Dic Jones
Encyclopedia
Dic Jones was a Welsh language
poet and the Archdruid
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
.
He was born Richard Lewis Jones at Tre'r-ddôl in Ceredigion
. The son of a farmer
, Jones himself farmed on 85 acres (34.4 ha) at Fferm yr Hendre at Blaenannerch in Aberporth
. In commenting upon his life he quipped
Jones began his literary career as a competitor in the Urdd eisteddfod, where, as an exponent of cynghanedd
, he won the chair five times in his twenties. In 1966 he won the Chair
at the National Eisteddfod with an awdl entitled "Cynhaeaf" (English: Harvest).
In 1968, cameras from HTV
filmed one of the first pieces of British reality television
, when they followed Jones, his wife Jean, and three of their children, Delyth, Rhian and Dafydd, on a fortnight’s holiday to San Antonio, Ibiza.
Under his bardic name
"Dic yr Hendre", Jones was installed as Archdruid in 2007, succeeding Selwyn Iolen
. He officiated at the 2008 event in Cardiff
, but missed the 2009 event in Bala
due to ill health.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
poet and the Archdruid
Archdruid
The Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
.
He was born Richard Lewis Jones at Tre'r-ddôl in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
. The son of a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, Jones himself farmed on 85 acres (34.4 ha) at Fferm yr Hendre at Blaenannerch in Aberporth
Aberporth
Aberporth is a community and small town in Ceredigion on the west coast of Wales. The population was 2,485 in 2001.- Location :The town lies at the southern end of Cardigan Bay about six miles north of Cardigan and ten miles south of New Quay approximately one mile west of the A487, on the...
. In commenting upon his life he quipped
Jones began his literary career as a competitor in the Urdd eisteddfod, where, as an exponent of cynghanedd
Cynghanedd
In Welsh language poetry, Cynghanedd is the basic concept of sound-arrangement within one line, using stress, alliteration and rhyme. The various forms of cynghanedd show up in the definitions of all formal Welsh verse forms, such as the awdl. Though of ancient origin, cynghanedd and variations of...
, he won the chair five times in his twenties. In 1966 he won the Chair
Chairing of the Bard
The Chairing of the Bard is one of the most important events in the Welsh eisteddfod tradition. The most famous chairing ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is always on the Friday afternoon of Eisteddfod week....
at the National Eisteddfod with an awdl entitled "Cynhaeaf" (English: Harvest).
In 1968, cameras from HTV
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
filmed one of the first pieces of British reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
, when they followed Jones, his wife Jean, and three of their children, Delyth, Rhian and Dafydd, on a fortnight’s holiday to San Antonio, Ibiza.
Under his bardic name
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
"Dic yr Hendre", Jones was installed as Archdruid in 2007, succeeding Selwyn Iolen
Selwyn Griffith
Selwyn Griffith was a Welsh language poet and the Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales, known by the bardic name Selwyn Iolen.Selwyn Iolen was born in Bethel, near Caernarfon in 1928 and lived in the area throughout his life...
. He officiated at the 2008 event in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, but missed the 2009 event in Bala
Bala, Gwynedd
Bala is a market town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, and formerly an urban district of the historic county of Merionethshire. It lies at the north end of Bala Lake , 17 miles north-east of Dolgellau, with a population of 1,980...
due to ill health.
Works
- Agor Grwn (1960)
- Caneuon Cynhaeaf (1969)
- Storom Awst (1978)
- Sgubo'r Storws (1986)
- Golwg Arall (2001)
- Golwg ar Gân (2002)
- Cadw Golwg (2005)