A VERY familiar face in Jim Parc Nest (T James Jones) was chaired at this year’s final Gorsedd ceremony.

Jim won the Chair at the 2019 Eisteddfod at Conwy for a poem or collection of poems entitled Gorwelion (Horizons).

Originally from Newcastle Emlyn, Jim now lives in Radyr, Cardiff. He is a former Archdruid and it is the second time he has won the National Eisteddfod Chair, following his success at the Flintshire National Eisteddfod 12 years ago in 2007.

He has also won the Eisteddfod Crown twice, in Fishguard in 1986 and Newport two years later in 1988.

A published poet, stage, radio and television dramatist, he wrote Dan y Wenallt, his translation of Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas.

He said: “This poem was created during a politically tumultuous period for Wales. But by accepting Iolo Morganwg, the Freedom Poet’s hopeful vision, we may, during this frightful time, withstand the imperialistic oppression of Britishness.”

Speaking from the stage on behalf of his fellow-adjudicators, Llion Jones said that only seven poets had competed for the Chair this year, and after discussing the other six poems, he turned to the winning composition, saying, “If you’ve done your maths, you’ll know that there’s one still in the running. This poet is Wil Tabwr ((Mr Jones' pseudonym) and thank goodness for this.

"This is a poetic drama in strict metre, a vibrant portrayal of Iolo Morganwg, the stonemason from Fleminstoin, father of the Gorsedd of the Bards, and in the words of his biographer, historian Geraint Jenkins, one of the most intelligent and creative Welshmen ever seen.

"This is a poem celebrating the creative and radical spirit which was so much part of Iolo, and which is, according to the poet and Iolo alike, invaluable to the survival of a nation.

“The three of us are in agreement, Wil Tabwr’s composition is well ahead in the race for this year’s Chair, due to its ambition, its orientation, its thoughts and its prosody.

“Wil Tabwr has created a dramatic and innovative poem, which is wholly worthy of the Conwy County National Eisteddfod Chair.

“I’m sure Iolo himself would be in his element thinking that today’s Gorsedd honours a poet who continues to sing ‘above the blackness of the precipice’, demanding to show that there is still a chink of little in the darkness.”