‘A general poverty of ambition for Wales is undermining its development potential as the confidence of a whole generation of our young people is challenged on a daily basis’.

In his newly-released autobiography Carl Clowes, founder of the iconic language Centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn and prime motivator for the unique link between Wales and Lesotho, describes how communities the length and breadth of Wales are struggling to survive, rarely believing that they have the potential to overcome the disadvantages they are faced with. And when the occasional aspiring entrepreneurial spirit does come along it is often shot down by an unimaginative bureaucracy.

In his book Super Furries, Prins Seeiso, Miss Siberia – a Fi , he claims the need for a real injection of vision and leadership is glaringly obvious.

‘Wales suffers from a lack of confidence’, he says, ‘even at the highest level, something that stems from centuries of being dominated by a culture that has always believed it has the right answer for us and, indeed, everyone else in the world’.

Quoting from a conversation with a former European Commission representative in Wales, ‘from my many meetings since I`ve been in this country, there is an obvious tension between Wales and England. It is something that nobody is willing to talk about publicly but it clearly exists and is of real concern’.

Carl Clowes concludes: ‘Only by establishing Wales as a sovereign state will we see servitude replaced by an empowered people, confidence regained and a belief in our capacity to move forward and away from the bottom half of virtually every table of performance in Europe’.

‘If we don`t take ourselves seriously, nobody else will. We deserve better but we need a vision and the political leadership to enable us to get there’ he concludes.

About the Author

A medical doctor by background, Carl Clowes was the Medical Director for Powys having started his career as a General Practitioner on the Llŷn peninsula where he established Antur Aelhaearn, the UK`s first community cooperative in 1974.

He has been honoured by the National Eisteddfod for his contribution `locally, nationally and internationally`, given the University of Manchester`s alumni Award for Social Responsibility and, latterly became the first doctor with an earlier career in General Practice to be made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners for his work with the Royal College in Lesotho. He is the Honorary Consul for Lesotho in Wales.

He was awarded the OBE in 2012 and in 2009 was given Lesotho`s highest Civil honour when he was made a Member of the Most Loyal Order of Ramatseatsana by His Majesty King Letsie III.

Super Furries, Prins Seeiso, Miss Siberia a Fi by Carl Clowes (£12.99, Y Lolfa) is availble now.