Harri Webb
Encyclopedia
Harri Webb was an Anglo-Welsh poet
, journalist
and Welsh nationalist
.
Harri Webb was born on 7 September 1920 at 45 Ty Coch Road on the outskirts of Swansea
, but before he was two the family moved to Catherine Street, much nearer the city centre. Growing up in a working class environment, in 1938 he won a Local Education Authority scholarship
, and went to Oxford to study languages, specialising in French
, Spanish
and Portuguese
, a period of his life Webb makes virtually no references to in his writing. He graduated with a third class degree in 1941, the death of his mother two years earlier having affected his studies.
Webb then volunteered for the Royal Navy
, in which he served, including periods in Algeria
and Palestine
, until being demobilised in Scotland
in 1946. Following his return to Wales
the following year his life was, outwardly at least, largely uneventful. After a period immediately following the war where he worked in a number of temporary jobs, including working for Keidrych Rhys
in Carmarthen
, and a brief period in Cheltenham
, Webb moved to Merthyr Tydfil
in 1954 to work as librarian
in Dowlais
and, in his own words, to fully absorb himself into the national experience.
Two years later he published Dic Penderyn and the Merthyr Rising of 1831, a pamphlet in which he somewhat imaginatively retells the story of the rebellion. ‘In defiance of any rational career structure’ he stayed at Dowlais for ten years, before becoming librarian in Mountain Ash in 1964. While in Merthyr Tydfil, Webb lived in Garth Newydd, an old house that had been given to the town during the Depression, and subsequently seemingly belonged to nobody; when Webb first moved in it was occupied by a group of pacifists. He lived in the house with Meic Stephens
and others, and it became almost a nationalist commune.
In 1964 Webb began to work in Mountain Ash, the Cynon Valley
previously having been the largest borough in Wales without a public library service. He took the job seriously, introducing innovations such as lending LPs, and buying books and periodicals to appeal to a female readership, activities that sometimes angered some sections of the public. His first collection of poetry, The Green Desert, was published in 1969. Webb carried on living in Garth Newydd and commuting to the next valley until 1972, when he moved to Cwmbach
near Aberdare, before finally retiring in 1974, the year that A Crown For Branwen appeared. This was followed by Rampage and Revel in 1977, and finally Poems and Points in 1983, soon after which Webb virtually ceased to write poetry, suffering a serious stroke
in 1985.
Webb remained in Cwmbach
before moving into a nursing home in Swansea shortly before his death on New Year’s Eve 1994. His funeral was held on January 6, 1995 at St. Mary’s Church in Pennard
, Gower
, where Webb’s grave is to be found.
Webb's poetry is marked in its themes by his radical and uncompromising commitment to Welsh nationalist politics, coupled with a quasi-Christian sensibility. In form, his writing was often deliberately simple and comic, in order that it could reach a wide audience and so have the desired political effect.
Anglo-Welsh poetry
There is no clear definition of what constitutes Anglo-Welsh poetry, and the term tends to have been replaced by the broader "Welsh writing in English" or Welsh literature in English. It includes poetry written by Welsh people whose first language is English, but it also includes poetry by those...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and Welsh nationalist
Welsh nationalism
Welsh nationalism emphasises the distinctiveness of Welsh language, culture, and history, and calls for more self-determination for Wales, which may include more Devolved powers for the Welsh Assembly or full independence from the United Kingdom.-Conquest:...
.
Harri Webb was born on 7 September 1920 at 45 Ty Coch Road on the outskirts of Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, but before he was two the family moved to Catherine Street, much nearer the city centre. Growing up in a working class environment, in 1938 he won a Local Education Authority scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, and went to Oxford to study languages, specialising in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, a period of his life Webb makes virtually no references to in his writing. He graduated with a third class degree in 1941, the death of his mother two years earlier having affected his studies.
Webb then volunteered for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, in which he served, including periods in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, until being demobilised in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1946. Following his return to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
the following year his life was, outwardly at least, largely uneventful. After a period immediately following the war where he worked in a number of temporary jobs, including working for Keidrych Rhys
Keidrych Rhys
William Ronald Rhys Jones , who used the name Keidrych Rhys, was a Welsh literary journalist and editor, and a poet. He was married to Lynette Roberts from 1939 to 1949...
in Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, and a brief period in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Webb moved to Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
in 1954 to work as librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
in Dowlais
Dowlais
Dowlais is a village and community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 6646.Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company, roughly 5,000 people, the works...
and, in his own words, to fully absorb himself into the national experience.
Two years later he published Dic Penderyn and the Merthyr Rising of 1831, a pamphlet in which he somewhat imaginatively retells the story of the rebellion. ‘In defiance of any rational career structure’ he stayed at Dowlais for ten years, before becoming librarian in Mountain Ash in 1964. While in Merthyr Tydfil, Webb lived in Garth Newydd, an old house that had been given to the town during the Depression, and subsequently seemingly belonged to nobody; when Webb first moved in it was occupied by a group of pacifists. He lived in the house with Meic Stephens
Meic Stephens
Meic Stephens is a Welsh author and literary journalist. Stephens studied at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, the University College of North Wales, Bangor, and at the University of Rennes in France. From 1967 until 1990 Stephens was Literature Director of the Welsh Arts Council...
and others, and it became almost a nationalist commune.
In 1964 Webb began to work in Mountain Ash, the Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley , is a famous former coal mining valley within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. The Cynon Valley lies between the other mining Valley of Rhondda and the iron industrial Valley of the Merthyr Valley. Its main towns are Aberdare located North of the Valley and Mountain Ash located...
previously having been the largest borough in Wales without a public library service. He took the job seriously, introducing innovations such as lending LPs, and buying books and periodicals to appeal to a female readership, activities that sometimes angered some sections of the public. His first collection of poetry, The Green Desert, was published in 1969. Webb carried on living in Garth Newydd and commuting to the next valley until 1972, when he moved to Cwmbach
Cwmbach
Cwmbach is a village and community near Aberdare, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, United Kingdom. Cwmbach has a population of 4,283. Cwmbach means 'Little Valley' in Welsh...
near Aberdare, before finally retiring in 1974, the year that A Crown For Branwen appeared. This was followed by Rampage and Revel in 1977, and finally Poems and Points in 1983, soon after which Webb virtually ceased to write poetry, suffering a serious stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1985.
Webb remained in Cwmbach
Cwmbach
Cwmbach is a village and community near Aberdare, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, United Kingdom. Cwmbach has a population of 4,283. Cwmbach means 'Little Valley' in Welsh...
before moving into a nursing home in Swansea shortly before his death on New Year’s Eve 1994. His funeral was held on January 6, 1995 at St. Mary’s Church in Pennard
Pennard
Pennard is the name of an electoral ward, a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Pennard has its own community council....
, Gower
Gower Peninsula
Gower or the Gower Peninsula is a peninsula in south Wales, jutting from the coast into the Bristol Channel, and administratively part of the City and County of Swansea. Locally it is known as "Gower"...
, where Webb’s grave is to be found.
Webb's poetry is marked in its themes by his radical and uncompromising commitment to Welsh nationalist politics, coupled with a quasi-Christian sensibility. In form, his writing was often deliberately simple and comic, in order that it could reach a wide audience and so have the desired political effect.