Tony Bianchi

He became a prolific novelist as well as a skillful poet, well-versed in the intricacies of the strict metres of Welsh poetry [1] and winning numerous prizes and plaudits.

He was an avid supporter of Newcastle United; an excellent pianist; a frequent (bilingual) contributor to debates in the Conway pub about beer, politics, language, history, music, football, philosophy, random irritants, and the tendency of people to leave doors open; a valued member of the local Twlc at Y Mochyn Du; and a fan of both the coffee and the company at Caban bookshop.

[3] His collection of short stories, Cyffesion Geordi oddi Cartref (2011), was semi-autobiographical, introducing the friends of his youth, and describing the bullying he faced at school, as well as his mixed feelings towards his tyrannical father.

[1] His novel Dwy Farwolaeth Endaf Rowlands won the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod in 2015,[4] sealing his fame as a superb exponent of Welsh language in the 21st century.

[3] Besides his literary works, Bianchi also contributed to the academy with a monograph on Richard Vaughan as well an anthology of Welsh poetry titled Blodeugerdd Barddas o Farddoniaeth Gyfoes (2005).