Huw Ceredig
Encyclopedia
Huw Ceredig, born Huw Ceredig Jones (23 June 1942 – 16 August 2011) was a Welsh
television
actor
best known for playing Reg Harries in the Welsh soap opera, Pobol y Cwm
.
, Carmarthenshire in 1942, the son of Reverend Gerallt Jones, and Elizabeth J. Griffiths, a Welsh teacher. Ceredig was educated at Llandovery College
, where one of his teachers was the Welsh rugby player and coach Carwyn James
, before going on to train as a teacher at Trinity College in Carmarthen
. He was a member of the renowned Cilie family of poets, and was raised in Llanuwchllyn
. Ceredig was the brother of Welsh politician Alun Ffred Jones
, folk singer/politician Dafydd Iwan
, and Arthur Morus.
Ceredig re-mortgaged his house to purchase instruments for the new Welsh band Edward H. Dafis and introduced them to the stage for the first time at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Ruthin
in 1973.
He played the part of Reg Harris on S4C
's long-running soap opera, Pobol y Cwm
, for 29 years, from 1974 to 2003. He also played the father of Rhys Ifans
and Llŷr Ifans
as "Fatty Lewis" in the film Twin Town
. He also provided Welsh-language voices for Superted
, and more recently, Meees
.
Ceredig was married to Margaret, and they had two daughters. He died, following a long term illness, at Morriston Hospital,south Wales on 16 August 2011. Ioan Gruffudd
, who played his son on Pobol y Cwm for ten years was one of those who paid tribute.
After being spotted in productions at the Swansea Welsh language theatre, Ceredig was offered small parts on Welsh television. He was teaching at his local primary school in Laleston, near Bridgend, when, in his early 30s, he decided to become a professional actor.
He joined the cast of Pobol Y Cwm at the outset, and remained a popular fixture in the show for almost 30 years. When he was written out in 2003 — Reg Harries met with a car accident — Ceredig was aggrieved that he had not been allowed to stay for another year to complete three full decades in the part.
Between 1987 and 1994 his on-screen son, Gareth Wyn Harries, was played by the young actor Ioan Gruffudd, who later became a film star, with credits including Titanic (1997), Black Hawk Down (2001), Fantastic Four (2005) and Rise Of The Silver Surfer (2007).
Ceredig’s own film credits include the 1992 comedy Rebecca’s Daughters and the Dylan Thomas biopic The Edge of Love (2008). He also featured as Fatty Lewis in the cult comedy film Twin Town (1997), which launched the career of Rhys Ifans, and was also seen in other television roles in Emmerdale, Heartbeat and Z-Cars.
His voice was familiar to generations of younger viewers through his voiceover work on Welsh television series, notably the animation SuperTed and more recently Meees, about a family of multicultural operatic sheep (“meees” being the Welsh for “baaas”, the noise that sheep make).
Ceredig, who became a household name in Wales, was a gregarious man with a remarkable gift for forging firm friendships. A fan of sport in general, his overriding passion was for rugby, and for a time he served as chairman of Bridgend Rugby Club. He was also a devotee of the Turf, and at one period was the part-owner of a racehorse.
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...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for playing Reg Harries in the Welsh soap opera, Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
.
Personal life
Huw Ceredig was born in BrynammanBrynamman
Brynamman is a village sitting on the south facing side of the Black Mountain, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The village is split in two into Upper Brynamman and Lower Brynamman by the River Amman which also acts as the boundary between the counties of Carmarthenshire and Neath Port...
, Carmarthenshire in 1942, the son of Reverend Gerallt Jones, and Elizabeth J. Griffiths, a Welsh teacher. Ceredig was educated at Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
, where one of his teachers was the Welsh rugby player and coach Carwyn James
Carwyn James
Carwyn Rees James was a Welsh rugby union player and coach. He won two Welsh international caps but is most famous for his coaching achievements for both Llanelli and the British Lions.-Personal history:...
, before going on to train as a teacher at Trinity College 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....
. He was a member of the renowned Cilie family of poets, and was raised in Llanuwchllyn
Llanuwchllyn
Llanuwchllyn is a village in Gwynedd, Wales, near the southern end of Bala Lake . Its population according to the United Kingdom Census 2001 was 834., of which approximately 81% were Welsh-speaking....
. Ceredig was the brother of Welsh politician Alun Ffred Jones
Alun Ffred Jones
Alun Ffred Jones is a Welsh politician and member of Plaid Cymru. Jones was the National Assembly for Wales Member for Caernarfon 2003–07 and for the newly created Arfon constituency since the National Assembly for Wales election, 2007....
, folk singer/politician Dafydd Iwan
Dafydd Iwan
Dafydd Iwan , is a Welsh folk singer and politician. He was the president of Plaid Cymru .Dafydd Iwan Jones was born in Brynaman in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and is the elder brother of politician Alun Ffred Jones. He spent most of his youth in Bala in Gwynedd before attending the University of...
, and Arthur Morus.
Ceredig re-mortgaged his house to purchase instruments for the new Welsh band Edward H. Dafis and introduced them to the stage for the first time at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Ruthin
Ruthin
Ruthin is a community and the county town of Denbighshire in north Wales. Located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of...
in 1973.
He played the part of Reg Harris on S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
's long-running soap opera, Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
, for 29 years, from 1974 to 2003. He also played the father of Rhys Ifans
Rhys Ifans
Rhys Ifans is a Welsh actor and musician. He is known for his portrayal of characters such as Spike in Notting Hill and Jed Parry in Enduring Love and as a member of the Welsh rock groups Super Furry Animals and The Peth. Ifans also appeared as Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly...
and Llŷr Ifans
Llyr Ifans
Llŷr Ifans, is a Welsh actor, born in Ruthin, Wales. He is the younger brother of actor Rhys Ifans.Like his brother, he is a Welsh-language speaker...
as "Fatty Lewis" in the film Twin Town
Twin Town
Twin Town is a 1997 revenge comedy film made and set in South West Wales. It was directed by Kevin Allen and had a working title of Hot Dog; a hot dog van features in a number of scenes in the film. It stars real-life brothers Rhys Ifans and Llŷr Ifans and also features Dougray Scott...
. He also provided Welsh-language voices for Superted
SuperTed
SuperTed is a Welsh teddy bear who has magical super powers. He along with his friend Spotty try to do good. SuperTed was a series of stories created by Mike Young who eventually created a television series based on those stories.-Creation:...
, and more recently, Meees
Meees
Meees is a Welsh language children's television show from Wales. It is about a family of multicultural opera-singing sheep, played by performers in sheep costumes. It is shown on S4C, the Welsh equivalent of Channel 4...
.
Ceredig was married to Margaret, and they had two daughters. He died, following a long term illness, at Morriston Hospital,south Wales on 16 August 2011. Ioan Gruffudd
Ioan Gruffudd
Ioan Gruffudd is a Welsh actor.Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he started off in Welsh language film productions, then came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film Titanic , and as Lt. John Beales in Black Hawk Down...
, who played his son on Pobol y Cwm for ten years was one of those who paid tribute.
Career
In Huw's early days, he won a scholarship to Llandovery College, where one of his teachers was the Welsh rugby player and coach Carwyn James, before going on to train as a teacher at Trinity College, Carmarthen. There his interest in drama was fuelled by the celebrated Welsh drama lecturer Norah Isaac, and while teaching in two schools at Maesteg, near Bridgend, he began acting as an amateur in his spare time, using the stage name Huw Ceredig.After being spotted in productions at the Swansea Welsh language theatre, Ceredig was offered small parts on Welsh television. He was teaching at his local primary school in Laleston, near Bridgend, when, in his early 30s, he decided to become a professional actor.
He joined the cast of Pobol Y Cwm at the outset, and remained a popular fixture in the show for almost 30 years. When he was written out in 2003 — Reg Harries met with a car accident — Ceredig was aggrieved that he had not been allowed to stay for another year to complete three full decades in the part.
Between 1987 and 1994 his on-screen son, Gareth Wyn Harries, was played by the young actor Ioan Gruffudd, who later became a film star, with credits including Titanic (1997), Black Hawk Down (2001), Fantastic Four (2005) and Rise Of The Silver Surfer (2007).
Ceredig’s own film credits include the 1992 comedy Rebecca’s Daughters and the Dylan Thomas biopic The Edge of Love (2008). He also featured as Fatty Lewis in the cult comedy film Twin Town (1997), which launched the career of Rhys Ifans, and was also seen in other television roles in Emmerdale, Heartbeat and Z-Cars.
His voice was familiar to generations of younger viewers through his voiceover work on Welsh television series, notably the animation SuperTed and more recently Meees, about a family of multicultural operatic sheep (“meees” being the Welsh for “baaas”, the noise that sheep make).
Ceredig, who became a household name in Wales, was a gregarious man with a remarkable gift for forging firm friendships. A fan of sport in general, his overriding passion was for rugby, and for a time he served as chairman of Bridgend Rugby Club. He was also a devotee of the Turf, and at one period was the part-owner of a racehorse.
Television
- Pobol y CwmPobol y CwmPobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
- Reg Harries, opera sebon (1974–2003) - Z Cars - Det. Con. Probert, cyfres, 1 pennod (1977)
- The Life and Times of David Lloyd George - D.A. Thomas, cyfres, 1 pennod (1981)
- Ennal's Point - Len Dunce, cyfres, 4 pennod (1982)
- The District Nurse - Rowlands, cyfres, 1 pennod (1984)
- We Are SevenWe are Seven"We are Seven" is a poem written by William Wordsworth and published in his Lyrical Ballads. It describes a discussion between an adult poetic speaker and a "little cottage girl" about the number of brothers and sisters who dwell with her...
- Jim Powell, cyfres, 12 pennod (1989-1991) - Rebecca's Töchter - Mordecai Thomas, cyfres, 1 pennod (1992)
- Yr Heliwr - Peter Webb, cyfres, 1 pennod (1997)
- EmmerdaleEmmerdaleEmmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
- George Gibbons, opera sebon, 1 pennod (2003) - HeartbeatHeartbeatHeartbeat may refer to:* Cardiac cycle of the heart* Heart sounds* Pulse* The interval for keeping alive a push e-mail connection* Heartbeat , a British police drama* HeartBeat Heartbeat may refer to:* Cardiac cycle of the heart* Heart sounds* Pulse* The interval for keeping alive a push e-mail...
- Cyril Williams, cyfres, 1 pennod (2005) - Doctors - Kenneth Gough, cyfres, 1 pennod (2005)
- Y Pris - Rhidian Edwards, cyfres, 4 pennod (2007)
- HawkmoorHawkmoorHawkmoor was a 1978 BBC television series created by Lynn Hughes and based on the activities of Twm Siôn Cati, a 16th century Welsh folk hero....
- Enoc HuwsEnoc HuwsEnoc Huws is a classic novel by Daniel Owen, written in the Welsh language and first published in 1891. It has been adapted for stage and television .-Plot summary:...
Film
- The Mouse and the Woman - Sergeant (1981)
- Giro City - Elwyn Davies (1982)
- I Fro Breuddwydion - Ffermwr, ffilm teledu (1987)
- Twin TownTwin TownTwin Town is a 1997 revenge comedy film made and set in South West Wales. It was directed by Kevin Allen and had a working title of Hot Dog; a hot dog van features in a number of scenes in the film. It stars real-life brothers Rhys Ifans and Llŷr Ifans and also features Dougray Scott...
- Fatty Lewis (1997) - The Edge of LoveThe Edge of LoveThe Edge of Love is a 2008 John Maybury film starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys from a script by Sharman Macdonald, Knightley's mother...
- John Patrick (2008)