ROBERTS, DAFYDD (1892 - 1965), chairman of Capel Celyn Defence Committee
Date of birth: 1892
Date of death: 1965
Spouse: Nell Roberts
Parent: Margaret Roberts
Parent: John Roberts
Gender: Male
Occupation: chairman of Capel Celyn Defence Committee
Area of activity: Politics, Government and Political Movements; Activism
Author: John Lewis Jones
Born 18 August 1892 in Weirglodd-ddu, Capel Celyn, Merionethshire, the youngest child of John and Margaret Roberts. He lived at Weirglodd-ddu for most of his life before moving lower down the valley to farm Cae Fadog. Besides farming he was one of the two postmen who carried the post in the area for more than 40 years. He was an elder in Capel Celyn (Presb.) for many years until the church was disestablished.
When the threat came to drown the valley, he was elected chairman of the Capel Celyn Defence Committee and remained in that position until the final fateful hour arrived. He accompanied Gwynfor Evans, Elizabeth May Watkin Jones and Dr. Tudur Jones to London and Liverpool to try to save the valley. He made every effort to prevent Liverpool Corporation destroying his heritage. He had been very active in the district all his life. When it was finally decided that the houses in the valley were to be demolished he moved to live in Bala.
He died 11 October 1965 shortly before the official opening of the reservoir. He was buried in Llanycil church, near Bala, and was survived by Nell, his wife, and their son.
Author
- John Lewis Jones
- Personal knowledge
- Y Cyfnod, 15 October 1965, 1
Sources
- Watcyn L. Jones, Cofio Capel Celyn (Talybont 2007)
- Watcyn L. Jones, Cofio Tryweryn (Llandysul 1988)
- Mari Emlyn, Cofiwch Dryweryn: Cymru'n deffro / Wales awakening (Talybont 2019)
- Einion Thomas, Beryl Griffiths (translator), Capel Celyn: deng mlynedd o chwalu: 1955 -1965 / ten years of destruction: 1955-1965 (Abertawe 2007)
- Wyn Thomas, Tryweryn: A New Dawn? - The Legacy of the Drowning of Capel Celyn (Talybont 2023)
Further Reading
- Meirionnydd Record Office: Z/M4822: Casgliad Elizabeth Watkin Jones - Pwyllgor Amddiffyn Capel Celyn
- Wikidata: Q20738023
Additional Links
Published date: 2001
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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