Cadi Haf: a comic figure, dressed in old clothes, with blackened face, carrying a version of the Maypole (or an ash stave) that took part in May Day ceremonies in Northeast Wales. Also known as Yr Hen Gadi, his antics survived until the end of W.W.11; they have recently been revived in Flintshire.

Cadog (5th Century): a saint associated with many miracles and legends, after whom many churches are named in Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and Brittany.

Cadwaladr (7th century): a prince of whom poets wrote would deliver Wales from the English. Known in legend as “the last British King,” his red dragon banner was carried by Henry Tudor at Bosworth.

Cadwaladr, Dilys (1902-1979): b. Four Crosses, Caernarfonshire; short story writer who once farmed on Ynys Enlli (Bardsey); the first woman to win the National Eisteddfod Crown (at Rhyl, l953).

Cadwaladr (Beti) Elizabeth (Elizabeth Davies 1789-1860): b. Bala; worked as a domestic servant in Liverpool; served on ships, as a nurse, went to the Crimea as the real “Lady of the Lamp,” doing the dirty work that haughty Florence Nightingale would not. A society for Welsh-speaking nurses is named for Beti, who inspired Army hospital reforms.

Cadwallon: 7th Century King of Gwynedd who allied with Penda of Mercia to resist Northumbria and thus preserve Wales as a Celtic nation.

Cadwgan ap Bleddyn (d. llll): prince with lands in Ceredigion and Powys; he fought against Rhys ap Tewdwer and the Normans, playing a prominent part in the Welsh campaigns against William Rufus.

Cadwr (5th Century): warrior who fought alongside Arthur whose wife Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) he fostered. His son Custennin inherited the Crown of the Isle of Britain after Arthur’s death in 539.

Caitrin (d. l4l3): daughter of Owain Glyndwr captured at Harlech in l409 and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Her memorial is at St. Swithin’s Gardens.

Cale, John (b. l942): b. Garnant, with over 40 years success as singer, composer, producer, and songwriter, made his name with the albums Velvet Underground and Nic and played with the Welsh Youth Orchestra before winning a Leonard Bernstein scholarship.

Callaghan, James (l9l2-2005): b. Portsmouth, closely identified with Wales, following early career as union official and wartime service with the Royal Navy, Labour M.P. for Cardiff South in l945; rose to become Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, then Prime Minister in l976-9. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, he introduced Zebra Crossings and reflecting “Cat’s Eyes” to Britain. Famous for his imperturbability in the Devaluation Crisis, the rioting in N. Ireland, and Britain’s entry into the European Community, he became Baron Callaghan of Cardiff in l987.

Calvin, Wyn (b. l927): Pembrokeshire-born comedian and after-dinner speaker known as “The Welsh Prince of Laughter,” awarded the Order of the British Empire for his charitable work.

Calzaghe, Joe (“The Terminator” b. l972): from Blackwood, Gwent, a boxer with a string of successes; current W.B.O. super middleweight champion since defeating Chris Eubank in l997.

Camber: a son of Brutus; with Locrinus and Albanactus, after whom Cambria is named; a founder of one of the three countries of the Isle of Britain.

Campbell, Phil (b. l96l): from Treforest, rock guitarist originally with Persian Risk at Cardiff before joining Motorhead in l984. Has toured the world many times and selected as a Welsh hero in the poll of 2003-4.

Cap Coch (l730-l820): infamous tavern keeper of Merthyr Mawr whose many murders were discovered after his death.

Caradoc: (Caratacus or Caractacus, lst Century): leader who resisted the Roman invaders. He was betrayed by the Queen of the Brigantes, paraded in Rome by Emperor Claudius and condemned to death. His bravery and great dignity helped spare his life.

Caradog Freichfras: a hero in Welsh and French tales, cousin and chief counselor to Arthur.

Caradog of Llancarfan (l2th C): author of several Lives of the Saints, referred to by Geoffrey of Monmouth and in The Life of St. Cadog.

Carannog (6th C.): a saint commemorated in Wales, Ireland and Brittany.

Cardi: a native of Cardigan; may not deserve to be known as abnormally thrifty.

Carreg Lafar (Echo Stone, f. l993): a popular folk music group from Cardiff that has represented Wales in Celtic folk festivals and has many recordings.

Carter, Isaac (d. l74l): printer who established the first permanent printing press in Wales in l7l8 at Trefhedyn, Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire.

Cartimandua (lst Century A.D): queen of the Brigantes who surrendered Caraticus to the Romans in AD 51.

Cassivellaunus (lst Century AD): British leader who led determined resistance to Julius Caesar.

Catatonia: popular Welsh rock group that began as street singers outside Debenham’s store in Cardiff; first became a success with their Mulder and Scully in l987.

Casnodyn (l320-40): a Glamorgan poet whose work is the earliest to survive from that region.

Caswallon: a character in the Mabinogi who conquered the Island of the Mighty: and was crowned King in London.

Catrin of Berain (l534-l59l): “The Mother of Wales,” from Plas Penmynydd, seat of the Tudors in Anglesey, four times married, Catrin was the descendant of an illegitimate son of Henry V11.

Ceiriog: (see John Ceiriog Hughes).

Cewydd ap Caw (6th C.): a saint associated with the belief that if it rained on July lst it would rain for the next forty days. (The belief was transferred later to St. Swithin’s Day, l3 July).

Chamberlain, Brenda (19l2-1971): author of Tide Race (1962) about life on Bardsey (Ynys Enlli).

Charles, David (1762-1834): a Calvinistic Methodist, the brother of Thomas Charles; became famous as a writer of hymns and sermons.

Charles, John (b. l931-2004): remembered in Italy as “Il buono gigante” (the gentle giant), Swansea-born Charles went to Leeds United in l948, scored 42 goals in l953-4 season, helping them get promoted. Great successes came with Juventus in Italy, where he scored 29 goals in his first season, winning three league titles and named Italian footballer of the year in l958. His statue is outside the stadium. John’s younger brother Mel also enjoyed a career with Swansea Town in the late l950’s, playing for Wales 3l times.

Charles, Thomas (l755-l8l4): joining the Methodist Movement in l784, he set up the Sunday School Movement in North Wales that had enormous influence on the language and culture. Under his leadership, the British and Foreign Bible Society published a standardized text of their first Welsh Bible.

Charles y Telynor (mid-l8th C): a harpist from Llanycil, Merioneth who is supposed to have ridiculed Nonconformists, sold his soul to the Devil, and perished in Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake).

Cherry, Andrew: theatre manager at The New Theatre, Swansea (l801-l8ll) who engaged such distinguished actors as Edmund Kean.

Chilton, Irma (b. l930): from Pengelli, a teacher and prize-winning writer, mainly of children’s books.

Christopher Davies Ltd: formerly known as Llyfrau’r Dryw (Books of the Wren) it made an important contribution to Welsh letters with Cyfres Crwydro Cymru (Welsh Wanderer Series), Barn (Opinion), and Poetry Wales (l950’s –70’s).

Church, Charlotte (b. l986): b. Llandaff, the youngest artist ever to top the British classical music charts. Her Voice of an Angel earned a Gold in the U.S., and she performed for both the Pope and President Clinton in l999. In May 2000, she received the Best British Artist Award.

Cilie family, the (Bois y Cilie): near Llangrannog, famous for their poets beginning with Jeremiah Jones (d. l902); his son Fred Jones was an early member of Plaid Cymru and grandfather of Dafydd Iwan.

Clancy, Joseph (b. l928): b. New York City, influential poet,critic and translator of early Welsh poetry. His first volume of Welsh translations was Medieval Welsh Lyrics, l965; in l970 he completed The Earliest Welsh Poetry, and in 2003, Medieval Welsh Poems (6th to l3th century).

Clark, Petula (b. l932): born to a Welsh family in England, and most proud of her Welshness; debuted at age 9 in a radio program; became one of the Forces’ Sweethearts of Britain during the War (with Vera Lynn and Gracie Fields). She was Girl Singer of the Year in France in l96l. This led to a new career in the U.S., selling over 70 million records.

Clarke, Gillian (b. l937): poet and lecturer, free-lance broadcaster, editor of The Anglo-Welsh Review from l979-l984. In l978, Gwasg Gomer published her first full collection of poetry, The Sundial.

Cledwyn, Lord: see Hughes, Cledwyn.

Clough, Sir Richard (l530-l570): b. Denbigh, educated Chester Cathedral, became “Knight of the Holy Sepulchre” on a trip to Jerusalem, moved to Anmtwerp as manager for Sijr Thomas Gresham, was instrumental in the founding of the London Stock Exchange; married Kathryn of Berain, built Bachegragi at Tremeirchion, died at Hamburg.

Clowes, Dr. Carl: director of medical services for Powys who moved to Gwynedd; realizing that Wales needed a National Language Centre, he bought the deserted quarrying village of Nant Gwrtheyrn for that purpose.

Clwyd, Ann (b.1937): Labour M.P. for Cynon Valley in l984, after a career as BBC writer, manager and news correspondent. In l979, she became Wales’ only female Euro-MP (and only Welsh woman M.P. in 1984).

Clynnog, Morys (l525-8l): Catholic author, Bishop of Bangor who renounced the l539 Act of Supremacy and was exiled to Louvain under Elizabeth lst.

Coed Coch Bari: Welsh Mountain pony sold for a world record 22,050 pounds to an Australian breeder in l978.

Coel Hen (5th century): a Roman-British leader transformed by medieval authors into Old King Cole.

Coffin, Walter (l784-l867): coal pioneer who opened the first coal-level in the Rhondda and directed the Taff Vale Railway; Liberal M.P. Cardiff, l852-l857.

Coke, Thomas (l747-l8l4): from Brecon, he converted after hearing John Wesley, becoming his chief aide and superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America. He began the practice of having Welsh-speaking missioners at Ruthin, but died on his way to India to establish a Mission

Collen, St. (6th century), connected to the church settlement at Llangollen, his feast day is 2l May.

Conran, Anthony (b. l93l): India-born, educated in Wales, distinguished poet and translator, who writes poems in English on Welsh themes.

Cook, Arthur J. (l884-l93l): came to the Rhondda in l903 from Somerset; as national secretary of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, he played a prominent role in the General Strike of l926, with his slogan “Not a penny off the pay, not a second on the day.”

Cooke, Nicole (b. l983): b. Bridgend; world-beating cyclist and BBC Wales Sports Personality of the year in 2003 after winning the Gold at the Commonwealth Games. In 2004, she won the Giro d’Italia, the women’s version of Tour de France.

Coombes, Bert Lewis (l894-l974): Herefordshire-born author who worked as a miner in Resolven and learned Welsh. He published several essays and short stories on the lives of the miners between l938 and l942; became a frequent broadcaster on British society.

Cooper, Tommy (l922-l984): b. Caerphilly; one of Britain’s funniest and best-loved comics. With his infectious laugh, wearing his red fez, Tommy starred on television and in many British films. He collapsed and died while performing.
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Cor Meibion De Cymru (S. Wales Male Voice Choir): founded in 1984, brings together choirs from all parts of S. Wales to tour Britain and the world.

Cordell, Alexander (l9l4-l997): Anglo-Welsh novelist George Graber, who wrote of the incessant struggles of the Welsh people. His trilogy Rape of the Fair Country, The Hosts of Rebecca, and Song of the Earth, has been made into a drama series. Fire People describes changes made by industry.

Cory: family who owned coal mines and shipping interests, influential in politics and philanthropy in l9th century Cardiff, and whose former home Dyffryn, near Cardiff, famous for its gardens.

Cory Band (f. l884): began in Ton Pentre as the Ton Temperance Band, later becoming the Cory Workmen’s Band. The premier brass band in Wales, winning BBC Challenge competition in l97l, the National Championship in l974, l982, 83 and 84; European champions, l980.

Cottingham, Cyril Morgan (l9l8-l943): from Comox, Aberystwyth, as a flying officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force he was shot down over the North Sea. The Comox Valley airport on Vancouver Island is named after him.

Court Poets, (l2th century): poets who were encouraged by the flourishing of literature on mainland Europe (and by military successes of their Princes against the Normans). Noted in the art of the awdl were Llywarch ap Llywelyn and Gruffudd ap yr Ynad Coch.

Cradock, Walter (l6l0-59): Puritan preacher famous for his sermons who helped found the first Independent church in Wales at Llanfaches, Gwent.

Crasdant: an outstanding, much traveled contemporary folk music group, using traditional instruments.

Crawshay: a family that dominated iron working in South Wales, beginning with William at Cyfarthfa in l786. On Robert Thompson Crawshay’s tomb at Faenor, near Merthyr is enscribed “God Forgive Me.”

Crawshay, Sir William R. (1920-l999): b. Abergavenny, served on the Boards of the National Museum of Wales, the Welsh Arts Council, the Council of the University of Wales, Cardiff and the N.W.A.F. In World War Two, he received the D.S.O. for gallantry as agent-saboteur with the French Resistance.

Crecy, Battle of (l346): a victory for the forces of Edward lll and the Black Prince against the French army in which approx. 5.000 Welsh archers wore green and white coats and hats, perhaps the first military uniforms. They may have also worn the leek, the emblem of Wales ever since. The victory made the longbow famous. The Black Prince adopted the three feathers emblem of the King of Bohemia, slain in battle.

Crockett, Anthony P. (b. l946): archdeacon of Carmarthen, became Bishop of Bangor in 2004, the first divorced person in the U.K to be appointed bishop.

Croft, Robert (b. l970): from Morriston, Swansea, a Glamorganshire cricketer; one of the very few Welsh speakers to represent England (Wales has no national cricket team).

Cunedda (370-430 A.D.): chieftain from Celtic Scotland, who set up the kingdom of Gwynedd, defeating the Irish invaders (then known as the Scots) to preserve the language as Welsh rather than Gaelic. He was named “The Father of the Welsh Nation” by Gwynfor Evans.

Curtis, Tony (b. l945): poet, short-story writer, literary editor; elected chairman of the English-language section of Yr Academi Gymreig, l984.

Cybi, St. (6th century): saint commemorated at Caergybi (Holyhead) and Llangybi, Llyn.

Cyfarwydd: the medieval bard who fulfilled the offices of chief poet and household poet.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Society for the Welsh Language): begun at Aberdare in l885; resurrected by Plaid Cymru at Pontarddulais, l962. The Society attracted the youth of Wales in its aredeent campaigns to create a bilingual Wales, to establish a Welsh television channel (S4C), and to gain official recognition of the Welsh language.

Cymmrodorion, the Honourable Society of: formed in London in l75l to encourage interest in Welsh history and literature that later established the annual eisteddfod through the National Eisteddfod Association. It publishes scholarly studies, and awards the Society Medal for achievements in arts, science, and literature.

Cynan: (see entry for Evans-Jones, Albert).

Cynan Meriadog: a founder of Brittany written of by Geoffrey of Monmouth. His supposed cutting out of women’s tongues led to the Welsh name of Brittany as Llydaw (lled-taw, “silent gums”).

Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr (Cynddelw the Great Poet): a most proficient and highly regarded Court poet of the l2th Century.

Cynfeirdd, Y (6-l2th C.): “the early poets” most of whom wrote poems based on sagas and popular tales as well as nature poems and religious verse.

Cynwal, William (d. l587): Ysbyty Ifan, Denbighshire, a prolific practitioner of traditional poetry.