Hanes ni - History

Mwy am hanes Eisteddfod Flynyddol (bron!) Cwmdu

Cynhaliwyd yr Eisteddfod gyntaf yn Ysgoldy Cwmdu ym 1916, ac fe’i chynhaliwyd bob blwyddyn yn yr ysgol nes i’r niferoedd a oedd yn mynychu fynd yn rhy fawr. Yna, ym 1923, symudodd i babell fawr ar gae’r ysgol. Cadeirydd y pwyllgor oedd y Parchedig Arvon Davies, Rheithor Eglwys Sant Mihangel; yr Ysgrifennydd oedd Mr R Evans, yr Ysgolfeistr; a’r Arweinydd oedd Mr OJ Owen.

(John Owen Y Fenni)

Yn y dyddiau hynny roedd gan Gwmdu ddau gôr: côr meibion, dan arweiniad Mr Arthur Morris o’r Cwm, a chôr cymysg, dan arweiniad y Parchedig Arvon Davies.

Cynhaliwyd yr Eisteddfodau cyntaf ar ddydd Llun, gyda’r sesiwn brynhawn ar gyfer plant, ond hefyd yn cynnwys cystadlaethau i oedolion mewn e.e. gwnio crys wedi’i wneud â llaw, basgedi bwydo gwartheg, ysgubau a ffyn.

Roedd Eisteddfod 1941 yn cynnwys un sesiwn yn unig am 5.30yh ddydd Sadwrn 1 Tachwedd, a gynhaliwyd yn ysgoldy Ysgol VP Cwmdu. Cafwyd cystadlaethau i blant ac oedolion, a chystadleuaeth i Gôr Cymysg o ddim llai nag 20 o leisiau ar ddarn gosod o’r enw ‘O Dduw, rho im’ Dy hedd’.

Yn Eisteddfod 1945 roedd yr ysgoldy dan ei sang, a pharhaodd y gweithgareddau ymhell i oriau mân y bore canlynol. Fe wnaeth llywydd y noson, yr Arglwydd Glanusk, herio pobl Cwmdu i adeiladu neuadd bentref fel y gallai pawb gael sedd.

Derbyniwyd yr her gan y Parchedig Mansel Davies, Gweinidog â gofal y capeli yng Nghwmrhos a Thretŵr; ffurfiwyd pwyllgor, cafwyd rhoddion hael, casgliadau o dŷ i dŷ ac ymdrechion i godi arian.

Rhoddwyd y tir gan Mr Isaac o’r Wern, ac un mlynedd ar ddeg yn ddiweddarach, ym 1956, cynhaliwyd y seremoni agoriadol gan Margaret, Arglwyddes Glanusk; mae’r Eisteddfod wedi’i chynnal yma bob blwyddyn ers hynny.

Mae Eisteddfod Cwmdu yn un o’r ychydig Eisteddfodau lleol sydd ar ôl yn Ne Powys, diolch i gefnogaeth ariannol barhaus ei His-lywyddion, gwaith caled aelodau’r pwyllgor, a chyfranogiad yr holl gystadleuwyr niferus dros y 109 mlynedd diwethaf.

A sôn am wirfoddolwyr gweithgar, dyma dynnu sylw at rai pobl ymroddedig iawn, na fyddem wedi cyrraedd y pen-blwydd arbennig hwn hebddynt:

Ymunodd Mrs Hazel Thomas, sy’n dal yn aelod ffyddlon â’r pwyllgor ym 1966, hi bellach yw ein aelod sydd wedi gwasanaethu hiraf. Bu’n Gadeirydd am 25 mlynedd: 1968–1993. Rhoddodd y gorau i’w rôl arweinyddol er mwyn cael amser i fod yn Gadeirydd Pwyllgor Cerddoriaeth yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol pan ddaeth i Lanfair-ym-Muallt.

Bu Mrs Janice Block yn drysorydd yr Eisteddfod am flynyddoedd lawer cyn dod yn Gadeirydd, 1993–2025. Mae’n parhau i fod yn ysbrydoliaeth ac yn ddylanwad cadarnhaol ar y gweithgareddau.

Bu Chris Evans, a fu farw mor drist cyn inni ddechrau ystyried themâu cystadlaethau 2025 — ac felly dewiswyd “Gloÿnnod Byw a Gwyfynod” a “Y Gwirfoddolwr Tawel” er anrhydedd iddo — yn drysorydd Eisteddfod Cwmdu am flynyddoedd lawer. Roedd hefyd yn ffigwr allweddol mewn llawer o agweddau eraill ar fywyd y pentref, ac rydym yn talu teyrnged iddo eto yma.

More history regarding the (very nearly!) Annual Cwmdu Eisteddfod

The first Eisteddfod was held in Cwmdu Schoolroom in 1916 and held annually at the school until the numbers attending grew too large and it then moved in 1923 to a large marquee in the school field. The Chairman of the committee was Revd Arvon Davies , Rector of St Michael’s Church, Secretary Mr R Evans , Schoolmaster, and Conductor Mr OJ Owen, (John Owen Ifenni)

In those days Cwmdu had 2 choirs; Male Voice, conductor Mr Arthur Morris, and conductor Rev. Arvon Davies, of the Cwm and Mixed voice.

The first Eisteddfodau were held on a Monday, with afternoon session being for children but also including adult competitions for needlework eg handmade shirt, cattle feeding baskets, brooms and sticks.

The 1941 Eisteddfod consisted of a single session at 5.30pm on Saturday 1^st November held in the schoolroom of Cwmdu VP school. There were competitions for children and adults and a competition for a Mixed Choir of not less than 20 voices with a set piece entitled ‘O Dduw rho im’ Dy hedd’

‘ O God,give us Thy peace’.

At the 1945 Eisteddfod the schoolroom was packed to overflowing and the proceedings lasted well into the small hours of the following morning. The evening president, Lord Glanusk, issued a challenge to the people of Cwmdu to build a village hall so that all might be seated.

The challenge was taken up by Revd Mansel Davies, Minister in charge of the chapels in Cwmrhos and Tretower; a committee was formed, generous donations, house to house collections and money-making efforts took place.

The ground was given by Mr Isaac of the Wern and eleven years later in1956 the opening ceremony by Margaret, Lady Glanusk took place; the Eisteddfod has been held here since.

Cwmdu Eisteddfod is one of the few remaining local Eisteddfodau in South Powys due to the continuing financial support of its Vice Presidents, the hard work of committee members and participation of all the many competitors throughout the past 109 years.

Talking of hard-working volunteers, here we highlight some very committed people, without whom we would not have reached this auspicious anniversary:

Mrs Hazel Thomas, still a faithful and our longest serving member, joined the committee in 1966. She served as Chair for 25 years: 1968-1993. She relinquished her leadership role to make time to become Chair of the Music Committee of the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, when it came to Llanfair ym Muallt – Builth Wells.

Mrs Janice Block was treasurer of the Eisteddfod for many years, before becoming Chair 1993-2025. She continues to be an inspiration, and positive influence on proceedings.

Chris Evans who so sadly died before we were considering the themes for competitions in 2025, hence “Butterflies and Moths” and “The Quiet Volunteer” were selected in his honour, was treasurer of the Cwmdu Eisteddfod for many years. He also was a key figure in many other aspects of village life, and we pay homage to him again here.