The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion wishes to express its great sadness and regret at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and to offer our sincere condolences to King Charles III, who as Prince of Wales has been our valued patron for many years, and also to the Royal Family. Exactly a century ago, in 1922, the association of the Society with the Royal Family began when the then Prince of Wales became our President. Our long association with King Charles, as Prince of Wales, has been greatly valued by our members, and we all wish him every success as he embarks on his reign.
Cymmrodorion elect Professor Sir Deian Hopkin as new President
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (“the Society” or “Cymmrodorion”), which promotes the language, literature, arts and science of Wales, today announces it has elected Professor Sir Deian Hopkin as its new President. Sir Deian’s election was confirmed by the Society’s council at its annual general meeting on 24 May 2022. He succeeds Professor Prys Morgan as President of the Society, who after seventeen years has decided to step down from the role. Professor Morgan is the one of the longest serving Presidents and will fulfil existing commitments to the Society this year – including hosting the Cymmrodorion Medal Ceremony in June and chairing the annual lecture during the Eisteddfod in August.
Sir Deian Hopkin is a Llanelli-born historian who spent 45 years in higher education in six universities, including twenty five years at Aberystwyth. A former Vice Chancellor of London South Bank University he has served as President of the National Library of Wales and was Chair of Wales Remembers/Cymru’n Cofio 1914-18 and Expert Adviser to the First Minister. Currently he is a charity trustee in the City of London, an international education consultant and a regular commentator for BBC Wales/ Cymru on politics and current affairs.
Sir Deian said: “It is a great privilege to be elected as President of the Cymmrodorion, an institution which has contributed so much to the development of Wales for close to three centuries. Prys’ inspirational leadership has ensured the Society’s continuing success and I am honoured to follow in his footsteps. I look forward to working with the chair, our vice-presidents and members as the Cymmrodorion seeks to continue its development and extend its impact.”
Professor Prys Morgan, the outgoing President of the Cymmrodorion (2005-2022), commented: “I have been honoured to serve as President of the Cymmrodorion since 2005. Throughout this time, I have had unwavering support from across our community, including numerous speakers and contributors to the Transactions. I am confident that the Society will now benefit from the experience and energy of Sir Deian, whom I know is as enthusiastic as I was to use the Presidency to promote the work of the Cymmrodorion in the years to come.”
Ceridwen Roberts, Chair of the Cymmrodorion Council, added: “I am delighted that the Society has elected Sir Deian Hopkin as President. As one of our leading historians, with a breadth of experience across politics, business and education, Sir Deian will help shape the future of the Society .For his years of service, I also want to pay tribute to the dedication and contribution of Professor Morgan as President. We look forward to welcoming him back as often as possible to our lectures, as one of the Cymmrodorion’s greatest friends.”
New Treasurer
The Society is delighted to announce that Tomos Packer has been appointed as its Treasurer.
Tomos currently serves as Head of Group Risk Economics for HSBC bank in London. Previously he has worked as a Director in the Credit Portfolio Risk team at Barclays Investment Bank and as an emerging markets analyst for a large asset manager. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Political Economy from University College London in 2001. Tom was born in Cardiff and is a fluent Welsh speaker.
Huw Wynne-Griffith has stepped down as Treasurer after 11 years, leaving the Cymmrodorion in a sound financial position and with a growing membership.
Ceridwen Roberts, Chair of the Cymmrodorion Council, said “We are delighted to welcome Tomos to the role of Treasurer. The Council is deeply grateful to Huw for his contribution to the Cymmrodorion both in terms of his success in managing our finances and investments so well but also in guiding the general development of the Society since 2010.”
Our 2021/2022 Lecture Programme
The Cymmrodorion are delighted to announce its lecture programme for the coming year, an eclectic mix of contributions on topics spanning the arts, sciences, literature, language, and politics of Wales.
There are a range of experts and contemporary leaders speaking to the society over the next year. These include Sophie Howe, Wales’ Future Generations Commissioner; Professor Richard Wyn Jones, Director of the Wales Governance Centre; and Elinor Bennett OBE, the internationally acclaimed concert harpist.
Lectures will be held in central London at the Medical Society of London, or on the Eisteddfod field.
Our lectures will also be online, and recorded. Please see our website to join us live or to catch up.
Cymmrodorion launch search for Treasurer
The Honorable Society of Cymmrodorion, which promotes the language, literature, arts, and science of Wales, is searching for a new Honorary Treasurer to join the Society during 2021.
Founded in 1751 by Welsh people living and working in London the Cymmrodorion has promoted the development of some of Wales’ most important institutions. Its lecture series in Welsh and English aims to reflect all that is best in contemporary Welsh society and offers an opportunity to discuss a changing Wales. Throughout COVID-19, the Society’s lectures have been broadcast online, and have been very well attended as audiences old and new take a keen interest in its work.
The role of Honorary Treasurer is one of the Cymmrodorion’s most significant. As a Trustee and Member of the Council, the Treasurer helps maintain the Society’s financial records and its membership database. As a member of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer also plays a critical part in the Cymmrodorion’s development and makes recommendations to the Council as to future strategy.
It is not essential that the Honorary Treasurer be based in London or have formal accounting qualifications. It is desirable for the successful applicant to be a Welsh speaker. If you would like to find out more about the role and express an interest in applying, please email the Honorary Secretary at secretary@cymmrodorion.org
Further information about the Cymmrodorion can be found online: www.cymmrodorion.org
Cymmrodorion pay tribute to its Vice-President, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion mourns the death of its Vice-President, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Professor Prys Morgan, President of the Cymmrodorion, said:
“On behalf of the Society, I would like to express my deep sadness over the passing of our Vice-President, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and offer my sincerest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family.
“Like many other Welsh organisations he generously supported, Prince Philip was a distinguished champion of the Cymmrodorion’s work in promoting the contribution of Wales in contemporary life, and the Society was particularly proud to have received its Royal Charter in 1951.”
“Prince Philip will be remembered in Wales and around the world for his devotion to public service and as a committed supporter of good causes. His spirit and immense contribution to public life will be sorely missed.”
Dr Osian Ellis
The society is sad to announce the death of Dr Osian Ellis, CBE, the world-famous harpist. Dr Ellis was a long-standing member of the Society and a much-respected Vice-President. He was Professor of the Harp at the Royal Academy of Music and, for many years, the Principal Harpist with the London Symphony Orchestra. Elinor Bennett, the director of the Wales International Harp Festival said “As the most prominent and outstanding harpist of his time, as harp teacher, composer, arranger, penillion singer and scholar, he contributed widely to the nation’s traditional music as well as to developments in the European classical music of his day and inspired many.” A longstanding friend of Benjamin Britten he collaborated with him on many occasions and Britten wrote his Harp suite specially for him.
We send all our sympathy to his family and friends.
Cymmrodorion appoint two new Council members
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, which promotes the language, literature, arts and science of Wales, is delighted to announce that it has appointed Dr. Elizabeth Siberry and Theo Davies-Lewis as new Council members.
Dr. Siberry is currently on the Council of the University of Wales Trinity St. David and the Board of the National Library of Wales. She is also a Trustee of the Gregynog Trust and the Brecknock Arts Trust, and on the editorial board of the journal Brycheiniog. A retired civil servant, she is also a historian and writes on medieval history and on the history of Breconshire.
Theo Davies-Lewis grew up in Llanelli and works in London for the communications consultancy Finsbury. He is a founder of Darogan Talent, a jobs network attracting graduates to work in Wales. He writes and broadcasts about Wales on BBC Cymru, Nation Cymru, the Western Mail, The Times, The Spectator and Times Radio.
Ceridwen Roberts, Chair of the Cymmrodorion Council, said: “We are delighted at this time of new opportunity for the Society to make two appointments to our Council. We have met the challenge of 2020 successfully by taking our talks online, and Liz Siberry and Theo Davies-Lewis will help us to develop both our programme and our reach. We very much look forward to going back to meeting our members and friends in person at lectures, but even when this is possible I hope that we will continue to offer our programme online so that all can access it.”
Commenting on her appointment, Dr. Siberry said: “I am delighted to be joining the Council of the Cymmrodorion Society and I look forward to working with colleagues to support and develop the Society’s important work.”
Speaking about his election to Council, Theo Davies-Lewis added: “I am excited to be joining the Cymmrodorion just as the Society has gone online, attracting larger audiences to its terrific range of lectures. I look forward to working with the Council and the Society’s members to help the Cymmrodorion in strengthening their online presence.”
The Cymmrodorion held their first online lecture earlier this year, hosting the Eisteddfod 2020 Sir Thomas Parry-Williams Lecture by Professor Gerwyn Wiliams, on Cynan’s Mab Y Bwthyn, and two other online lectures in the autumn have been on The Jews of Wales by Dr. Cai Parry-Jones, and on Designing Wales; An Archive for Welsh Architecture by Dr. Peter Wakelin.
The Society’s 2021 programme will soon be published online and will include talks on: Welsh conscientious objectors; Iorwerth Peate, one of the founders of St Fagan’s National History Museum; Sir Ben Bowen Thomas and Unesco; and Catrin o Ferain, sometimes called Mam Cymru.
The Cymmrodorion’s next online lecture is on 10th December 2020 at 18.30 by Dr. Rhian Davies on The Musical Vision for Wales of Walford Davies. All are welcome to join our lecture via our website www.cymmrodorion.org and there is no charge.
Notes to Editors:
Founded in 1751 by Welsh people living and working in London the Cymmrodorion has promoted the development of some of Wales’ most important institutions. The Society’s lecture series in Welsh and English aims to reflect all that is best in contemporary Welsh language, literature, arts and science and offers an opportunity to discuss a changing Wales. It publishes its lectures in its annual Transactions. It is supported by its membership, but lectures are free and open to all.
Twitter: @cymmrodorion
JAN MORRIS
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion sends its sympathy to the family and friends of Jan Morris on the announcement of her death on 20th November. Jan Morris embraced her Welsh heritage and her contribution as a writer and an historian was considerable. This was recognised by the many organisations which honoured her including the Society. In 2016 she was awarded our Cymmrodorion Medal which is given for distinguished service and notable work in Wales and beyond at a family celebration with members of the Society in north Wales. Her work will live on.
Sir John Meurig Thomas
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion sends sympathy to all Sir John’s family, friends and colleagues on the occasion of his death on 13th November 2020.
Sir John was not only an eminent and world- renowned scientist and academic but also someone who “was a Welshman to his core” and true to his Welsh heritage. He was one of the founders of the Learned Society of Wales and a Vice President of the Cymmrodorion and he lectured to the Society on different occasions, most recently in 2017 when he gave a most fascinating lecture on “ W.R. Grove , the Fuel Cell and the hydrogen economy”. Sir John made us realise how Grove should not be the forgotten man he had become.
Sir John was a recipient of very many public and professional honours and awards including the Society’s Cymmrodorion Medal which is given for distinguished service and notable work in Wales and beyond. He shared the medal ceremony in 2003 at Bangor University with Emyr Humphreys and the occasion was a particularly happy one, reflecting the warmth and esteem in which both men were held.
Wales has lost a great man and we remember him with great affection.
Emyr Hymphreys
As a Society we are saddened by the death of literary giant Emyr Humphreys. Last year we celebrated his 100th birthday with a retrospective lecture, now a Cymmrodorion podcast. He was a recipient of our honorary Medal. It’s a great loss to Wales and further afield. We extend our sincere condolences to his family.
September news
Our podcasts online
We now have several podcasts of past lectures on our website. The most recent is our 2020 June Gruffydd Memorial Lecture with the Montgomeryshire Society; “The Novelist Elena Puw Morgan: Rethinking Modernism”. The novelist’s granddaughter, Dr Mererid Puw Davies, gave this talk, and it was co-authored with her sister Angharad Puw Davies. It is well worth listening to.
For more podcasts on subjects as varied as Emyr Humphreys, Sir Kyffin Williams, the Welsh economy, the Dictionary of Welsh Biography and Wales and Agincourt go to Previous Talks. You will also find on here the video of Gerwyn Wiliams’ excellent Eisteddfod Lecture on Cynan’s Mab y Bwthyn.
North American Festival of Wales 2020
The North American Welsh newspaper, www.ninnau.com, are kindly publicising our new online lecture series which we hope will be watched across the world. You can enjoy in September their online North American Festival of Wales. Visit festivalofwales.org
Mastermind Cymru
Mae Mastermind Cymru yn dychwelyd ar S4C ac mae’r cynhyrchydd, BBC Studios, yn chwilio am ymgeiswyr. Os hoffech chi’r cyfle i eistedd yn y gadair ddu, mae’r manylion ar LINK
Tracing Sculptures by John Evan Thomas
We have been asked to help trace works by John Evan Thomas, who was born in Brecon and became one of Wales’ foremost sculptors of the 19th century. He and his brothers were members of the Cymmrodorion. If you can help download the pdf here.
Changes to 2020 Lecture Programme
Regrettably the 24 September talk has been cancelled.
We have a new lecture to announce and a change in dates.
Here is our 2020 programme.
20th October – 6:30pm
The Jews in Wales
Dr. Cai Parry-Jones, Digital Archivist and Data Manager, the National Holocaust Centre and Museum.
19th November – 6:30pm
Designing Wales: an Archive for Welsh Architecture
Dr Peter Wakelin, writer and curator specialising in built heritage and visual art.
10th December – 6:30pm
Genius making its habitation among us: the musical vision for Wales of Walford Davies
Dr Rhian Davies: Artistic Director, Gregynog Festival and Honorary Fellow, Bangor University
This lecture has moved from 20 October.
These lectures will all be online and live, with questions from the audience. Access details will be on our website. They will be recorded to watch later.
Would you like to join our Council?
A new chapter of the Cymmrodorion has opened, and we are looking for Council members.
If you can guide us in strengthening our online presence, or have experience in lectures and events please get in touch. Other experience is welcome too, and of course an appreciation of the Wales of today and tomorrow as well as our rich past.
We are also looking for a new Treasurer, a crucial role.
Please contact Sian Reid on secretary@cymmrodorion.org to find out more.
EISTEDDFOD LECTURE
We were very pleased to contribute online to this year’s Eisteddfod; if you wish to listen to this excellent lecture by Professor Gerwyn Williams click here to view on youtube.
A message from the Executive Committee of the Society
These are very difficult times and our first concern is that everyone is keeping safe and following the guidelines applicable to them. We hope you are well.
The Executive of the Society has met by videoconference and agreed the following:
- The lecture programme 2019-20 has been cancelled up to and including the lecture at the Eisteddfod. We are asking the speakers affected whether they would like to be re-scheduled into the 2020-21 programme.
- Currently we have stopped inviting new speakers for the 2020-21 programme until we know how many wish to be re-scheduled from 2019-20. We also realise it is unclear whether we will be able to have normal meetings from September 2020 but we plan to assume this will be possible for the time being.
- The implications for this year’s Transactions are being considered and extra articles will be solicited.
- The Council will meet earlier than usual, namely in late April, and by videoconference. It will take decisions about how to handle this year’s AGM, due to be held on 21stMay, as this clearly cannot be held face to face. We will be advised by the Charity Commission’s guidance to charities.
- The AGM will need to confirm the formal appointment as a trustee of Sian Reid who was co-opted as the Honorary Secretary at the February Council meeting.
The Executive is working to maintain as far as possible the activities of the Society and to ensure we meet our legal obligations.
We wish all of you good health – stay safe.
Ceridwen Roberts
Chair of Council
Sian Reid
Honorary Secretary