A Tribute to Toni Lewis Founder of the annual Cilmeri Commemoration
A Tribute To Toni Lewis
Founder of the annual 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol' Rally at Cilmeri.
Antur Ysbryd Cofiwn Posting 6 Tachwedd 2006
Founder of the annual 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol' Rally at Cilmeri.
Antur Ysbryd Cofiwn Posting 6 Tachwedd 2006
gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com
This Statement was originally issued in November 2005, now with the first anniversary of Toni’s death arising on this 8 Tachwedd 2006 and 40th Anniversary of Cilmeri on the horizon it is worth my reissueing it and now posting it to this blog.
This Statement was originally issued in November 2005, now with the first anniversary of Toni’s death arising on this 8 Tachwedd 2006 and 40th Anniversary of Cilmeri on the horizon it is worth my reissueing it and now posting it to this blog.
Er Cof Am Anthony H. Lewis.
It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart I inform you of the death on the 8 Tachwedd 2005 of Toni Lewis, Toni’s death was as sudden as it was unwelcome. Sadly however Toni’s ill health in recent years was much cause for concern and even though such placed a restriction on his life and endeavours for the patriotic cause, he nevertheless did much to continue the struggle he had been involved with for most of his life. Toni was not one to give up and thus, up to his death we were both turning our attention toward the 40th Anniversary of the Cilmeri Rally in 2006. This annual commemoration, which I and Toni initiated in 1966 on behalf of the Patriotic Front, was perhaps to become Toni’s most frequented event in his patriotic calendar.
I knew Toni would have difficulty in attending this year’s 2005 Cilmeri commemoration but I know that despite ill health he would have made every effort to be present. It is perhaps poignant that with 39th Cilmeri Commemoration but weeks away Toni died. However, even though his physical body will not be in attendance I have no doubt his spirit will be. I hope all who attend the Cilmeri Commemoration this and next year will keep Toni to the fore of their minds and that his name will be the first mentioned in the annual “Roll call of our Patriot dead”. Not least I hope one minute silence will be called for during the commemoration in memory of Toni. Of course the suddenness of Toni’s death makes it impossible to organise and arrange a full and fitting tribute to Toni’s memory this year thus, I will propose this is done as part of the Cilmeri Commemoration (Patriotic Front Founders Rally) 40th Anniversary 1966 - 2006. At some time in the future perhaps as part of 2007 commemoration evening social I will organise a celebration of Toni’s life, work and contribution to the cause.
I last spoke to Toni a week ago to today (on Friday 4th Nov) discussing my plans to visit him after I had returned from London and before the Cilmeri Commemoration, sadly, this is now not to be. I myself only heard of Toni’s death last night, three days after this sad event and this morning, after a restless night thinking of Toni and our friendship and work over 40 years together in the Patriotic cause. I have sat down to write this final comment as public statement and to send to patriots who will attend 'Rali Cilmeri' . I have over the last week been preparing a promotion to mail out before I journied back to London regards Cilmeri but now i feel it more important to pass on the sad news and to inform you that the funeral will be taking place at Coychurch Crematorium at 2:15 pm on 17 Tachwedd. Please send Condolence Cards to Toni’s son Steffan Lewis. If you find that you cannot attend the cremation then please note that Toni’s ashes will be spread over four historic sites sacred to Y Cymry during 2006, such you will be informed of and may attend.
There is a great deal more that could be written about Toni Lewis. Patriot, Musician and Craftsman also of course Patriotic Front President and FWA Gwent Commandant and Political Prisoner also Co founder with I of the Patriotic Front and Cofiwn; such will in time be further written on.
It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart I inform you of the death on the 8 Tachwedd 2005 of Toni Lewis, Toni’s death was as sudden as it was unwelcome. Sadly however Toni’s ill health in recent years was much cause for concern and even though such placed a restriction on his life and endeavours for the patriotic cause, he nevertheless did much to continue the struggle he had been involved with for most of his life. Toni was not one to give up and thus, up to his death we were both turning our attention toward the 40th Anniversary of the Cilmeri Rally in 2006. This annual commemoration, which I and Toni initiated in 1966 on behalf of the Patriotic Front, was perhaps to become Toni’s most frequented event in his patriotic calendar.
I knew Toni would have difficulty in attending this year’s 2005 Cilmeri commemoration but I know that despite ill health he would have made every effort to be present. It is perhaps poignant that with 39th Cilmeri Commemoration but weeks away Toni died. However, even though his physical body will not be in attendance I have no doubt his spirit will be. I hope all who attend the Cilmeri Commemoration this and next year will keep Toni to the fore of their minds and that his name will be the first mentioned in the annual “Roll call of our Patriot dead”. Not least I hope one minute silence will be called for during the commemoration in memory of Toni. Of course the suddenness of Toni’s death makes it impossible to organise and arrange a full and fitting tribute to Toni’s memory this year thus, I will propose this is done as part of the Cilmeri Commemoration (Patriotic Front Founders Rally) 40th Anniversary 1966 - 2006. At some time in the future perhaps as part of 2007 commemoration evening social I will organise a celebration of Toni’s life, work and contribution to the cause.
I last spoke to Toni a week ago to today (on Friday 4th Nov) discussing my plans to visit him after I had returned from London and before the Cilmeri Commemoration, sadly, this is now not to be. I myself only heard of Toni’s death last night, three days after this sad event and this morning, after a restless night thinking of Toni and our friendship and work over 40 years together in the Patriotic cause. I have sat down to write this final comment as public statement and to send to patriots who will attend 'Rali Cilmeri' . I have over the last week been preparing a promotion to mail out before I journied back to London regards Cilmeri but now i feel it more important to pass on the sad news and to inform you that the funeral will be taking place at Coychurch Crematorium at 2:15 pm on 17 Tachwedd. Please send Condolence Cards to Toni’s son Steffan Lewis. If you find that you cannot attend the cremation then please note that Toni’s ashes will be spread over four historic sites sacred to Y Cymry during 2006, such you will be informed of and may attend.
There is a great deal more that could be written about Toni Lewis. Patriot, Musician and Craftsman also of course Patriotic Front President and FWA Gwent Commandant and Political Prisoner also Co founder with I of the Patriotic Front and Cofiwn; such will in time be further written on.
Farewell Toni, onward to your seat in the Cave of Heroes.
Gethin Gruffydd 11-11-2005.
Post Script 18 - 11 - 2005: Please note and endeavour to attend our own ‘Ysbryd Cofiwn’ tribute to Toni Lewis at the Cilmeri Centoaph 11: 45 am 10 - 11 - 2005. Speech made below:
Tribute Speech made by G.Gruffydd at 'Rali Cilmeri 2005' in Memory of Friend and Comrade Toni Lewis, on giving this speech originally it was largely from notes and much came out of my head as I made the speech. The next day I wrote it up from my notes and what I remembered I had said as best as possible, It has of course in consequence been slightly added to for greater clarity and to broaden it as a fitting tribute to Toni. The sentiments are the same though much more strongly repeated with some biting observances but in keeping with beliefs both I and Toni have held over many years of being ‘Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol’ 1966 – 2006.
I first met Toni in Abergwuan at the Plaid Cymru Conference and yes within minutes he was showing me badges he had made, we instantly struck up a freindship which was to last to the present times. In those days there were many more ‘Adfywiad Gwladgarol’ such has Meic Stephens not the singer but he who became ‘head honcho’ of the Welsh Arts Council. At the aforementioned Plaid Cymru conference Meic was busy trying to pitch a very good concept for a Welsh Nationalist Flag but by then such was beyond ''Plaid Poppy''. For a short while Meic was to partner the Romantic Rebel and Patriotic Bard Harri Webb in the penning of some well known ‘Welsh Rebel Songs’ some of which a few ''Tame Taffs'' regard as possibly ''racist'' against the English, no doubt the ‘’Plaid Poppy People’’ will as well? Whilst at this Abergwuan Plaid Cymru conference one night a number of us, that is youthful radical nationalists or has I now referr to as ‘Adfywiadwyr Gwladgarol’ after dark went out on the town to tear down a number of Union Jacks. I and another close friend got caught by the law and were banged up in the cells until Toni and another great ‘Adfywiadwyr’, the Ex – republican Pedr Lewis talked the police into letting us go and thus Toni and I had began the journey along the road that would see us after an illustrious ‘Adywiad Gwladgarol’ be arrested and put on trial with other ‘Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol’ of the Patriotic Front and Free Wales Army in the notorious trial of Anti – Investiture Resisters in Swansea during the Summer of 1969; our ‘Angry Summer’.
Now many years later we are ‘’Grey Beards’’ but nevertheless ''Grey Wolves'' not ''Pobl Poppy''. Very soon we hold the 39th Cilmeri Rally and in 2006 we mark the 40th Anniversary Rally, It is to Toni we can largelly look towards re founding that Commemoration and I think it is some kind of great achievement that this commemoration has lasted all this time. However, it is not that alone I want to draw attention to, but also especially to Crachach Collaborators as Patrick Hannan who in yesterdays Guardian sweeps Toni aside as achieving little and being ineffectual etc. I guarantee this, long after Hannan is dead and bueried he will be forgotten and Toni remembered and revered as a great patriot whilst Hannan is remembered for what he is and that is of course no more and no less a treacherous HACK! There has been much said about the FWA trial from the most bizzare statement that it was a plot to damage Plaid Cymru or whatever, the fact of the matter it was done to get out of the way patriots more responsible than any others for a conspiracy, Yes! a conspiracy to do all possible to stop the Investiture and did we nearly succeed? What ever the fact of the matter is Tony, I and others met to decide on this and declared that the only way was that Investiture going to be held was by the English having to surround Caernarfon with a ring of steel. Well the rest is history but I will tell you and Mr Hannan this much that peripheral patriots and marginalised people often achieve much and will go on doing so, just read the headlines of the Western Mail of 2 July 1969.
I could go on and on as I have so many memories of Toni but suffice to say these things Toni was my Comrade, my Friend and also my Patriotic mentor, in later life we would disgree on certain political matters but it never got in the way of the great achievement which was Cofiwn. We had something in Cofiwn called “Ysbryd Cofiwn” Toni would joke it meant “Suffereing”, suffering for the cause climbing up mountains, being out of pocket etc in other words working day and night for the cause and that’s the example of Patriotism Toni set. Recently I have been reading of the Aberpergwm family whose family motto is “He who suffers Conquors”, this prompts me to say in conclusion just three words:
“Toni You Conquored”
So let us remember that and not the mealy mouthed words of the likes of the Quislings and Gombeen men as Patric kHannan et al.
Gethin Gruffydd 11-11-2005.
Post Script 18 - 11 - 2005: Please note and endeavour to attend our own ‘Ysbryd Cofiwn’ tribute to Toni Lewis at the Cilmeri Centoaph 11: 45 am 10 - 11 - 2005. Speech made below:
Tribute Speech made by G.Gruffydd at 'Rali Cilmeri 2005' in Memory of Friend and Comrade Toni Lewis, on giving this speech originally it was largely from notes and much came out of my head as I made the speech. The next day I wrote it up from my notes and what I remembered I had said as best as possible, It has of course in consequence been slightly added to for greater clarity and to broaden it as a fitting tribute to Toni. The sentiments are the same though much more strongly repeated with some biting observances but in keeping with beliefs both I and Toni have held over many years of being ‘Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol’ 1966 – 2006.
I first met Toni in Abergwuan at the Plaid Cymru Conference and yes within minutes he was showing me badges he had made, we instantly struck up a freindship which was to last to the present times. In those days there were many more ‘Adfywiad Gwladgarol’ such has Meic Stephens not the singer but he who became ‘head honcho’ of the Welsh Arts Council. At the aforementioned Plaid Cymru conference Meic was busy trying to pitch a very good concept for a Welsh Nationalist Flag but by then such was beyond ''Plaid Poppy''. For a short while Meic was to partner the Romantic Rebel and Patriotic Bard Harri Webb in the penning of some well known ‘Welsh Rebel Songs’ some of which a few ''Tame Taffs'' regard as possibly ''racist'' against the English, no doubt the ‘’Plaid Poppy People’’ will as well? Whilst at this Abergwuan Plaid Cymru conference one night a number of us, that is youthful radical nationalists or has I now referr to as ‘Adfywiadwyr Gwladgarol’ after dark went out on the town to tear down a number of Union Jacks. I and another close friend got caught by the law and were banged up in the cells until Toni and another great ‘Adfywiadwyr’, the Ex – republican Pedr Lewis talked the police into letting us go and thus Toni and I had began the journey along the road that would see us after an illustrious ‘Adywiad Gwladgarol’ be arrested and put on trial with other ‘Adfywiadwyr Gwlatgarol’ of the Patriotic Front and Free Wales Army in the notorious trial of Anti – Investiture Resisters in Swansea during the Summer of 1969; our ‘Angry Summer’.
Now many years later we are ‘’Grey Beards’’ but nevertheless ''Grey Wolves'' not ''Pobl Poppy''. Very soon we hold the 39th Cilmeri Rally and in 2006 we mark the 40th Anniversary Rally, It is to Toni we can largelly look towards re founding that Commemoration and I think it is some kind of great achievement that this commemoration has lasted all this time. However, it is not that alone I want to draw attention to, but also especially to Crachach Collaborators as Patrick Hannan who in yesterdays Guardian sweeps Toni aside as achieving little and being ineffectual etc. I guarantee this, long after Hannan is dead and bueried he will be forgotten and Toni remembered and revered as a great patriot whilst Hannan is remembered for what he is and that is of course no more and no less a treacherous HACK! There has been much said about the FWA trial from the most bizzare statement that it was a plot to damage Plaid Cymru or whatever, the fact of the matter it was done to get out of the way patriots more responsible than any others for a conspiracy, Yes! a conspiracy to do all possible to stop the Investiture and did we nearly succeed? What ever the fact of the matter is Tony, I and others met to decide on this and declared that the only way was that Investiture going to be held was by the English having to surround Caernarfon with a ring of steel. Well the rest is history but I will tell you and Mr Hannan this much that peripheral patriots and marginalised people often achieve much and will go on doing so, just read the headlines of the Western Mail of 2 July 1969.
I could go on and on as I have so many memories of Toni but suffice to say these things Toni was my Comrade, my Friend and also my Patriotic mentor, in later life we would disgree on certain political matters but it never got in the way of the great achievement which was Cofiwn. We had something in Cofiwn called “Ysbryd Cofiwn” Toni would joke it meant “Suffereing”, suffering for the cause climbing up mountains, being out of pocket etc in other words working day and night for the cause and that’s the example of Patriotism Toni set. Recently I have been reading of the Aberpergwm family whose family motto is “He who suffers Conquors”, this prompts me to say in conclusion just three words:
“Toni You Conquored”
So let us remember that and not the mealy mouthed words of the likes of the Quislings and Gombeen men as Patric kHannan et al.
Gethin ap Gruffydd.
posted by Gethin 'Iestyn' Gruffydd | 7:42 AM
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