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 The Statute of Rhuddlan was enacted on this day 1284. 

After the defeat and deaths of Llywelyn and Dafydd ap Grufydd, Edward I, had all but conquered Wales militarily and consolidated his position by completing his castle-building program, with Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris, Flint and Rhuddlan forming a defensive ring.  Boroughs were created around these castles and English traders invited to settle.  The Welsh, however, were forbidden to inhabit the boroughs, or to carry arms within their walls. 

Edward then turned his attention to dominating Wales politically and gradually sought to undermine the Welsh legal systems, part of this process was the enactment of The Statute of Rhuddlan, which created laws regarding debt, inquests, pleas, trials, and juries, all in accordance with English common law and administered by Sheriffs.  The statute established the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire, to be governed by the Justice of North Wales, Flintshire to be governed by the Justice of Chester and Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire governed by the Justice of South Wales.  The rest of Wales came under the governance of the Marcher Lords as their reward for their part in defeating Llywelyn and became more or less quasi-independent.  Another significant aspect of the statute involved the Welsh system of dividing property among all male heirs, this was allowed to continue, to prevent the building up of large Welsh-owned landed estates, but illegitimate sons were not permitted to inherit, however if there was no male heir the inheritance could pass to females.  Also, females had the right to a dowry for the first time in Wales. 

Throughout the 14th century, the draconian English rule eased as the Welsh adapted to English domination, with many native Welsh, especially on the Marches, holding positions of importance and many Welsh mercenaries, with their legendary skill with the longbow, finding employment in the campaigns in France.  Yet under the surface, all was not what it seemed, resentment of the English regime was deep rooted and was to resurface on the death of Edward III and the arrival of Owain Glyndwr.   

On this day 1927, J.G.Parry Thomas died attempting to break the Land Speed Record. 

John Godfrey Parry-Thomas was born in Wrexham in April 1884, the son of a vicar.  From an early age, he was fascinated with engineering and studied electrical engineering and by 1908 he had designed an infinite ratio electrical transmission (now viewed to be 70 years ahead of it’s time) which was used in London buses and railcars. Parry-Thomas was also much in demand on government advisory boards during WWI and later became the chief Engineer at Leyland Motors and designed the Leyland Eight luxury motor car, owners of which included the Maharajah of Patiala and Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary leader.

Thomas then decided to become a professional racing driver and by 1925 had switched his attention to the Land Speed Record, which the following year he broke, driving his car "Babs" at 170mph on Pendine Sands.  However his great rival Malcolm Campbell soon regained it, so on 3rd March 1927,  Thomas arrived back in Pendine, unwell with flu in an attempt to re-take the record, but during the attempt, the car skidded, rolled over, slid along the beach and burst into flames.

Thomas was killed and Babs was buried in the beach.  However in 1969 Babs was dug up and restored by Owen Wyn-Owen an engineering lecturer from Bangor Technical Collage and is now on display at the Pendine Museum of Speed. 

Born this day 1863, in Caerleon. 

Arthur Machen, author and mystic, who is best known for his supernatural fantasy "The Great God Pan", which was described by Stephen King as "Maybe the best horror story in the English language"    

In a referendum held on 3rd March 2011, the people of Wales voted in favor of extending the law-making powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

The winner of the Celticos/AmeriCymru Trail Tour competition is Brett Hull who nominated Thomas Jefferson. A representative of Celticos will be in touch with you shortly. Congratulations/Llongyfarchiadau Brett

I was delighted to have the lovely Hannah Ellis, the granddaughter of Dylan Thomas and the patron of the Dylan Thomas 100 Festival came to see my art exhibition 'The Life & Times of Dylan Thomas', last Friday.

I have created the exhibition with the idea of taking it on tour and using the imagery to promote Dylan's centenary and the festivals in 2014.

I am hoping to display the exhibition in London, Oxford, The Senedd in Cardiff, The Boat House Llagharne, The Cultural Centre St Clears, Carmarthen and also a location in Cardigan.

BORN THIS DAY - J.P.R. WILLIAMS

Born this day 1949, in Bridgend - John Peter Rhys "J.P.R." Williams 

Orthopaedic surgeon and former  Wales and Lions rugby international.  "JPR" was an iconic figure of the legendary 1970s Wales team, with his trademark long sideburns and socks around his ankles.   

'GREAT LODE' DISCOVERED ON PARYS MOUNTAIN

On 2nd March 1768, Rowland Hughes discovered the 'Great Lode' of copper on. Parys Mountain, Ynys Mon (Anglesey). He was rewarded with a bottle of whisky and a rent-free house for life. 

The mountain had been mined for copper ore in the early Bronze Age nearly 4,000 years ago and later by the Romans.  However, following its rediscovery  it became Europe's largest copper mine during the 1780s, with the copper notably being used by the admiralty to protect the bottom of wooden ships of war from barnacles and wood worms as well as increasing their speed and manoeuvrability.

BORN THIS DAY - IAN HAROLD WOOSNAM

Born on this day 1958 in Oswestry

Ian Harold Woosnam - the only Welshman to have ever won a "Major" golfing championship and who with David Llewellyn in 1987, won the men's World Cup for Wales. He was also a member of eight consecutive European Ryder Cup teams from 1983 to 1997 and captain for the 2006 Ryder Cup, leading Europe to victory over the U.S.

Woosnam began playing at Llanymynech Golf Club, which interestingly, straddles the Wales-England border and in September 2010 was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.  

WILLIAM PARRY EXECUTED

On 2nd March 1585, spy and double agent William Parry was executed on the discovery of his plot to kill Queen Elizabeth I (The Parry Plot)

Parry from Northrop, Flintshire, left for London to seek his fortune. Shortly after entering the Queen's service, he found himself in financial difficulties and had had to rely on a royal pardon to escape a death sentence for assaulting one of his creditors.

Parry then received a commission from Lord Burghley to spy on Catholics in Europe, but soon became a double agent for both Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots.  So when he was heard to boast that he would assassinate Elizabeth if he had the opportunity, it was not known whether he was acting on behalf of Mary, with a papal blessing or whether he was just trying to infiltrate papist circles.  However when Elizabeth was informed of the plot, Parry was arrested for treason and hanged at Westminster. 

Lewis Morris (2 March 1701 – 11 April 1765) whose bardic name was Llewelyn Ddu o Fôn ("Black Llewelyn of Anglesey"), was a hydrographer, antiquary, poet and lexicographer. He was the eldest of the well known Morris brothers of Anglesey and considered by many in the mid 18th century to be the leading authority on the Welsh language.

The correspondence between Lewis and his younger brothers is a valuable historical source and in 1751, along with his brother Richard, he founded the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, the London-based Welsh social, cultural, literary and philanthropic institution.  However, he is best known for his surveys of the Welsh Coast. 

Born this day 1968, in Chester 

Daniel Craig actor, of Welsh descent who is best known for playing British secret agent James Bond.

Born this day 1822, in Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd

Michael.D. Jones. Congregationalist minister, principal of Bala Congregational College and a founder of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia known as Y Wladfa.

Jones's idea of a Welsh speaking colony or "little Wales beyond Wales", had come to him after he had spent some years in the United States, where he observed that Welsh speaking immigrants assimilated very quickly, often losing much of their Welsh identity. Jones recruited settlers and chose Patagonia for the settlement because of its isolation and Argentina's offer of 100 square miles of land along the Chubut River. Other countries that had been considered were Australia, New Zealand and Palestine.

On 2nd March 1918  Arthur James Cook (A.J. Cook), a prominent trade union leader in South Wales, was arrested and charged with sedition under the Defence of the Realm Act.  Cook is remembered as one of the United Kingdom's best known miners’ leaders during the General Strike of 1926.  

To all our members,readers and followers. Whatever you do today have a great day and be safe and well.

If you have a second please vote in our poll below and help someone win a free palce for two on the Celticos/AmeriCyru Trail Tour ( winner to be announced tomorrow )

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Google UK has a St David's Day theme on its home page

Haapy leek eating to all from Dylan's birthplace!!!

Here's a video of us having a funny hillbilly Welsh/American crossover dancing comp and generally larking around on Cemmaes Head near Poppit Sands, Pembrokeshire - the Welsh Riviera in Febuary

Hillbilly dancing and Paragliding in Pembrokeshire

Perhaps Id better explain before any SWAT teams or FBI agents break down my door. This is not an incitement to violence of any kind. No, Ive not been watching too many gory horror movies but if you are a struggling writer who wants to become successful there is one thing you should very seriously consider doing. Create your own series of books.

Lets be honest writers write because they love writing but thats not the sole motivation for everyone. Shakespeare and Dickens wrote to make a living and did it very successfully! The majority of us dream of being as successful as J.K.Rowling or Amanda Hocking whatever we might say to the contrary. One thing these writers had in common was they were all pretty good at story telling and they werent bad wordsmiths either! I dont know how you compare but I do know that creating a series and building a brand is almost essential for ongoing success.

When I was a boy the Just William books by Richmal Crompton were my favourites. On every cover there was a picture of a scruffy boy with a striped hat. He was instantly recognisable. Enid Blytons Famous Five and Secret Seven series were hugely successful. They were constructed around:

• Distinctive and engaging characters who appeared in each book.
• Story lines within the same genre.
• Story lines that were often progressive or developed a recurringtheme.
• Easily identifiable cover images.

Fast forward and we see these same elements within series like Harry Potter and Lemony Snickett. In both cases the authors have built an easily recognisable and memorable brand. Readers who enjoyed these books would immediately want to read more and this affords authors another opportunity. It is now possible to create links within your eBooks directly back to your authors website where you can create an interest in the next book or refer readers to the complete series. Alternatively why not include a chapter from your next book at the end.

Hold on! you cry, I havent finished my first book yet!

Not a problem. Having decided to embark upon writing a series of books your brain will subconsciously begin to identify:

• Possible future story lines.
  • Characters and their potential for development.
    

Rather than a hindrance the decision to write a series can provide creative motivation. I have to mention the possible downside of course.

The authors already referred to happen to be very good authors. The danger is if your first book sucks then the concept of a series becomes counter productive. But isnt that the risk we all take when we put our work out there? I dont know if anyone will consider Billy and The Pit ofShadows worth reading but it wont stop me writing it. Even if it doesnt sell one copy I will have enjoyed the experience tremendously and feel a great sense of satisfaction at having completed it.

The other thing that might be considered a downside is the cost of creating a cover for your book. It is absolutely vital you have a compelling and striking cover. Many people purchase a book because they are attracted by the cover alone. It is also important you find someone right for your book. This is a process I am currently engaged in. Elance provides a list of artists and graphic designers who display a showcase of their work. It is worth taking a good look until you find someone you feel can create the image that reflects your work. A Google search will also throw up a list of graphic designers and artists.

I hope I have encouraged you to get cracking on your killer series.