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On this day in 1976 Gwynfor Evans unveiled a plaque at Nant y Moch Dam to commemorate Owain Glyndwr's victory at The Battle of Hyddgen in the summer of 1401.

Gwynfor Evan's words that day;

"The followers of Glyndwr remained faithful to the end.  In 1415 Grufudd Young was still working for him in France; it was he who maintained in the Council of Constance, the assembly which ended the scandal of papal schism, that the Welsh were a nation and that they should have a voice there. There was not one attempt to supplant Owain as leader throughout his career, nor one attempt to betray him at the end of his life.

Not one Welsh word of  criticism of him has survived from that century. It is known that he was not alive in 1417 but no one knows where he died. He disappeared in dignified silence. The poets refused to believe that he was dead; so not one of them composed an elegy to his memory. To them and to a host of Welsh people he will never die. His spirit lives on like an unquenchable flame, a symbol of the determination of the Welsh to live as a free nation. The Welsh believed he would return when needed by his people.  His spirit is needed today.  As the nation matures in loyalty towards its own country, it can echo the words used by Dafydd Iwan in his great song:- Myn Duw, Mi Wn y daw - By God I know he will come"

Owain Glyndwr's victory against overwhelming odds over the King's forces at The Battle of Mynydd Hyddgen in the summer of 1401 is considered his first victory in the field, and it set the tone for the spread of the rebellion in its early stages and turned him from a local rebel to a national leader. 

Not much is known of the battle, but the probable site is a remote area of the Pumlumon Mountain range. It is thought that Owain's force of just 120 men would have been made up mostly of archers mounted on hill ponies that would have been well suited for travelling across boggy or mountainous regions. The English-Flemish army meanwhile would have generally consisted of infantry with some light cavalrymen supporting them. Despite having decent equipment, many of the English-Flemish soldiers were lacking in military experience, and there was a general lack of discipline within their army.

The solely written source is The Peniarth Manuscript 135 written by the poet Gruffydd Hiraethog many years later in 1550 and based on earlier accounts that have not survived;

"Owain rose with 120 reckless men and robbers and brought them in warlike fashion to the uplands of Ceredigion; and 1500 men of the lowlands of Ceredigion and of Rhos and Penfro assembled there and came to the mountain with the intent to seize Owain,  The encounter between them was on Hyddgen Mountain and no sooner did the English troops turn their backs in flight than 200 of them were slain.  Owain now won great fame and a great number of youths and fighting men from every part of Wales rose and joined him, until he had a great host at his back" 

Born this day 1989 in Cardiff.

Gareth Bale  - Wales soccer international, whose talent has earned him superstar status world-wide.  During the 2012-2013 season, he was awarded the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

Bale attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff, where he played football alongside Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton. Because of the exceptional skill he demonstrated in football, the school's PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to take measures to ensure that other pupils had a chance to compete during lessons, such as restricting Bale to playing with his non-dominant foot!  Morris said of him "Gareth has a fierce determination to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate.

Born this day 1944 in Edgware, Middlesex to Welsh parents

Angharad Rees, Lady McAlpine  CBE  was an actress, famous for her portrayal of Demelza in the BBC drama Poldark in the 1970s. Among her many roles, she appeared in the 1972 film version of Under Milk Wood alongside Peter O'Toole, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. She was also an accomplished stage actress, appearing in a number of West End productions in London.  Angharad married twice, to actor Christopher Cazenove in 1973 and in 2005 to  Sir David McAlpine of the construction family. She died on 21 July 2012,of pancreatic cancer.

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes led the tributes at her memorial service. He said "If there was one thing she was superb at, it was friendship and not just sympathetic friendship but hard-working, useful, practical assistance. She was anxious, I think, that she should not be defined, entirely, as the star of a popular series, as one half of a golden couple, as a mother and hostess, although she excelled in all of these. She wanted also to be remembered as a serious actress whose early career might have gone on to greatness had she not made the personal decision to change direction [by having a family].”

Inigo Jones (15 July 1573 – 21 June 1652), was born in London and was the son of a Welsh cloth-maker. He is widely considered as the first significant British architect of the 'early modern' period.   Jones' influence on the evolving landscape of London can be seen at the city's Covent Garden, where he created London’s first real 'square’ in 1630, and where he designed the church of St Paul. Inigo Jones also was also involved in the design of St Paul’s Cathedral, although his contribution to the restorative works and architectural additions were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666.  Jones’ visits to Europe influenced not only his architectural concepts but also gave him valuable insight into a significant new way of constructing roofs. This innovation was called the king post truss, whereby a central post held up the rafters, allowing much larger roofs to be built. The same idea was further developed by Christopher Wren and the technique was used in some of his most celebrated designs. Jones designed 49 buildings in total, but unfortunately, only seven survive as testament to his architectural brilliance. His constructions were noted for being cool and sophisticated on the outside but full of colour and drama inside. More importantly, they were intrinsically different from what came before, introducing a style of architecture that is still influential today.

Gwyn Nicholls, the captain of the Welsh team that beat NewZealand 3-0 in 1905, was born 15th July 1874.

Nicholls, known as the "Prince of Threequarters"was born in Westbury on Severn and played the majority of his career with Cardiff.  His 24 caps for Wales were won between 1896 and 1906 and included ten matches as captain. He also captained Wales when they won the Triple Crown in 1902 and was the only Welsh player who toured Australia with the British Isles team. team of 1899.

Beheaded this day 1685 (It is said that it took eight blows of the axe to sever his head); James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, regarded by many as the true heir of Charles II, King of England and Wales's connection to The House of Stuart.

A popular legend claims that a portrait was painted of Monmouth after his execution: the story being that it was realised after the execution that there was no official portrait of the Duke — so his body was exhumed, the head stitched back on the body, and the corpse was seated for its portrait to be painted.

1649   Born in Rotterdam, to Charles II  (who was living in continental exile following his father's execution and the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell) and his lover, Lucy Walter who was born at Roch Castle near Haverfordwest.

1658   During The Protectorate  Monmouth was  sent to Paris for protection as, although he was illegitimate, there were rumours that Charles and Lucy had, in fact, married secretly, which made young James a potential heir to the throne of England.

1660   Restoration of the Monarchy.  Charles II becomes King of England.

1663    Monmouth is brought back to England and created Duke of Monmouth and a Knight of the Garter. As a Protestant, he was popular with the general populace, whereas the King's brother James, Duke of York, who was the official successor, was a convert to Catholicism.

1665 - 1678    Monmouth gained a considerable reputation as one of Britain's finest soldiers, fighting in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the Franco-Dutch War and also putting down a rebellion in Scotland.  King Charles II directed that all military orders should be brought to the Duke for his examination, effectively giving him  command of the King's forces.

1679   As his popularity with the masses increased, Monmouth began to be seen as a threat to both King Charles II (his father) and the future James II (his uncle).Monmouth was consequently obliged to go into exile.

1683   Monmouth was named as a conspirator in the Rye House Plot, which was a plan to assassinate both King Charles II and the future James II.

1685    On King Charles II's death  Monmouth declared himself King and led the Monmouth Rebellion, in an attempt to take the throne from his uncle James II. The two armies met at the Battle of Sedgemoor, the last clearly defined battle on open ground between two military forces fought on English soil. Monmouth's unregulated force was no match for the disciplined army of the king, and he was unilaterally defeated.  Monmouth himself was arrested and beheaded on Tower Hill on 15 July 1685.

There are many theories regarding the identity of The Man in the Iron Mask; one claims that he was Monmouth on the reasoning that James II would not execute his own nephew, so someone else was executed, and James II arranged for Monmouth to be taken to France and put in the custody of his cousin Louis XIV of France.

The 15th July marks the anniversary of two of Wales' worst mining disasters;

On 15th July 1856  — 114 men were killed in a mining accident at New Cymmer Pit, Porth, Rhondda. The explosion in Insole's pit was the first on the coalfield to take more than a hundred lives, as a consequence of which the inquest sent the manager and overmen to be tried for manslaughter. The bitterness which was felt when they were acquitted was remembered in the community for more than a generation. 

On 15th July 1880 — 120 miners were killed when a gas explosion ripped through the Risca New Mine, Waunfawr. The force of the blast was so great that it buckled the ventilation fan, delaying the rescue effort.  Before this explosion, mine deputies would always use the “Davy” safety lamp while conducting their inspections of the mine, but the colliers themselves preferred to use the older style "Clanny” lamp because it emitted a better light. Many years prior to this, Sir Humphrey Davy had strong doubts about the safety of these older lamps because the gauge was unprotected against strong air currents. Davy's pronoucement was later proved accurate, and the use of the Clanny lamp underground was banned.

On 15th July 1874, the foundation stone was laid for the clock tower at Machynlleth, built to mark the coming of age of Viscount Castlereagh, the eldest son of the 5th Marquess of Londonderry of Plas Machynlleth.

A history of Machynlleth;

* Radiocarbon dating shows that copper mining was taking place in the Early Bronze Age (c. 2,750 years ago), within a mile of the town centre.

* The Romans settled in the area; they built a small fort at Pennal (Cefn Caer) four miles west of Machynlleth, and are reputed to have had two look-out posts above the town at Bryn-y-gog and Wylfa.

* One of the earliest written references to Machynlleth is the Royal charter granted in 1291 by Edward I to Owen de la Pole, Lord of Powys. The charter awarded him the right to hold a market at Machynlleth " every Wednesday for ever and two fairs every year". The market on Wednesday is still a busy and popular day in Machynlleth 700 years later. sdfsdf

* Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404 and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales".

* According to local tradition, Dafydd Gam, a Welsh ally of the English, was imprisoned in Royal House from 1404 to 1412 for attempting to assassinate Owain Glyndwr.

*  The weekly market and biannual fair thrived, so much so that there were complaints from other towns whose cloth trade was being adversely  affected. A document dated 1632 shows that animals for sale came from all counties of mid Wales and prospective buyers came from Flintshire, Radnorshire, Brecknockshire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

* The Dyfi Bridge was first mentioned in 1533, but by 1601 "Dyfi bridge in the Hundred of Mochunleth" was deemed to be too narrow for the amount of traffic passing through and the current bridge was built in 1805.  Fenton describes it in 1809 as "A noble erection of five large arches. The piers are narrow and over each cut-water is a pilaster, a common feature of the 18th century".

* The Royal House is derived from the to the belief that Charles I stayed at the house in 1643.

* On 29 November 1644, a Civil War battle took place near Dyfi Bridge between Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army and the Royalists. A great many were killed and the nearby manor house Mathafarn as well as many houses in Machynlleth occupied by Royalists were burned down.

* Machynlleth hosted the national Eisteddfod in 1937 and 1981.

* Machynlleth applied for city status in 2000 and 2002, but was unsuccessful.

On this day in 1966, Gwynfor Evans became Plaid Cymru's first MP when he won the Carmarthen by-election following the death of Labour's Megan Lloyd George. 

A shy and introverted individual, Evans was an unlikely participant in the melee of Westminster, an institution he regarded as "the very symbol of the complete subjugation of Wales, the most mighty manifestation of the Englishness which is killing our country". He returned to parliament in 1974, having lost his seat in 1970. He lost it again in 1979 and was never to return. He was only   a teenager when Plaid Cymru was founded in 1925 and he learnt Welsh as an adult. Educated at Aberystwyth and Oxford, during the Second World War he declared himself a conscientious objector, refusing to fight. Evans was elected president of Plaid Cymru in 1945, a position he went on to maintain for 36 years. In the 1950s, he led the campaign against the flooding  of the Tryweryn Valley and of the Welsh speaking Capel Celyn by the  Liverpool Water Corporation. 

In 1980, he announced that he would fast " to the death" if the  Conservative government failed to fulfil its pledge to establish a Welsh language television channel.  Evans regarded the entire history of Wales since the 16th century as constituting a sustained and deliberate English attempt to eradicate the Welsh language and culture and believed that the government's intention of reneging on its promise was part of this historic vendetta.  His threat was initially dismissed as an empty piece of rhetoric; but Evans was in poor health, and government supporters were alarmed at the prospective repercussions of his perceived  martyrdom, especially in a period of high unemployment and industrial closures in Wales. Only a matter of weeks before his fast was due to begin, Margaret Thatcher capitulated, and the creation of S4C was assured. The decision was hailed by Evans as "the biggest victory we have ever won for the Welsh language".

14th July 1892 saw the official inauguration of the Lake Vyrnwy Reservoir, which had been built to supply water to Merseyside and Liverpool.

 The dam was built by flooding the Welsh village of Llanwddyn, where 2 chapels, 3 inns, 10 farms and 37 houses were lost.  In 1965, despite fervent protests by politicians, nationalist organisations and the local population, the welsh-speaking village of Cwm Celyn was also flooded in order to create the Tryweryn reservoir. The local school, post office, chapel and cemetery were submerged forever.  These events inspired the Manic Street Preachers song Ready for Drowning, and Enya's Dan y Dwr.

David Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) has a Welsh mother. 

 He is a writer, comedian and actor who, along with his stage partner Robert Webb, formed Mitchell and Webb, a comedy duo. The pair, who met at Cambridge University when Mitchell was President of the Cambridge Footlights, starred in Peepshow, a sitcom on Channel 4. Mitchell, playing Mark Corrigan, won the British Academy award for Best Comedy Performance in 2009. Other television credits include The Mitchell and Webb Situation, That Mitchell and Webb Sound and more recently That Mitchell and Webb Look. They have also appeared in Apple's Get a Mac advertisement and a  film 'Magicians' which was released in 2007.

As a solo performer, Mitchell appears regularly on panel shows; as a team captain on Would I Lie to You?, hosting The Bubble, and as a regular guest on other panel shows, including Mock the Week, QI and Have I Got News for You. He hosts a comedy news programme, 10 O'Clock Live, and on radio, The Unbelievable Truth. In addition, he  regularly contributes to The Observer and The Guardian newspapers.

First screened on 14th July 1945, The Corn is Green is a film starring Bette Davis. It is set in a Welsh coal mining town, where Davis plays a schoolteacher who is set on providing the town's children with an adequate education, despite local opposition. It is based on a play by Emlyn Williams, a Welsh actor and dramatist.

Released from prison on this day 1577, John Callis, pirate. 

John Callis, who was born into a wealthy family in Tintern, Monmouthshire in the late 1550s, had a notorious career as a pirate. He was well connected to the gentry through his family, with ties to the local aristocracy, the Herbert family, and to the Earl of Pembroke.  He was well educated, and his family expected him to follow a conventional career as a cloth merchant in London. This lifestyle was clearly not adventurous enough, and by 1574 he had returned to South Wales and was running a ship, "The Cost Me Noughte" and was accused by the Admiralty of being 'a notorious pyrate haunting the coasts of Wales', conducting raids and harrying coastal trade, particularly in the areas around Laugharne  and Carew. He avoided prosecution, however, because of his high society connections.

Among his prizes in 1574 was an Italian cargo ship whose goods he sold in Cardiff and Bristol and a Portuguese vessel which he took in the Azores. He continued to attack ships in the Bristol Channel for the next three years, continuing to seem immune from prosecution thanks to his association with the landowners of Glamorgan and of Pembrokeshire. He created a headquarters for himself in what is now the Point House tavern in Angle near Pembroke on the Cleddau.
He was finally arrested in 1577 and taken in chains to the Tower of London. He avoided hanging, however, by turning informer, providing the authorities with incriminating information about members of the gentry throughout Britain who had profited from piracy.

There is no sound evidence as to how he met his end, although some claim that he continued his career as a pirate off the coast of North Africa before being killed in 1586.

14th July 2004 - The National Woollen Museum re-opened at Drefach Felindre.

A history of the woolen industry in Wales;

Historically, wool was the most significant and widespread industry in Wales. During the late 19th  and early 20th century, it was centred in the Teifi valley, with the mill in the village of Dre-Fach being one of the most thriving in the area. The dozens of small mills, with the twenty or so in neighbouring Pembrokeshire, earned the area the nickname 'The Huddersfield of Wales'.

Sheep farming is documented in the laws of Hywel Dda, by which time white sheep, probably imported by the Romans, had interbred with native dark-fleeced types to produce varieties of Welsh Mountain sheep.

By the 13th century, sheep farming had become an important industry, with wool providing a much needed source of income. Much of the Welsh wool was exported to  London via markets in Shrewsbury and Oswestry, then sold on to European markets. The Cistercian abbeys owned large flocks, notably at Strata Florida, Margam and Tintern. Flemish weavers were brought to West Wales in the 14th century and introduced the fulling mill or 'pandy' where the wool was cleansed of impurities, then dyed and finished to make it thicker and more durable. 

This process of manufacturing wool remained largely unchanged until the mid 18th century, with the wool carding, the spinning and the weaving being routinely done at home, mostly by women.

A radical change from the domestic system to the factory system took place during the 19th century when water wheels were used to operate carding and spinning machines. The increased mechanisation  of the industry prompted the reorganisation of the wool trade in Wales. When the power loom was invented in 1850 together with advances in the fulling process, the industry became more successful than ever, with hundreds of small factories appearing in rural areas between 1860 and 1900.

Facebook commenting now added to book listing pages on the AmeriCymru Welsh American Bookstore. Do you have a favorite title by a Welsh or Welsh American author that you would like to recommend to your friends on FB? No problem! Browse thro ugh our selection ( more than 2000 titles and growing daily ) and comment on the page. You can even include a short review. Don't forget to check out all our other features...book news, interviews, guest reviews and articles

Example Page: Bel Roberts - Opportunity Mocks

Born in London on this day in 1527 to parents from Radnorshire, John Dee, astronomer and consultant to Queen Elizabeth 1st.

He was a mathematician, astronomer , astrologer, and geographer. Queen Elizabeth relied on him for guidance mainly relating to astrology. It seems John Dee was an enthusiastic proponent of psychic arts, including alchemy and divination. In Tudor times there was no real distinction  between magic and science; consequently despite believing in things that today’s scientists would scoff at, he graduated from college when he was seventeen, lectured at the University of Paris, and almost completed his doctorate. 

He wrote books on mathematical subjects, and volumes outlining  the improvements he had made to the science of navigation. He was in good standing with the royals until King Edward VI died and Mary Tudor took the throne. At this time, Mary's half-sister, Elizabeth was imprisoned under house arrest in order to prevent her from trying to become queen. Someone managed to ask for John Dee's help. He prepared a horoscope for Elizabeth that predicted the death of Queen Mary and claiming that Elizabeth would be queen of England.  Unfortunately, Mary had a spy in the house, who betrayed Dee. He landed in prison on the charges of treason and for writing of the Queen's death. They even accused him of trying to bring it about with magic. After a long legal process, Dee managed to repudiate the charges.  On November 17th 1588, Dee’s predictions came true. Mary died and Queen Elizabeth I took the throne. She made Dee a private consultant  and royal astrologer. He had many good years until Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. Dee retired to his home in Mortlake where he died old and impoverished. 

Craig Douglas Bellamy (born 13 July 1979) is a retired Welsh footballer who played as a forward for Cardiff City and the Welsh national team.  In the 2012 - 13 season, he helped Cardiff City gain promotion to the Premiership and became an iconic figure to the supporters of the club.

He returned to Cardiff as an academy coach in December 2014.

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Ian David Hislop was born on 13 July 1960 in Mumbles, Swansea.   He is a well known British journalist and writer and edits the satirical magazine Private Eye. He is also a broadcaster, appearing on several radio and television programmes, notably as a team captain on the BBC quiz show Have I Got News for You .

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On 13th July 1798 during a visit to Wales, William Wordsworth wrote the poem "Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey on revisiting the banks of the Wye during a tour"

Although it was written in 1798, the poem is actually a recollection of the poet's visit to Wales in 1793. It also refers to a time when the abbey was not a ruin, and reflects on the present and the future. The voice in the poem confesses to having reminisced about the abbey on many occasions over a period of five years. Interestingly, the abbey itself is not specifically described.

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Queen Alexandra Dock, in what is now Cardiff Bay, was opened on 13th July 1907.   The Glamorganshire Canal was completed in 1794, providing a link between the docks in Cardiff and the industrial heartland of Merthyr. It helped to establish Cardiff as an export centre of iron and coal. A consequent need to provide adequate dock facilities led the 2nd Marquess of Bute to construct the West Bute Dock, which was operational by October 1839.  During the 1850s coal was to replace iron as the principal export from South Wales, with exports exceeding 2 million tons by 1862. The East Bute dock was opened in 1859 to meet the increasing worldwide demand for coal.

The Roath Dock was opened in 1887, and the Queen Alexandra in 1907, facilitating a rise in exports to 10,700,000 tons.  However, after WW1 the coal and steel industries in South Wales went into a gradual decline, which had a devastating effect on Cardiff docks.  In 1987 only 3 of the original docks remained in operation. The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was set up in April 1987, challenged with planning the regeneration of the old docklands area of South Cardiff and Penarth. The Wharf was  opened in 1990, forming the initial part of the Atlantic Wharf development on the East Bute Dock. This was the first phase of the Cardiff Bay development and represented the beginning of a new era for the Docks area of Cardiff. 

The Investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales, took place at Caernarfon Castle on the 13th July 1911.  He went on to become King Edward VIII, but chose to abdicate in order to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson. The Chancellor of the Exchequer in the early years of Edward's short reign was David Lloyd George, who was also the Constable of Caernarfon Castle who oversaw the investiture proceedings.

The Ammanford anthracite strike began on 13th July 1925, during which miners took control of the town by force and violence for 10 days. 200 Glamorgan police were ambushed by strikers at Pontamman Bridge (pictured) during the so-called 'Battle of Ammanford'. In total 198 miners were arrested, with 58 being jailed for periods of up to one year. 

This was the climax of four months of rioting and mass demonstrations of which Ammanford was the epicentre. During the course of a single day, riots broke out simultaneously in several locations; at the No 2 colliery in Ammanford where riot police charged with batons, at the square in Ammanford town itself, at the nearby Llandybie and Pantyffynnon collieries, at Wernos and also at Betws. As a result of the civil unrest, the Ammanford No 1 colliery was shut down.

Born on 12th July 1947 in Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, nr Pontardawe, Welsh rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards.  

Described as the greatest player of all time, Gareth Edwards is a former Welsh rugby union footballer. The ultimate athlete, Edwards played scrum-half and is referenced as the scorer of the greatest ever try when he played for Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973.  Edwards was the spearhead of the highly successful Welsh rugby team in the 60's and 70's. He is Wales' youngest ever captain, appearing in his first match as captain at the age of 20 in February 1968 against Scotland - a game which the Welsh side won 5 - 0. 

During an era of Welsh dominance, Edwards made 53 appearances for Wales, scoring 20 tries. Edwards also won 10 caps for the Lions and was part of the 1971 legendary team that won a series in New Zealand. He also played in the unbeaten 1974 side that toured South Africa.  A supreme athlete, he is acknowledged worldwide for his speed, passing and reading of the game. He was also known for his moments of brilliance and an ability to score truly magical tries. In a poll of international rugby players conducted in 2003 by Rugby World magazine, Edwards was voted the greatest player of all time, "I've never considered myself a sporting icon," he admits, " You get a lot of attention when you walk down the street or attend functions, but grandchildren soon bring you down to earth." Edwards was made a CBE for services to sport in the 2007 New Years Honours List and was awarded his Knighthood in June 2015.

Died on this day in 1982 aged 67, Kenneth More, actor, whose mother was from Cardiff.

Kenneth More depicted characters who were generally affable, sporting and decent; qualities which were considered particularly ' British ' in the 1950s when More was at the height of his fame. He was, during this time, Britain's most popular film actor, appearing in box office successes such as Genevieve (1953), Doctor in the House (1954), Reach for the Sky (1956) and A Night to Remember (1958).

Later in his career he enjoyed television success where his interpretations of Jolyon in BBC's "The Forsyte Saga" (1967) and the title role in "Father Brown" (1974) made him a well known figure to a new generation of viewers.

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The annual Barmouth Kite Festival provides quite a spectacle, with kite flyers from all over the UK and many from overseas converging on this picturesque seaside town .

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On 12th July 1891, world famous soprano Adelina Patti opened her private theatre at Craig-y-Nos Castle in the Swansea Valley.

Adelina Patti (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) was one of the most famous sopranos in history. The composer Giuseppe Verdi described her as being perhaps the finest singer who had ever lived.  Patti's career was one of continuous success , inspiring frenzied acclaim and critical adulation. Her youthful good looks gave her an attractive stage presence, which considerably enhanced her celebrity status.  At the peak of her career, Patti demanded to be paid, in gold, the equivalent of $5000 a night, before she even deigned to perform.

When she retired from the stage, Patti settled in the Swansea Valley, where she bought Craig- y-Nos Castle. She commissioned a private theatre to be built, emulating in miniature the theatre at Bayreuth. The theatre remains intact to this day, and the stage is in all probability the only surviving example of original 19th century 'backstage' equipment.

Patti also had a railway station built at Craig y Nos/Penwyllt on the Neath and Brecon Railway,  and additionally, in 1918, she presented the Winter Garden building from her Craig-y-Nos estate to the city of Swansea. This was rebuilt near the Guildhall and renamed the 'Patti Pavilion.' The Castle itself became a chest hospital in 1921, which remained in use until 1986 when it was sold and converted into a hotel.

On 12th July 1916 – Railway worker James Dally was awarded the Edward Medal by King George V for his actions in saving a colleague from falling 170ft from the Crumlin Viaduct.

On 28 October 1914, the Crumlin viaduct, near Newport, south Wales, was being painted by using a staging of planks timber supports when one of the supports broke, and the foreman, Mr Skevington, fell 52m (175 feet) to his death into the goods yard below. The second man, Thomas Bond, just managed to grip onto the main bridge structure in time, but was left dangling in mid air.  

Bridgeman James Dally, of Crumlin, was nearby, supervising the operation. He immediately crawled out from the gangway on to the diagonal bracings - which were a mere eight centimetres wide:

"I asked him to swing his legs in an upward direction, so as to get them around the stretcher, if possible. This he succeeded in doing. I then got hold of Bond's legs; & told him to move one hand at a time & by that means he was drawn nearer to the gangway & when he was near enough I got a better hold of him, & eventually landed him safely on the gangway."

In the event, Dally was awarded the Edward Medal, which he received from King George V on 12 July 1916. This medal had been created in 1907 to reward "heroic acts performed by miners and quarrymen" and in 1909, its award was extended to acts of courage in other industries.

The Crumlin Viaduct was 512m (1,680 feet) long and rose some 60m (200 feet) above the valley of the Ebbw. The viaduct was opened on 1 June 1857 and by 1863 was part of the Great Western Railway network; it was demolished in 1965-66.

On 12th July 1946 – The Coal Industry Nationalisation Act was passed by Parliament, which legislated for the nationalization of the entire British coal industry. The National Coal Board was established as a result, acting as the managing authority for all coal mining activities.

The NCB, as it became known, was one of several public corporations established during Labour's post-war government, led by Clement Attlee.  By 1950, the NCB employed  more than 700,000 people, but successive governments reduced the size of the industry by closing remotely situated or 'uneconomic' coal mines. Closures in the 1960s were initially confined to pits in Scotland, but gradually included mines in Lancashire, North East England and South Wales. Closures spread rapidly across all coalfields during the 1980s as a consequence of falling demand for British coal. This was, in part, the result of large subsidies offered by other European countries to their coal industries, but was also due to the availability of cheaper coal from Poland, The United States, Australia and Colombia. The NCB saw three major national strikes. In 1972 and 1974 the strikes were over pay disputes and both saw success for the National Union of Mineworkers. The miners strike of 1984 - 1985 culminated in a defeat which is still bitterly resented in many parts of Britain, including Wales, where the closure of pits caused huge suffering and demographic upheaval.

Many of our readers will be aware that AmeriCymru is collaborating with Celticos to develop the AmeriCymru Trail Tour. We are also working together with Celticos and north Wales community group Golygfa Gwydyr to spread the word about the new Welsh Hill Farming Experience which provides an opportunity to experience this unique and challenging way of life.

We strongly urge our readers and supporters to help us in circulating the text below to any tourism offices or agricultural organisations that they feel may be interested. Please feel free to reproduce or repost this letter.

Re: Establishment of an International Community Tourism Network

On behalf of Celticos and Golygfa Gwydyr may I introduce our North Wales, U.K. based partnership promoting opportunities for community based tourism activities within a Welsh rural context. We are in the process of establishing key links with similar enterprises in the mid-west USA; we are looking to extend our links further with mutual benefits for all concerned

(See The Welsh Hill Farming Experience at http://www.celticos.com/welsh-hill-farming-experience )

I originate from Western Nebraska, spent my teenage years in Omaha, and relocated to London in 1984 and then North Wales in 2003. Since moving to North Wales, I was struck by the similarities of lifestyle between North Wales and the Midwest USA. Being from a farming background myself, I felt at home immediately. Knowing both areas as I do, I could see the life style was similar, with a sense of connectedness to the land, a pride of place and cultural heritage. It is this connectedness that we believe will attract visitors from North Wales to the USA and the USA to North Wales.

We have already trialled the Welsh Hill Farming Experience with two ranching families from Western Nebraska in 2010. The attraction for tourists from rural communities in the USA was instant, so much so, that my first guests have become part of our exchange for tourists from the UK wanting to experience the same style of community tourism in their locality.

(See testimonials http://www.celticos.com/welsh-hill-farming-experience )

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We are now in discussions with a number of tourism businesses and tourism offices to promote farm based tourism experiences in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana and our tours here in North Wales, UK and Europe. We are inviting you to join us to form a business network and marketing opportunity for mutual benefit.

About us

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Celticos Ltd is a company specialising in Guided Tours and Rural Tourism, based in the Snowdonia region of Wales, UK. Following a long and successful career in sales and marketing employed by high profile companies such as 3M, Alwyn the director has now returned to his roots in North Wales where hes been emulating the working philosophy of 3M by being both innovative and creative in meeting customer needs and expectations, applying these principles to Celticoss activities. Celticos have established excellent links with AmeriCymru , an online Welsh community based social network based in North America.

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Golygfa Gwydyr is a community group established in North Wales, UK in 2004.We are a social enterprise and all profits are invested back into community projects. Our aim is to increase social, environmental and economic well-being through sustainable community based projects.If you are interested in more information about our project, or to discuss any potential benefits for your organisation please do not hesitate to contact.

Email: lizn@golygfagwydyr.org

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Davies

The Wales Coast Path is in the running to become the 8th Wonder of the World. In a competition sponsored by VirtualTourist.com and TripAdvisor voting is now open for the selection of places nominated.

Please place your vote for the Wales Coast Path on

8th Wonder of the World | Contest Vote Page - VirtualTourist.com and share with as many contacts as you can.

Voting goes on until the end of September and you can vote once a day from the same computer.

Diolch.

Bob Titley

Dafydd ap Gruffydd, brother of Llywelyn, was born on 11th July 1238. He was the son of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn and grandson to Llywelyn Fawr, Llywelyn the Great. 

 As a very young child, in 1241, he was sent to the court of Henry III for a period of ten years. This was partly to receive an education befitting his noble rank, but also partly as a hostage in order to reinforce a peace treaty.  At the age of 14, he was invested with the title Lord of Cymydmaen, and as a consequence became a liegeman of the king and was expected to pay due homage to Henry.  In 1255, he became involved in the  struggle for the control of Wales. He fought against his brother, Llywelyn, during the battle of Bryn Derwin, but was defeated. In 1263, he once again fought for King Henry against his brother, but after an agreement was reached, Llywelyn was reluctantly acknowledged by Henry as Prince of Wales. However, in 1274 Dafydd once again supported King Edward I in a conflict with Llywelyn. 

In 1282, Dafydd precipitated a significant confrontation by attacking Hawarden Castle, provoking Edward l to gather an enormous attacking force, an army far greater than was actually needed. Llywelyn was hunted down and killed, and Edward pursued Dafydd, who on his brother's death had assumed the title Prince of Wales.  His reign as Prince was destined to be very brief. Edward surrounded  Dafydd’s stronghold in Snowdonia and gradually closed in. In May 1283, Dafydd retreated to his royal home at Garth Celyn, where he was encircled by 3,000 of Edward’s men.  In June of that year, Dafydd was eventually taken captive while ignominiously seeking refuge in a bog. He was wounded, but survived and was sent to Shrewsbury to face trial. On 30th September 1283, Dafydd was condemned to death, the first person to be tried for ‘high treason’. 

On 3rd October 1283, Dafydd was dragged through Shrewsbury to the scaffold and hanged until just before the point of death, then disembowelled, with his intestines being burnt before his eyes, becoming the first prominent person in recorded history to have been hanged, drawn and quartered.  His body was then cut into four pieces and fed to the dogs. His head was removed from his body and sent to the Tower of London, where it was put on display alongside that of his brother Llywelyn.  

 

Born on this day in 1769 was John Quincy Adams, who became the 6th President of the United States of America. His family can be traced to Pembroke, and also to Llanboidy in the heart of Carmarthenshire. 

He was the son of John Adams who was the 2nd US President. He planned to improve the efficiency of the American economy and was committed to education. Adams was economically successful and succeeded in reducing a large proportion of the national debt. He was, however, thwarted by a Congress dominated by his political opponents, and his refusal to use networking gave the advantage to those politicians who sought to undermine him. He lost his bid for re-election in 1828 to Andrew Jackson, making him the first president since his father to serve only a single term in office. Impelled by his increasing abhorrence of slavery, Adams became one of the principal opponents of the Slave Power. He confidently predicted that should there be a civil war, the residing president would be able to abolish slavery by using his 'war powers'. Adams also predicted the dissolution of the Union over the slavery issue.  

Ernest Thompson Willows (1896-1926) was a pioneer aviator and aircraft designer who was born on 11th July in Cardiff.  He was the first person in the United Kingdom to hold a pilot's certificate for an airship.

Willows started designing his own aircraft at the age of nineteen and made his first flight in 1905.  His first airship, the Willows No.1, was built in 1905 when he was aged only 19. Its maiden flight lasted for 85 minutes over East Moors, Cardiff on 5 August 1905 and in 1910 he flew his airship from Cheltenham to Cardiff.  He devised a technique of powering hot air balloons using moveable propellers, which meant that, for the first time, balloons could be steered. His first venture was soon followed by an improved version, Willows No. 2, which he landed outside Cardiff City Hall on 4 June 1910.  This was remodelled as No. 3, which he named the 'City of Cardiff' before flying from London to Paris in 1910. 

Willows moved to Birmingham where he constructed his next airship, the Willows No. 4. Piloted for the first time in 1912, Willows sold the craft to the Admiralty for £1,050, when it became 'His Majesty's Naval Airship No. 2'. With the profit from the Navy, Willows established a gas balloon school at Welsh Harp in Hendon near London. This venture, however, this did not deter him from building Willows No. 5 in 1913, a four-seater craft built to take pleasure flights over London.  During the first world war, Willows built kite or barrage balloons to protect the City of Cardiff. After the war he resumed his career but sadly, on the 23 August 1926, he was killed in a balloon accident at Hoo Park, near Bedford, a tragedy which also claimed the lives of  two passengers.

His achievements are commemorated in his native Cardiff, where a street, a public house in City Road and 'Willows' High School are named in his honour.  

On 11th July 1811 Sir William Robert Grove, who is commonly known as the 'father of the fuel cell,' was born in Swansea. His work is influential in the modern application of fuel conservation.

Grove constructed the first fuel cell producing energy using a combination of hydrogen and oxygen in 1842. He called this the 'gas voltaic battery' which is described using his 'correlation' theory. He was, essentially the first person to show the thermal dissociation of molecules into constituent atoms. He was closely associated with other contemporary scientists such as Gassiot and Faraday, and with Edward William Bailey, who was his scientific editor. His discoveries contributed significantly to the development the process of ionisation.  

On July 11th 1718, Howell Davis, a sailor from Milford Haven, was serving as mate on a ship named the Cadogan which was captured by pirate Edward England. Davis decided to become a pirate captain himself. 

He was given command of the Cadogan and set sail for Brazil. Unfortunately for him, the crew mutinied en route and diverted the ship to Barbados, where Davis was imprisoned for piracy. On his release, he joined a pirate band based in New Providence in the Bahamas, but the Governor, Woodes Rogers, cleared them out. Davis fled on a sloop called The Buck, and along with six others, commandeered the vessel and set up his own den at Coxon's Hole.

Later, crossing the Atlantic, he harried shipping in the seas around his new base in the Cape Verde Islands. One of his prizes while there was the Saint James, a fine ship with 26 guns. He joined forces with Olivier Levasseur, a French pirate known as La Buse, and with Thomas Cocklyn, another pirate captain. This was a short-lived partnership which ended in a drunken brawl.

He took yet another ship, The Rover, which had 32 guns, sailed south to the Gold Coast where he captured several more rich vessels. One of his prisoners was Bartholomew Roberts, who was to become an even more famous pirate than his captor. Bartholomew, a fellow Welshman, became Black Bart or Barti Ddu.
Davis finally overreached himself when he tried to pass himself off as a Royal Navy Pirate Hunter in order to kidnap the governor of Principe, a Portuguese island. The governor was not fooled, however, and ambushed Davis who was shot dead.  His successor, Barti Ddu, retaliated later that same night by raiding and pillaging the island.  

On 11th July 1905, an underground explosion at the Wattstown National Colliery in the Rhondda Valley killed 120 men, with just one survivor. Three people were rescued from the mine, of whom two would later die of their injuries. Only Matthew Davies lived.

The subsequent investigation into the cause of the disaster concluded that the illegal use of blast material had caused the explosion. A message of condolence was sent by King Edward VII and many thousands of mourners joined the four-mile long funeral procession.  

The Welsh language pressure group Cymuned was launched on 11th July 2001, at a meeting in Mynytho on the Llyn Peninsula. 

The group was set up to campaign against the threat to communities in Wales caused by ongoing demographic changes. Issues such as housing and social justice feature strongly on its agendas, and the organisation considers itself to be anti-racist and anti-colonisation.

One of Cymuned's recent campaigns, for a reasonable proportion of new housing builds to be reserved for local inhabitants, has been adopted in the Lake District, the Peak District, Devon, The Yorkshire Dales National  Park and parts of Shropshire.
 
Cymuned have organised demonstrations outside the offices of English estate agents that sell second homes in Wales. In addition, they have tackled the train company Arriva Trains Wales for its lack of use of the Welsh language, and the holiday company Thomas Cook which banned the use of Welsh in its Bangor branch in 2007.