Amanwy

Qualities: Wisdom

                 Knowledge

                 Protection 

Chosen Charity: Shadows Depression Support Group. For more information, click here.

Named in memory of: David Rees Griffiths, also known by his bardic name, Amanwy. 

Born: 1882 in Betws        Died: 1953                             

Family: Father was a blacksmith. Amanwy was the fifth of ten children. He was an older brother of Labour MP James Griffiths, the first Secretary of State for Wales.

Occupation:  Became a miner from the age of 12.  He was badly injured in    a mining explosion that killed his brother. He also had a career as a journalist writing a column in Welsh for The Amman Valley Chronicle using the pen name Cerddetwr (one who wanders aimlessly). He also worked for BBC Radio.

Amanwy was a successful poet and won over 50 Eisteddfod Chairs. (Chairs are awarded to the winning poet at an Eisteddfod). 

He left the mines in 1927 to become caretaker of Amman Valley County School, which later became Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.