A STRONG contingent of Ceredigion women have been included on a list of 100 influential Welsh women in a project to mark 100 years since women were given the vote.

Women’s Equality Network Wales drew up the list to mark the centenary, and on Tuesday it announced its 100 Welsh Women at the Senedd to mark the achievements of 50 living women and to remember 50 women who have died.

An event at the Welsh Assembly was attended by shortlisted women from Ceredigion - Rosanne Reeves, co-founder of Honno Welsh Women’s Press; Ceridwen Lloyd-Morgan, former archivist and head of manuscripts and visual images, National Library of Wales; Rachel Rowlands, founder of Rachel’s Organic; Linda Tomos, chief librarian of the National Library of Wales; and the acclaimed poet, Gillian Clarke.

They were welcomed by Ceredigion AM Elin Jones, who said: “I’m very glad to see a strong selection of Ceredigion women on the 100 Welsh Women list.

“Names such as Cranogwen, Eluned Phillips, Eirwen Gwynn, Gillian Clarke and Rachel Rowlands are all well known in Ceredigion.

“From poetry, to political activism and business, they have all played a part in building the Wales that we have today.”

Nominee Ms Rowlands said: “I am immensely proud to have come from a family of strong women.

“My grandmother Elizabeth Lyon Jones was awarded an MBE for her services to the Women’s Land Army in World War 1 in 1918 and then farmed as a single mother through the 20s and 30s.

“My mother Dinah, was a staunch advocate for sustainable farming principles.

“I wholeheartedly embraced those principles and accepted the challenges faced in the market place when as a family we developed Rachel’s Dairy.”

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