CLYDAU HERITAGE GROUP PREPARES TO UNVEIL A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE FOR W.R. EVANS AT BWLCHYGROES SCHOOL

Following being awarded a 15-minute heritage lottery grant at the end of 2021; Clydau Heritage Group now prepares to unveil a commemorative plaque for W.R. EVANS on the old Bwlchygroes school grounds at 2:30 pm on Saturday, 12^th of November. The unveiling will be carried out by W.R.’s son-in-law Elfed Dafis and his family.  Elfed presented “Falabalam” for children on HTV from 1982 to 1989 in Cardiff. By the 1990s he was still a children’s presenter on HTV, including carrying out the popular role of the tv character ‘Wcw’ on a number of programmes. Then, he went on to present the Weather on S4C. 

Although originally from Mynachlogddu W.R. spent a long period of his life in Bwlchygroes as headmaster (1938-1958). During his time as headmaster, there were great successes with the Adran and the Aelwyd yr Urdd. Also, while in Bwlchygroes he formed a concert party, Bois Y Frenni, which is very well-known in the area and across Wales. 

Hedd Harries the chair of Pwyllgor Bro Clydau expressed 

“This is long overdue; this should have happened years ago. Although this, the unveiling is expected to be a fitting tribute to the remarkable man that is; W.R. EVANS, the community of Clydau has much admiration for him, having enriched its culture and gave the area a national platform. From the stories I have heard from my Mamgu, it would have been some era to grow up in!”

Everyone is welcome at the unveiling of the commemorative plaque at Neuadd Gymunedol Bwlchygroes at 2:30 pm on the 12^th of November, light refreshments and items by Ysgol Clydau and Bois Y Frenni in the hall after. The Plaque is handmade on Welsh slate by the famous stone cutter: Ieuan Rees of Cwmllwchwr; other works by Ieuan Rees include carved works found at the Welsh Parliament and the Gwynfor Evans stone near Llandeilo. The plaque will be set onto a Preseli Bluestone donated by Ken Davies, Ffynnongroes.