New centre for Welsh learners at Llanrwst

Jun 4 2009 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

THE legacy of a much-loved language campaigner who died from cancer last year will live on at a new centre for Welsh learners.

The Popeth Cymraeg (Welsh Unlimited) organisation, providing language classes for adult learners, was the brainchild of David Jones from Llanrwst.

Family and friends are thrilled that plans have be finalised to establish the new centre in a former tannery in his home town.

Mr Jones worked as a television engineer at Moel y Parc, above Afonwen, until he took early retirement. Another passion of his was promoting links between Wales and Latin America.

“Popeth Cymraeg was David’s vision,” said chairman Dyfrig Berry.

“He was involved in the early stages of setting up the Llanrwst centre but sadly died of cancer last year.

“We had been looking for a centre in Llanrwst for several years and were actually looking at another site when the tannery became available last year.

“The Conwy Valley desperately needs a Welsh language centre and it will be a fitting legacy to David who campaigned so hard to promote the language.”

The Llanrwst Popeth Cymraeg centre will open in the autumn in the Old Tannery which has previously been home to a café/bistro.

The organisation is keen to sub-let the café area of the building and are looking for someone to take it on and make it the place for the perfect paned. They are also open to requests for those interested in renting office space in the building.

The Llanrwst centre will be the second in what Popeth Cymraeg, who are financed by the Welsh Assembly’s Welsh For Adults programme, hope will become an even wider network.

David Jones, who was 66 when he died, was the first Plaid Cymru mayor of Denbigh as well as organising seminars and festivals of music and dance linking Wales with Latin America.

His efforts earned a tribute from the Cuban Embassy and have seen the Cymru Cuba stand become a fixture at the National Eisteddfod while Popeth Cymraeg has become an award-winning organisation which has taught hundreds of students of all ages.