A CARPENTER from the Llyn Peninsula is responsible for constructing a key prize for this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod.

The chair and the crown – the festival’s most sought-after prizes – have been presented to the organisers of this year’s extravaganza ahead of the Eisteddfod itself, which takes place in the coming weeks.

The chair, which is awarded to the best poem in strict or free metre, has been made using ash and sapele wood this year, with a strip of steel running through the chair to represent the steel industry in South Wales.

It has been designed and created by Osian Roberts, originally from Rhoshirwaun by Aberdaron, but now working as the head of technology at Ysgol Llangynwyd, Bridgend.

Osian is from a family of carpenters, with his father and brother in the business.

He said: “My brother, Ifan, came down to give me a hand with the chair - we’ve always been quite a creative family.

“This is the first chair that I have made. It is quite modern and minimalistic with quite a high back, around two metres.

“It’s been made using two kinds of wood, ash which is light coloured and sapele which is dark, which gives a nice contrast.

“On the front of the chair, the Urdd logo is made from three different kinds of metal with ‘Pen-bont ar Ogwr, Taf ac Elai’ and a map of Wales etched under the logo.

“I look forward to seeing the chair on the pavilion stage on Thursday - it makes the occasion even more special because the chair is donated by the school that I teach in, Ysgol Llangynwyd.”

Artist Iolo Edger, owner of ‘Jewellers on the Bridge’ in Bridgend, has made and designed the stunning crown this year, which is awarded to the best piece or pieces of prose over 4,000 words.

The design will be based on the Celtic torc rather than a traditional crown this year, made from silver, with words from the Welsh national anthem incorporated into the design and elements of the local landscapes and rivers featured.

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