A Word from Wales

 A WORD FROM WALES

A letter from the heart

ALED GWYN JOB

APRIL 24, 2023

Croeso cynnes i bawb. Welcome to the latest A Word From Wales Newsletter for the Welsh Diaspora wherever they may be in the world. This week, we’ll be looking at a new Welsh-language book which is being launched on Wednesday, considering a name change for one of Wales’s National Parks and looking forward to the unveiling of a memorial for one of the shapers of modern Wales.

Story of a Family’s fight against injustice finally shared

The tale of one man’s hell at the hands of the Post Office over 16 long years will be finally told this week.

“Llythyr Noel” will share the story of Ynys Mon post-master Noel Thomas, who was falsely imprisoned as part of the Great Post Office Scandal.

And his 16 year fight to restore his good name. And the good name of his family as well.

Having been sentenced to 9 months in prison for “false accounting” in 2006, it wasn’t until two years ago, in 2021, that Noel Thomas was finally cleared by the High Court in London.

I’ve been very fortunate to work on the book as the ghost-writer, working closely with Noel Thomas and his daughter Sian Thomas to bring the story to life over the past six months.

And very moved by his personal bravery and resilience throughout his long ordeal over so many years.

Noel’s voice and Sian’s voice will be presented alternatively in the book so that the reader gets Noel’s individual perspective on events, and Sian then providing the family perspective on the whole story.

It’s a tale about a terrible injustice and institutional corruption, which is still to be fully resolved although two years have now gone by since the first 39 postmasters were cleared by the High Court.

But it’s also a heartwarming story about an ordinary Welsh family managing to sustain themselves and eventually win through against all the odds.

The book is also very timely in one sense with all the corruption and malpractice going on all around us in the UK right now.

And a growing sense amongst people of all ages that the present system is just not working any more, and that drastic reform in all areas is well over-due.

The book launch will be held at Msbarc, Gaerwen, Ynys Mon at 7.00 this Wednesday, April 26th.

Welsh actor Llion Williams will be reading excerpts from the book, with singer Arfon Wyn providing entertainment on the night.

The event will be chaired by the local vicar, Canon Emlyn Cadwaladr Williams.

“Llythyr Noel” is published by Gwasg y Bwthyn and is now for sale in bookshops in Wales for £10.00

Cymraeg is elevated with a name change in National Park

The restoration of a Welsh name for one of Wales’s National Parks has sparked a lively national conversation this past week.

“Bannau Brycheiniog” will now be the official name of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Parts of the UK media and the Tory Party had something of a meltdown over the use of the Welsh language, suggesting it was yet another example of “woke culture”, and a made-up name invented by the National Park as part of that agenda.

Not understanding that Bannau Brycheiniog is the original Welsh name for the area!

It’s been an interesting illustration how Cymraeg can blindside the UK Media and Political Class.

The fight against wokeism is seen by many such people as a clear (and winnable) battleground for their values, especially leading up to the General Election in 2024.

And no doubt, in general, the rejection of this agenda has electoral mileage, with the woke over-reach now alienating more and more ordinary people.

But Cymraeg comes at them from a completely different direction and their anti-woke weaponry does not have the same force at all in dealing with it.

History and tradition being the very opposite of woke thinking in so many ways,

It’s been encouraging to see how many non-Welsh speakers have supported restoring the original name and re-discovering some of their own history by learning more about King Brychan- who gave his name to the kingdom of Brycheiniog.

Back in the 1960ies, Philosopher JR Jones from Swansea University wrote a booklet called “A Raid i’r iaith ein gwahanu”( Does the language have to separate us”- imagining a time when Cymraeg could actually become an unifying force in wales rather than being used to divide people here.

Perhaps this week was the point where we actually reached that point in Wales.

Who knows, in future, we could well find ourselves referring to pre-Bannau and a post-bannau age in Wales!

A modern memorial for an ancient Awen 

One of the shapers of modern Wales will finally be honoured in his home town next week.

William Williams, Pantycelyn was a prolific hymnist, bard and author who was a pivotal figure in the Welsh Revivals in the mid 18th century.

Now, a memorial, created by sculptor Gideon Peterson will be unveiled at Llanymddyfri on Friday, May 5, 2023.

The steel memorial seeks to re-imagine the Awen (Muse) which so inspired Pantycelyn throughout his life.

And whose founational tenets, Cariad( Love_. Gwirionedd( Truth) and Creadigedd( Creativity) have also proved been such an inspiration to people in Wales across the centuries.

The sculpture will feature the score of “Arglwydd, Arwain Trwy’r Anialwch”( Guide me o Thy Great Jehovah) spiralling upwards under the creativity of yr Awen, with representations of Pantycelyn’s book and writings included within as well.

One of the drivers of the project has been County Councillor Handel Davies who has persuaded Llanymddyfri Town Council to finance the work.

“I’m very happy that the great man is finally to be honoured in his home town, and I’m also thankful to the town council for their kind financial support” said Mr. Davies.

“The unveiling on May 5th is also very timely since we have the Urdd Eisteddfod coming to Llanymddyfri at the end of this month as well”.

It all goes to show how one determined individual can make things happen and refuse to take no as an answer.

It was disappointing that no support for the project was offered by the Presbyterian Church of Wales( PCW) who were formed in 1811 as a result of the religious revivals which Pantycelyn played such a part in them.

Which meant that Councillor Handel Davies had to turn to an alternative form of funding, in the shape of the Llanymddyfri Town Council.

The Unveiling Ceremony in the centre of the town on May 5 will include a short presentation from Professor E Wyn James from Cardiff- a specialist on the hymns of William Williams Pantycelyn.

A dyna ni am wythnos arall. We’ll see you all next week!

Aled

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 A WORD FROM WALES - by Aled Gwyn Job - A WORD FROM WALES (substack.com)