Tribute to Huw John 1939 – 2025
08/01/2026DAFYDD HUW JOHN
The Plaid Cymru History Society is grateful to Councillor Peter Hughes Griffiths for his tribute to the late Huw John, which appears in full on the Welsh language page of the website.
Remembered as a Welsh patriot, a friend to all, and for many years the organiser and leader of Twmpath Dances the length and breadth of Wales, Huw John died at his home at Maesglas, Peniel, Carmarthen on the 13th of August 2025 at the age of 86. He was fond of organising and taking part in traditional Plygain services across Wales, as well as non-stop activity on behalf of Plaid Cymru.
The Plygain at Capel Penygraig, where Huw served as a deacon and led the singing for over 30 years, has become an important fixture on the Plygain circuit since 2012.
Huw came from Crymych in north Pembrokeshire, and was the brother of Glanville and the late Peter John. ...
Discussing the new book about Dafydd Elis-Thomas
21/11/2025At the Parish Hall, Llandaf, Friday 21 November 2025, an evening was organised by Plaid Cymru History Society to hear Aled Eirug discussing his new book about Dafydd Elis-Thomas with Vaughan Roderick.
Here is a recording of the simultaneous translation of the evening by Steffan William.
Tributes to Owen John Thomas 1939 – 2024
03/09/2025
Tribute by Hywel
My father is surrounded by his people today.
He would have enjoyed your company, so many familiar faces to catch up on old times.
I admired my dad, though I never told him that.
My father was a multitasker, teacher by day, campaigner by night and bouncer at Clwb Ifor Bach on the weekend.
The easy path in life is one of conformity – going with the flow, accepting your lot and not asking for more.
Speaking out against injustice, standing up for cause, daring to imagine a different future, requires a degree of self-sacrifice and comes at a price. It ruffles feathers – an irritant to the established order of things.
My father wasn’t a go with the flow sort of guy. In fact, he spent most of his life swimming against the tide in pursuit of ...
Spotlight on Plaid Cymru’s Centenary in the National Library
11/12/2025An overview of the centenary of Paid Cymru by Rhys Evans in Maniffesto 56 page 24 the National Library >
Tribute to Judge Philip Richards (1946-2025)
30/10/2025TRANSLATED TRIBUTE TO JUDGE PHILIP RICHARDS (1946-2025)
At his Funeral at Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff, October 8, 2025
This is a task that I – and others taking part in today’s proceedings – did not seek and do not relish. It has been thrust upon us by recent events. The same can be said of everyone present this afternoon: we would prefer not to be attending the funeral of our friend, Philip Richards, and that he was still brilliant, bright and breezy among us – albeit of mature years. Yet we are where we are, and gather today to remember him; to share our knowledge of him – and, above all, to celebrate his life among us.Others – in particular members of his immediate family – will speak of the Phil they knew and loved. I speak ...
From Cymru Fydd to Plaid Cymru – The Journey
12/08/2025PLAID CYMRU HISTORY SOCIETY
WREXHAM NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD – SOCIETIES TENT
12.30pm, THURSDAY 7 AUGUST 2025
Translation of Lecture by Ieuan Wyn Jones
‘From Cymru Fydd to Plaid Cymru – The Journey’
‘Tom Ellis was the greatest, truest patriot amongst the Members of Parliament during the “Cymru Fydd” period, at the end of the century. Unfortunately, he accepted a position in his English party, and died shortly afterwards, a year before the turn of that century. He remained a hero in the county though, in our area at least, and his old house was not far from Felin-y-Wig. A large picture of him stood above our fireside mantelpiece at home in the Foty Fawr, and beneath it his words: “Self-government is the inspiration and aim of a nation”. His stance on behalf of Wales remained in our area’s memory and was passed on to us children.’
Excerpt from ‘Tros Gymru’ (1970), p. 21, by J.E. ...