Julian Cayo-Evans
Encyclopedia
William Edward Julian Cayo-Evans (22 April 1937
–28 March 1995
), was a Welsh
political activist and one time leader of the Free Wales Army
.
, near Lampeter
, where he also died, Cayo-Evans was educated at the independent, co-educational Millfield School in the village of Street
in Somerset
, England. His father was John Cayo Evans
, a professor of Mathematics at St David's College, Lampeter and High Sheriff of Cardiganshire
in the year 1941–42. In 1955, he was conscripted
for National Service
, serving with the South Wales Borderers and saw active service, fighting Communist guerrillas in Malaya
during the bitter Malayan emergency
. On his return, he attended the Royal Agricultural College
in Cirencester
, before returning to Lampeter to breed palomino
and appaloosa
horses on his stud farm.
Cayo married Gillianne Mary Davies in 1965. They had three children and divorced in 1975.
, Cayo-Evans seems to have become radicalised during the early 1960s, especially during the building of the Tryweryn reservoir. He was 'active' in the FWA during the 1960s and along with the only two other members of the FWA, Dennis Coslett
and Gethyn Ap Iestyn
(aka Gethin ap Gruffydd), was convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions and other public order offences following a 53 day trial in 1969. He was subsequently sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment (n.b. some sources suggest thirteen months).
In 2000, the brewery Tomos Watkin renamed the Apollo Hotel, Cardiff
to "The Cayo Arms". In March 2008 Anhrefn Records
released (Anrhefn 018) the recording of Cayo Evans playing his accordion and talking between songs, mainly introducing them. The album is titled "Marching songs of the Free Wales Army".
1937 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1937 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - vacant*Princess of Wales - vacant*Archbishop of Wales - Charles Alfred Howell Green...
–28 March 1995
1995 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1995 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales*Princess of Wales - Diana, Princess of Wales*Secretary of State for Wales - William Hague...
), was a Welsh
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...
political activist and one time leader of the Free Wales Army
Free Wales Army
The Free Wales Army was a paramilitary Welsh nationalist organisation, formed in Lampeter, Mid Wales, by William Julian Cayo-Evans in 1963. Its objective was to establish an independent Welsh republic.-History:...
.
Life
Born at 'Glandenys', SilianSilian
Silian, originally Sulien, is a village in the valley of the River Aeron, Ceredigion, Wales. It is located approximately two miles north-west of Lampeter, on a minor road connecting Pont Creuddun on the A482, and Glan Denys on the A485....
, near Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
, where he also died, Cayo-Evans was educated at the independent, co-educational Millfield School in the village of Street
Street, Somerset
Street is a small village and civil parish in the county of Somerset, England. It is situated on a dry spot in the Somerset Levels, at the end of the Polden Hills, south-west of Glastonbury. The 2001 census records the village as having a population of 11,066...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. His father was John Cayo Evans
John Cayo Evans
John Cayo Evans was a Welsh mathematician and academic.-Life:Evans was born on 1 March 1879 and educated at St David's College School, Lampeter, Wales. He then studied at University College, Aberystwyth and Jesus College, Oxford. At Oxford, he obtained first-class degrees in Mathematics and...
, a professor of Mathematics at St David's College, Lampeter and High Sheriff of Cardiganshire
High Sheriff of Cardiganshire
The office of High Sheriff of Cardiganshire was established in 1541 since when a High Sheriff was appointed annually until 1974 when the office was transformed into that of High Sheriff of Dyfed as part of the creation of Dyfed from the amalgamation of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire...
in the year 1941–42. In 1955, he was conscripted
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
for National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, serving with the South Wales Borderers and saw active service, fighting Communist guerrillas in Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
during the bitter Malayan emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
. On his return, he attended the Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
in Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
, before returning to Lampeter to breed palomino
Palomino
Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino color is created by a single allele of a dilution gene called the cream gene working on a "red" base coat...
and appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
horses on his stud farm.
Cayo married Gillianne Mary Davies in 1965. They had three children and divorced in 1975.
Political Activism
Best known as a leader of the Free Wales ArmyFree Wales Army
The Free Wales Army was a paramilitary Welsh nationalist organisation, formed in Lampeter, Mid Wales, by William Julian Cayo-Evans in 1963. Its objective was to establish an independent Welsh republic.-History:...
, Cayo-Evans seems to have become radicalised during the early 1960s, especially during the building of the Tryweryn reservoir. He was 'active' in the FWA during the 1960s and along with the only two other members of the FWA, Dennis Coslett
Dennis Coslett
Dennis Coslett was a Welsh political activist, best known as a member of the Free Wales Army, who became notorious in 1969....
and Gethyn Ap Iestyn
Gethin ap Gruffydd
Gethin ap Gruffydd is a Welsh political and cultural activist, born in Merthyr Tydfil to a father from a Gilfach mining family, and a mother whose family had been hardrock miners for generations...
(aka Gethin ap Gruffydd), was convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions and other public order offences following a 53 day trial in 1969. He was subsequently sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment (n.b. some sources suggest thirteen months).
In 2000, the brewery Tomos Watkin renamed the Apollo Hotel, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
to "The Cayo Arms". In March 2008 Anhrefn Records
Anhrefn Records
Recordiau Anhrefn was a record label established in 1983 by Rhys Mwyn.Based in the small mid-Wales village of Llanfair Caereinion, before Rhys and his brother Sion Sebon moved to Bangor, North Wales, the record label was initially an outlet for their own band Yr Anhrefn but soon went on to release...
released (Anrhefn 018) the recording of Cayo Evans playing his accordion and talking between songs, mainly introducing them. The album is titled "Marching songs of the Free Wales Army".