Robyn Léwis

Welsh politician and archdruid (1929–2019)

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Robyn Léwis (October 1929 – 12 August 2019)^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[2] He was subsequently elected as a Vice President of Plaid Cymru.^[3]

In 1980, Léwis won the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod of Wales,^[4] and in 2002 he was the first Prose Medallist to become Archdruid, under the title "Robyn Llŷn".^[5] In this role, he inducted future Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams as a Bard of the Gorsedd.^[6]

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.^[3]

References

^ "Former Archdruid Robin Léwis dies, aged 89". BBC News. BBC. 13 August 2019.
^ ^a ^b The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1970, p.71
^ ^a ^b "Dr Robyn Lewis: I'm willing to return to Plaid Cymru", North Wales Daily Post, 18 August 2008
^ "Prose Medal Archived 2014-10-30 at the Wayback Machine", National Eisteddfod of Wales
^ "Archdderwydd". Gorsedd y Beirdd (in Welsh). Retrieved 20 September 2016.
^ Marcus Tanner, The Last of the Celts, p.189

Party political offices
Preceded by Phil Williams	Vice President of Plaid Cymru 1970–1976	Succeeded by Phil Williams
Cultural offices
Preceded by Meirion Evans	Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales 2002–2005	Succeeded by Selwyn Griffith

Plaid Cymru

Leadership
Leaders	Ieuan Wyn Jones (2006–2012) Leanne Wood (2012–2018) Adam Price (2018–2023) Llyr Gruffydd (acting, 2023) Rhun ap Iorwerth (2023–present)
Senedd Group Leaders party leader since 2006	Dafydd Wigley (1999–2000) Ieuan Wyn Jones (2000–2012) Leanne Wood (2012–2018) Adam Price (2018–2023) Llyr Gruffydd (acting, 2023) Rhun ap Iorwerth (2023–present)
Presidents party leader pre-2003 abolished 2013	Lewis Valentine (1925–1926) Saunders Lewis (1926–1939) John Edward Daniel (1939–1943) Abi Williams (1943–1945) Gwynfor Evans (1945–1981) Dafydd Wigley (1981–1984) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1984–1991) Dafydd Wigley (1991–2000) Ieuan Wyn Jones (2000–2003) Dafydd Iwan (2003–2010) Jill Evans (2010–2013)
Vice-Presidents abolished 2013	Saunders Lewis (1925–1926) John Edward Daniel (1931–1939) Gwynfor Evans (1943–1945) Waldo Williams R. E. Holland W. R. P. George R. Tudur Jones (1957–1962) Wynne Samuel (1962–1964) Chris Rees (1964–1966) Edward Millward (1966–1968) Phil Williams (1968–1970) Robyn Léwis (1970–1976) Phil Williams (1976–1978) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1979–1981) Phil Williams (1982–1984) Dafydd Iwan (1984–2003) Jill Evans (2003–2010) Chris Franks (2010–2013)
Chairs	Chris Rees (1966–1970) Phil Williams (1970–1976) Eurfyl ap Gwilym (1976–1980) Ieuan Wyn Jones (1980–1982) Dafydd Iwan (1982–1984) Syd Morgan (1984–1990) Ieuan Wyn Jones (1990–1992) John Dixon (1992–1994) Jill Evans (1994–1996) Marc Phillips (1996–2000) Elin Jones (2000–2002) John Dixon (2002–2010) Gwenllian Lansdown (2010–2011) Rhuanedd Richards (2011–2012) Helen Mary Jones (2012–2013) Dafydd Trystan Davies (2013–2018) Alun Ffred Jones (2018–present)
Honorary Presidents	Gwynfor Evans (1982–2005) Dafydd Wigley (2005–present)
Leadership elections	1945 1981 1984 1991 2000 2003 2012 2018 2023

Parliamentarians

European Parliament (MEPs)

Eurig Wyn (1999–2004)
Jill Evans (1999–2020)

Senedd (MSs)
Welsh Assembly (AMs)

Former	Rhys ab Owen Mohammad Asghar Cynog Dafis Geraint Davies Jocelyn Davies Dafydd Elis-Thomas Nerys Evans Chris Franks Brian Hancock Pauline Jarman Alun Jones Gareth Jones Helen Mary Jones Steffan Lewis David Lloyd Neil McEvoy Janet Ryder Bethan Sayed Owen Thomas Rhodri Thomas Simon Thomas Lindsay Whittle Dafydd Wigley Phil Williams Leanne Wood Ieuan Wyn Jones
Current	Mabon ap Gwynfor Cefin Campbell Luke Fletcher Heledd Fychan Peredur Owen Griffiths Llyr Gruffydd Siân Gwenllian Delyth Jewell Elin Jones Rhun ap Iorwerth Adam Price Sioned Williams

British Parliament

House of Commons (MPs)

Former	Cynog Dafis (1992–2000) Jonathan Edwards (2010–2020, 2022) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1974–1992) Gwynfor Evans (1966–1970, 1974–1979) Ieuan Wyn Jones (1987–2001) Elfyn Llwyd (1992–2015) Adam Price (2001–2010) Simon Thomas (2000–2005) Dafydd Wigley (1974–2001)
Current	Ben Lake Liz Saville Roberts Hywel Williams

House of Lords (Peers)

Organisation

History

Founders

Byddin Ymreolwyr Cymru (Welsh Home Rule Army)	Moses Gruffydd Huw Robert Jones Lewis Valentine
Y Mudiad Cymreig (Welsh Movement)	Fred Jones Saunders Lewis
Others	Ambrose Bebb David James Davies D. J. Williams