Subject: Re: Freedom of Information / Historical Records Request - Mr. Williams, Cardiff Post Office Engineering Department, 1897 Marconi Lavernock Experiments From: Special Collections Direction: received Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:44 UTC Institution: Cardiff University Special Collections Refs: 1897 Archive id: gm-19f84102c22e9e78 ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Sion, We do not hold any records from the Cardiff Post Office/General Post Office in our collection. As the local authority repository, Glamorgan Archives is the most likely place to hold relevant archives from Cardiff and Penarth. Their catalogue can be searched on their website. All the best, Special Collections and Archives Team Casgliadau Arbennig ac Archifau / Special Collections and Archives Gwasanaeth Llyfrgell y Brifysgol | University Library Service Prifysgol Caerdydd | Cardiff University Ebost | Email: [email redacted]<[email redacted]> Gwefan | Website: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/special-collections X/Instagram: @CUSpecialColls Mae'r llyfrgell yn gwerthfawrogi eich adborth. Cymerwch funud i ddweud wrthym yn ddienw sut ydyn ni'n gwneud. The library values your feedback. Please take a minute to tell us anonymously how we are doing. [cid:9cffe1e0-aa7e-4aaa-8b56-2365a6c1aff5] Mae’r Brifysgol yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at unrhyw oedi. The University welcomes correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay. ________________________________ From: Sion Buckler <[email redacted]> Sent: 16 July 2026 20:40 To: Special Collections <[email redacted]> Subject: Re: Freedom of Information / Historical Records Request - Mr. Williams, Cardiff Post Office Engineering Department, 1897 Marconi Lavernock Experiments Thank you for your prompt response and for checking the University calendars. To clarify: my request was not about University College / Cardiff University Engineering Department academic staff. It specifically concerned my great-grandfather Mr. Williams in the Cardiff Post Office / General Post Office (GPO) Engineering Department around 1897, and any records of his assistance to Marconi’s wireless experiments at Lavernock Point (as referenced in contemporary newspaper reports). See attached. I would be grateful if you could confirm whether your archives hold any GPO-related material, or advise on the correct contact within Cardiff University (or elsewhere) for Post Office engineering records from that period. Thank you again for your assistance. Best regards, Sion Buckler (Ret'd Sergeant) Royal Signals Cyber & Electronic Warfare Professional & Life Member [email redacted]<[email redacted]> [address redacted], Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan, [postcode redacted] On Thu, 16 Jul 2026, 12:40 Special Collections, <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>> wrote: Dear Sion, We checked the calendars of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, predecessor to Cardiff University, which list its academic staff. We did not find any Engineering staff with the surname Williams for 1896/97, 1897/98, or 1898/99. These calendars are available online to view: University calendar, 1896-97, Engineering staff listed on image 51. University calendar, 1897-98, Engineering staff listed on image 47. University calendar, 1898-99, Engineering staff listed on image 47. All the best, Special Collections and Archives Team Casgliadau Arbennig ac Archifau / Special Collections and Archives Gwasanaeth Llyfrgell y Brifysgol | University Library Service Prifysgol Caerdydd | Cardiff University Ebost | Email: [email redacted]<[email redacted]> Gwefan | Website: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/special-collections X/Instagram: @CUSpecialColls Mae'r llyfrgell yn gwerthfawrogi eich adborth. Cymerwch funud i ddweud wrthym yn ddienw sut ydyn ni'n gwneud. The library values your feedback. Please take a minute to tell us anonymously how we are doing. [cid:388d7efe-87a8-483f-a2f3-9737d96ea5b7] Mae’r Brifysgol yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at unrhyw oedi. The University welcomes correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay. ________________________________ From: Sion Buckler <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>> Sent: 16 July 2026 01:44 To: [email redacted]<[email redacted]> <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; [email redacted]<[email redacted]> <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; [email redacted]<[email redacted]> <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; Glamro / Swyddfa Cofnodion Morgannwg <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; [email redacted]<[email redacted]> <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; [email redacted]<[email redacted]> <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; [email redacted]<[email redacted]> <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; Special Collections <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>>; [email redacted]<[email redacted]> <[email redacted]<[email redacted]>> Subject: Freedom of Information / Historical Records Request - Mr. Williams, Cardiff Post Office Engineering Department, 1897 Marconi Lavernock Experiments External email to Cardiff University - Take care when replying/opening attachments or links. Nid ebost mewnol o Brifysgol Caerdydd yw hwn - Cymerwch ofal wrth ateb/agor atodiadau neu ddolenni. Dear Information Rights / Archives Team, I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (or equivalent records access) regarding my grandfather, Mr. Williams, who worked in the engineering department of the Cardiff Post Office / General Post Office around 1897. Specifically, I seek any records, personnel files, correspondence, reports, or mentions confirming his involvement in Guglielmo Marconi’s wireless telegraphy experiments at Lavernock Point (including erecting the 120-foot pole and related tests to Flat Holm). This relates to contemporary newspaper reports from May 1897. Please provide: * Any personnel or service records for Mr. Williams in the Cardiff engineering department circa 1897. * Documents referencing "Mr. Williams" in connection with Marconi’s demonstrations. * Any other relevant historical files from the GPO telegraph/engineering teams. My full name: Sion Buckler Address: [address redacted], Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan, [postcode redacted][map link redacted] Contact: [email redacted]<[email redacted]> Relationship: Great Grandson I am ultimately seeking any record about my great grandfather Mr Williams of Great House Farm, Llandough, Cardiff (formerly Vale of Glamorgan). Not to be confused with Great House Farm, Llandough, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan. And his role in the Marconi experiment. And before and after Marconis stay with our family in our home in 1897. I am happy to provide further identification if required. Thank you for your assistance. Best regards, Sion Buckler (Ret'd Sergeant) Royal Signals Cyber & Electronic Warfare Professional & Life Member