FOR THE FULL LIST OF THOSE HONOURED
Blue Robes
Ian Gwyn Hughes: Ian, from Cardiff, a former BBC sports reporter, endeavoured to make the Welsh language a central feature of the FAW’s work in his role as head of communications for the FAW during Euro 2016, helping to give Wales and its language an international platform during the tournament.
George North: North was brought up in Anglesey, and was educated in Ysgol Bodedern, a stone’s throw from this year’s Eisteddfod Maes. He started his journey to the Lions squad at Llangefni Rugby Club, before moving to Llandovery College and then to the Scarlets, before winning his first Welsh cap aged 18.
Nia Roberts: Originally from Anglesey, presenter Nia is the daughter of the late actor and teacher, Jo Roberts. Now settled in Cowbridge, Nia is one of S4C’s most familiar faces and a much-loved voice on Radio Cymru.
Osian Roberts: With his roots deep in Bodffordd, Anglesey, football has been Osian Roberts’ life from a very young age. Following a period in the USA, he returned to Wales to work in the football world, and has been part of the Wales training team for a number of years. His experience and expertise was vitally important in Wales’ footballing success at last year’s European Championships, when the team reached the semi final round. He was key to ensuring Welsh was seen and heard during the competition, raising the language’s profile on the international stage. He has already been named at the Honorary President at this year’s Eisteddfod.
Bob Daimond: Originally from Staffordshire, Bob began working for Gwynedd County Council in the early 1980s and began to learn Welsh, where he became director of highways. Bob, from Menai Bridge, has been very active with the Menai Heritage Trust since his retirement, and has ensured engineering is an integral part of the Eisteddfod’s Science and Technology Pavilion every year.
Richard Crowe: Richard, from Cardiff, is being honoured for his expertise in the field of legislative law and its processes with regards to the Welsh language in the context of devolution, along with his mastery of the language. Richard, who’s originally from Dorset, learned Welsh on his own before going to university in Aberystwyth. Since 2005, he’s been the Chief Jurilinguist for the Welsh Government and has steered the development of Welsh as a legislative language for almost 20 years.
Tony Davies: Although his roots are deep in Pembrokeshire, Tony now calls South Africa home. He was President of the Welsh Cambrian Society, has been Chair of the Welsh Society in South Africa for 30 years, and chair of the Welsh Choir of South Africa for 20 years. He has returned to Wales to attend every Eisteddfod for 30 years.
Ronald Dennis: Hailing from Utah, Ronald’ ancestors were from the Halkyn area in Flintshire. He set about learning Welsh to be able to read the work of his great-great-grandfather Captain Dan Jones, chief Mormon missionary in Wales. He managed to rediscover an important and forgotten piece of history, transforming our knowledge and awareness about the contribution of Welsh Mormons to the history of Utah.
David Ellis: David, from Shropshire, is a key part of Welsh life in the area. He’s the President of Oswestry Welsh Club, has been a member of the Powys Eisteddfod Gorsedd for many years, and is responsible for the Eisteddfod ensign.
Phyllis Ellis: Phyllis, from Penisarwaun, is a community councillor, school governor, and chair of the village eisteddfod committee. A former head teacher, she chaired the language pressure group, Cefn, and is a Trustee and Board Secretary at the language centre in Nant Gwrtheyrn.
Gwynfryn Evans: Gwynfryn Evans, from the Ceredigion village of Bow Street, is a community leader, has worked in the dairy sector throughout his career, beginning in Llangefni and Montgomery before becoming manager of the dairy factory at Felinfach and then the South Wales and the Midlands manager for the Milk Marketing Board.
Robert Evans: Robert, from Oxford, has led Welsh language activities in the city of Oxford and its university for many years. He has been President of the Dafydd ap Gwilym Association, and continues to welcome and support students during their time at university. He was one of the Founding Fellows of the Learned Society of Wales.
Elwyn Hughes: Elwyn worked in the Welsh for Adults field in north Wales more than 30 years. Now retired, he works as a tutor, and is Chair of this year’s National Eisteddfod Learners’ Committee.
Hugh Price Hughes: Hugh, from Bethel, has a keen interest in fishing, and has been the secretary of the Seiont, Gwyrfai and Llyfni Fishing Society for many years. He is also one of the main campaigners for the conservation and preservation of the char, a rare fish living in some of the lakes of Snowdonia.
Hugh John Hughes: Some people will know Huw John Hughes, Menai Bridge, as a part-time minister, others are aware of his work as a lecturer in education, and others associate the name with Pili Pala, the well-known attraction on the outskirts of Menai Bridge. He was also a football referee who rose to serve in the National League of Wales.
Arwel Lloyd Jones: Arwel, from Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd, is an active member of his community, and has contributed greatly to Welsh culture in the Penllyn area throughout his life.
Geraint and Meinir Lloyd Jones: Geraint and Meinir Lloyd Jones, from Penrhyndeudraeth, both worked in education, and generations of children have been inspired by their commitment to the language and culture, with Meinir coaching pupils at Ysgol Bro Hedd Wyn, Trawsfynydd, to sing as soloists, in groups and choirs in local eisteddfodau and with the Urdd.
Helena Jones: Helena, from Brecon, was one of the stars of last year’s Monmouthshire and District Eisteddfod, who competed on the Pavilion stage a few months short of her 100th birthday.
Having learned Welsh quite late in life, the gifted poet and writer is committed to supporting the language and the Eisteddfod, and has supported charities including the Wales Air Ambulance, Tenovus and St John’s Ambulance over the years.
Huw Ceiriog Jones: Huw, from Llandre, Bow Street, has given the Powys Provincial Eisteddfod a lifetime’s service. The current Administrative Druid for the Eisteddfod is also busy recording the history of the Eisteddfod from its early days. With a background working at the National Library of Wales, he also owns a small antique press.
Lisa Lewis Jones: Lisa, from Brynaman, has ben a faithful member of Cymdeithas Ddrama’r Gwter Fawr, served as ‘Mam y Fro’ at the 2006 Eisteddfod in Swansea and is well known for entertaining local societies.
Mari Jones: Mari, from Anglesey, has volunteered at the National Eisteddfod for 25 years with her sister, Dwynwen Hawkins, working in the ticket office and as a stewards, roles which Mari will retire from this year. Dwynwen was also to have been nominated to the Gorsedd, but she sadly died earlier this year.
Mary Jones: Mary, from Trefor, receives the honour because of her work organising the Aelhaearn Eisteddfod, keeping the local event viable over the years, without which the future of the event would have been in danger.
Michael Jones: Michael, from Cardiff, is a long-time campaigner for Welsh medium education in Cardiff and nationally, well-known in the field of law, and has worked on a number of court cases relating to the language during his career.
Siân Merlys: Siân, from the Llanelli area, has worked in the Welsh for Adults sector for many years, organising and promoting Welsh language courses in the Carmarthenshire area.
June Moseley: June, from Flintshire, may have moved to the city of New Plymouth in New Zealand, but Wales remains an important part of her life. She has worked to ensure Welsh people living locally to her have a chance to get to know each other, and the door of her home, ‘Plas Mawr’ is always open to welcome visitors from Wales.
Phil Mostert: A former education consultant and school inspector, Phil, from Harlech, was one of the founders of the local community paper, Llais Ardudwy, where he has been one of its editors for nearly 40 years. He came up with Hafod Eryri for the building at the summit of Snowdon.
Alun Mummery: Alun, from Llanfairpwll, is celebrating 50 years as a community councillor this year, but is happiest on the football field, and has been involved with Llanfairpwll FC for 45 years. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Awards for his work by Sport Wales in 2012.
Jean Parri-Roberts: Jean, from Whitland, Carmarthenshire, may be best known for running the post office at Tegryn, Crymych and Whitland for 55 years, but she was a magistrate for 30 years in Carmarthenshire, and the organiser of the Whitland Meals on Wheels committee.
Donald Glyn Pritchard: Born and bred on Anglesey, Donald worked as a teacher and headteacher before retiring, and was actively involved with the Urdd, responsible for several branches.
Jeremy Randles: Jeremy, from Abergavenny, played a key part in attracting the Eisteddfod to the area in 2016. Originally from Wrexham and the son of a non-Welsh speaking family, he now speaks the language fluently and he and his family are active members in Welsh activities in Abergavenny.
Gwerfyl Roberts: Gwerfyl, from the Caernarfon area, has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of bilingual healthcare provision for years, and is a senior lecturer at the School of Healthcare Sciences at Bangor University.
David and Ruth Roberts: From the Abergavenny area, they were critical to the success of Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod last year. They co-chaired the Abergavenny Appeal Committee, working for two years to raise money for the Eisteddfod with a target of £100,000 in an area with few Welsh speakers – but managed to surpass the target and reach nearly £120,000.
Carol Sharp: Carol’s address has been in Canada for more than 40 years, but her roots in Anglesey haven’t been forgotten. She enjoyed an accomplished law career in Canada, was a Judge, specialising in civil law, and represented minority and linguistic rights. She returns to Wales regularly and goes home to Canada full of ideas on how to further develop the Welsh Society in Winnipeg.
Wyn Thomas: Venturing into business at a young age, Wyn opened Siop y Pentan, which became a centre for the Welsh language in Carmarthen, selling books, albums, cards, posters, tickets – everything relating to the language locally and nationally. The shop has been an integral part of the town for almost half a century.
Derek Meredith Williams: Although he has lived in New Zealand for 32 years, Derek, who lives in Auckland, takes every opportunity to celebrate being Welsh from the other side of the world. A teacher by trade before his retirement, he has also tutored and held Welsh lessons in various societies and clubs in the area, and has contributed to Welsh Club Auckland, Auckland Welsh Society and the Association of Welsh Folk Dancing Auckland.
Ifor Dylan Williams: Ifor, from Caernarfon, is a highly respected councillor, one of the founders of national digital project Llên Natur, and organises workshops across Wales to collect and record local place names to put onto a digital map.
Irfon Williams: During his time working for the NHS, Irfon, from Bangor, received the Child Nurse of the Year Award for Wales, in 2012. Two years later in 2014, he discovered he was suffering from cancer, and having seen the effect of chemotherapy on some women, he set up the Team Irfon charity to raise money for the Blue Sky Appeal to pay for wigs, alternative treatments and mental health support for patients and their families.
Robyn Williams: Robyn, from Valley, Anglesey, is a partner in a law firm and is the honorary lawyer for this year’s Eisteddfod. Green Robes:
Linda Brown: Linda, from Bethesda, has been a pivotal part of Welsh theatre for more than 40 years and may be best known for her work with Theatr Bara Caws.
Elonwy Davies: Elonwy, from Llanybydder, works with the local YFC and the Urdd, and is the organist, secretary, Sunday School teacher and a deacon at Capel Rhyd-y-Bont.
Pamela Davies: Originally from Newport, Pamela has lived in the north-east since childhood. A talented singer, she won at the National Eisteddfod in 1958 and 1970, as well as winning several other singing competitions. After a successful career as a primary teacher and deputy head, she went on to learn Welsh, and attended creative writing courses.
Siân Wyn Gibson: Sian, from Caernarfon, is well known to the Eisteddfod audience as a singer and a coach. After a successful professional singing career with several companies, she returned to North Wales where she focuses on oratorio work, concerts and offering singing lessons in her home and to children.
Iwan Guy: Iwan, from Cowbridge, is a well-known singer, conductor and teacher, and has worked as a professional opera singer for years. After an accident, he trained as a primary school teacher, became a headteacher and was appointed as Director of the NAHT union in Wales. He continued his interest in music and has established and conducted a number of choirs and the Cowbridge Choral Society.
Geraint Jarman: Geraint, from Cardiff, is a composer and poet who has been an integral part of the Welsh music scene for more than 40 years.
Emyr and Trefor Wyn Jones: Twins Emyr and Trefor are known for their service to music in Anglesey, having entertained audiences in hundreds of concerts and singing festivals.
Glesni Jones: Glesni, from Caernarfon, has made a valuable contribution to Wales’ musical culture, and is a highly respected adjudicator in local eisteddfodau, the Urdd, the National Eisteddfod and the Cerdd Dant Festival.
Ieuan Jones: The renowned harpist, who lives in London, is a well-known name in many parts of the world, with Spanish audiences referring to the Welshman as ‘Esplendoroso Jones’ due to his exceptional talent. Ieuan is Professor of Harp at the Royal College of Music in London, but continues to return home to coach and support young local musicians.
Rhodri Jones: Rhodri, from Penarth, has given a lifetime of service to Welsh as a second language education in south east Wales, spending 20 years as Head of the Department of Welsh at Barry Boys School, a teaching consultant with responsibility for Welsh as a second language in the secondary schools of Cardiff and the Vale and as an inspector with Estyn.
Richard and Wyn Jones: Richard and Wyn, from Cardigan, are best known as the founders of the independent record label, Fflach, which has been an important part of the Welsh music scene for decades. They have a dedicated recording studio in Cardigan, and the two brothers are members of the band Ail Symudiad.
Elen Wyn Keen: Elen, who lives in Anglesey, is a talented harpist and pianist, giving her time to many eisteddfodau, concerts, organisations and schools both locally and more widely.
Jeanette Massocchi: Jeanette, from Abergavenny, has made a vast contribution to Welsh music as an accompanist, adjudicator and coach. She was one of the National Eisteddfod’s accompanists for 30 years until 2004, and with the festival held in Abergavenny last year, decided to return as an official accompanist.
Derec Owen: Derec, from Llanfairpwll, is known to everyone as ‘Derec Tyres’, having worked as the manager of the tyre store in Llangefni for many years. In 1982, he set up Cymdeithas Hogia Paradwys, which raises money for charities in Anglesey and Gwynedd, and he has served as Secretary, Chair and President of the society, raising thousands of pounds.
Mari Rhian Owen: Mari, from Aberystwyth, is an actress, author and educator, who has more than 30 years of experience working in professional theatre. She has been a PGCE secondary drama tutor at Aberystwyth University for 10 years.
Wynford Ellis Owen: To generations of Welsh speakers, Wynford Ellis Owen, of Creigiau in Cardiff, is Sir Wynff from the series Anturiaethau Syr Wynff a Plwmsan, and to others, he is Donald, the minister in the series Porc Peis. But for hundreds of individuals who are dependent on drugs or drink in the Cardiff area, he is the man in charge of their treatment, as Chief Executive of the Living Room charity.
Huw Roberts: Huw, from Llangefni, has made a significant contribution to the folk scene in Wales, and has inspired many young people by coaching on fiddle and violin courses over the years.
Rhian Roberts: Rhian, from Bangor, is musical director of the junior choir for Ysgol Glanaethwy, and is also mainly responsibility for administration and organises all elements of the school’s work.
Jeremy Turner: Jeremy, from Aberystwyth, is best known as the Artistic Director of Cwmni Arad Goch, with more than 20,000 children, young people and families in Wales enjoying performances by the company across Wales every year.
Anwen Williams: Anwen, from Denbigh, is a national adjudicator, volunteer with the YFC in Nantglyn and the National Eisteddfod when held locally, is an active member of Merched y Wawr, and is responsible for making sure Y Wawr magazine is taped for blind members across Wales.