Sir John was born at Tyn Coed a smallholding of 25 acres in the small village of Newborough in south west Anglesey. One of seven children.
He was apprenticed as a draper at Caernarvon and Bangor. He then went to the town of Dewsbury in Yorkshire and spent some enterprising time in that town. He eventually arrived in London.
Before long he found a situation in the house of Dickins Smith and Dickins first as an employee, and subsequently as a buyer, manager, director, and Chairman of the Board. On his appointment as partner, the firm changed its name to Dickins & Jones.
With part of this fortune he gave to the people of his native village a large hall with a library full of books and meeting rooms and a reading room and a large concert hall.
He also donated to the University of North Wales Bangor the great Hall which is named after him the P.J. Hall. Generations of students have spent many hours sweating in this hall, while sitting their final degree examinations.
To see images of the University of North Wales Bangor the great Hall click here
