Four to be honoured with Eisteddfods Green Robe (From Western Telegraph)

Four to be honoured with Eisteddfods Green Robe

THE National Eisteddfod at St Davids is to honour one of Pembrokeshires best-known personalities, John Gower Williams - Jac Pontiago, of Goodwick - with the Green Robe on August 9th.

Like his forebears, John Gower Williams is a blacksmith, near Strumble Head. He is a man to whom the Gorsedd of Bards and the National Eisteddfod owes a great deal. Jac was chairman of the Gorsedd Committee at the time of the Fishguard National Eisteddfod in 1986 and vice-chairman this year at St Davids.

He was responsible for finding the stones used for the Gorsedd Circle at both Eisteddfodau. He also arranged for the steam engine, which pulled the stones into place at the 1936 Fishguard National Eisteddfod, to be repaired and back to its majestic condition for use in 1986 and last year when the stones were moved onto their present site.

As well as his contribution to the nation, Jac is a man who loves to work for the good of his community. He is chairman of Pencaer Community Council, and it is thanks to him that the council continues to work through the medium of Welsh.

At the annual Rhys Thomas James Eisteddfod at Lampeter in 1999, the Pembrokeshire journalist Hefin Wyn won the Eisteddfod Medal for his written portrait of John Gomer Jac Pontiago Williams.

In an interview the author stated: I was charmed by Jacs knowledge of the history and legends surrounding the place where he grew up, and his enthusiasm to share this knowledge with the many visitors who came to see where the French Invasion had taken place. He imparted the stories in a simple and unaffected way through the mother tongue - the dialect of Pencaer.

Jac Pontiagos lifelong attempt to keep the language and culture of Pencaer is remarkable. He and others like him have kept alive the best traditions of Welsh life in rural areas, such as Carreg Wastad, Pwllderi and Pencaer.

The well-known bass singer Eirwyn Charles has also been honoured with the Green Robe. Eirwyn, now living in London, was born at Glasfryn, Square and Compass, near Trefin.

He was taught at St Davids Grammar School (now Ysgol Dewi Sant) and the University College, Aberystwyth, where he graduated in mathematics. He taught at many schools, including at Geneva.

Eirwyn has sung all over the world, and established The New International Opera Company to bring operatic music to places where the chance of hearing opera sung by the large companies is non-existent. The name Alun James, of Cilgerran, is well-known to all who follow concerts and Nosweithiau Llawen around the county, and on television. Alun, who also receives the Green Robe, has been a farmer all his life, having had the privilege of staying in the same area and farming the same farm throughout his working life.

In 1986 he competed at the National Eisteddfod for the first time, when it was in Fishguard, and promptly took first prize for the humourous recitation.

Alun is also a deacon and former secretary of Penuel, Cilgerran Baptist Chapel.

Also honoured is W. Reggie Smart, of St Dogmaels, who was born at Pantygwyddel, Llanfyrnach. Following his presence at the poets workshop, run by a former winner of the Eisteddfod Chair, Eirwyn George, Reggie Smart became a poet to be reckoned with - winning seven chairs at various local eisteddfodau, and many prizes at Cardigans Gwyl Fawr Eisteddfod, including the sonnet eight times, the ballad three times and the dialect poem four times.