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Born on this day 1929 in Cardiff,

Bobi Jones , a Welsh Christian academic, who is one of the most prolific writers in the Welsh language.

Bobi Jones is an author of international significance, a Welsh nationalist and a strong supporter of the Welsh language, with his major contribution being in the field of teaching Welsh to adults.  

On 23rd May 1832, The Festiniog Railway Company was set up by Act of Parliament.  It is the world's oldest surviving public railway company. 

Originally built to serve the slate industry of Blaenau Ffestiniog, the line was initialy operated by gravity, kept under control by brakesmen who leapt from wagon to wagon tightening or loosening the brakes while their colleague on the front wagon blew the horn to warn of its approach. Steam locomotives were introduced in the 1860s.  

During the evening of 23 May 1970, the Britannia Bridge spanning the Menai Straights was destroyed by an accidental fire. As a result, the bridge had to be completely rebuilt. 

The Britannia Bridge was originally designed and built by Robert Stephenson in 1850, a tubular bridge of iron box-sections; at the time, at 1,511 feet, it was the longest bridge of that type  in the world.  It was needed to accommodate the increasing popularity of rail travel  between London and Holyhead.    

Born on this day 1981 in Cardiff,

Gwenno Saunders , a dancer and musician, best known as a singer and keyboard player with The Pipettes. 

Born this day 1893 in Ystradgynlais,

Sir Tudor Thomas , an opthalmic surgeon, who in 1934 restored the sight of a man who had been blind for 27 years using a pioneering corneal grafting technique. He instigated the establishment in 1955 of a national eye bank.  

Born this day 1954 in Cwmgwrach, near Glynneath,

David "Dai" Richards , a former Wales and Lions rugby international.

The Roman road, Sarn Helen is named after Saint Elen whose feast day is celebrated today.

Saint Elen  is said to have been the daughter of the British King Octavius and the wife of Magnus Maximus (Macsen), Emperor in Britain, Gaul and Spain. She is said to have introduced into Wales the Celtic form of monasticism from Gaul. Elen's story is told in The Dream of Macsen Wledig, one of the tales included in the Mabinogion.

Elen is also remembered for having Macsen build roads across the country so that the soldiers could more easily defend it from attackers.

She is a patron of the churches of Llanelan on the Gower and at Penisa'r-waun near Caernarfon.  

Magnus Maximus was Western Roman Emperor from 383 to 388.  He became part of Welsh legend as Macsen Wledig in the Mabinogion. In 383 Maximus took advantage of the increasing dissent Against Roman emperor Gratian by invading Gaul with a large army. He also attempted to preserve the security of Britain, by organising the peaceful settlement of the Irish Deisi tribe in Dyfed, and also organised Cunedda and the Votadini tribe from Yr Hen Gogledd (Southern Scotland) to  deal with the aggressive Irish Ui Liatháin tribe in North Wales.

 Maximus ruled the Western Roman Empire until he was killed in 388, and there is no evidence to suggest that any Roman effort was made to regain control of the west or north and that year would be the effective end of the Roman era in Wales.

The Dream of Macsen Wledig (Breuddwyd Macsen Wledig) 

Macsen Wledig, the Emperor of Rome, dreamed of a lovely maiden in a faraway land. So vivid was the vision that he scoured the earth in search of her, eventually finding her at Segontium (Caernarfon). The girl, Elen, reciprocated Macsen's feelings, and in return for her hand, her father was awarded sovereignty over Britain. In Macsen's absence, however, a new emperor seized Rome. With the help of men from Britain led by Elen's brother Kynan Meriadoc, Macsen marched across Gaul and recaptured Rome. In gratitude to his British allies, Macsen rewarded them with the area of now known as Brittany. 

The marriage of Maximus and Elen resulted in British descendants such as their daughter, Sevira, commemorated on the Pillar of Eliseg (an early medieval inscribed stone near Llangollen) which says she was married to Vortigern, king of the Britons, which would make Maximus the founding father of several royal dynasties, including those of Powys and Gwent, whose kings would later use the authority of Magnus Maximus as the basis of their inherited political legitimacy.

Born this day 1949 in Denbigh,

Ieuan Wyn Jones , former Deputy First Minister of Wales and former leader of Plaid Cymru. 

Born this day 1949 in Llanelli,

Derek Quinnell , a former Wales and Lions rugby international, best remembered for his enthusiastic entry onto the pitch for his international debut for Wales against France in 1972. Unusually he had been capped by the Lions before his Wales debut.  

  In May 1949, the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire first met, with Huw T. Edwards as its first chairman.  

The formation of the Council was partially the result of pressure from Plaid Cymru. However, it had no real power and was intended to advise the UK government on matters of Welsh interest, including Rural Development and the Welsh Language. 

With the flooding of Capel Celyn, the Council for Wales recommended the creation of a Welsh Office and Secretary of State for Wales early in 1957, proposals which eventually came to fruition in 1964.  

The Hay Festival is an annual literature festival held in Hay-on-Wye in Powys for ten days at the end of May. Devised  in 1988, the festival was described by Bill Clinton in 2001 as "The Woodstock of the mind".  

The festival has expanded in recent years and now includes musical performances and film previews. A children's festival, "Hay Fever", runs alongside the main festival. 

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

To work in a Welsh pub, isnt 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 tried to explain that in order to provide our customers with an authentic pub experience it was essential that our staff have intimate knowledge of British culture. We dont hire only Welsh and other Brits half of our bar staff is American. What they all have in common is a deep understanding of Welsh and British culture.

They all know that the Princess of Wales is not in fact Welsh, who St David is and that the national sport of Wales is not football but rugby.

The attorney for HRC countered that I could train someone in Welsh and British culture, a notion that is not only absurd but insulting to Welsh people and Brits everywhere. The intimation was that since we are all English speaking people, there was no language barrier and therefore no difference between us. I didn't have the time or the energy to educate the attorney that Wales not only has it's own language but it is compulsory for children in school these days and has been for almost 15 years now.

We are committed to defending ourselves and wont just pay the fine to make this go away, as we dont believe weve done anything wrong. We certainly do not discriminate. And weve retained legal counsel the best defense is a good offense!

A legal defense fund has been set up to defray our legal costs. Your donation to our fund, in any amount, will help us mount the best defense possible. Please go to our website at www.longbownyc.com and click on the donate button to help.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Diolch yn fawr,

Jen & Mike

In May 1403, Prince Henry (the future Henry V) destroyed Sycharth by burning it to the ground.  This was the birthplace and home of Owain Glyndwr and it was destroyed in reprisal for Glyndwr's rebellion against the English crown.   

Sycharth, located near Llansilan and Oswestry was a motte and bailey castle, with the motte summit serving as the manorial hall where Glyndwr, his wife Margaret Hanmer and family would have lived.  

Today is the feast day of Saint Collen, who was buried in his church in Llangollen.

Saint Collen, born c. 600 was descended from the Kings of Gwent and was educated at Orleans in France. Legend has it that he defeated Bras, a pagan warlord, in single combat, and also a man-eating giantess at Llangollen, washing his bloody sword in St. Collen's well.

Henry VI died (presumed to be murdered) this day 1471

Henry VI's Welsh connection led to the birth of the Tudor dynasty.

After the death of Henry VI's father Henry V, his mother Katherine of Valois married Owain ap Maredudd ap Tewdwr (Owen Tudor). They had two sons, Edmund and Jasper, who were half brothers of Henry VI, but were not recognised as members of the royal family,

1436   The Regent Gloucester imprisoned Owain in Newgate and took Edmund and Jasper into custody.

1447   After the death of the Regent Gloucester, they recovered favour under the  protection of the young Henry VI and he created Edmund and Jasper Earls of Richmond and Pembroke respectively.

1459   By this time the family name had been anglicised from Tewder to Tudor.

1456   Edmund died and Jasper looked after Edmund's son, the future Henry VII, at Pembroke Castle.

1471   After the death of Henry VI, his mother, Margaret Beaufort and Jasper nurtured Henry VII's rights as the Lancastrian claimant to the crown.   Wales was divided in its allegiances, the West in loyalty to Jasper were largely Lancastrian and the East was mostly Yorkist.   

FIFA was founded this day 1904

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the international governing body of association football.

*  Wales's highest FIFA ranking is 8th in October 2015.

*  Wales's lowest FIFA ranking was 117th in August 2011

*  In the 1958 FIFA World Cup Wales reached the quarter-finals, losing to the eventual winners Brazil 1-0, the Brazilian goal was Pele's first international goal.

*  John Charles came 3rd in The Ballon d'Or ( FIFA's annual award to the world's best male player) in 1959.

On 21st May 1982, Swansea City completed their first ever season in the UK Football League First Division with a sixth place finish. Their year on year rise from Division Four to the top division is a record in UK football.

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 forever.

Will she prevent the killing or will forces within Whitehall get to her first?

This action packed thriller grips from the first page to the very last. It is a combination of police procedural detective work, political conspiracy, terrorism and fast paced drama that keeps you spellbound to the very end.

If the UK leaves the EU and Scotland leaves the UK. Could this happen?

In May 1372, Owain Lawgoch announced in Paris his intention of claiming the throne of Wales.   

Owain Lawgoch (Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri), the grandson of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd's brother Rhodri,  was directly descended from the Royal House of Gwynedd. 

In 1370 Owain declared himself Prince of Gwynedd and with the help of the French, assembled a fleet with the intention of sailing for Wales. The ships were split up in bad weather and the invasion was abandoned.  Two years later he tried again, but again the weather turned against him and the fleet reached no further than Guernsey.  At this point the English despatched a Scot by the name of Jon Lamb to assassinate Owain and having infiltrated Owain's band of men, he succeeded during the siege of Mortagne in 1378.  So ended the entire line of Wales’s most illustrious royal house.     

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, being later elected President of the UK Athletics Members Council.  

Born this day 1364 at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland,

Sir Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur), ally of Owain Glyndwr.

Percy's military achievements brought him much favour with Richard ll, but he switched sides to support Henry Bolingbroke in his attempt to overthrow Richard, and when Henry became King Henry IV, Hotspur and his father were rewarded with extensive responsibility in both the east march and North Wales.

1401 The Glyndwr revolt began to spread throughout North and Central Wales, thwarting Hotspur's attempts to maintain control.

1402   Henry IV appointed Hotspur royal lieutenant in North Wales, but the Percy's were becoming discontented with Henry IV, and it was at this time that the Percys, Glyndwr and Edmund Mortimer starting discussing the "Tripartite Indenture" which divided England and Wales between the three of them.

1403  Hotspur accused the King of 'tyrannical government' and  marched to Shrewsbury to do battle against Henry IV's son the future Henry V.  However Percy was killed and his body was put on display. He was posthumously declared a traitor, with his lands being claimed by the Crown.  

On this day 2009, William Windsor (Billy), the goat of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Welsh infantry, retired due to old age. Soldiers from the battalion lined the route from his pen to the trailer as he left the camp for the last time.

*  Billy is not regarded as a mascot, but a serving lance corporal, meaning that soldiers of lower rank are required to stand to attention when Billy walks by. His duty was to march at the head of the battalion on ceremonial occasions.

*  The tradition of the goat originated in 1775, when a wild goat walked onto the battlefield during the Battle of Bunker Hill in the American Revolutionary War. 

*  He was demoted to fusilier for a three-month period in 2006, after inappropriate behaviour during the Queen's Official Birthday Celebrations, when he failed to keep in step and tried to headbutt a drummer.

*  The royal goat herd was presented to the Queen by the Shah of Persia, and they are kept on Llandudno's Great Orme.

*  His replacement, also called William Windsor, began as a fusilier whilst being trained for military life, receiving a ration of two cigarettes per day, which he eats, but is not permitted Guinness until he is older.

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!

http://welsh-american-bookstore.com/index.php?option=com_booklibrary&task=view&id=1741&Itemid=478&catid=46#.UZjqZ0lMHoY

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

Thomas Edward Lawrence, born in Tremadog, Caernarfonshire, gained fame as a leader of an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War One. Lawrence embraced Arabic culture in an attempt to empathise with his Arab partners and it was this ability which made him such a successful military leader.

Winston Churchill said of Lawrence "I deem him one of the greatest beings alive in our time... We shall never see his like again. His name will live in history. It will live in the annals of war... It will live in the legends of Arabia."

Former British Prime Minister, William Gladstone died this day 1898 at Hawarden House, Flintshire.

Hawarden House and estate had previously belonged to the family of his wife, Catherine Glynne, and is still owned by the Gladstone family.In its grounds are the ruins of Hawarden medieval castle, whose earthwork embankments date back to the Iron Age. It was the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle, which played an important role during the Welsh struggle for independence in the 13th century.

On this day 2012 Monmouth became the World's first Wikipedia Town (Monmouthpedia)

Monmouthpedia is Wikipedia's first venture based on a town.  It allows the user to scan barcodes with their mobile phone, at over 1,000 landmarks and points of interest within the town and have information about the landmark sent to their phone in the language of their choice.

One of the main reasons that Monmouth was chosen was because of its varied history;

*   It is mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086.

*   The Normans  built a motte and bailey castle in 1067.

*   The medieval stone gated bridge is the only one remaining in Britain.

*   The castle was the birthplace of King Henry V in 1387.

*   The town was the scene of a major battle in 1233, between the forces of Henry III and those of Richard Marshal, Earl of Pembroke.

*   King Edward II was briefly imprisoned at Monmouth Castle in 1326 after being overthrown by his wife Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer.

*   In 1536, Henry VIII imposed the Laws in Wales Acts and Monmouth became the county town of Monmouthshire. 

*   The castle changed hands three times during the English Civil War.

*   By the end of the 18th century, the town was popular with travellers following the "Wye Tour", with poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge, as well as painter J.M.W.Turner being among its visitors.

*   The town was visited in 1802 by Admiral Horatio Nelson, who recognised the importance of the county's woodland in providing timber for the British Navy.

*    In 1840, Chartist leaders John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones became the last men in Britain to be sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered in the aftermath of the the Newport Riots. The sentences were later commuted to transportation to Van Diemen's Land

*   The town gained its first charter from Henry VI in 1447.

*   The wool industry was important in its early growth, and the knitted Monmouth Cap, was popular from the 15th century onwards.

*   Monmouth had iron and tinplate works, together with paper and corn mills. The town was also an important river port, with warehouses and wharves along the Wye.

*   The Savoy Theatre is the oldest working theatre in Wales.  

Anne Boleyn was beheaded this day 1536

Two of Anne Boleyn's connections with Wales:

In September 1532, Anne Boleyn was made Marquis of Pembroke by Henry Vlll, who awarded her substantial lands in Wales along with the title, making her the first woman to hold a hereditary peerage title in her own right, making her, apart from the Queen, the most important woman in the kingdom.

William Brereton, who was one of the five accused of having an affair with Anne, had been knighted and granted  many lands in Cheshire and North Wales by Henry VIII for his support of the king’s annulment of his first marriage.   

  Born this day 1970 in Aberdare

Stuart Cable , rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.

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, a pacifist who was instrumental in establishing the Welsh Union of the League of Nations.Today the message is broadcast  in many different languages and reaches all corners of the world. Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards, founder of the Urdd (the Welsh League of Youth) decided that the Urdd should support the campaign and it is now given the responsibility of composing the Message. May 18th was the date of the first peace conference in the Hague in 1899.  

In May 1980, Plaid Cymru leader Gwynfor Evans announced his intention to go on hunger strike in protest against the government's failure to honour its promise of a Welsh-language television channel.   This was seen as was instrumental in bringing about a U-turn on the part of Margaret Thatcher and S4C began broadcasting on 1 November 1982.    

Born this day 1948 in Newport, Monmouthshire,

Keith Jarrett , a former Wales rugby international who set point scoring records in his international debut, including a solo try which saw him run almost the full length of the pitch, voted seventh in a poll of the top Welsh tries of all time.  Jarrett switched to rugby league in 1969 but his career was cut short in 1973, when he suffered a stroke, aged just 25, leaving his undoubted potential unfulfilled.

Born this day 1872 in Trellech, Monmouthshire,

Bertrand Arthur William Russell , a world-renowned  philosopher, logician, essayist and social critic. He is credited with being one of the most important logicians of the twentieth century and also made significant contributions to education and history. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950 and was the first President of C.N.D.  

Born this day 1962 in St Asaph,

Barry Horne , a former Wales soccer international and captain, who later became chairman of the Professional Footballers Association and a television sports pundit.    

Born this day 1960 in Brynhyfryd, Swansea, 

Mal Pope , a musician and composer, who is noted for his contribution to musical theatre and for the 1990's late-night music chat show, The Mal Pope Show, which won a number of Welsh BAFTA Awards. Pope also wrote songs for Cliff Richard and The Hollies and sang the theme songs of the children's television shows Fireman Sam and Super Ted.