AN author from Trefor drew inspiration from a six-week radiotherapy course to pen a novel which won him a medal at the National Eisteddfod this week.

Guto Dafydd, who won the Crown at the Eisteddfod two years ago, was named as the winner of the Daniel Owen Memorial Medal on Tuesday in Abergavenny.

Guto, who works for the Welsh Language Commissioner as a compliance officer, says he drew inspiration for the novel, Ymbelydredd (Radiation), about a young man who travels to Manchester for radiotherapy treatment, from his own experience.

Guto, who lives in Pwllheli with his wife, Lisa, and their children, Casi, Mallt and Nedw Lludd, underwent a six-week stay in hospital and a course of radiotherapy to tackle an aggressive fibromastosis on his chest.

The adjudicators were Jon Gower, Fflur Dafydd and Gareth F Williams, and delivering the adjudication from the stage, Mr Gower said: “This is an excellent novel, and the author must be praised, not least because he managed to avoid any sentimentality, which could have stumbled many less-talented writers."

See the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News