William Thomas (Islwyn)

William Thomas, bardic name Islwyn (3 April 1832 – 20 November 1878), was a Welsh language poet and Christian clergyman.

His best known poem is entitled Yr Ystorm ['The Storm'], and was written in response to the sudden death of his young fiancée.

[6] His fluency and love of the Welsh language came from the minister of their local Calvinist Methodist chapel, Rev Daniel Jenkyns, who married his sister Mary and who the young poet greatly admired.

However, his encouragement annoyed his father, who instead hoped that William would follow his brothers into the financially rewarding career of mining engineering.

He edited several periodicals, the Welsh column of the Cardiff Times, South Wales Daily News and Gwladgarwr.

Finch documented: 'The Society organises annual special services (bilingual) in honour of the poet; and has a keen secretary in Alan Chiplin.'

In 1977 the Society was registered as a charity with the objects of the advancement of education including 'the provision of prizes and/or scholarships at schools conducted as charities or those maintained by the local education authorities in the County of Gwent', 'awarding a prize annually at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales' and 'arranging local eisteddfodau and public lectures on the work of the Welsh poet'.