David Rees Griffiths: Difference between revisions
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'''David Rees Griffiths''' ( |
'''David Rees Griffiths''' (6 November 1882 – 17 December 1953), also known by his [[bardic name]] of '''Amanwy''', was a [[Wales|Welsh]] poet, and an older brother of politician [[Jim Griffiths]]. |
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Griffiths was born in Betws, |
Griffiths was born in [[Betws, Carmarthenshire]], where his father was a [[blacksmith]]. He was the fifth of ten children. He spent his working life as a [[coal]] [[miner]], beginning work in 1894 at the [[Child labour|age of eight]], after a brief education at the local [[primary school]]. |
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His father's [[Forge|smithy]] remained a gathering point for local intellectuals and political activists. On 28 January 1908 David was badly injured in a [[Mining accident|colliery explosion]], which killed one of his brothers. In 1919 he published his first volume of poetry, ''Ambell Gainc''.<ref name="WBO">{{cite web|url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-GRIF-REE-1882|title=GRIFFITHS, DAVID REES (‘Amanwy’; 1882-1953), poet and writer|author=Gomer Morgan Roberts|website=Dictionary of Welsh Biography|publisher=[[National Library of Wales]]|access-date=4 October 2018}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 1910, Griffiths won his first eisteddfod chair, going on to win a further fifty in local events. In the same year, his wife Margaret died of [[tuberculosis]]. Griffiths also had a career as a journalist, writing for the ''Amman Valley Chronicle'' and also for [[BBC]] Radio. In 1927, he travelled to [[South Africa]] along with his son Gwilym, who was suffering from the same disease |
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The profits from the edited volume {{lang|cy|O Lwch y lofa: cyfrol o ganu gan chwech o lowyr Sir Gar}} (1924) went towards helping Rev. Gomer Morgan Roberts supplement his scholarship to Fircroft Adult College near Birmingham. Griffiths edited the volume of selected works from local miners it 'easily sold a thousand copies' for a shilling each and gave the 24 year old Roberts £30 to help support him. He also wrote a weekly column in ''The Amman Valley Chronicle'' entitled ''Colofn Cymry'r Dyffryn'' (column for the Welsh speakers of the valley) using the pen name Cerddetwr (one who wanders aimlessly). |
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| ⚫ | In 1910, Griffiths won his first eisteddfod chair, going on to win a further fifty in local events. In the same year, his wife Margaret died of [[tuberculosis]]. Griffiths also had a career as a journalist, writing for the ''Amman Valley Chronicle'' and also for [[BBC]] Radio. In 1927, he travelled to [[South Africa]] along with his son Gwilym, who was suffering from the same disease from which Gwilym would die in 1935. In 1928, Griffiths became caretaker at the local [[grammar school]]. |
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"[[David (1951 film)|David]]"<ref name="WBO"/> a short film based on Griffiths' life, was made as part of the celebrations for the [[Festival of Britain]]. Amanwy played himself. As a younger man, he was portrayed by Ieuan Davies, who would later the youngest of Griffith's two daughters, Marged Mallt. Griffiths' eldest daughter Menna Ruth would teach at the local nursery school. She died in 2013. |
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==Works== |
==Works== |
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*''Ambell Gainc'' ( |
*''Ambell Gainc'' (1919) |
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*''0 Lwch y Lofa'' (ed.) ( |
*''0 Lwch y Lofa'' (ed.) (1924) |
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*''Caneuon Amanwy'' ( |
*''Caneuon Amanwy'' (1956) |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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[[Category:1953 deaths]] |
[[Category:1953 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Welsh-language poets]] |
[[Category:Welsh-language poets]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Welsh poets]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:45, 4 October 2024
David Rees Griffiths (6 November 1882 – 17 December 1953), also known by his bardic name of Amanwy, was a Welsh poet, and an older brother of politician Jim Griffiths.
Griffiths was born in Betws, Carmarthenshire, where his father was a blacksmith. He was the fifth of ten children. He spent his working life as a coal miner, beginning work in 1894 at the age of eight, after a brief education at the local primary school.
His father's smithy remained a gathering point for local intellectuals and political activists. On 28 January 1908 David was badly injured in a colliery explosion, which killed one of his brothers. In 1919 he published his first volume of poetry, Ambell Gainc.[1]
The profits from the edited volume O Lwch y lofa: cyfrol o ganu gan chwech o lowyr Sir Gar (1924) went towards helping Rev. Gomer Morgan Roberts supplement his scholarship to Fircroft Adult College near Birmingham. Griffiths edited the volume of selected works from local miners it 'easily sold a thousand copies' for a shilling each and gave the 24 year old Roberts £30 to help support him. He also wrote a weekly column in The Amman Valley Chronicle entitled Colofn Cymry'r Dyffryn (column for the Welsh speakers of the valley) using the pen name Cerddetwr (one who wanders aimlessly).
In 1910, Griffiths won his first eisteddfod chair, going on to win a further fifty in local events. In the same year, his wife Margaret died of tuberculosis. Griffiths also had a career as a journalist, writing for the Amman Valley Chronicle and also for BBC Radio. In 1927, he travelled to South Africa along with his son Gwilym, who was suffering from the same disease from which Gwilym would die in 1935. In 1928, Griffiths became caretaker at the local grammar school.
"David"[1] a short film based on Griffiths' life, was made as part of the celebrations for the Festival of Britain. Amanwy played himself. As a younger man, he was portrayed by Ieuan Davies, who would later the youngest of Griffith's two daughters, Marged Mallt. Griffiths' eldest daughter Menna Ruth would teach at the local nursery school. She died in 2013.
Works
[edit]- Ambell Gainc (1919)
- 0 Lwch y Lofa (ed.) (1924)
- Caneuon Amanwy (1956)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Gomer Morgan Roberts. "GRIFFITHS, DAVID REES ('Amanwy'; 1882-1953), poet and writer". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
Sources
[edit]