OSIAN’S HONOUR
Eisteddfod role
THE assistant manager of Wales’ successful soccer team will be the Honorary President of this year’s National Eisteddfod.
Osian Roberts, who was born in Bodffrodd a few miles from the festival site at Bodedern, will address Eisteddfodwyr from the main pavilion stage.
The honour was announced at a meeting of the Eisteddfod Council in Aberystwyth.
Football has been Osian’s life and he captained the Welsh Schoolboy Team. He played for Bangor City, Bethesda and Llangefni before receiving a Soccer Scholarship to the USA, the first Welshman to receive such an accolade, and he continued his studies in South Carolina and played professionally in America before returning to Wales.
He was appointed soccer development officer on Anglesey, before moving to Porthmadog as their manager, leaving this post to join the Football Association of Wales as their technical director.
His experience and expertise was vitally important in Wales’ footballing success at last year’s European Championships, when the team reached the semi final. He was key to ensuring Welsh was seen and heard during the competition, raising the language’s profile on the international stage.
Osian follows a number of prominent Welsh people as the Eisteddfod’s Honorary President, including historian Elin Jones, judge Nic Parry and former Wales First Minister, Rhodri Morgan.
The winners of two major awards to be presented at August’s festival were also revealed, including the Science and Technology Medal.
This year’s recipient is Deri Tomos, Llanllechid, for his lifelong contribution to science through the medium of Welsh.
Originally from Cardiff, Deri came to Bangor as a research fellow in the University after graduating and completing his doctorate at Cambridge. He was appointed a lecturer in Bangor in 1985, and within 10 years had received a Per- sonal Chair at the University.
He has also spent time as a research fellow in Adelaide, Utah and Heidelberg.
Elfed Roberts said: “Deri is also an inspiring teacher who has contributed greatly to a wide range of degree schemes including Biochemistry, Biology and Biomedicine.
“He was responsible for developing much of the Welsh medium provision for these degree courses, and faced considerable opposition at the time.
“Deri has done more than anyone to popularise science through the medium of Welsh.”
More information about the National Eisteddfod can be found online at eisteddfod.wales