Pontypridd RFC mainstay to deliver the Hedley Gibbard memorial lecture

Guto Davies, former Chief Press Officer of Pontypridd RFC will deliver this year’s Hedley Gibbard memorial lecture on the topic “Rhywfaint yn Gymraeg – hybu’r iaith ar ei ffiniau”. (“Some Welsh – promoting the language on its borders”).

Drawing on his experience of having been born in Brynaman, living in Mold and now in Pontypridd, Guto will weave together references to Welsh poet Gwenallt, Dale McIntosh, Welsh novelist Daniel Owen, Ceri Sweeney and Anglo-Welsh poet Gwyn Thomas. He will take us back to the 1893 Pontypridd Eisteddfod and onwards to Wales 2050 and the million Welsh speakers. We’ll hear about his experiences maintaining railway tracks in the Severn tunnel, his involvement with the Valley Commandos and his experience of delivering the Welsh language on Pontypridd RFC’s YouTube channel.

As someone who describes himself as an “uncompromising Marxist” what is his vision for restoring the Welsh language to the Valleys?

The lecture will be delivered at the Societies Tent 1, Thursday 8 August at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

All welcome, the lecture will be delivered in Welsh but with simultaneous interpretation available.