Edgar Phillips
Encyclopedia
Edgar Phillips known by the bardic name
"Trefin", was a Welsh
poet and served as Archdruid
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
from 1960 until his death.
Phillips took his bardic name from his birthplace, the village of Trefin in Pembrokeshire
. He did not learn Welsh
until his family moved to Cardiff
when he was aged eleven. Whilst working as an apprentice tailor back in his native county, he mastered the art of cynghanedd. After running his own tailoring business in Cardiff, he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery
during World War I
, and was seriously wounded. In 1921 he took a teaching course at Caerleon
, and taught at Pengam
and Pontllanfraith
. In 1933 he won the chair at the National Eisteddfod held in Wrexham
.
His third wife, whom he married in 1951, was the travel writer Maxwell Fraser (real name Dorothy Phillips).
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....
"Trefin", was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
poet and served as 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 :...
from 1960 until his death.
Phillips took his bardic name from his birthplace, the village of Trefin in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
. He did not learn Welsh
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...
until his family moved to 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...
when he was aged eleven. Whilst working as an apprentice tailor back in his native county, he mastered the art of cynghanedd. After running his own tailoring business in Cardiff, he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery
Royal Garrison Artillery
The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and was seriously wounded. In 1921 he took a teaching course at Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
, and taught at Pengam
Pengam
Pengam is a former coal community in the Rhymney Valley, Caerphilly county borough, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 3,842.-Location and population:...
and Pontllanfraith
Pontllanfraith
Pontllanfraith is a large village located in the Sirhowy Valley in Caerphilly county borough, south Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It is situated adjacent to the town of Blackwood, with the Sirhowy River passing through both locations...
. In 1933 he won the chair at the National Eisteddfod held in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
.
His third wife, whom he married in 1951, was the travel writer Maxwell Fraser (real name Dorothy Phillips).
Works
- Trysor o gân, in four volumes (1930-36)
- Caniadau Trefîn (1950)
- Edmund Jones, the Old Prophet (1959)