Rhydwen Williams facts for kids

Robert Rhydwenfro Williams (born August 29, 1916 – died August 2, 1997) was a Welsh poet, writer, and a Baptist minister. He mostly wrote in his native Welsh language. He was known for changing how Welsh poetry was written. He took old styles of poetry, often about country life, and made them fit modern industrial areas. But he still kept the traditional rhythm and structure of Welsh poems.

Life of Rhydwen Williams

Robert Rhydwenfro Williams was born in Pentre, a village in the Rhondda area of Wales. This was on August 29, 1916. He had at least one sibling. Like many families there, his family worked in coal mining.

Moving to England

In 1931, a time of economic depression hit the area. This meant many people lost their jobs. So, his family moved to England to find work. They settled in a village called Christleton. Robert stayed in England for about ten years. He worked many simple jobs there.

Return to Wales and Studies

In 1941, Robert returned to Wales. He found more chances there than in England. He became a pastor at a Baptist church in Ynyshir. He also studied at Swansea University and Bangor University. He did not study all the time, but whenever he could.

War and Public Speaking

During World War II, Robert was a conscientious objector. This means he refused to fight in the war. He believed in peace and was also a Welsh nationalist. He served in a Quaker relief group during the Liverpool Blitz. This group helped people during the bombings.

Robert had a very good speaking voice. Some people said it was like the famous Welsh actor Richard Burton. He often read poetry for the Welsh part of the BBC Home Service. He became a popular minister, even with his anti-war and pro-Wales views.

Writing Style and Awards

Robert was part of a group called the Cadwgan Circle. He met other writers like J. Gwyn Griffiths and Pennar Davies there. He was very close to J. Kitchener Davies. From this group, Robert developed his own writing style. It was different from the traditional style often seen at the National Eisteddfod.

He admired writers like Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. Even though his poetry was not traditional, the National Eisteddfod still liked his work. He won the Crown competition twice. He won in 1946 for his poem Yr Arloeswr (which means The Pioneer). He won again in 1964 for Yr Ffynhonnau (meaning The Springs).

Later Career and Health

In 1946, Robert left Ynyshir. He worked as a pastor in different places in Wales. These included Resolven and Pont-lliw near Swansea. He stayed there until 1959, then spent a year in Rhyl.

Later, Robert left his work as a minister. He took a job at Granada Television in Manchester. He presented Welsh language shows there. His great communication skills were very useful. He also wrote TV scripts. One of his scripts was about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It was the first Welsh-language TV play shown on a foreign network.

Many people think his best work is his trilogy Cwm Hiraeth. A trilogy is a series of three books. These books are partly about his own life. They tell the story of life in the Rhondda during the depression. The story is seen through the eyes of his Uncle Sion, who is a poet and thinker.

In the 1970s, Robert and his family lived in a council house in Ystrad Mynach. He continued to be an active member of the Welsh political party Plaid Cymru. In 1981, he had a stroke. This affected his physical health for the rest of his life. But he kept writing and publishing new material. He was also an editor for Barn, a Welsh-language magazine about current events. He edited it from 1980 to 1985.

Robert Rhydwenfro Williams died in Merthyr Tydfil on August 2, 1997. He was 81 years old. He left behind his wife and son.

Major Works

Novels

• Y Briodas (English: The Wedding, 1969)
• Y Siol Wen (English: The White Shawl, 1970)
• Dyddiau Dyn (1973)
• The Angry Vineyard (1975)
• Amser i Wylo: Senghennydd 1913 (English: Time to Cry: Senghenydd 1913, 1986)

Poetry

• Barddoniaeth Rhydwen Williams: Y casgliad cyflawn 1941-1991 (1991)