Tribute – Page 4 – Hanes Plaid Cymru

Ifor Jenkins 1927 -2017

‘We won’t see his like again’

A man like quicksilver would be the best description, someone who served his community at a number of levels for many years.

Hundreds gathered at the funeral in St Michael’s Church, Tongwynlais, on March 20, with dozens listening outside. A mighty oak had fallen – Ifor George Jenkins had died at the age of 90. Tongwynlais Temperance Band performed in the service, the same band he had joined in 1953 when he played the cornet.

Ifor Jenkins led the campaign to rebuild the old well.

Ifor was born and brought up in Taff’s Well before going to Caerffili Boys’ Grammar School. As a youth he would dash to and fro carrying messages for the local police station, which is set to be rebuilt in the National History Museum at St Fagans.

One day he walked into a recruitment office and decided to join the navy. And if the story is true, instead of being ordered where to go, Ifor negotiated a place in the supplies department. He travelled to Ceylon and at the end of the war was offered the chance to remain in the navy, but returned home because his family was important to him.

After the war, he played as a fleet-footed winger in the local rugby team.

He was a member of Taff Ely council from 1973 to 1991, serving local people along with Gordon Bunn as Plaid Cymru councillors before being joined by Gerald Edwards. Ifor took pride in being Mayor of Taff Ely in 1991-2, the first Plaid member to hold the post.

As a councillor he worked hard to improve housing and secure homes for local people. At that time, councillors wielded greater power than today. In 1993 he became chairman of the Tai Hafod Housing Association and of the Bridgend-based Care and Repair association.

One of his favourite fields of interest was education. He helped to set up the nursery school in Taff’s Well and became a governor of Ffynnon Taf Primary School – he had been a pupil there and knew all about its history.

‘He was Mister Taff’s Well,’ said former Councillor Adrian Hobson, one of his closest friends. ‘He knew everyone, having an impact on people wherever he went.’

Ifor organised floodlights for the football club and safeguarded the Taff’s Well Thermal Spring building. He was a member of the board of trustees of Nantgarw Chinaworks and argued effectively for reopening the works in 1991. He was a member of the rugby club’s sub-committee and played a key role in its relocation process. He staunchly supported the bowling club.

He became manager of the Ladycat print works on Trefforest Industrial Estate and at one stage its sales manager with customers from Exeter to Birmingham and over to West Wales. He was a lecturer in business studies in colleges at Aberdare and Pontypridd.

‘He was full of energy,’ said Adrian. ‘I don’t know where his energy came from. The village will be poorer without him.’

Every party respected him for his enthusiasm, his steadfatness, his warmth and his humour. ‘He was a very open man,’ said Adrian. ‘If he didn’t agree with something, he would say so at once. He was reliable.

‘More than anything, he was a man of honesty and principle. Nothing pompous about him. I’ve never met anyone like Ifor. We won’t see his like again.’

Ein rhodd oedd dyn amryddawn.
Ein cur, heb ei ddur na’i ddawn.

(Our gift, a many-faceted man.
Our pain, without his steel and talent.)

Martin Huws

(translated from Welsh by Dafydd Williams)

Howard Davies 1950 – 2016

LOSS OF A GIANT LOSS FROM THE CWM

His friends and residents of the area were shocked to hear about the death of the former councillor Howard Davies, Alun Lewis Court, on Monday afternoon, September 12, at Merthyr Hospital. He was 66 years old.

Howard belonged to one of the best known families of Cwmaman and beyond. His great grandfather was the poet Isaac Edmunds (Alaw Sylen), Abercwm-boi, whose poems appeared for years in the Welsh papers of the area (Y Gwladgarwr and Darian). The poet’s daughter, and Howard’s grandmother Howard was one of the most famous artists in Cwm Cynon and Cwmaman: a woman known by everyone (as was the fashion of the age) as ‘Madam Elizabeth Edmunds Price’.

Naturally, Howard was proud of these relationships and his middle name, Edmund, he received from his parents Trevor and Nancy Davies. His other grandfather (Thomas Dafis ‘Drapwr’ to the old inhabitants) was a miner and a deacon at Zion.
Howard loved Cwmaman and its people. He featured prominently in the life of the area all his life. Raised in Byron Street and Milton Street and – as much – in Seion Chapel where he was one of the ‘chicks’ of Idwal Rees and the saints of that worthy cause. Inevitably, therefore, after Aberdare Welsh School was established in 1949, Howard went there from 1955 to mature as a natural Welshman of blood and desire until the end.
After he attended the Boys’ Grammar School, Aberdare (before Rhydfelen and similar schools), he went to Cyn-coed. But a teaching career did not appeal and he left to join the Tax Revenue in Llanishen. There he remained until he retired about six years ago.

He served as a councillor for Plaid Cymru in Aberaman South ward between 1991-95 and again between 2008 and 2012. In the early ’90s, he was appointed governor and later chairman of Glynhafod Primary School governors.
Howard’s health deteriorated greatly during the past five years and traveling back and forth to the hospital was an integral part of his life. He had a wealth of support from his friends – Philip and Beryl Northey, Alan Hoare, Gwyneth Edwards and others who gave unfailing loyalty over a long period.
Howard’s funeral was held on Friday morning 23 September at Llwydcoed Crematorium, with a large congregation paying their respect.
DLD.

Aneurin Richards 1923 – 2016

‘A man of principle’ Jim Criddle pays tribute to Aneurin Richards

William Aneurin Richards was Aneurin to everyone except his wife Hilda, who called him Bill. He was a Senior N.C.B. Mining Engineer from Capel Hendre but lived the majority of his life in Gwent. He was an Islwyn Borough councillor from 1973-1996 and a Gwent County councillor from 1977-1981. He was Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Abertillery in both the 1974 Westminster elections and for Islwyn in 1983 and 1987. The simple facts cannot of course give any real picture of the man he was. He was the man who brought Helen Mary Jones and Jocelyn Davies into the Party and ‘persuaded’ Allan Pritchard to stand for election. He was a man of principle, of high ability, of integrity and dignity. He was greatly respected by officers and members on both councils where he served.

He oversaw the establishment of the new Islwyn Constituency of Plaid Cymru when the Abercarn UDC wards from Abertillery joined the Bedwellty wards and ensured that the financial base of the constituency would be a sound one through his work as Treasurer. He was the Group Leader for the whole of his 20 year career in local government, and his firm example and strong principles were always appreciated by the other members. We all thought of ourselves as ‘Dad’s children’ – Dad was what we called him, and we admired his intellectual ability and in particular his expertise in housing policy, a subject where he became Party Spokesperson. We always said that his motto was ‘feel free to agree with me’ but he was in no sense a dictator, and he argued his point logically but fairly. He was generous to the Party and sustained his interest to the end. His legacy is a solvent and active constituency and the memory and respect of those who remain.

Gwyneth Mai Williams, 1938 -2016

A cornerstone of old Cwmaman, near Aberdare, fell from its place in the wall of Time when we heard in late July about the death of Gwyneth Mai Williams, Dan-y-rhiw, a short while before her 78th birthday.

She was someone who committed to her community and politics, standing in Plaid Cymru’s name in the 1970s and 1980s on numerous occasions. The party at that time used to put forward strong teams of candidates and organised energetically in the wards of Aberaman and South Ameraman and, Gwyneth, more often than not, was the main candidate, with her well-known public face. So much so that she came to be known by many until the end as ‘Gwyneth Plaid’.

Gwyneth fought tirelessly against the Labour Party’s dominance. They had won everything in the ward since the 1920s. After she had stood many times over two decades, in 1987 she nearly succeeded in beating a Labour Councillor in South Aberaman winning 742 votes against her opponent’s 766.

In 1991 after Gwyneth and other had laid the groundwork, the Labour Party’s floodgates opened and Plaid Cymru won three seats in South Aberaman for the district council in one fell swoop, with good majorities.

Gwyneth was overjoyed and also slightly envious that it was to others rather than herself that “Jericho fell” (a completely understandable reaction of course). She continued to be active even though she didn’t stand again. She would always be present outside the polling station in Cwmaman in an election, as well as in the Count, and she only stopped as she lost her mobility as she grew older.

We celebrate her name; her cheerful character; her sense of homour and her willingness to contribute towards her community and help everyone around her.

It’s true to say that she is remembered well around these parts.

A tribute to Glyn Erasmus 1945 – 2016

A tribute to Glyn Erasmus by Jim Criddle and his friends in Blackwood. It was with shock and great sadness that Plaid Cymru learnt of the death of Glyn Erasmus. He died suddenly and totally unexpectedly at his home in Blackwood on the evening of Friday, January 15th. Glyn joined the party many years ago when being a member of Plaid Cymru in the valleys was neither fashionable nor a career move. He joined the party because he loved his country and enjoyed this challenge. He was a man who relished challenges. His professional work in engineering required him to travel frequently and often took him abroad which restricted his ability to contribute to Welsh politics, but when he became organiser to the CCBC Councillors’ Group he had the freedom to devote himself full-time to the national cause. Glyn had the gift of a methodical mind and a rigorous approach to everything he undertook. Consequently he expected to see spreadsheets, data, reports and hence planning which was based on factually detailed and correct information. He was someone who was prepared to challenge perceived wisdom and current methods, and so was ready to ruffle the feathers of those who, regardless of their status, he saw as preferring gut feeling over evidence. Glyn relished debate and with his dry wit would always ask ‘why’? Glyn was active at every level of the Party: he stood more than once as a candidate in elections for Islwyn Borough and Caerphilly County Borough Councils; was a Town Councillor for Blackwood, where he was Mayor in 2014-15; Chair of the Sirhowy Branch; Constituency Treasurer; Chair of the Credit Union; Regional Representative for the South-East and of course Party Treasurer (not all of these at once!). He was energetic and gave of his time generously, although he hated wasting any of it. He turned up for everything and was always prepared to take on the kind of tasks that require organisation and precision, as long as the outcome was worthwhile. He was especially good at relating to and supporting the younger Party members, and many of them will have had encouragement and help from him to establish their political careers. Glyn was a committed nationalist without sentimentality who could be quite hard-nosed, but there was another side to him: he was unashamedly besotted by his family who he talked about with the utmost pride, especially his first grandchild Bronnie, and the ‘Lady in Red’ ringtone for his wife Carol said it all.

Berian Williams 1928 – 2015

Berian Williams

1928 – 2015

Not everyone is known by their first name only. Gwynfor, Saunders were among this small group. Berian was in the same company. Berian was enough amongst those who knew him.

Berian Williams, 30 Glan Nant St. Hirwaun died on the 20^th August 2015 in Prince Charles Hospital. Berian was born on the 1^st December 1928. He was baptised in Ramoth Baptist Church and went to Sheffield University where he graduated in Botany. Berian choose to go to Sheffield because his father had studied in the Miners’ College there and felt blessed by attending the Welsh Chapel.

Berian taught at Quarry bank School, Liverpol. In order to encourage youngsters to speak Welsh he established a Welsh speaking Saturday Group. John Lennon nearly became a member of this group. Both were in a photo of pupils and staff of the school.

Later he taught in Chester. During his period in Arberth he met Waldo, the poet, peace campaigner and nationalist. He drove the hero from one end of Pembrokeshire to the other. He worked as a lecturer in Aberystwyth University where he met many famous Welsh people. He was Vice Warden of Pantycelyn Hall when the historian John Davies was the Warden. Berian translated many books from English to Welsh including The Book of Animals and The Book of Trees.

A quiet man, Berian enjoyed opera, drama, religion, Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol a’r Pethau. He was a Welshman to his core and loved his family passionately.

Berian bought his parent’s house when he returned Hirwaun and became a member of Nebo and worshiped with the few faithful in Seion after Nebo closed. If you go to www.hanesplaidcymru.org you will see a number of films made by Berian of Eisteddfodau in the middle of the twentieth century.

He was given a worthy funeral at Ramoth. The tribute was given by his niece Rhian. We sympathise with Eirlys, Eryl, Rhian ac Adrian.

Tribute from the papur-bro Clochdar, October 2015

Johnny Mac 1941 – 2015

John McFadyen (1941-2015)

Known to many as John Mac, John McFadyen (born 1941) was a passionate, principled activist who transformed first the Cyncoed/Pentwyn branch then the Cardiff Central constituency of Plaid Cymru.

Born in 1941, he had a burning ambition to go to sea and got a training place at the earliest opportunity on HMS Arethusa in Kent. He went on to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary at 16 years old, and eventually came to Cardiff where he pursued maritime studies and established his own company. He travelled the world as a master mariner, spending time in Iran, South America and Texas in connection with his work, including work on oil rigs.

John met his wife Gwen, from Penrhyndeudraeth, in Cardiff, and became interested in Welsh language and culture. He loved music and was an enthusiastic choral singer, but only became politically active late in life when he joined Plaid. As with all of his interests, he threw himself wholeheartedly into the role of activist and latterly Secretary of the Cardiff Central constituency, turning committee members into canvassers and motivating many with his quick-witted, vigorous but always supportive approach.

John died following a short battle with cancer on 29 June 2015. He will be remembered as an inspiring campaigner as well as a dedicated family man.

Vic Davies – Rhondda’s Champion 1917 – 2015

Vic Davies – Rhondda’s Champion

Tributes by Cennard Davies and Leanne Wood and Jill Evans

This tribute was delivered at the funeral of Vic Davies at Bethlehem, Treorci on Friday, 30 October 2015 by Councillor Cennard Davies. A native of Treorci, Rhondda, Cennard is the former head of the Language Studies Centre in Glamorgan University (now the University of South Wales). He has served as a Plaid Cymru councillor for Treorci since 1999.

Braint yw cael y cyfle hwn i dalu teyrnged i gyfaill a gyfrannodd gymaint i fywyd politicaidd yr ardal hon yn ystod ei oes hir ac ar yr un pryd i gydymdeimlo â’i deulu yn eu colled.

Today we share with Vic’s family their sense of loss, but also take comfort in the knowledge that he led a very long, active and purposeful life and this large congregation is evidence of the high esteem in which he was held both in this community and further afield.

Vic was born in Nanternis, New Quay, Ceredigion in 1917, the youngest of 6 children. His mother died soon after childbirth and his father brought him to Ystrad Rhondda to be reared by his coalminer friend, Tom Thickins and his wife. At first he took the name Thickins and always praised the love, kindness and support that he received from this family. It was only in later life that he learnt of his true background, eventually contacting his blood relatives in Ceredigion and reverting to the name by which we came to know him, Vic Davies.

After leaving Tonypandy Grammar School in 1934, he worked as a mechanic at Central Garage, Pentre and remained there until he was called up in 1940. He returned to the garage in 1945 before moving on to work for various companies including Rhondda Transport, Thomas & Evans and the Ministry of Defence. Vic continued studying in the evenings, eventually gaining qualifications that enabled him to join Pontypridd College of Further Education as a lecturer in motor mechanics. There he stayed until he retired. The urge to study and better himself remained throughout his life. After retiring he registered as a student at the University of Glamorgan and at the age of 73 was awarded a degree in the Humanities.

Whilst in the RAF Vic met his wife, Irene, a native of Hull. They married in 1945 and came to live in Prospect Place, Treorci, sharing the home with his adopted father, Tom Thickins. They had 3 children, John, Peter, who passed away in 1996 and Ann.

I first got to know Vic in the early 60s, working for him in the 1964 General Election. The prospects weren’t good as Labour were commanding huge majorities. In 1951, Iorrie Thomas had a 22,000 majority and won 81% of the vote here in Rhondda West when the constituency was half its present size! Everyone else, as you can imagine, lost their deposits. In politics, as in other aspects of life, there are periods of success and periods when you need to plug away until prospects improve. The early 60s was such a period and Plaid owes a great debt to people like Vic who stuck at a thankless task, without ever losing faith or conviction.

In the 1964 General Election, Iorrie Thomas secured 79 per cent of the vote, with Vic coming third behind the Tories. Two years later in 1966, undaunted, he stood again, this time managing to overtake the Tory but still lagging 16,888 votes behind Iorrie Thomas. Then, things changed dramatically. Iorrie Thomas died suddenly in December 1966. There was a Labour government in power, led by Harold Wilson, and in February 1966 the Parc & Dare Collieries, the largest employer in the area, finally closed and mining families, without alternative employment, felt betrayed. Gwynfor Evans had won a famous by-election victory in July 1966 in Carmarthen and with a by-election in the offing, there was a feeling in the air that things were changing.

Vic was chosen to stand and I was appointed his election agent. The task we were facing was enormous. As George Gale, the Daily Express political correspondent put it the beginning of the campaign, ‘The constituency is surrounded by mountains and Plaid Cymru certainly have a mountain to climb’. We had to box clever and create an impression that we were much stronger than we actually were. Vic’s adoption meeting, for example, was held in Parc Hall, Cwmparc, a fairly small venue, but we distributed hundreds of invitations and when the big day arrived the hall was full to capacity with lots of people standing outside. The urban myth got round that a huge number of people had failed to gain admission to the meeting and, fortunately for us, the size of the hall was hardly mentioned. When the same tactic was used at a subsequent meeting at Judge’s hall, Trealaw even more people arrived, only to be refused admission at the door. Supporters flocked in from all parts of Wales to help in the campaign, ensuring that every house in the constituency was canvassed many times over. The evening before polling day the Parc & Dare was full to the rafters for a final rally, addressed by Gwynfor Evans, Meredydd Edwards, the actor, Illtyd Lewis, the powerful socialist debater as well as Vic himself. It was probably the biggest political gathering that this valley had seen in years and news of its success spread like wildfire. George Gale’s headline in the Express the following morning was simply ‘The Mountain is Moving’.

Well, it moved – but not far enough. Labour’s majority was slashed from 17,000 to 2,306, a swing of almost 30 per cent. Gwynfor Evans’ victory in Carmarthen had been explained away by saying it was a rural, Welsh speaking constituency but achieving such a result in the English speaking, industrial Labour heartland sent shock waves throughout Britain and was the forerunner of further success in by-elections in Merthyr and Caerffili. If seats like Rhondda West were to tumble, then Labour’s grip on its fourteen Valley seats would be in grave jeopardy. Harold Wilson’s government moved fast, announcing relocation of the Royal Mint, no less, to Llantrisant – amid protests from its London workforce and comments by the prominent Labour council leader T Dan Smith that north-east England would benefit from a good dose of Welsh nationalism! The Mint has been there ever since – quite a legacy.

By the time Vic fought the 1970 election, things had seemingly returned to their previous pattern, with Labour once more in the ascendancy. But Vic kept going, sticking to his socialist principles and his unbending belief in a self-governing Wales. He continued to fight local elections. Gwynfor Evans describes him in one of his books as a solid, dependable man, balanced in his views. Although Vic could sometimes appear to be a diffident canvasser on the doorstep he had strong social convictions and was Welsh to the core. In no way could he be described as flash or colourful, but he had a huge store of dogged determination to achieve his political ends. He was a strong supporter of Rhondda CND, believing fervently in unilateral nuclear disarmament, and joined with fellow members on the well publicised Christian CND march from Wallingford to Oxford.

In 2010, aged 93, Vic moved into Tŷ Pentwyn where he was content and well looked after. He spoke enthusiastically about his travels in North America, his interest in boxing and rugby and remained actively interested in politics to the end. His good friend, Roger Price and I tried to keep him informed of developments in Paid Cymru and the politics in general. Fortunately, we also managed to record some of his reminiscences that are now part of the Plaid Cymru history archive. > Atgofion Vic Davies

It is paradoxical that a man who never won an election made such a political impact on the life of this community. He lived to see the upper Rhondda Fawr become a Plaid Cymru stronghold, Geraint Davies winning the Assembly seat, Plaid Cymru controlling RCT Council, but I hope that he also realised that without his faith, determination and perseverance, that none of this would have been possible.

Diolchwn i Vic am ei ymroddiad, ei argyhoeddiad a’i ddyfalbarhad. Mawr yw ein diolch a’n dyled iddo. Heddwch i’w lwch!

Vic Davies, Man of Principle

A Tribute by Leanne Wood

I’m afraid I can’t talk of my memories and working with Vic when he stood in the famous by-election – I wasn’t born!

When I joined Plaid Cymru in the early 1990s, Vic Davies was coming to the end of his politically active life.

I have fond memories of Vic Davies and Glyn James – the veterans of Rhondda Plaid Cymru – attending constituency meetings, public meetings, social events.

To the end, Glyn was a firebrand. Vic was too – but in a quiet way. They complemented each other.

Vic was a thinker. His points were always very well thought through and always from a point of principle.

Vic was a socialist.

And whenever he made a political contribution – whether in a one-to-one conversation, or in a meeting – his sincerity, his quest for justice and recognition of the underdog shone through.

Today’s generation of political activists owe so much to Vic and the others of Vic’s generation.

And for that – on behalf of all of us – I say thank you, diolch yn fawr iawn.

You laid the foundations for the Wales we know we can be.

You taught us the importance of integrity and principle in politics – and we will continue with your work.

We will build on the foundations that you laid.

Vic – your contribution to the national cause of Wales, the defence of working people and for peace was immense.

From the bottom of my heart I thank you for all that you did and all that you were.

Diolch o galon. Cwsg mewn hedd. Nos da Vic.

Vic Davies, Rhodda Pioneer

A Tribute by Jill Evans

Mae’n anrhydedd mawr i gael y cyfle heddiw i ddweud rhywbeth. Rwy’n ddiolchgar i’r teulu ac mae meddyliau ni i gyd gyda nhw yn ystod y cyfnod anodd yma.

Hoffwn sôn am rhai o’r pethau rwy’n cofio mwyaf am Vic. Fe wnaethon ni gydweithio dros y Rhondda, dros Gymru a dros heddwch.

It is a special honour to be asked to speak today. I am grateful to the family and all our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

I’d like to mention a few of the things I remember most about Vic from the time we worked together for the Rhondda, for Wales and for peace.

I knew the name Vic Davies a long time before I met him, of course. Everyone in Plaid Cymru knows the name. Vic was one of the pioneers, the heroes, who showed us it could be done. There may have been several years between 1967 and 1999, but Geraint’s victory in the Rhondda was Vic’s too.

I was only seven at the time of the famous by-election so I don’t remember that event. But Vic had a big influence on my life that I don’t think he was really aware of. I used to walk to Bodringallt Junior School from my home in Tyntyla Road, where he had also lived when he was young. Every day I passed the marble plaque in the garden by the Star which read “Hiroshima, Nagasaki 1945, Never Again”. Those words were forever etched on my mind. I didn’t understand them when I was little, of course. But I came to understand them only too well.

As a founder member of Rhondda CND, Vic was one of the small group of people who placed that plaque there. I have been active in the peace movement all my life, as he was. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence. Vic helped me understand early on the folly of nuclear weapons.

Having heard the much repeated stories about 1967, I was surprised when I first met the quietly spoken, quite unassuming man that was Vic Davies. It was in a Plaid constituency meeting in the Gelli Hotel. I was in awe of him, but he soon dispelled that. He was more interested in learning about other people than talking about himself.

I remember walking into the bar of the Star Hotel with him for one of the Rhondda CND meetings and being conscious of people looking over and nudging each other. People recognised him, but he seemed oblivious to it, or maybe just pretended to be.

His gentleness was in contrast to the strength of his convictions. He always said it about me – and now I can say it about him – he had steel in him. The strongest beliefs. A socialist, a European, a nationalist and internationalist, he took the side of the weak against the strong, with an absolute dedication to peace and disarmament. He was on every march through the Rhondda.

In the eighties, at the height of the Cold War, he went driving around Eastern Europe, talking to ordinary people, learning about their lives, making friends with those people we were supposed to think of as our enemies, breaking down barriers, venturing behind the Iron Curtain. He was brave as well as everything else.

Talking was one of the things he loved best. He loved a political debate! When Vic came to Plaid Cymru National Council, he was always in the group discussing international affairs and Europe. He listened to other peoples’ views. He was thoughtful and wise and knowledgeable. And highly respected.

He never pushed himself forward – not your usual politician, you might say – but he would encourage others. I am lucky to be one of those people. I will always be grateful for Vic’s support. Whenever I spoke at a meeting, however tricky things got, I knew that if Vic was in the audience I had strong back up! He gave me confidence.

No one was more delighted when I was the first Rhondda member ever elected to the National Executive of Plaid Cymru!

Nicola Sturgeon reminded us in the Plaid Cymru conference last week, that we stand on the shoulders of giants. To me, to all of us, Vic is one of those giants. I will always be grateful for his inspiration, his support, his friendship. A great man who made a difference – to the Rhondda, to Wales – and for peace.

Diolch Vic am yr ysbrydoliaeth, y gefnogaeth a’r cyfeillgarwch.

Fe wnest ti wahaniaeth i’r Rhondda, i Gymru – a dros heddwch.

Meredydd Evans 1919 – 2015

Wales has lost one of her foremost nationalists, Dr Meredydd Evans, who has died at the age of 95.

A respected figure in the country’s life, Merêd was always ready to take a courageous stand for his nation’s language, culture and future.

We extend our sympathy and best wishes to Phyllis and the family.

Meredydd Evans BBC 1966 — Dr Meredydd Evans in 1966 – in his post as head of light enterntainment for BBC Wales.

Dr John Davies, Historian

The Plaid Cymru History Society extends its condolences to the family of the late John Davies. A leading historian John Bwlch-llan was a prominent and active member of Plaid Cymru. A number of tributes have been published, including these:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-davies-academic-and-broadcaster-whose-peerless-histories-of-wales-were-rich-with-insight-and-fascinating-detail-10054868.html

http://www.clickonwales.org/2015/02/the-most-cosmopolitan-of-all-welsh-historians/