Watcyn

Qualities: Strength

                 Loyalty

                 Endurance

Chosen Charity: Ammanford Foodbank. For more information, click here.

Named in memory of: Watkin Hezekiah Williams, also known as Watcyn Wyn.

Born: 1844, Brynamman       Died: 1905

Family: He was brought up, the second of a family of ten, on his father's farm of Cwmgarw Ganol, near Brynamman.

Occupation:  At an early age he found employment in the coal mines and worked as a collier, with occasional periods of attendance at local schools, until the age of 27.

He later qualified as a minister but took a post as a teacher in Llangadog. He  moved to Ammanford in 1880 to teach at ‘Hope Academy’ and took over the running of the school in 1884 and called it ‘Gwynfryn School’. He gained a reputation as an excellent teacher.

Watcyn Wyn had a considerable reputation as a poet. He won the major awards at several of the chief eisteddfodau held between 1881 and 1893; he also wrote many shorter poems, and many hymns.  A few of his hymns are still widely sung by Welsh congregations.

News: Diolch yn fawr to staff and pupils for collecting over 120 items, equating to nearly 50kg, for the foodbank before the summer holidays.