Being Cyw Bawddwr - A Son of Llandovery

Originally published on LinkedIn - August 25, 2025

I happened to be back in my hometown last night—well, what I call 'home'.

For a change this week, I'd like to share a little about myself and the historic Welsh town where I was born.

I love Resolven, where my wife and I live, but my roots and heart are firmly in my childhood home, Llandovery.

My sister was singing there last night at the Castle Hotel's Open Mic Night, and I don't need much of an excuse to go back and see my friends and family. On a warm late summer evening that Llandovery does so well, it was a real treat to enjoy the music in the shadow of the inspiring castle. The hotel itself has an impressive history; it once hosted Lord Nelson, and the hotel has retained his suite since his stay back on July 28, 1802, during his summer tour of Wales with Lady Emma Hamilton and her entourage. My late mam managed The Castle when I was very young, and I fondly remember sleepovers in Lord Nelson's room!

One of my claims to fame (or infamy?) is that I was the last official child born in Llandovery's maternity unit. I was born in July 1972 with my aunt, a nurse, present, and shortly after, the unit closed. Not sure if they made a special exception for me or if I was just the last straw.

At Llandovery Castle

Regarding the castle itself, Llandovery Castle has a history full of medieval conflicts and changing alliances. It was first established around 1116 by Richard Fitz Pons, a Norman knight, to control the Tywi Valley against powerful Welsh princes.

Over the centuries, it became a focal point of ongoing warfare between Normans and native Welsh rulers, especially the princes of Deheubarth. The castle was captured and recaptured multiple times—held by the Welsh under Lord Rhys in the 12th century, retaken by the English crown, and later used during Edward I’s campaigns to consolidate power in Wales. Though fortified with stone, it never reached the grandeur of castles like Caernarfon or Conwy, and by the 16th century, it had fallen into disrepair. The castle is a reminder of Wales’s turbulent medieval history and the ongoing struggle between native independence and Norman-English rule.

Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan

I should also mention Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan, a Carmarthenshire farmer turned national hero. Though less known than Owain Glyndŵr, Llywelyn’s bravery and sacrifice during the early 15th-century rebellion highlight the enduring Welsh spirit of resilience, loyalty, and resistance. Llywelyn lived near Llandovery and supported Glyndŵr’s fight for Welsh independence.

In 1401, during Glyndŵr’s rebellion, Llywelyn used a clever trick to delay English troops. He misled the army, pretending to guide them toward Glyndŵr’s forces while secretly giving the Welsh rebels more time to regroup and escape. His deception was eventually uncovered, and he was taken back to Llandovery to face a brutal punishment. On October 9, 1401, before the townspeople, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan was executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering—the harshest penalty for treason. Instead of instilling fear, his sacrifice became a symbol of defiance, inspiring future generations with his unwavering loyalty to the Welsh cause.

In 2001, exactly 600 years after his death, Llandovery unveiled a striking 16-foot statue by sculptors Toby and Gideon Petersen. The statue doesn’t show Llywelyn in chains or defeated but depicts him as a mighty warrior with his sword raised high—an embodiment of Welsh pride and endurance. It stands as a bold reminder of the cost paid by those who fought for freedom, and as a symbol of how small communities like Llandovery influenced the broader history of Wales. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan might not be as famous as other Welsh figures, but his story and the statue honoring him ensure his bravery will never be forgotten.

In more recent times, the town is recognised as the birthplace of Welsh rugby. In the mid-19th century, Llandovery College played a key role in introducing rugby to Wales. Founded in 1847 to promote Welsh culture and values, the college also embraced sports as part of character building.

By the 1850s and 1860s, rugby—then evolving from its early stage at Rugby School in England—found a fertile ground in Llandovery. The college was among the first in Wales to adopt and develop the game, helping to spread rugby across the country.

To sum up, a person born in Llandovery is called a Cyw Bawddwr. The Bawddwr is the stream that runs beneath the town, which used to be an open sewer!

Opinions vary—whether you’re born in the hospital or in sight of the Bawddwr—but generally, if you were born in Llandovery, you’re a Cyw Bawddwr.

I am very proud to say I am one.

I have travelled the world, worked across the UK and beyond. Returning to Wales in 2009 was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. We returned from the Isle of Man the hard way. I left an executive role to work selling mobile phones to cover the rent. I have spent the past 16 years building up resilience to stay on the right course, standing my ground, making very hard decisions, and being armed with the right qualifications beyond experience.

I am passionate about my home country, and I care deeply for our communities and the well-being of our society. Everything I have done in my career has been through the lens of the impact it would have on my community.

I must make decisions that allow me to stand tall and stand by them.

As I move forward with my career, whether it is as an employee or self-employed. The assurance is that I am not a faceless conglomerate. I do not represent a cookie-cutter view of Welsh society.

I am part of that rebellious, passionate society, and any actions that I take that have an impact on the community affect me and the people I love.

The same community that has stood up for centuries against repression, hatred, and more recently electric pylons (https://nopylons.wales/).

Cymru Am Byth

Always be proud to fly the dragon..

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