Actor, singer and former mayor of Aberystwyth Sue Jones-Davies has been awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree from Aberystwyth University.

Sue graduated from Bristol University in 1971 before embarking on a career as an actor and singer. She has worked in television, film, radio and theatre in both English and Welsh.

On stage, she appeared in the original London production of Jesus Christ Superstar. On television, she acted in How Green was My Valley, the ITV series Rock Follies, and played Megan Lloyd George in the BBC series The Life and Times of David Lloyd George.

Her most notable film appearances were as the messiah’s girlfriend, Judith Iscariot, in the cult Monty Python film Life of Brian(1979) and in Solomon and Gaenor(1999) which received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

In the 1970s, she sang with The Bowles Brothers Band, and now sings in the Welsh-language acoustic band Cusan Tân.

She teaches yoga in the Aberystwyth area, where she is part of the Yoga i Bawb group, which aims to bring yoga to all parts of the community.

Sue has also been a key member of the Front of house team at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on the University’s Penglais campus for many years.

An Aberystwyth town councillor for Plaid Cymru, Sue was Mayor of Aberystwyth from 2008-2009.

Sue Jones-Davies was presented by Dr Anwen Jones, Head of the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University on Wednesday 18 July 2018.  The full presentation is available below in the language in which it was delivered:

Presentation of Sue Jones-Davies by Dr Anwen Jones:

Pro Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, prospective graduates and supporters.  It is an honour and a privilege to present Sue Jones-Davies for an Honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree of Aberystwyth University.

It is indeed a particular pleasure for me as Head of the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies to present a candidate who clearly embodies the artistic vitality and the creative verve of the discipline to which she has dedicated an impressive professional life. In physical stature, Sue is, like myself, compact, but her persona and charisma as a performer, whether singing or acting, has depth, breadth and magnitude.

Since graduation from Bristol University in 1971, Sue has worked extensively across a wide variety of creative media, including television, radio and theatre both in English and Welsh with equal flair and impact. Mae meistrolaeth Sue ar feysydd amrywiol theatr, ffilm a theledu yn dystiolaeth o’i hyblygrwydd fel perfformwraig o’r radd flaenaf a hynny mor rhygl yn y Gymraeg ac yn y Saesneg.

Cychwynodd ei gyrfa llwyfan yn Theatr y Palas, Llundain ac wedyn ar lwyfannau Chichester. Her first stage role was in Jesus Christ Superstarand her first theatre roles were Petra in Ibsen’s The Enemy of the Peopleand Bianca in Othello. Clearly, Sue could handle the challenge of strong female roles but she could also respond with flexibility to the varied demands of differing art forms such as the musical, on the one hand, and the Shakespearean canon on the other; strength and flexibility then, cryfder a hyblygrwydd, emerge as some of Sue’s key attributes.

Sue always occupied a challenging and tantalisingly provocative artistic space; she was, and is, exciting in artistic terms. The company she has kept such as that of Sian Phillips and Stanley Baker in the series, How Green was my Valleyand the lives she has presented such as that of Megan Lloyd George in the BBC series on the life of Lloyd George reveal the way she was robustly embedded in Welsh cultural and performative life and yet so clearly on her own artistic terms. Efallai nad yw’n syndod i’w rôl mwyf adnabyddus ddod yn ei chyfraniad i’r ffilm dadleuol, The Life of Brian. I am sure that the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, where we celebrate all of today’s achievements, is proud to have screened The Life of Brianin 2009.

Sue has lived her professional life intensely, with integrity and in the light of her own principles and it is no surprise that she has made significant contributions to the political life of Aberystwyth and beyond in her role as town mayor, and Plaid Cymru counsellor and in her dedication to ecological, human rights and feminist causes. Ar droad y mileniwm, ail hyfforddodd Sue fel athrawes yoga a bellach fe nodweddir ei gyrfa gan yr un egwyddorion ag erioed; hyblygrwydd a chryfder.At the turn of the millennium, Sue re-trained as a yoga instructor so her career and contribution to the arts continues to be characterised by those enduring and admirable characteristics; flexibility and strength.

Dirprwy Ganghellor, Is-Ganghellor, darpar raddedigion, gyfeillion.  Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Sue Jones-Davies am radd Baglor er Anrhydedd yn y Celfyddydau Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Aberystwyth University Honours 2018

Nine individuals are being honoured by Aberystwyth University during the 2018 graduation ceremonies, which take place at the University’s Arts Centre from Tuesday 17 July until Friday 20 July.

Six Honorary Fellowships will be presented to individuals who have, or have had a connection with Aberystwyth or Wales, and who have made an outstanding contribution to their chosen field.

One Honorary Doctorate will also be presented; recognising an individual who has been outstandingly successful in their field, or who has a long record of renowned research and publication.

Two Honorary Bachelor degrees will be presented. These are presented to individuals who are members of Aberystwyth University staff without an entry-level degree in recognition of long-service, contribution and dedication to the Institution; and members of the local community who have made a significant contribution to Aberystwyth and the area.

The broadcaster and seminal figure in Welsh media, Euryn Ogwen Williams, has been honoured as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University in recognition of his contribution to the cultural life of Wales.

Brought up in Leeswood near Mold in Flintshire, Euryn Ogwen Williams graduated from the University of Wales Bangor in Philosophy and Psychology.

From 1964-1981, he produced and directed a wide range of programmes for BBC, ITV company Television Wales and the West (TWW) and HTV as well as the independent sector.

When Welsh language broadcaster S4C was set up in 1982, he became its first Director of Programmes, and was the channel’s deputy Chief Executive Officer from 1988 until 1991.

In March 2018 he led an independent review of S4C for the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

He has published two volumes of poetry and a series of papers on the changing media scene. He lectures and advises on media and is a regular contributor to television and radio programmes.

Euryn Ogwen Williams was presented by Dr Jamie Medhurst from Aberystwyth University’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies on Wednesday 18 July 2018. The full conferral presentation is available below.

Presentation of Euryn Ogwen Williams by Dr Jamie Medhurst:

Dirprwy Ganghellor, Is-Ganghellor, darpar raddedigion, gyfeillion. Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Euryn Ogwen Williams yn Gymrawd Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Pro Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, prospective graduates and supporters.  It is an honour and a privilege to present Euryn Ogwen Williams as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

In his biography, Euryn describes himself as a ‘media consultant’. But the man you see before you is much more than this. He is a giant of the media industry in Wales, with a career in broadcasting which spans over fifty years.

Fe’i ganed ym Mhenmachno yng Ngwynedd a’i fagu yn Leeswood, ger Yr Wyddgrug yn Sir y Fflint.And when the time came to fly the nest he attended what was then the University College of North Wales Bangor (but we’ll forgive him for that) and graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Psychology.

He began his illustrious career as a presenter with the ITV company Television Wales and the West, TWW, based in Cardiff – I could sing you the TWW station ident – or maybe we could duet – or maybe not … see me after, maybe. He went on to produce and direct a wide range of programmes for TWW, Harlech Television/HTV, BBC and the independent sector.

Euryn oedd Cyfarwyddwr Rhaglenni cyntaf S4C cyn symud i swydd y Dirprwy Brif Weithredwr ym 1988. Mae hefyd wedi gweithredu fel ymgynghorydd arbennig ar deledu Gaeleg yn Yr Alban, ar deledu yn yr iaith Wyddeleg ac fel ymghynghorydd i Bwyllgor Diwylliant Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru yn ystod yr adolygiad i’r iaith Gymraeg.

In March 2018 he completed and published an independent review of S4C for the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the UK government and was giving evidence on the report to the Welsh Affairs Committee a fortnight ago.

Mae Euryn wedi cyhoeddi dwy gyfrol o farddoniaeth yn ogystal â chyhoeddi nifer o bapurau a phamffledi ar y byd cyfryngol. In addition to publishing two volumes of poetry he was the president of the Vale of Glamorgan National Eisteddfod in 2012 and he and his wife Jenny live in Barry and have two children and three grandchildren – plenty to keep him busy!

Wedi cyfraniad oes i’r byd darlledu, mae’n gwbl briodol i Euryn dderbyn Tlws Cyfraniad Oes yng Ngŵyl Ffilm Bae Caerfyrddin yn 2016.

His contribution to the world of broadcasting was acknowledged in 2016 when he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival. And if you’re planning to attend the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff this year, BAFTA Cymru have an evening to pay tribute to Euryn for his remarkable contribution to Welsh broadcasting – or as BAFTA say, to pay tribute to his ‘influential career’.

Ond dyma’n cyfle ni i dalu teyrnged am gyfraniad Euryn i fywyd diwylliannol Cymru.Today, however, we have an opportunity to thanks Euryn and to honour him for his contribution to the cultural life of Wales.

Dirprwy Ganghellor, mae’n bleser gen i gyflwyno Euryn Ogwen Williams i chi yn Gymrawd. 

Pro Chancellor, it is my absolute pleasure to present Euryn Ogwen Williams to you as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Aberystwyth University Honours 2018

Nine individuals are being honoured by Aberystwyth University during the 2018 graduation ceremonies, which take place at the University’s Arts Centre from Tuesday 17 July until Friday 20 July.

Six Honorary Fellowships will be presented to individuals who have, or have had a connection with Aberystwyth or Wales, and who have made an outstanding contribution to their chosen field.

One Honorary Doctorate will also be presented; recognising an individual who has been outstandingly successful in their field, or who has a long record of renowned research and publication.

Two Honorary Bachelor degrees will be presented. These are presented to individuals who are members of Aberystwyth University staff without an entry-level degree in recognition of long-service, contribution and dedication to the Institution; and members of the local community who have made a significant contribution to Aberystwyth and the area.

Schoolchildren are being asked to design a cycling jersey as part of Carmarthenshire’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain celebrations.

Anyone under 16 can enter and the winning design will be created into a jersey and presented to all Welsh riders as they kick off the first leg of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race at Pembrey Country Park on September 2.

The drawing must be on A4 paper and be in landscape orientation.

The winner will also meet the Welsh riders before they make their grand depart on the Sunday.

Closing date for entries is Friday, August 3 and drawing is by post only to: Design a Jersey competition, Carmarthen Leisure Centre, Llansteffan Road, Johnstown, Carmarthen, SA31 3NQ.

It will be the first time that Britain’s biggest professional cycle race has visited the county.

The race sees 120 riders from some of the world’s best teams compete, including Olympic and World Champions and Tour de France stage winners.

Riders will leave Pembrey Country Park and then continue throughout the county passing through Kidwelly, Carmarthen, Ffairfach and Llandovery as it continues into the Brecon Beacons through to its stage finish in Newport city centre.

The media spotlight will shine on the event with daily live coverage screened on ITV4 and Eurosport in the UK, and around the world.

Councillor Peter Hughes Griffiths, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “This is a great chance for children to get creative and at the same time be involved in the celebrations. The lucky winner will have the chance to meet and greet the Welsh riders ahead of the race on the day which is a fantastic opportunity.”

For all information and up-to-date news in Carmarthenshire on the OVO Energy Tour of Britain visit Discover Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire County Council is to undertake a £100,000 culvert replacement under the B4297 in Llangennech to address a problem which has caused flooding to properties and to the highway in the past.

The works will start on Monday, July 23, and will involve the removal of an old culvert which is being replaced with a new box culvert to improve the capacity and flow of the Nant Mwrwg Brook as it passes under the B4297 by the Old Bridge Inn.

The work has been planned to take place during the school holidays to minimise disruption and at a time of the year when the flows in the watercourse tends to be lower.

The works will require the closure of the B4297 at Llangennech for approximately four weeks and a signed diversion for traffic will be in place along the A4138.

Businesses in the area will be open as usual.

Cllr Hazel Evans, Executive Board Member for Environment, said: “These culvert works are a key investment in preventing future flooding in the area and we thank local residents in advance for their patience while we undertake these important works.”

The latest podcast from Phil Evans and Robert Lloyd.

The Big Cwtsh (Episode 23) is now on Soundcloud.

The redevelopment of an iconic building in Ammanford has been completed.

The former courthouse has been brought back into use after undergoing a major refurbishment for office accommodation.

Carmarthenshire County Council purchased the derelict courthouse after it closed in 2011 as part of the Ministry of Justice reforms.

The project was delivered by Aspect Developments and part funded through the council’s Carmarthenshire Transformational Commercial Property Development Fund.

The building, which was officially opened last week, provides 3560sqft of commercial space and will accommodate 17 new jobs.

New businesses are set to move into the offices shortly.

Carmarthenshire Council leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “I’m delighted that this building has now been completed. It’s a key gateway site to Ammanford and complements our aspirations to regenerate the town. We we were thrilled to be able to support Aspect Development and strengthening our local economy is a key aim of the executive board’s Moving Forward in Carmarthenshire plan. As part of our ongoing commitment to economic development and supporting businesses, we offer a number of funding support schemes to businesses of all scales and at all stages in their development.  These opportunities, I hope, will energise the county and help us build a more prosperous future.”