Glenys Mair Glyn Roberts from Llantrisant is the winner of the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod Crown. The Crown was presented at a ceremony on the Pavilion stage on Monday 2 August.
The 34 poets who entered this year were tasked with writing a series of poems no longer than 200 lines on the subject ‘Newid’ (Change). Barcud fyth’s work was chosen by judges, Mererid Hopwood, T James Jones and the late Iwan Llwyd. Speaking on behalf of her fellow judges from the stage during the ceremony, Mererid Hopwood said:
“Having spent weeks in the company of the 34 poets, I am no closer to answering the question of how to measure and evaluate taste. In my opinion, I believe that Barcud fyth, in spite of a few slips, has maintained the standard. This is a collection which calls for thought, and which provides satisfaction, poems reflecting the voice of someone with something to say. Iwan Llwyd was enchanted from the first reading and both T James Jones and I were drawn to this collection. The three of us met to discuss all the entries in Aberystwyth at the beginning of May. Unfortunatley, Iwan Llwyd died before being able to present his written adjudication, but it is important to note that the three of us were in agreement on the decision.”
Born in the Ceiriog Valley, Glenys Roberts’ family moved to Anglesey when she was eighteen months old. Having studied Welsh, English and History at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, she attended the university at Aberystwyth, where she was awarded a first class honours degree in Welsh, and then an MA degree for her work on Celtic Mythology in twentieth century literature. Following a period as a teacher in Tonyrefail, she worked for some years for the Welsh Joint Education Committee in Cardiff before becoming a freelance translator. She has worked as a self-employed translator and editor for almost twenty years and is a member of the Association of Welsh Translators’ examining board. She started learning Spanish a few years ago.
She lives in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taff, is married to Guto, and is mother to Dafydd, Mari and Elen. She is also grandmother to Gwenno and Ifan. She is a member of two choirs, Côr Merched y Garth and Côr y Mochyn Du, and both will be competing on the Eisteddfod stage in Ebbw Vale this year.
Reading and interpreting poetry has been one of her main interests for many years, but it is only relatively recently that she started writing herself. This is the first time for her to compete for the National Eisteddfod Crown. She studied cynghanedd under Rhys Dafis in Gwaelod y Garth for three years around ten years ago, and is a member of the Aberhafren team on Talwrn y Beirdd. Working with words in strict metre became a passion, and she found a new way of expressing experiences.
The winning work is a collection of poems dealing with change in a number of ways, but the main theme is that life’s basic patterns – birth, growth, maturity, decay and death – never change – a feeling of change never changes as it were. However, there is an essence in life which provides a meaning for these patterns.
One of the poems is ‘Cenaist Gân’, a tribute to her father, originally from Bontnewynydd near Pontypool, who experienced a number of traumatic changes during his life. The poem refers to one key change in his life, which was his decision to learn Welsh as a young man. Had he not made this change to his life, it is unlikely that Glenys would be on this stage today. She says:
“With this year’s Eisteddfod in the old county of Monmouthshire, the privilege of winning the Crown is a complete thrill.”
This year’s financial prize was donated anonymously by Cyfaill y Cymoedd (Friend of the Valleys), and Cymdeithas Goffa Islwyn (Islwyn Memorial Society) contributed towards the cost of the Crown, The Crown was designed and produced by Suzie Horan from Cardiff, winner of the Gold Medal for Design and Craft at the 2008 National Eisteddfod.
The Crown was inspired by three things, steel, coal and the changes faced by the Blaenau Gwent area over many years. She says that the Ebbw Vale Steelworks, the site of this year’s Maes, was the first in the country to combine the production of iron and steel, and she also speaks of the new vision leading the project at The Works, and the changes this scheme will bring.
The festival attracts around 160,000 visitors every year, and is a travelling festival which alternates between north and south Wales. Entry to all daytime activities is free of charge for the price of a daily Maes ticket.
The Eisteddfod receives a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government through the Welsh Language Board. The Eisteddfod also receives funding from unitary authorities in Wales through its partnership with the Welsh Local Government Association. This year’s festival has received £300,000 from the Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Programme, to enable the Eisteddfod to visit the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys area.
The Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys National Eisteddfod is held in The Works, Ebbw Vale until 7 August. The Maes is convenient for visitors from all parts of Wales, with easy transport links from all main routes and regular public transport access. Shuttle buses will run all day and evening from the car parks on the Rassau Industrial Estate and Cwm to the Maes, and buses will also run from the train station to the Maes.
