Urdd Gobaith Cymru (League of the Hope of Wales, l922): founded by Ifan ab Owen Edwards through his magazine Cymru'r Plant (the Children of Wales). Its support of the National Eisteddfod, promotion of Welsh-language schools, summer camping activities and so on have contributed immensely to the survival of Welsh language and culture. Its first national eisteddfod was held at Corwen, Merioneth, in 1929.

Urien Rheged (6th century): a king of Rheged, in the Old Northern kingdom, who, according to Nennius, resisted the Anglo-Saxon invaders, and who is praised by Taliesin.

Valentine, Lewis, Rev (l893-l986): b. Llanddulas, Denbighshire: a minister at Llandudno and Rhosllanerchrugog, one of the “Penyberth Three,” Plaid Cymru’s first President, and its first Parliamentary candidate in 1929 (his 609 votes became know as the “Gallant Six Hundred.” He expressed his nationalistic views as editor of Seren Gomer.

Vaughan, Aled (b. l920): journalist, short-story writer, and radio and television producer; he helped establish Harlech Television.

Vaughan, Gruffudd (l4l7-47): a Montomeryshire gentleman, helped capture Sir John Oldcastle and fought in France. The most famous jouster of the day, he killed his master. Forced to become and outlaw, he was caught and executed.

Vaughan, Henry (the Silurist, l62l-95): from Tretower, near Brecon, he wrote intensely emotional, religious poetry. The title of one of his Welsh poems is "Y Cerbyd" (the Chariot), a term also used by the Ministry of Transport to denote traffic on the M4 in South Wales.

Vaughan, Philip (l8th Century): iron master at Carmarthen who patented radial ball-bearings for the axle bearings of carriages in l794, many years ahead of the precise grinding machines that would accurately produce perfectly spherical metal balls.

Vaughan, Robert (l592-l667): antiquary and translator who helped save the manuscripts that include The Black Book of Carmarthen, The White Book of Rhydderch, and The Book of Taliesin.

Vaughan, Rowland (l587-l667): translator and poet, his many translations (mainly of English religious works) show his mastery of Welsh prose.

Vaughan, Thomas (l62l-66): metaphysician, soldier and alchemist, a twin brother of the more famous Henry; wrote some Latin and English poems before blowing himself up accidentally in his laboratory.

Vaughan-Thomas, Wynford (l908-87): popular writer and broadcaster began a distinguished career in broadcasting as a war correspondent, progressing to Director of Programs at HTV. He also wrote books on Wales that deal with history and landscape.

Vicari, Andrew (b. l938): from Port Talbot, he is the highest paid living artist, the official painter for Interpol and the King and Government of Saudi Arabia. His first success was at the National Eisteddfod (gold medal at age l2); he chronicled the Gulf War and has been awarded a 25 million pound commission to paint the world’s biggest oil painting The Parable of Majesty.

Vivian: a family whose copper smelting made them millionaires, bought them a seat in the House of Commons, built Singleton Abbey and Park in Swansea, and poisoned the Tawe Valley for generations.

Vorderman, Carol (b. 1960): Denbigh-born Carol has become one of Britain's highest paid performers. Her "brains and beauty" first got her a job at Yorkshire Television, later made her the star of Countdown and numerous other television series.

Vortigern (Gwrtheyrn): British chieftain blamed for inviting the Saxons to settle in Britain. Mentioned by English historian Bede (8th Century), and by Welsh historian Nennius (9th century), he was named Gwrtheyrn by Gildas (6th Century). Nant Gwrtheyrn is home to the Welsh National Language Center.

Vulliamy, Clwyn Edward (Twm Teg, l886-l97l): a prolific writer from Radnorshire who began with anthropology and archeology in the l920's, completed biographies of Voltaire and Rousseau, and other historical characters, and wrote novels under his pen-name Anthony Rolls and satirical prose and verse.