YC Adult award candidate: Rural crusader Prydwen Jones

Oct 2 2008

Prydwen Jones

RURAL communities have been on the receiving end of some tough times lately, fighting to save vital village services like schools, libraries, pay phones and now post offices. Now more than ever rural communities are pulling together and supporting each other.

And their survival is mostly thanks to selfless individuals and unsung heroes like one lady from Rowen who generously gives up her free time to help others.

Prydwen Jones, 64, has lived in the closely-knit Conwy Valley village of Rowen for the past 41 years and she has seen times change, but has never stopped giving.

For the past 20 years she has run and taught at the village Sunday school, keeping the heart of the rural community ticking over and making sure the door is always open to new and old students. She modestly calls it a labour of love.

Thoughtful Prydwen has also been secretary of the popular village carnival for the past 25 years arranging everything from dog display teams, homemade cake competitions to the best dressed scarecrow, helping to make the event a fun-filled day.

The annual event is an integral part of the village calendar and helps to raise hundreds of pounds not only for the village and its amenities, but for local charities as well like Ty Gobaith children’s hospice.

Another role in Prydwen’s busy life is making sure she is available at least once a week to visit the small village school so the older children can practice their reading with her.

Despite working nightshifts Prydwen is always a happy and cheerful presence at the school sitting in reading classes listening to the children reading aloud.

Prydwen humbly admits: "There are people far more deserving of this nomination than me. Everything I do in the village is a labour of love."