THE two surviving original members of iconic Cardigan pop band Ail Symudiad say they have been touched by the appearance of a mystery mural coinciding with Friday night’s Fflach tribute concert at Cardigan Castle.

The mural – a tribute to Ail Symudiad founders Richard and Wyn Jones as well as David R Edwards of seminal Welsh band Datblygu – was discovered at Pwllhai by staff at Mexican takeaway restaurant El Salsa on Sunday morning.

Evidently created in the style of legendary artist Banksy it shows a figure releasing two balloons, denoting both the loss of local artist ‘Dai Datblygu’ and Richard and Wyn, all three of whom died last year.

The poignant tribute has sparked much speculation as to who is responsible and no-one is more intrigued than former Ail Symudiad drummer Gareth Lewis and bassist Robin Davies who teamed up with the Jones brothers to form the band way back in 1981.

“It just seems to have appeared from nowhere,” Gareth told the Tivy-Side.

“I’m keen to find out who’s behind this touching mural as Wyn and Rich were not just my pals – we were also first cousins and lived in the same street in Cardigan.

“We went on to start Fflach Records with our fourth band member Robin Davies, but it is Wyn and Rich who symbolised what Ail Symudiad and Fflach were all about and carried the banner for years until they tragically died within five weeks of each other.

“If you can help in finding out who did this both Robin and I would love to tell them how much their artistic interpretation is appreciated.”

County councillor Clive Davies, a close family friend, described the street artwork as ‘apt and well timed’ as it followed the Cardigan Castle event where various artists from the Welsh music scene performed before around 400 spectators in celebration of Fflach’s 40th anniversary.

“The artwork is a simple portrayal of Cardigan’s loss of these three icons,” he added.

“It adds to the street art across the town with the Earth Day mural near Finch and the Cardigan artwork along the river.”