A VENERATED custodian of Meirionnydd’s history has been recognised with a special national award.

Gerald Williams MBE, acclaimed war poet Hedd Wyn’s nephew, has received the first minister’s Special Award for his tireless voluntary work keeping the memory of his wordsmith uncle and the Great War alive.

Over the last four years events have taken place all over the world commemorating the centenary of the First World War.

2017 was a particularly significant year for Wales as we remembered the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) which saw the loss of so many Welshmen, including Private Ellis Humphrey-Evans who is better known as the poet Hedd Wyn

Hedd Wyn died at the Battle of Passchendaele six weeks before the National Eisteddfod in 1917, at which he was awarded the Black Chair for his poem Yr Arwr (The Hero).

That chair, as so much about Hedd Wyn’s legacy, is kept at the family farmhouse, Yr Ysgwrn in Trawsfynydd which has been lovingly preserved as it was 100 years ago by the poet’s family.

Gerald, as custodian to Yr Ysgwrn, near Trawsfynydd, has maintained his promise to “always keep the door open” since 1954, welcoming visitors from all over the world to Yr Ysgwrn, and doing so free of charge.

Presenting the accolade at the ST David’s Awards last week, first minister Carwyn Jones said: “For over 60 years, Hedd Wyn’s nephew Gerald who still lives in the family’s old farmhouse, has worked tirelessly, on a voluntary basis, to preserve the history of his uncle’s life and legacy for future generations.

“Make no mistake, without Gerald’s commitment and dedication this incredible part of our history, culture and language would be lost. So my special award this year is to Gerald Williams.”

Read the full story in Thursday’s north editions of the Cambrian News