Angharad Tomos
Encyclopedia
Angharad Tomos is a Welsh
author and prominent language activist.
, in 1958, and raised with her five sisters in Llanwnda near Caernarfon
. She attended Ysgol Gynradd Bontnewydd and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle
. She began her higher education at Aberystwyth University, but left prior to completing her studies to go and work for Cymdeithas yr Iaith. She later graduated in Welsh and Sociology from Bangor University
and went on to receive an MA.
A relentless language activist and prominent author, Tomos has made a substantial contribution to Welsh-language children's literature. She won the crown at Eisteddfod yr Urdd with Hen Fyd Hurt in 1982. Tomos was also chairwoman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith from 1982 to 1984, during the launch of the campaigns for a Welsh Language Act
and a body to develop Welsh medium education.
Tomos writes and illustrates many children's books including her popular Rwdlan series, set in Gwlad y Rwla. Rala Rwdins was the first title in this series and was first published y Y Lolfa
in 1983.
In 1985 Tomos won a prize from the Academi Gymreig for her novel Yma o Hyd, about prison life, a life she herself experienced when she was imprisoned at Risley Prison for her actions whilst campaigning for the Welsh language. She has twice won the Prose Medal at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, and has also won the Tir na n-Og Award twice.
On 24 September 2009, a ceramic sculpture of Tomos was unveiled at Parc Glynllifon
, near Caernarfon
, it is the third of a series of six sculptures by Welsh artist Katie Scarlett Howard, as part of the Budding Artists' "Woman of Substance" project.
Tomos won the Mary Vaughan Jones Award
in 2009, for her outstanding contribution to children's literature in Wales.
She also writes a Welsh language column for the Daily Post
and keeps a blog on their website.
Tomos is married to Ben Gregory and now lives in Pen-y-Groes, Gwynedd
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
author and prominent language activist.
Biography
Tomos was born in Bangor, GwyneddBangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
, in 1958, and raised with her five sisters in Llanwnda near Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
. She attended Ysgol Gynradd Bontnewydd and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle
Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle
Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle is a small bilingual secondary school in Penygroes for pupils aged 11–18. In 2009 there were approximately 530 children enrolled including about 50 pupils in the sixth form...
. She began her higher education at Aberystwyth University, but left prior to completing her studies to go and work for Cymdeithas yr Iaith. She later graduated in Welsh and Sociology from Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
and went on to receive an MA.
A relentless language activist and prominent author, Tomos has made a substantial contribution to Welsh-language children's literature. She won the crown at Eisteddfod yr Urdd with Hen Fyd Hurt in 1982. Tomos was also chairwoman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith from 1982 to 1984, during the launch of the campaigns for a Welsh Language Act
Welsh Language Act 1993
The Welsh Language Act 1993 , is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which put the Welsh language on an equal footing with the English language in Wales with regard to the public sector....
and a body to develop Welsh medium education.
Tomos writes and illustrates many children's books including her popular Rwdlan series, set in Gwlad y Rwla. Rala Rwdins was the first title in this series and was first published y Y Lolfa
Y Lolfa
Y Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
in 1983.
In 1985 Tomos won a prize from the Academi Gymreig for her novel Yma o Hyd, about prison life, a life she herself experienced when she was imprisoned at Risley Prison for her actions whilst campaigning for the Welsh language. She has twice won the Prose Medal at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, and has also won the Tir na n-Og Award twice.
On 24 September 2009, a ceramic sculpture of Tomos was unveiled at Parc Glynllifon
Glynllifon
Glynllifon is the name of the old estate which belonged to the Lords Newborough, near the village of Llandwrog on the main A499 road between Pwllheli and Caernarfon in Gwynedd, Wales The original mansion is now a privately owned Country House hotel and wedding venueThe greater part of the original...
, near Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
, it is the third of a series of six sculptures by Welsh artist Katie Scarlett Howard, as part of the Budding Artists' "Woman of Substance" project.
Tomos won the Mary Vaughan Jones Award
Mary Vaughan Jones Award
The Mary Vaughan Jones Award is a Welsh children's literature award. The Mary Vaughan Jones Trophy is awarded every three years to an author who has made a substantial contribution to children's literature over a number of years...
in 2009, for her outstanding contribution to children's literature in Wales.
She also writes a Welsh language column for the Daily Post
Liverpool Daily Post
The Liverpool Daily Post is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Friday and is published in Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales editions, and is a morning paper...
and keeps a blog on their website.
Tomos is married to Ben Gregory and now lives in Pen-y-Groes, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
.
Novels
- Yma o Hyd, December 1985 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Si Hei Lwli, January 1991 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Hen Fyd Hurt, January 1992 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Titrwm, January 1994 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Wele'n Gwawrio, August 2004 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Rhagom, October 2004 (Gwasg Carreg GwalchGwasg Carreg GwalchGwasg Carreg Gwalch is a publishing company based in Llanrwst, Wales. They specialise in publishing works in the Welsh language, but also publish English-language books of Welsh interest....
) - Wrth fy Nagrau i, October 2007 (Gwasg Carreg GwalchGwasg Carreg GwalchGwasg Carreg Gwalch is a publishing company based in Llanrwst, Wales. They specialise in publishing works in the Welsh language, but also publish English-language books of Welsh interest....
)
Non-fiction
- Cyfres y Cewri: 23. Cnonyn Aflonydd, July 2001 (Gwasg Gwynedd)
- Hiraeth am Yfory: Hanes David Thomas a Mudiad Llafur Gogledd Cymru, July 2002 (Gwasg Gomer)
- Y Byd a'r Betws, December 2003 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
)
Children's
- Rwdlan series, 1983– (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Stwnsh Rwdlan - Llyfr Coginio i Blant Bach, November 1997 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Parti Cwmwl - Llyfr Coginio i Blant Bach, September 1998 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Cyfres Darllen Mewn Dim series, October 2006 (Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
) - Guto series, 1991 (Cwmni Recordiau Sain)
- Llyfrau Fi Hefyd series, 1999 (Cyhoeddiadau'r Gair)
Honours and awards
- 1982 - Crown, Eisteddfod yr Urdd for Hen Fyd Hurt
- 1986 - Tir na n-Og Award for Y Llipryn Llwyd (Cyfres Rwdlan)
- 1991 - Prose Medal, Welsh National Eisteddfod for Si Hei Lwli
- 1997 - Prose Medal, Welsh National Eisteddfod for Wele'n Gwawrio
- 1994 - Tir na n-Og Award for Sothach a Sglyfath (Cyfres Cled)
- 2009 - Mary Vaughan Jones AwardMary Vaughan Jones AwardThe Mary Vaughan Jones Award is a Welsh children's literature award. The Mary Vaughan Jones Trophy is awarded every three years to an author who has made a substantial contribution to children's literature over a number of years...