Thomas, John

Composer

b Blaenannerch, Cardigans, S Wales 1839, d Llanwrtyd Wells, Breconshire 1921. Known by both his birthplace and his later home of Llanwrtyd. Apprenticed to a shop in Newcastle Emlyn, but returned to his father’s shop owing to ill-health. From 1871 he ran the Post Office at Llanwrtyd. As a young man he won Eisteddfod prizes for his music; he concentrated on writing poetry from his 30s onwards, but conducted concerts throughout Wales—30 events in the first 6 months of 1882, for example. As a Joshua to the Moses-figure of Ieuan Gwyllt, he pioneered a change of emphasis in the Cymanfa Ganu movement so that each event became an act of worship—‘possessing the land’. No.144.