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Pennar Davies

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William Thomas Pennar Davies (12 November 1911 - 29 December 1996) was a Welsh clergyman and author.[1]

Born simply William Thomas Davies, in Mountain Ash (Welsh, "Aberpennar"), the son of a miner, he took the name "Pennar" "as a sign of his identification with the native culture of Wales".[2] Pennar Davies studied at University of Wales, Cardiff, at Balliol and Mansfield College, Oxford, and at Yale University. In 1943 he became a Congregational minister in Cardiff. He subsequently taught at Bala-Bangor Theological College, and became Principal of Swansea Memorial College in 1952, retaining the post until his retirement in 1981.

A member of Plaid Cymru, he was co-opted onto its Pwyllgor Gwaith Cenedlaethol at Easter 1947,[3] Literary Editor of the party's monthly newspaper, The Welsh Nationalist" from March 1947 [4] and its Editor from April 1949 [5] During this period, the newspaper published new poetry by Idris Davies and R.S. Thomas [6] Davies stood as a Parliamentary candidate at Llanelli in the UK general elections of 1964 and the 1966. He was a leading campaigner for Welsh language broadcasting.

Pennar Davies and his wife Rosemarie had five children. His eldest son Dr Meirion Pennar, became a leading Welsh language academic, poet and translator.[7]

Works

Poetry

  • Cinio'r Cythraul (1946)
  • Naw Wfft (1957)
  • Yr Efrydd o Lyn Cynon (1961)
  • Y Tlws yn y Lotws (1971)

Short stories

  • Caregl Nwyf (1966)

Novels

  • Meibion Darogan (1968)
  • Mabinogi Mwys (1979)

Non-fiction

  • Rhwng Chwedl a Chredo (1966)

References

  1. ^ Huw Ethall - Pennar Davies - Y Dyn a'i Waith. Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru, 1998 (Welsh)
  2. ^ The Independent obituary 2 January 1997
  3. ^ The Welsh Nationalist, May 1947
  4. ^ The Welsh Nationalist, March 1947, p.4
  5. ^ The Welsh Nation (q.v.) May 1949
  6. ^ July 1944, November 1944, November 1946, September 1947, November 1947
  7. ^ "Poet and Welsh works translator Meirion Pennar dies". BBC Wales. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-19.