Blogs
American Psycho meets the Wasp Factory - 'Dovetail' by Welsh Author Jeremy Hughes
By AmeriCymru, 2013-12-23
'Dovetail' - A Review
The unbalanced state of Tim''s mind is explored with cold, clinical precision as he apprentices himself to his Spanish mentor and perfects his skills with devoted and obsessive diligence. The love interest is provided by Elena, his childhood sweat heart but to dwell on that would be to give away too much of the plot. .
Practical woodworking tips abound as this macabre tale unfolds accentuating the obsessive nature of Tim''s mission and perhaps providing a useful supplementary primer for students of the craft. A mysterious, imaginary character called ''The Conductor'' also makes frequent appearances. His conflicted relationship with Tim is related in the form of an ongoing interior dialogue fraught with ominous overtones. ''The Conductor'' is based upon a character in a 1946 movie called ''A Matter of Life And Death'' starring David Niven.
Interview With Author - Jeremy Hughes
AmeriCymru: Hi Jeremy and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. I have seen Dovetail described in the following terms:- "American Psycho meets The Wasp Factory". Care to comment? Does it have anything in common with these two titles?
Jeremy: The voices in American Psycho and The Wasp Factory are both thrilling to me. The protagonist of American Psycho describes his actions and beliefs with conviction and ‘normality’, though his evaluation of situations and events is completely warped when judged against what is conventionally acceptable. The Wasp Factory is a master class in keeping the reader interested. I hope I’ve managed to capture something from both of these books.
AmeriCymru: Revenge and obsession. Would you agree that these are the twin themes of ''Dovetail''?
Jeremy: These might be regarded as main themes, but there is also striving for great art and the exploration of personal identity. Love and death are clearly important, too, as well as the tensions between binary opposites throughout.
AmeriCymru There is an enormous amount of detail concerning the art and craft of woodworking in the book. How did you go about researching this?
Jeremy: I trained as a carpenter/joiner before I went off to university, so most of the research was what I already knew. Craftsmen have a particular and almost ineffable relationship with their tools.
AmeriCymru: You reference the David Niven film ''A Matter of Life and Death'' a number of times in ''Dovetail''. Care to tell us a little about its significance?
Jeremy: I first saw the film as a child and was completely enamoured with the fantastic nature of the story i.e. that a man fails to go to heaven at his allotted time, and the normality of Niven’s character being able to see heaven’s Conductor 73. The significance of the film within the book ultimately lies with the reader.
AmeriCymru: Given the intensely ornate and detailed nature of the infernal apparatus with which Tim despatches his victims were you tempted to include graphics in the book, diagrams etc ?
Jeremy: The killing machine is better left to the reader''s imagination, but I did sketch details for my benefit when I was working out the book.
AmeriCymru: Can you reassure our readers that there are currently no mass murderers on the loose in the vicinity of Twmbarlwm?
Jeremy: The last time I was there, no, but now...
AmeriCymru Who are you currently reading? Any recommendations?
Jeremy: Over the last twelve months...
Fine Memoirs:
Andrew Motion’s In the Blood
Bill Bryson’s The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
Diana Athill’s Somewhere Towards the End
And one especially for Welsh expats: Byron Rogers’s fabulous Three Journeys. He also wrote the very good biography of R. S. Thomas, The Man Who Went into the West.
Many war books, including Karl Marlantes’s novel Matterhorn (Vietnam), Sebastian Junger’s reportage War (Afghanistan), and Patrick Hennessey’s memoir The Junior Officers’ Reading Club: Killing Time and Fighting Wars. Adam Thorpe’s novel The Rules of Perspective(WWll) is wonderful: humane, perceptive, writerly and surprising. Pat Barker’s superb novel Regeneration (WWl). I found Michael Ondaatje’s novel The English Patient (WWll) deeply satisfying.
Other novels:
Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections
Paul Harding’s Tinkers
Don DeLillo’s Point Omega.
AmeriCymru: What''s next for Jeremy Hughes? Any new work currently in progress?
Jeremy: My second novel, provisionally titled Tender Green, is very different, set in America, England and Wales. The first half of the book concerns the pilot of a USAAF Flying Fortress who is stationed in Suffolk, England during 1943. He marries a woman from the nearby town and is lost when returning from a mission his aircraft crashes in Wales. It’s a mystery, since the bodies of the crew are recovered, but not the pilot’s.
The marriage produces a son who is not permitted to know about his father, because the mother is so grief-stricken. When the mother dies and the son turns fifty, he sets out to find the place where his father crashed. He unearths much more than he expected about his father and mother, as well as himself.
I am about half-way through the first draft of novel three, Paint, a crime novel set in Wales, Madrid and Barcelona. I’ve had a wonderful time doing the research, visiting the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, as well as the Reina Sofia and Prado in Madrid.
AmeriCymru: Where can our readers go to find your other published works?
Jeremy: I have published two pamphlets of poetry, breathing for all my birds, which is no longer in print, and The Woman Opposite, which is. Unfortunately, I haven’t written any poetry for several years since concentrating on fiction.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Jeremy: I am delighted that there is an audience for Welsh writers in the US.
I have been meaning to visit New York for some time (yes, I realise that’s not representative of America!), to visit the fine museums and galleries. There are so many paintings I’d like to see. But all sorts of things have conspired to prevent me. One day.
I hope AmeriCymru readers enjoy Dovetail.
With all best wishes,
Jeremy Hughes
Book Details
Dovetail
Tim is emasculated by a gang of bullies at the age of fifteen and devotes his life to revenge. He plans to build a machine that will kill each member of the gang one by one.
Written by: Jeremy Hughes
Published by: Alcemi
Date published: 2011-09-11
ISBN: 0956012531
Available in Paperback
Born on this day 1988 in Gorseinon
Leigh Halfpenny - Wales and Lions rugby international.
Halfpenny made his debut for Wales aged 19 and has since become a regular member of the side, as well as first choice goal kicker. He was awarded Player of the Tournament in the 2013 Six Nations Championship.
He had to withdraw from the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa due to injury, but on the 2013 tour to Australia, he was player of the series, playing in all three tests and breaking the points scoring record for the Lions.
Born on this day 1822 at Tanrhiwfelen, a house just outside Aberystwyth.
Ieuan Gwyllt, the bardic name of musician and minister John Roberts, who is perhaps best remembered for his Welsh translation of the hymn "Gwahoddiad"
His bardic name is derived from the nomme de plume he used whilst writing poetry as a boy, 'Ieuan Gwyllt Gelltydd Melindwr' (John of the Wild Woods near the Mill Tower).
Roberts's "Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaol" was the first book of Welsh Hymn tunes. He also founded in 1859 the Welsh hymn-singing festivals and as such was much in demand as a conductor and as an adjudicator in eisteddfodau. In 1861, he was ordained a Calvinistic Methodist minister and was a gifted preacher.
Born on this day 1967 in Blackwood.
Richey Edwards - lyricist and rhythm guitarist of the Manic Street Preachers, best known for his politicized songwriting and mysterious disappearance, which have gained him cult status.
Edwards disappeared on 1st February 1995 and was officially presumed dead on 23rd November 2008 and it is widely believed that he committed suicide, by jumping off the Severn Bridge.
On 22nd December 1844 John Jones (Shoni Sguborfawr) and David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr) were convicted for their part in the Rebecca Riots, both men were sentenced to be transported to Van Diemen's Land (modern-day Tasmania).
The Rebecca Riots were a series of protests that took place between 1839 and 1843 in South and Mid Wales, undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers, who took direct action against toll gates in response to perceived unfair taxes and tolls. The general public supported the riots and very few rioters were arrested and convicted. However, some of those taking part used the guise of 'Rebecca' for their own gain, to exact revenge and extort money. Two such men were Shoni Sguborfawr (Johnny Big Barn) and Dai'r Cantwr ( David the singer)
Shoni (John Jones) was described as "a half-witted and inebriate ruffian" from Penderyn, near Merthyr had made a name for himself as a hard man in the toughest area of Merthyr. He had shot a man in Pontyberem and had a police record for being drunk and disorderly and brawling in the streets.
Dai'r Cantwr (David Davies) was a farm labourer from Llancarfan, near Cowbridge who was also well known to the police.,
During the riots, both men were paid to take a prominent role in attacking the toll-gates, but after the riots ended they began using extortion to gain money from several farmers, threatening to reveal them as Rebecca Rioters. Eventually, people turned against them and they were reported to the police, warrants were issued for their arrest and they were placed in custody in Carmarthen Goal.
On 22 December 1843, they were sentenced to transportation to Van Dieman's Land. Dai Cantwr was sentenced to 20 years and 'Shoni' for life. In Van Dieman's Land, they were unable to stay out of trouble and continued to be anti-social and aggressive, both men being convicted for stealing and being drunk and disorderly. However, both men were eventually awarded tickets of leave and returned to Wales.
Jasper Tudor (1431 – 21/26 December 1495) was the uncle and guardian of King Henry VII of England. He was also the architect of Henry's successful conquest of England and Wales in 1485.
A timeline of the life of Jasper Tudor;
1431 - Jasper was born at the Bishop of Ely's manor at Hatfield in Hertfordshire in 1431, the second son of Owen Tudor and the former Queen Catherine of Valois, the widow of Henry V of England. He was therefore, the half-brother to Henry VI. Through his father, Jasper was a descendent of Llywelyn the Great's Chancellor, Ednyfed Fychan.,
1437 - On Catherine's death, Owen Tudor was arrested and sent to Newgate prison. Jasper and his brother Edmund were put into the care of Katherine de la Pole, a nun at Barking Abbey, in Essex.
1442 - Jasper and Edmund's half-brother, King henry VI, began to take an interest in their upbringing and they were brought to live at court. Henry arranged for the best priest to educate them intellectually and morally.
1452 - Jasper was was created the Earl of Pembroke and Edmund the Earl of Richmond. In turn, they gave Henry unwavering loyalty and fought and promoted his and his Lancastrian family’s interests.
1456 - On the death of Edmund, Jasper took over the responsibility of maintaining the Lancastrian ties within Wales.
1461 - After the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in Herefordshire, in which the Lancastrian forces, led by Owen Tudor, were defeated. Jasper was forced to flee in disguise to Pembroke, eventually escaping to France via Scotland. However the four-year-old Henry Tudor was left behind at Pembroke Castle, under the custody of Edward IV's supporter, William Herbert, who was never cruel to the boy, in fact, he and his wife, Anne Devereux, raised him as their own.
1468 - Jasper returned to Wales, with the support of Louis XI of France and gathered 2000 men, but was eventually routed at Harlech Castle and forced to return to France
1469 - Jasper's invasion, did, however, create a breach in the Yorkist party, as the Earl of Warwick became dissatisfied with the king and switched sides to support Henry VI. Warwick later defeated and killed Herbert ( Henry's guardian) at the Battle of Edgecote, leaving Henry Tudor under the protection of Anne Devereux, in Herefordshire.
1470 - Jasper launched another invasion, this time with the support of Warwick and when they arrived in Hereford, he was reunited with Henry Tudor. Meanwhile, Warwick marched on London and freed HenryVI from the Tower, restoring him as king. Edward IV was forced to flee to Holland. It was also a reunion for Henry and his mother, who spent about six weeks together in London. Jasper briefly regained the earldom of Pembroke.
1471 - Edward IV returned from Europe, killed Warwick at the Battle of Barnet and was reinstated himself on the throne. Henry VI was killed, prompting Jasper to raise an army to fight Edward which was to be reinforced by Henry VI's widow, Margaret of Anjou and their son Prince Edward. She gathered an army in the West Country and marched north toward Wales to join forces with Jasper, but Edward IV confronted them at Tewkesbury on 4 May and soundly defeated them killing Prince Edward. Henry Tudor was now one of the few surviving male heirs of the Lancastrian line. Jasper, realising Henry's vulnerability, decided to take him to safety in France, however, storms in the English Channel forced them to land at Le Conquet in Brittany, where they were given refuge by Duke Francis II. Even though Edward IV placed diplomatic pressure on Duke Francis, the uncle and nephew remained safe from the clutches of the English king for the next 12 years
1483, Edward IV died unexpectedly and support grew for Henry Tudor, now the leading Lancastrian claimant to the crown. This encouraged his mother, Margaret Beaufort and Edward IV's widow, Elizabeth Woodville (the dowager Queen) to plan, Henry's return to Britain and wed Elizabeth's daughter, also Elizabeth (Elizabeth of York) to Henry Tudor, thereby uniting the Houses of Lancaster and York.
1485 - Henry landed near Milford Haven and marched through Wales, where he received substantial support. On 22nd August, Henry defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, to become King Henry VII.
1485 - Jasper subsequently had all previous attainders annulled, he was restored to all his former titles and was made a Knight of the Garter. On 7th November, he married Catherine Woodville, a sister to Edward IV's queen Elizabeth Woodville.
1488 - Jasper took possession of Cardiff Castle.
Celtic Festivals.
Yule - Winter Solstice.
The Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere occurs on either December the 21st or 22nd. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year when the sun's daily maximum elevation in the sky is the lowest.
The midwinter festival of Yule appears first in the 4th century Gothic language of the Germanic peoples and was later absorbed into the Christian festival of Christmas. The term "Yule log" is one of a number of terms used to refer to the custom and in Welsh it is called a boncyff Nadolig.
It is speculated that the Celtic Druids observed the winter solstice, as it marks the shortest day and the rebirth of the Sun, when the hours of daylight increase, until the Summer Solstice. It is thought that the Druids would gather by the oldest mistletoe-clad oak, from which, the Chief Druid would remove the mistletoe with his golden sickle, to be caught by the other Druids standing below with an open sheet, making sure none of it touched the ground. The early Christian church, in fact, banned the use of mistletoe because of its association with Druids.
In the recent Welsh Druidic tradition, the Winter solstice festival is known as Alban Arthan. The name deriving from the writings of Iolo Morganwg, the 19th-century radical poet and is observed in a manner that commemorates the death of the Holly King identified with the wren bird (symbolizing the old year and the shortened sun) at the hands of his son and successor, the Oak King (the new year and the new sun that begins to grow).
Wales beat the New Zealand All Blacks 13 -12 on 21st December 1935.
Wales, captained by Claude Davey and inspired by Wilf Wooler and Cliff Jones secured victory with only 10 minutes remaining in the match even though they were reduced to 14 men following a neck injury to hooker Don Tarr. Wooller broke the All Blacks defence then chipped ahead, but the bounce of the ball prevented him from gathering to score. However, Geoffrey Jones was in support and managed to go over for his second try of the match, which prooved to be the match winner.
21st December 1990 saw the final closure of the last pit in the Rhondda when the miners of Maerdy colliery made an emotional and dignified march from the pit for the very last time.
It marked the end of an era when the Rhondda became the most intensely mined area in Britain, starting with the discovery of coal at the Dinas Mine in 1809 to at its peak, when the valleys had 66 mines in production with a yearly output of nine-and-half million tonnes, to the demise of the industry following the First World and the emergence of oil as a competitor in the 1960s and 1970s.
Editorial cartoonist and visual commentator, Joseph Morewood Staniforth (better known as J.M. Staniforth) died on 21 December 1921.
Born in Gloucester in 1863, Staniforth began working for the Western Mail at 15 and the paper started publishing his cartoons in 1889. His drawings and cartoons covered the changing political scene and social unrest in Wales of the period. One of his most famous creations was 'Dame Wales' a woman dressed in the national costume, who spoke words of reason and symbolised Wales in a similar manner to the way that other cartoonists would use Britannia to symbolise Britain.
21st December 1890 saw the onset of a snowfall in Wales during a winter which saw temperatures fall to the lowest ever recorded, with the River Severn being frozen over enough to allow traffic to travel over it and sheep & pigs to be roasted on top of it.
Born to Welsh parents on this day 1799 in Worcester.
John "Jacky" Vaughan.
At an early age, Vaughan followed his father in working at Dowlais Ironworks. Over the years, he worked his way up through the industry to become an ironmaster and in 1840, went into partnership with the industrialist Henry Bolckow, from which the ironmaking and mining company, Bolckow, Vaughan & Co.Ltd was founded in 1864. It was this company that is credited with transforming the small rural town of Middlesbrough into the centre of ironmaking in Britain.
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Today we are pleased to announce that the 2014 West Coast Eisteddfod Short Story Competition winner will appear in Cambria Magazine - the magazine that celebrates all things Welsh.
ABOUT CAMBRIA
Cambria Magazine
Cambria Magazine's mission is to celebrate and promote all that is good in Wales and about Wales. Cambria is the only independent, Welsh-owned, cultural and lifestyle magazine distributed throughout the whole of Wales, in addition to reaching subscribers in over 40 countries worldwide. Welsh to the core, there is nothing quite like Cambria!
ABOUT THE WCE
West Coast Eisteddfod Story Competition
The West Coast Eisteddfod 2014 Short Story Competition is now open for submissions. To review the rules and submission guidelines please go to this page . Our judge for 2014 will be Welsh poet and author Mike Jenkins. First prize will be $200 and publication in Cambria Magazine
For full details and submission guidelines please go to the West Coast Eisteddfod 2014 Short Story Competition page
Frances Elizabeth Hoggan (née Morgan) - the first British woman to receive a doctorate in medicine from a European university and the first female doctor to be registered in Wales.
Frances Hoggan's father was a curate and she was raised and educated in Cowbridge and Windsor. She obtained her doctorate from Zurich University in 1870, after which, she married Dr George Hoggan and the couple then operated the first husband-and-wife medical practice in the UK. Francis was also an active campaigner for social reform, particularly involved in racial issues.
On 20th December 1955, Cardiff was proclaimed the capital of Wales.
* The Romans settled in Cardiff in 55 AD and built a military fort on the site of Cardiff Castle.
* Llandaff Cathedral stands on one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain and dates back to 1107.
* Cardiff is home to the world’s oldest record store – Spillers, which opened in 1894.
* The world’s first £1 million cheque was signed in Cardiff’s coal exchange in 1904.
* In 1910, Captain Scott left from Cardiff for his ill-fated journey to the South Pole.
* Cardiff was designated as the world's first Fair Trade Capital City.
* Cardiff has a population of 346,000 and attracts more than 18 million visitors a year.
* Four of Cardiff’s buildings have won prestigious RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) awards – Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff Met University’s School of Management, Chapter Arts Centre & Cardiff Central Library.
* Cardiff was the European Capital of Sport for 2014.
* The National Museum in Cardiff is home to one of the best Impressionist art collections outside Paris, boasting works by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Cézanne.
Born on this day 1912 in Bridgend.
Sir Morien Bedford Morgan - "The Father Of Concorde"
Morgan became interested in aircraft, whilst studying at Cambridge University, after which he secured employment with the Royal Aircraft Establishment, before becoming the Controller of Aircraft within the Ministry of Aviation.
In 1948, he began researching the possibility of a supersonic passenger airliner and in 1956 when Chairman of the Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee, selected the Bristol 223 as the basis for the design of what would ultimately become Concorde.
Born on this day 1976 in Newport.
Adam James Powell - game designer and businessman, who with his wife Donna founded Neopets and Meteor Games.
Born on this day 1792, near Llangadog, Carmarthenshire.
David Griffiths, who was a missionary in Madagascar, who together with fellow Welsh missionary David Jones, from Cardiganshire, translated the first Bible to be printed in an African language.
Griffiths and his wife, Mary, were sent to Madagascar in 1821, by the London Missionary Society, where along with David Jones, founded the first Protestant mission in Madagascar, under the patronage of King Radama I.
They also translated the Bible, which was published in 1835. However, following the king’s death, the new monarch, Queen Ranavalona I banned Christianity in 1835. This led Griffiths to disguise himself as a trader, in order to help the persecuted Christians.
He returned to Wales in 1840 to become a pastor and published a history of Madagascar in Welsh, as well as a Malagasy grammar in English.
Born on this day 1926 in Port Talbot
Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy Prime Minister, whose resignation speech in 1990 is widely considered to have precipitated Margaret Thatcher's downfall as Prime Minister three weeks later.
Gladstones Library in Hawarden - Britains only Prime Ministerial Library
Nestled in the charming Flintshire village of Hawarden is one of Britains truly unique historical buildings - a national memorial founded and maintained in honour of one of the nations most revered politicians.
American residents are familiar with the concept of presidential libraries, but Gladstones Library, built to commemorate Victorian statesman William Gladstone, is Britains only existing equivalent. The Prime Ministerial library contains some 250,000 printed items, including Gladstones personal collection of 32,000 books and non-political papers. Originally founded on the principle of making Gladstones collection available to the public, the Grade I listed building, completed in 1902, is now a busy hub of literary and academic activity.
The library's vast collection places particular emphasis on Gladstones specialist areas of interest, including history, politics, literature, culture and religion. On top of a readily accessible collection of fascinating literary works and records, the library also boasts a residential wing , comprising 26 boutique-style rooms.
Founded by the Gladstone family four years after the completion of the library, the residential wing welcomed its first resident on June 29 1906.
Now, 107 years on, the residential quarters have recently undergone a tasteful redesign.
Providing complete calm and tranquility, particularly as they have been fitted without televisions, the bedrooms provide a relaxing base for visitors to immerse themselves in literary pursuits and the library's rich collection of books, as well as the beautiful surrounding grounds.
Every year hundreds of people from around the world stay at the library to soak up its calming, creative atmosphere, including members of the US friends of Gladstones Library - a stateside group dedicated to supporting the library's activities.
The librarys Warden Peter Francis, who visited Washington DC and Minneapolis in November as part of a micro promotional tour, said the library had a longstanding relationship with supporters across the Atlantic.
Peter said: Around 10 per cent of our beds are taken by American visitors. Generally we find a lot of academics and historians, as well as clergy that are on sabbatical, like to stay here.
The library has a long association with the USA, which led to the formation of the US Friends group in 2007. Six years on we have a strong network of supporters in the States, as well as a dedicated US Gladstones Facebook page and 400 subscribers to our US mailing list.
I was very warmly received on the tour I undertook earlier this year, and we always get a great response from US visitors to the library.
We find that visitors from the States are looking for the opportunity to focus and study in a calm environment. They may have a specialist area of interest that we share, such as 19th century history, but generally we find its that opportunity to focus and study that is most attractive.
Gladstone said that nobody that has an interest in staying here should be put off by cost, which is a round-about way of saying were also an affordable place to stay!
As well as through its calming and creative environment and impressive collection of books, papers and journals, the library also attracts visitors looking to engage in its thriving programme of literary and cultural events.
The diverse schedule covers a broad range of interests, from a discussion with Gene Robinson, the first openly gay priest to be consecrated a bishop when he was elected to the post in New Hampshire in 2003, to Hearth, a cosy miniature literary festival of talks and workshops set around the blazing fire of the library's Gladstone Room.
This year will also see Gladstones Library put on its biggest ever Writers in Residence programme, where nine acclaimed writers will take up residency at the library throughout 2014. The writers, who include California-based historical fiction author Patricia Bracewell, will work on their own projects over the duration of their stay, as well as hosting a talk and creative writing workshop.
The Writers in Residence programme continues the library's tradition of providing a sanctuary conducive to creative work, with an estimated 550 literary and scholarly works having been written or researched in its grounds since 2000. The coming year will also see an alumni group from Mount Olive College, North Carolina, visit in May, and the Friends of Washington National Cathedral, who also visited in 2013, are set to return in July.
Many American visitors are also expected to return for Gladfest, a September literary festival that forms the highlight of the librarys cultural calendar. After a successful debut last year, which saw more than 1,000 people attend the inaugural festival, Gladfest 2014 features a busy schedule of literary activities and discussion from September 5th to the 7th . For more information about Gladstones Library, visit gladstonelibrary.org , or for further details of the US Friends of Gladstones Library group, email president Abigail Nichols at abigail_nichols@hotmail.com .
The Penmachno Document was created on 19th December 1294 at Penmachno in Gwynedd by Madog ap Llywelyn during his revolt against the unfair rule of the English.
Although the document only consists of the grant of two parcels of land, it is significant in the fact that it is the only surviving document issued by Madog in which he styles himself prince of Wales.
Madog was the son of Llywelyn ap Maredudd, who supported the attempt to overthrow Llywelyn ap Gruffudd the Prince of Wales at the Battle of Bryn Derwin in 1255 and was subsequently exiled to England, where Madog was probably born.
Madog is known to have received a substantial amount of money from King Edward I of England in 1277, which in 1278, he used to sue Llywelyn ap Gruffudd attempting to regain his father's cantref of Meirionydd. After the death of Llywelyn in 1282, it would appear that Madog returned to Gwynedd and received lands in Anglesey from the King.
In the autumn of 1294, Madog put himself at the head of a national revolt in response to the imposition of unfair taxes by the royal administrators. However, a final battle between Madog's men and those of the English crown occurred at the battle of Maes Moydog in Powys in 1295, in which the Welsh army were defeated and Madog barely escaped with his life. He was later captured and taken to London, however he escaped execution, as he is recorded as still being alive in 1312.
Wales beat the New Zealand All Blacks 13 -8, on 19th December 1953.
Flanker, Sid Judd and wing, Ken Jones scored tries for Wales in what still remains the last time Wales defeated New Zealand.
A special hour-length final episode of the popular television documentary Coal House was shown on 19th December 2009
The two-part series followed the lives of modern day families replicating the lifestyle of people in the Welsh coal mining town of Blaenavon in two earlier periods of the 20th century.
The first series is set in the economically depressed time of 1927 and shows how the men and boys over 14 were required to walk over the mountains to work in the local coal mine, while the women had to run a home without electricity and running water.
The second series is set at the end of World War II, in 1944 and shows how the men and boys over 14 were expected to do Home Guard duties, after a long day's work at the coal mine. The women are expected to run the home with limited rations, whilst also looking after war evacuees and Bevin Boys, who were conscripted to work in the mines.
Released on 19th December 2008, Frost/Nixon, starring Welsh actor Michael Sheen as David Frost in a film dramatisation of the Nixon interviews of 1977.
Owen Gruffydd (1643 - December 1730) was a poet who wrote about his sadness of the decline of the Welsh language.
Owen Gruffydd was born in the parish of Llanystumdwy, Caernarfonshire, where he was a weaver by profession and gained high repute as a poet. He gradually lost his sight with old age, after which he dictated his verse to friends.
Most of Gruffydd's poems were written in honor of the local aristocracy , but he also wrote popular verse, such as carols for Christmastide. A large collection of Gruffydd's works is archived in the British Museum and the National Library of Wales.
Beef Seeds - Newport And Wales Finest Bluegrass Band & Ryan Seacrest Winners Talk To AmeriCymru
By Ceri Shaw, 2013-12-18
Click above or here to listen to the Beef Seeds winning cover
Today we are pleased and proud to present an interview with Newport and Wales' number one bluegrass band - The Beef Seeds
Not heard The Beef Seeds yet? Don't miss out! Click this link ...or this one
BREAKING NEWS: The Beef Seeds win Ryan Seacrest's Best Cover of Avicii's "Wake Me Up"!! To read the announcement go here
To hear their winning entry on YouTube click the pic above. On behalf of all at AmeriCymru I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 'Seeds' on a well deserved win.
Beef Seeds: The Interview
David Davies - the much respected coal baron and industrialist.
Davies left school at 11, to work with his father at a sawmill. He then began organising labourers for the railway lines that were starting to appear all over Wales, before turning his attention to the rapidly growing coal industry. He invested all of his money, leasing land in the Rhondda in the hope of striking coal, however, he failed initially to find profitable seams and was facing financial ruin, when his workers showed incredible loyalty and faith in him, by working without wages for one last attempt to find coal. The breakthrough came at the Cwmparc mine, near Treorchy, from which Davies's fortunes rose.
He established the Ocean Coal Company Ltd and was exporting so much coal through Cardiff docks, that when the docks owner, the Marquess of Bute , started to raise his charges, Davies was instrumental in the building of the rival docks at Barry.
On 18th December 1967, Newtown in Powys was designated as a new town, the second such town in Wales.
The project aimed to reverse rural depopulation by attracting new industries and jobs to the area and involved re-channelling the River Severn to reduce the risk of flooding in the town.
Born on this day 1920 in Cilfyydd, near Pontypridd
Merlyn Rees - Labour party Member of Parliament from 1963 until 1992, who held the positions of both Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1974–1976) and Home Secretary (1976–1979).
Born on this day 1707 in Epworth, Lincolnshire.
Charles Wesley - an early leader of the Methodist movement and prolific composer of hymns, who married Welsh woman Sarah Gwynne from Garth near Builth Wells.
At Oxford university, Charles formed a group dedicated to Bible study and the living of a holy life, in which he was joined by his elder brother John. In 1738, both brothers experienced a "conversion" after which they felt compelled to spread the word of the Gospel.
On one of his preaching tours to Wales in 1749, Charles met and married Sarah Gwynne (1726–1822), from Garth, near Builth Wells, who was the daughter of the magistrate Marmaduke Gwynne, The couple moved to Bristol and Sarah then accompanied Charles his evangelistic tours.
During his lifetime, Charles Wesley published the words of over six thousand hymns, including; "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" and "Rejoice, the Lord is King"
Born on this day 1987 in Salford and raised in Llandrindod Wells.
Dan Lydiate - Wales And Lions rugby international.
During his career, Lydiate has shown an impressive commitment to overcome the adversity of serious injury. At 19 he recovered from a serious career threatening neck injury and at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, he infamously woke every hour to treat an ankle injury. Lydiate is regarded as one of Wales's best tacklers and was awarded the Player of the Tournament award in the 2012 Six Nations Championship.
Peggy Cummins (born in Prestatyn on 18 December 1925) is a retired Welsh-born Irish actress. Cummins is best known for her performance in Joseph H. Lewis' Gun Crazy (1949), playing a trigger-happy femme fatale who robs banks with her lover (played by John Dall).
Sarah Jacobs, the 'Welsh Fasting Girl' died on 17th December 1869.
Sarah was born in 1857 on a farm near Llanfihangel-ar-Arth in Carmarthenshire. When she was nine, she became seriously ill and was confined to bed for a considerable period of time. She passed the time by composing poems and reading the Bible, but then according to her parents, Evan and Hannah, she suddenly began to refuse food. However, she did not suffer any ill effects and seemed to be thriving.
Word got about and soon, Sarah became famous, with people travelling from all over Wales and England to see her lying in her bed surrounded by flowers and reading the Bible. They considered themselves to be witnessing a miracle and were encouraged to give gifts and money to Sarah.
Some people, however, were obviously sceptical and Dr Phillips of Guy's Hospital decided to arrange for six nurses to carry out a 24 hour vigil, in which they would observe, but offer no treatment or help unless Sarah asked for food. This Sarah did not do and she slowly lapsed into semi-consciousness, before dying on 17th December 1869. An autopsy later found food in Sarah's stomach and tragically groove marks on her toes, where it was supposed she had been tried to open a stone water bottle in a desperate attempt to get water.
People were outraged when news of the cruel experiment and Sarah's death became public and her parents were imprisoned for manslaughter, however, none of the doctors or nurses were ever prosecuted.
The Royal mint at Llantrisant was opened on 17th December 1968 in readiness for the introduction of the decimal coinage. It now mints all of the UK's coinage, as well as those of many other countries.
William Floyd born on Long Island on December 17, 1734, was an American politician from New York, and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. His family from Breconshire had emigrated to America in 1654 and become wealthy through farming.
Floyd's father died when he was in his teens and he was required to take over the family farm. He joined the Suffolk County Militia during the American War of Independence from Britain, attaining the rank of major general and in 1774, was chosen to represent New York in the first Continental Congress.
Born on this day 1987 in Crescent, Oklahoma, U.S.
Bradley Edward Manning, now known as Chelsea Manning
Manning is a United States Army soldier who received a 35 year prison sentence in July 2013 for violations of the Espionage Act, after making public, the largest set of classified documents ever leaked.
Bradley's mother, Susan Fox, was from Haverfordwest and met his American serviceman father while he was stationed at the nearby Cawdor Barracks. Bradley returned to Wales with his mother, after his parents were divorced and attended the Tasker Millward secondary school in Haverfordwest.
