Gwilym (1935-2025)
Mar
Gwilym Roberts was a much-loved and well-known resident of Rhiwbina. His dedication to promoting the Welsh language was renowned throughout the world. His legacy will be felt for generations to come
By Iolo Walters
There is hardly any need to add the surname to Gwilym’s name: those of us who are fortunate enough to have been born and bred in Rhiwbeina have no need to do so. Gwilym lived and breathed Rhiwbeina. He thought the world of the village.
Yet his horizons stretched far wider. He knew every nook and cranny of Wales, and he had friends in all corners of the country and beyond. The ability to make friends with people was based primarily on his eagerness to promote and foster the Welsh language. Even though very few people in Rhiwbeina in the 1930s and 1940s spoke Welsh, Gwilym’s parents ensured that he and his brother Wynn spoke Welsh and were fully aware of the best traditions and culture of Wales.
Gwilym had a legion of friends: they recognised his kindness and his unswerving intent of promoting the Welsh language wherever he went. Indeed, he had so many visitors whilst at the hospital that staff asked whether he was a politician.
His love of the Welsh language was channelled through Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League of Youth). The Urdd is a youth movement that promotes allegiance to Wales in every way. Gwilym based his activities to promote the language on the Urdd by establishing a youth club, held in the Recreation Club in Rhiwbeina for younger children. He also set up a youth club, Aelwyd Caerdydd, held in West Grove in the centre of town, for youths up to 25 years of age.
Aelwyd Caerdydd had a highly successful choir, winning numerous national competitions. It also organised folk dancing and it established a very successful rugby club. Gwilym further enhanced his work as a primary school teacher in Ely, Rumney, and Llanedeyrn, by arranging and leading highly successful language courses for Welsh learners at the Urdd camps in Llangrannog and Glan-llyn near Y Bala. Yet this was still not enough for Gwilym. With other colleagues, he was a pioneering member of the Ulpan courses (an intensive Welsh language course) for adults at the Urdd Centre in Heol Conwy.
Gwilym’s vision also extended to nursery provision. He felt it was important to ensure a sound footing for the language by establishing a Welsh language nursery school (Cylch Meithrin), initially at the Memorial Hall in Rhiwbeina, and then at Bethel Chapel in Maes y Deri. It was fitting that celebrations were held on 20th September 2025 to note 60 years since establishing the Cylch Meithrin in Bethel, together with celebrating Gwilym’s 90th birthday. The event was a joyous occasion attended by the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Cardiff (Councillors Adrian Robson and Jayne Cowan). Gwilym’s vision, together with the support of others, led to the establishment of a national Welsh language nursery school movement (Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin).
Gwilym retired from being a primary school teacher in 1990. He decided to visit Patagonia to teach Welsh in the footsteps of the Welsh pioneers. Once again, he established lifelong friends and colleagues. During birthday celebrations, it was noticeable the countless number of Zoom messages he received from friends in Patagonia. He was so highly regarded that a young person from Patagonia flew to Wales solely to attend his funeral at Capel Beulah.
Gwilym’s contribution to the promotion of the Welsh language has been recognised far and wide, but notably includes the award of an honorary degree by the Open University and the Sir TH Parry Williams Memorial Medal at the National Eisteddfod. Gwilym was the first recipient of the Aled Roberts Memorial Award for a significant contribution over a period of years to the promotion of the Welsh language. His unassuming nature thought that the invitations to these awards were hoaxes and it took some persuasion that he should attend the ceremonies.
Gwilym’s father worked for the Town Planning and Housing Trust and it gave Gwilym much pleasure to recount the meeting convened by his father between the Trust and tenants of Rhiwbeina Garden Village in 1968. The tenants attended the meeting in trepidation fearing the worst that they might be evicted from their homes, but they left the meeting finding it hard to believe that Gwilym’s father had announced that the Trust was being wound up and that the tenants could buy their house for £200. The tenants were overjoyed.
We extend our sympathy to his family: we can assure the family that Gwilym will always be remembered in Rhiwbeina.
Anodd meddwl am Riwbeina heb Gwilym. Mae gan y pentref ei hun gymaint o ddyled iddo heb sôn am ddyled ein cenedl iddo. Ni fyddai’r erthygl hon yn gyflawn heb gofnodi ein diolch iddo am ei gyfraniad a bod y diolch hwnnw yn cael ei fynegi yn y Gymraeg. Estynnwn ein cydymdeimlad â’i deulu oll. Coffa da amdano.
