Plaque installed to commemorate T.H. Parry-Williams

T.H. Parry-Williams was a a giant of Welsh literature: he won both the chair and the crown in two National Eisteddfodau, he attained a Chair in the Welsh department in the University of Wales College Aberystwyth (that was Aberystwyth University’s name in the old days) when such opportunities were incredibly rare; he was a masterly poet and writer, creating a long list of splendid publications. T.H. was the author of “Hon”, one of the most famous Welsh poems ever.

T.H. was born in Rhyd-Ddu, Snowdonia, but he moved to Aberystwyth to take a Chair in the College in 1920, and he lived in the town until his death in 1975. Since he lived in Wern, North Road, the house was a great location to place a plaque, considering his contribution to Aberystwyth, Wales and the world. Although there was an unsuccessful attempt in the past, this attempt was successful. At the request of the Town Council, I’ve organised the wording and design of the plaque and ordered it.

I’m very proud that the plaque has gone up, and it’s a great opportunity for us in Aberystwyth to celebrate and take pride in the literature which has come from the town and enriched it. Raising awareness of these kind of things is something that we should be doing more, and therefore in the medium term, I hope this will be a step towards presenting a wide and integrated view of the literary history of the town.

It’s appropriate for me to finish this blog with a poem by T.H. Parry Williams himself. In brackets is my rough, very poor translation;  it can’t capture all aspects of the original!

Bardd

Canodd ei gerdd i gyfeiliant berw ei waed;
Canodd hi, a safodd gwlad ar ei thraed.

Canodd ei gân yn gyfalaw i derfysg Dyn;
Canodd hi, ac nid yw ein llên yr un.

(Poet

He sung his poem/song to the accompaniment of his blood boiling
He sung it, and a country stood on it’s feet
He sung his song as the melody to human commotion
He sung it, and our literature is not the same.)