Today (1 February), it was announced that Ela Jones has been been appointed as the Gorsedd of the Bards’ Mistress of the Robes, for the period until 2013.
Ela, from Ysbyty Ifan, near Betws y Coed, was honoured by the Gorsedd at last year’s Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod, for her service as a designer and seamstress. In the first instance, she will shadow the current Mistress, Siân Aman, who retires at the end of the Wrexham and District Eisteddfod.
Welcoming the news, Archdruid, Jim Parc Nest, said:
“We warmly congratulate Ela on her appointment as Mistress of the Robes. I am sure that she will be a great success and an asset to the Gorsedd Board. We look forward to working with Ela over the next few years, starting with the Proclamation Ceremony for the Vale of Glamorgan in June and the Wrexham and District National Eisteddfod in August.
“I would like to pay tribute to Siân Aman for her excellent work over the years, and wish her well as she retires from this important role at the end of this year’s Eisteddfod.”
Responsibilities for this unpaid post include taking special care of the Archdruid’s robes and crown, the Prose Medal winner and winner of the Crown and Chair’s robe, and the clothes of the presenter of the Horn of Plenty and the presenter of the Sheaf of Flowers.
The Mistress of the Robes is also responsible for the supervision of the ceremonial items, including the regalia, which are on display at St Fagans: National History Museum. There are also a number of ceremonial duties, including enrobing the winners of the three main ceremonies before escorting the winners to the Pavilion stage, and carrying the crown and sceptre during the Archdruid’s enthronement.
