. Here Meurig gained 3 A levels whilst still enjoying the life of boarding school. TIDY! He successfully went on to Sussex University to complete a degree in history from the School of African and Asian Studies in 1986. And subsequently to the University of London to complete a masters degree.
Whilst at university Meurig met Lisa and they had two daughters, Lucy and Alice. Remaining settled in Sussex Meurig later met Nicki and during a marriage of nearly 28 years they had a son Llewellyn. The family grew further with a son-in-law, Chris and two grandchildren, Harvey and Amelia. And we must not forget the rescue dog Burt!
Those formative years in Africa, India, America, Wales and Sussex were key to developing the wide range of interests which Meurig maintained throughout his 60 years of a life lived to the full… From his Swazi birthplace and the historical focus of his father, he pursued an interest in the Boer War, building a database which he then turned into the research website called Casus-Belli.
From his Welsh heritage and school life in Brecon, he maintained a fierce pride in all things Welsh, from the national rugby team to delectable Welsh cakes. His love of sailing came from weekends spent on Lake Bala with a family friend who later gave him the Enterprise dinghy that they sailed together – and that boat remains in the family.
In America he grew a love of nature both within his family and at school where he learnt about ornithology and the practice of bird banding for data collection. The family enjoyed the great American outdoor life, joining the neighbourhood swimming and tennis clubs, bird-watching along the Potomac river, ice-skating on the frozen canal, camping with the family-sized tent, fishing wherever possible, attending American sports games and exploring more widely the region around Washington DC and beyond towards the west. Idyllic weekends away were regularly spent with family friends at a farm in Virginia where the children were free to roam alone on adventures across acres of fields and woodland.
At home in Sussex, Meurig tended his garden as a wilderness to be friendly to wildlife. Some order was nevertheless maintained as he got a kick out of his ride-on mower. Anything with 4 wheels! His passion for birds never faded - he regularly sent us the latest tally of visitors to his array of bird feeders and he often set out at dawn with his bird-watching group. His enthusiasm for camping under canvas was undimmed despite the British weather. He was able to cook delicious food over the campfire or with the AGA at home. The contents of his garages were further testament to his interests, containing various cars, including his classic Alfa Romeo which was a delight to tinker with. He had a great love of car racing. Meurig was very keen on watching sports and he would often go with his family to Brands Hatch, Silverstone and whenever possible to American sports games, especially ice hockey and American football. He regularly went with his great friend Tom to the theatre in London. And of course last year he celebrated his 60th birthday with all his family.
In his last years Meurig approached his cancer diagnosis and advanced treatments with a spirit of determination and courage – he continued working, researching, driving, camping and travelling - he pressed on – he was brave.
In everything Meurig undertook he applied his formidable analytical skills and exhibited a focused determination to explore as far as possible. The messages from his former and current American Express colleagues back this up, thank you. The serious side to his character meant that he rarely gave up. As a boy there was no going back to shore in the rowing boat without a fish.
..the lunchbox banana turned from brown to black and always returned home when it could easily have been thrown away at school.
..the war memorials and the battlefields were sought far and wide, on the Continent and in Southern Africa, even on honeymoon!
..there was no leaving the cemetery until that war grave had been found.
…there was no end to that medal search and the next discovery always on the horizon.
…the military medal collection grew.
..and alongside this serious approach there was always the ability to have a good laugh, to appreciate a good joke and to see the ridiculous in life.
Thanks to Nick Jones (brother)
