A Plaid Cymru candidate, who travelled to Libya with a delegation from the party in 1976 reveals that the party received £25,000 from the Libyan government. Carl Clowes, a well known anti-nuclear activist and candidate for Plaid Cymru in many elections, reveals this information in his autobiography published this week.

In the book, called Super Furries, Prins Seeiso, Miss Siberia – a Fi , Carl Clowes recalls the research trip in 1976 to Libya with Dr Phil Williams, Brian Morgan Edwards and John Lewis. After watching Gaddafi speak a representative asked how could they contribute towards their cause for independence. Carl explains how he understood through Brian Morgan Edwards “that £25,000 had come through to Plaid Cymru”.

This is one of many revelations in Carl’s honest autobiography – a lifelong campaigner for the Welsh language and also the father of two members of the Super Furry Animals.

Carl Clowes moved from his specialist occupation in Manchester to a one man practice in Pen Llŷn in 1970 to raise the family in a rural and Welsh community. There he saw the community and its populace deteriorating and the health of the area suffering.

‘It was a new vision and personal awakening in regards to the relationshop between people’s living conditions and people’s health that led me to change my career and specialise in social healthcare’ said Carl.

There was a threat that the Llanaelhaearn village school would close and a great need for for employment opportunities if the area was to survive. This led to the creation of several initiatives include establishing Nant Gwrtheyrn language centre in 1982 which has since seen over 30,000 experience the unique atmosphere of the Welsh learning centre.

Carl Clowes found himself embroiled in several Welsh language campaigns including unifying several organisations and forums in the campaign for a new language act and developing the first comprehensive strategy for the future of the Welsh language.

He was also the election candidate for Plaid Cymru in Montgomeryshire in 1979, 1983 and 1987.

‘After I realised that politicans are in the best place to influence the health of a society, I ventured to the political work of Westminster three times in Montgomeryshire,’ says Carl, ‘I had remarkable experiences but without election success.’

He is also a firm campaigner against Wylfa B and drew a manifesto for Anglesey outlining a proposed plan for sustainable employment and energy on the island.

He led the twinning between Wales and Lesotho in 1985 and established Dolen Cymru – the first of its kind in the world. He is now the Honorary Vice Consul for Lesotho in Wales. Carl has also worked in the third sector in countries such as Siberia , Cambodia, and Mizoram in India.

He has also been honoured by the White Robe by the National Eisteddfod for his local, national and international contributions. He is married to Dorothi and they have four children - Dafydd, Rhiannon, Angharad and Cian.

Super Furries, Prins Seeiso, Miss Siberia a Fi by Carl Clowes (£12.99, Y Lolfa) is out on October 1 ^st .