Hosted by the University’s Department of International Politics as part of their centenary celebrations, the talk and discussion takes place at 5.30pm in the Arts Centre Cinema.
Professor Richard Beardsworth, Head of the Department of International Politics said: “We are greatly looking forward to this event. Whatever side one assumed in the Brexit referendum and assumes in the ongoing negotiations, Geraint Talfan Davies presents a highly committed and articulate response to the consequences of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. It will be very interesting to hear him speak of the Union’s future and the fates of the nations within it.”
Geraint Talfan Davies will be introduced by Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University.
The Chair of Wales for Europe and during the EU referendum in 2016, Geraint Talfan Davies was also Chair of the Wales Advisory Group of Britain Stronger In Europe.
He has spent a lifetime in journalism, broadcasting and the arts. He was Controller of BBC Wales in the 1990s, and is a co-founder and former chair of the Institute of Welsh Affairs. He is also a former Chair of Welsh National Opera and the Arts Council of Wales.
The Department of International Politics was established in 1919 and further details about the public lectures and other events being organised to mark its centenary are available online.
A book launched this week sheds new light on the life and career of one of the most famous twentieth century Welsh writers.
Pris Cydwybod: T H Parry-Williams a Chysgod y Rhyfel Mawr Dby Dr Bleddyn Huws provides a detailed look at the experiences of T H Parry-Williams, who went on to be Professor of Welsh at Aberystwyth University, as a conscientious objector during the Great War.
Dr Huws, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies, also discusses how he was persecuted during the months after the War, when he was a candidate for the Welsh Language Chair at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, in 1919.
According to Dr Huws, the appointment to the Chair was deferred because of the extent of public objection to his nomination.
“Some people wanted to see his colleague Timothy Lewis appointed because he volunteered to serve in the army during the first War”, said Dr Huws.
“Parry-Williams decided to turn his back on his post as lecturer and registered as a first year science student. His intention was to study medicine at the Barts Hospital medical school in London. However, when the Welsh Language Chair was re-advertised at Aberystwyth, Parry-Williams put his name forward a second time and was appointed”, he added.
The book also deals, for the first time, with his three brothers’ experiences during the War.
“I was very fortunate to use brand new material from the Parry-Williams family archive and to learn more about his brothers’ careers in the army. While Parry-Williams was excluded from being conscripted, his three brothers served as volunteers”, said Dr Huws.
Another facet of Parry-Williams’ life that is disclosed for the first time in print is the story of his courtship of the GP from Trawsfynydd, Dr Gwen Williams.
In 1935, after fifteen years as Professor of Welsh, Parry-Williams applied to study at the University of Wales Medical School in Cardiff, but withdrew his application.
The medical books that he read in preparing to change his career are discussed in detail, with brand new information about his involvement in the Red Cross ambulance classes during World War II disclosed.
“Having examined the breadth of the new information about Parry-Williams’s interest in medicine, I believe he regretted not having gone ahead with his original intention to become a doctor in 1919”, said Dr Huws.
“By 1935, and nearing his 50th, it was too late in the day to change the course of his career and spend more years studying medicine and qualifying as a doctor. It is the opinion of some that his decision not to proceed was a loss to medicine. He could have made his mark as a doctor”, he added.
Pris Cydwybod: T H Parry-Williams a Chysgod y Rhyfel Mawris published by Y Lolfa and was launched at Old College on Wednesday 24 October 2018.
An appeal for information has been launched to find the person who dumped a blind puppy among trees in the Llanerch area of Llanelli yesterday.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s dog warden service was called into action after the puppy was found by a member of the public.
He is thought to be around 10-weeks-old, has a rare condition known as microphthalmia and has no eyes. He is also likely to be deaf.
He is currently being cared for by one of the council’s dog wardens who has looked after him overnight.
A foster home is being arranged through organisations the council works with.
Robert Williams, Principal Environmental Health Officer, manages the dog warden service.
He said: “This dog had been dumped in trees in Llanerch Field and left. One of our dog wardens picked him up and took him to the vet to be checked over. Given his age and condition our warden took him home and is caring for him until we arrange a suitable foster home.
“We did have concerns that other pups in the same litter may have been born with the same condition, so we have re-visited the whole area to check if any other pups had been dumped but thankfully no other dogs have been found.”
Cllr Philip Hughes, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, added: “This is an extremely cruel case, and we’d like to know who could have done this.
“We are very grateful to Brendan, our dog warden, who has gone above the call of duty to care for the puppy overnight.
“Despite his rare condition, we hope that he will have a good life with a new owner who will give him the care and support he needs.”
Do you have any information about who could have dumped the puppy? Call 01267 234567 or email publicprotection@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
A council, a fire and rescue service and a police force have been awarded White Ribbon UK accredited status.
Carmarthenshire Council, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Dyfed-Powys Police have all met the standards required to be awarded with the prestigious status.
Achieving White Ribbon UK status shows an organisation’s commitment to The White Ribbon Campaign – the largest global initiative to end male violence against women.
The award is recognition of the work which the three organisations have already undertaken in involving men in speaking out and challenging male violence against women and girls. It is also a reminder of the work that still needs to be done.
Each organisation has Ambassadors, key male figures who have received the White Ribbon training, have made their pledge never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and will encourage other men to take the pledge.
Representatives of the three authorities attended an event on Friday, October 26, to celebrate their accreditation, raise awareness of male violence against women and explore opportunities to work together to tackle the issue.
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis said: “I’m proud to say that I’m an Ambassador for the White Ribbon Campaign. It’s men who are recruited as Ambassadors to take a stand against male violence against women to ensure men are involved in this important conversation, we take responsibility and engage other men to talk about this issue.”
Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “It’s been important to me to commission services for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse to ensure they receive support to cope and recover from their experience, reduce the risks to them and improve their safety. This has included the Independent Domestic Abuse Service and Goleudy, a service for victims and witnesses of crime and anti-social behaviour.
“The Independent Domestic Abuse Service supports high risk victims to support them to achieve the best possible outcome through the criminal justice system. Last year, almost 550 victims got this support. “Goleudy is a specialist service that offers bespoke support to domestic abuse victims assessed as medium risk, as well as victims and witnesses of crime, helping them to recover from their experience.”
Cllr Cefin Campbell, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Community Safety, said: “Carmarthenshire County Council has supported the White Ribbon campaign for a number of years, but I am very proud that we have achieved White Ribbon UK accredited status this year. By working together with our partners this year, it is hoped the campaign will gain more awareness than in previous years and that anyone being abused is aware of the help and support that is out there for them.
“A number of events and initiatives will be taking place over the 16 Days of Action.
“As a council we will be flying the White Ribbon flag at County Hall and at our town hall buildings in Llanelli and Ammanford to show our support. I also hope that as many people as possible will support the annual Candlelight Walk in Carmarthen which this year takes place on November 22 from 5.15pm outside the Vue cinema in St Catherine’s Walk.”
Rob Quin, Deputy Chief Fire Officer and Director of Service Delivery, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Historically we are a male dominated service and it is good to see so many men from the Fire and Rescue Service signing the pledge to end violence against women. We have a zero tolerance for this behaviour and my wish is that we provide positive male and female role models to serve our communities – and we will be aiming to get all our firefighters to sign up to the pledge.”
Anthea Sully, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK, said: “One in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and a similar number will suffer from sexual assault or stalking. “The majority of these incidents are committed by men; therefore, it is the responsibility of men to work to prevent it.”
Individuals can join over 33,000 others who have signed the White Ribbon UK pledge and get more information on-line at www.whiteribbon.org.uk/pledge.
Scarlets had to work for their bonus point victory over Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday night with the homeside getting off to a flying start scoring a try in the opening minute and keeping the pressure on the West Walians throughout.
The Scarlets had to come back from behind on numerous occasions as Southern Kings scored four sensational tries of their own but the region’s grit and determination, and some fantastic individual displays in the pack, paid dividends and was enough to secure the victory.
Speaking after the game on Friday night head coach Wayne Pivac said; “We saw a lot of what resembled last year’s performance out here, played in the same test window where we had something like 21 players in all unavailable for today’s game.
“I thought the boys showed a lot of heart and a lot of ability to stick to what we’d trained during the week to get that result, and the way we achieved it, coming from behind on numerous occasions. I’m very, very pleased for them.”
The Scarlets were forces to make a late change ahead of the game with Marc Jones falling foul of an illness.
“Marc Jones was due to start, we pulled him out an hour before leaving the hotel, the two young hookers got on and scored tries and I thought did very well. Credit goes to some of the young guys today who stepped up well. Will Boyde and Josh Macleod have been immense since coming back from their injuries.”
Pivac went on to say; “We’re disappointed that we turned some ball over and gifted them some tries but we’re very pleased to have stayed in the fight and come away with the win.
“We’ll hopefully have a couple of players back next week including Kieron Fonotia back from suspension, that’ll be great. We went with a 6/2 bench tonight because we’re down on numbers really. Lewis Rawlins is not far off and Blade Thomson should be back with us next week today.
Hopefully we’ll go to Edinburgh with a little bit of confidence from today’s result. We know it’s going to be a big game as we’re both right up there in the mix.”
Scarlets take on Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield on Friday 2ndNovember, kick-off 19:35.
