Robyn Léwis

{{Short description|Welsh politician and archdruid (1929–2019)}}

{{Redirect|Robyn Lewis|the Irish cricketer|Robyn Lewis (cricketer)}}

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{{Expand Welsh|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Robyn Léwis

| birth_date = October 1929

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|08|12|1929|10}}

| occupation = Politician, writer, judge, barrister

| birth_place = Llangollen,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/eisteddfod2002/cefndir/robynlewis.shtml |title=Yr Archdderwydd newydd |date=August 2002 |website=BBC - Cymru |access-date=2024-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622055817/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/eisteddfod2002/cefndir/robynlewis.shtml |archive-date=2019-06-22}} Clwyd, Wales

| alma_mater = University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

}}

Robyn Léwis (October 1929 – 12 August 2019){{cite news|title=Former Archdruid Robin Léwis dies, aged 89|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49337392|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=13 August 2019}} was a Welsh author, politician and former archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Biography

Born Robyn Lewis, he studied at Pwllheli Grammar School and University College of Wales, Aberystwyth before becoming a solicitor and barrister. He became active in the Labour Party and stood, unsuccessfully, in Denbigh at the 1955 general election.The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1970, p.71

During the 1960s, Léwis left Labour and joined Plaid Cymru. He was elected to Lleyn Rural District Council, and stood for the party in Caernarfon at the 1970 general election, where he came second with more than 33% of the vote. He was subsequently elected as a Vice President of Plaid Cymru."[http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/dr-robyn-lewis-im-willing-2817883 Dr Robyn Lewis: I'm willing to return to Plaid Cymru]", North Wales Daily Post, 18 August 2008

In 1980, Léwis won the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod of Wales,"[http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/about-us/our-history/winners/prose-medal/ Prose Medal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030134524/http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/about-us/our-history/winners/prose-medal/ |date=2014-10-30 }}", National Eisteddfod of Wales and in 2002 he was the first Prose Medallist to become Archdruid, under the title "Robyn Llŷn".{{cite web|title=Archdderwydd|url=http://www.gorsedd.cymru/hafan/archdderwydd/|website=Gorsedd y Beirdd|language=cy|accessdate=20 September 2016}} In this role, he inducted future Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams as a Bard of the Gorsedd.Marcus Tanner, The Last of the Celts, p.189

Léwis resigned from Plaid Cymru in 2006, in protest at the acceptance of an OBE by Elinor Bennett, the wife of Dafydd Wigley, a former leader of Plaid Cymru.

References

{{Reflist}}

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{{succession box|title=Vice President of Plaid Cymru|years=1970–1976|before=Phil Williams|after=Phil Williams}}

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{{Succession box

| title = Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales

| years = 2002–2005

| before = Meirion Evans

| after = Selwyn Griffith }}

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{{Plaid Cymru}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Robyn}}

Category:1929 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:Alumni of Aberystwyth University

Category:Bards of the Gorsedd

Category:Councillors in Wales

Category:People from Gwynedd

Category:Welsh barristers

Category:Welsh-language writers

Category:Welsh solicitors

Category:Welsh-speaking politicians

Category:Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates

Category:Plaid Cymru councillors

Category:Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidates