Born on this day 1784  in Newport, Monmouthshire

John Frost, prosperous citizen turned rebel who led the Newport Rising 

A successful Newport tailor, he fell out with the local establishment following a dispute with a solicitor over the contents of his uncle’s will. A libel action led to his imprisonment. Radicalised by the…

On the 24 May, 1901, the Univeral Colliery, Senghenydd, suffered a major gas and coal dust explosion, damaging both shafts, resulting in a restricted rescue attempt and 81 of the 82 men working in the mine were killed.

Reprinted with permission from David Western's Lovespoon Blog, © 2012 David Western, all rights reserved.…

During the evening of 23 May 1970 the Britannia Bridge spanning the Menai Straights was destroyed by an accidental fire, caused by young boys who were playing inside the bridge and dropped a burning torch dropped a burning torch.  As a result the bridge had to be completely rebuilt. 

The Britannia Bridge was originally designed and built by Robert…

A section of the Roman road, Sarn Helen, named after Saint Elen whose feast day is celebrated today.

Saint Elen c.388, is said to have been a daughter of the British King Octavius and the wife of Magnus Maximus (Macsen), Emperor in Britain, Gaul and Spain, and together with her sons, Cystennin and Publicus, she is…

A Message From Jen & Mike At The Longbow Welsh Pub New York

To work in a Welsh pub, isn’t it obvious that a knowledge of Welsh and British culture is essential?

When we said “being an ex-pat is a plus” in a help wanted ad posted on Craigslist, we were slapped with a violation from the NYC Human Rights Commission.

Our “crime”? Discrimination based on national origin. The fine – $2500.

I contacted the attorney for the HRC and…

Today is the feast day of Saint Collen, who was buried in his church, which stood immediately to the west of the present medieval church of St. Collen in Llangollen

Saint Collen  Born c. 600,  was descended fom the Kings of Gwent and was educated at Orleans inFrance, he later settled at Southampton, where legend has it…

Hi  everyone. One for those missing the excitement of seaside Wales. My latest novel - Seeds of Freedom by  David Smith (Amazon $2.99)



An incident on a lonely beach in Wales leads to multiple murders.



DC Jane Tetlow, young, bright and beautiful, is seconded to the counter-terrorism team that investigates the murders. She uncovers an assassination plot that goes right to the heart of Whitehall. If successful it could change Britain…

Born this day 1942 in Nantymoel, near Bridgend

Lynn Davies CBE, 1964 Long Jump Olympic champion, Lynn was also the 1996 European Champion and flag bearer at the 1968 Olympics, he was later elected President of the UK Athletics Members Council…

eto edition 2 is coming in September. If you are an author and would like to be featured in this rapidly growing bi-annual anthology for Welsh and American Welsh authors please email americymru@gmail.com . Meanwhile here is a link to the Welsh American Bookstore page for Issue 1. Enjoy!

 …

On this day 1935 T.E.Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was fatally injured in a motorbike crash in Dorset.

Thomas Edward Lawrence, who was born on 16 August 1888 in Tremadog, Caernarfonshire, gained fame as a leader of an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War One. A charismatic figure, Lawrence threw himself…

May 18th is the day each year that the "Message of Peace and Goodwill" from the young people of Wales to young people around the World is announced.

The first message was sent in 1922 by Reverend Gwilym Davies, who was a pacifist and was prominent in the establishing of the Welsh Union of the League of Nations and UNESCO  and today it appears in…

Really looking forward to being at Hay with FLIRTING AT THE FUNERAL on June 2nd!

http://www.hayfestival.com/p-5822-chris-keil-and-julian-preece.aspx…

Born this day 1958 in Stanleytown, Rhondda

Paul Whitehouse, actor, writer and comedian. He is well known for his work with Harry Ebfield and as one of the stars of the popular tv show, The Fast Show.  Johnny Depp described him as "the greatest actor of all time".…

The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path was opened this day 1970 by Wynford Vaughan Thomas

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is walking path around the coastline of Pembrokeshired from Amroth to St Dogmaels

*   It is 186 miles long,

*   There are 90 beaches alongside or across the Path, 41 of which have been awarded Blue Flag Awards

On this day 1689 George Jeffreys ( "Hanging Judge Jeffreys") died.

Jeffreys, known as the ‘hanging judge’, was a lawyer notorious for his , brutality and corruption.  Jeffreys was born in Wrexham, Clwyd, into the Welsh gentry. He was educated at Westminster School, and at Trinity College, Cambridge and was called to…

On this day 1839 the first of the Rebecca Riots took place at Efailwen near St Clears

The Rebecca riots took place between 1839 and 1843, in the rural parts of west Wales, mostly in Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, and Carmarthenshire, they were a series of protests made mostly by tenant farmers against the payment of tolls to use the roads, but…