Gerald Gabb, Honorary DLitt, 25 July 2017

Gerald Gabb

Gerald Gabb is the senior historian of Swansea, and an oracle on the city’s history from its origins to the present day.

Gerald Gabb was raised in Mumbles and attended what was then the University College, Swansea for an MA in History. He was head of the History Department at Llansamlet Comprehensive School before being seconded as Education Officer at Swansea Museum.

As Education Officer, he has brought the history of Swansea alive for generations of local people, especially teachers and school children, not only through the innumerable talks he has delivered but also by writing and editing numerous books and booklets on a wide range of local history topics. 

He has written and published authoritative texts on the history of Swansea including the first volume of Swansea and its History in 2006. The second volume is due to be published shortly.

Since 2010, Gerald Gabb has been editor of The Swansea History Journal which, under his editorship has grown considerably in size and readership.

On receiving his honorary degree, Mr Gabb said: “I particularly have fond memories of, and still value the experience given by my MA year, involving research at Christchurch, Oxford, at Hughenden Manor and at the then Public Record Office in Chancery Lane; a combination of careful guidance and devolved responsibility, co-ordinated by Dr Muriel Chamberlain, gave me a real insight into how history works.”