The Society was founded in 1977 on the initiative of two of Dylan’s oldest friends – the composer Daniel Jones and the sculptor Ronald Cour – who were responding to a widely felt concern that Dylan’s achievements as a writer were being overshadowed in certain quarters by too much attention to other aspects of his life and that it was time for a literary society in his name to be established in his home town.
The Inaugural Meeting, held in Swansea on November 9th 1977 under the Chairmanship of the late Timothy Perkins, attracted 135 Founder Members and was attended by Dylan’s daughter, Aeronwy Thomas Ellis, who together with her husband Trefor presented a programme of readings from her father’s work. Also present was Swansea’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Susan Jones, another lifelong supporter of the Society. |
The eternal Swansea boy - Bert Trick on Dylan |
The main aim of the Society is to foster serious interest in the life and works of Dylan Thomas, and over the years much has been done to fulfil this ambition. In addition to its regular programme of events – both literary and social – the Society has produced several publications and recordings, has established worldwide links (including performances of Under Milk Wood in New York and Vancouver) and has invited a number of well-known writers, actors, academics and poets to speak at its annual Birthday Dinner, held in Swansea every October.
Right: Singer/Songwirter and presenter Cerys Matthews delivers a reading of Dylan's works at the
annual in Swansea in 2013.
Right: Singer/Songwirter and presenter Cerys Matthews delivers a reading of Dylan's works at the
annual in Swansea in 2013.
Another important annual event, arranged by kind permission of the Dean of Westminster, is the November Wreath-laying Service at Poets’ Corner, where a stone to Dylan was unveiled in 1982 [a project initiated by U.S President Jimmy Carter and helped to fruition by the society's efforts]. This short ceremony is always well attended, not only by members of the Society, but by those visitors to the Abbey who happen to be in the vicinity of Poets’ Corner when the service is announced.
Left: The memorial stone to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was unveiled in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey on 1 March 1982. It lies between memorials to Lord Byron and George Eliot and is made of green Penrhyn stone, sculpted by Jonah Jones. The inscription, with a quote from his poem Fern Hill.
Left: The memorial stone to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was unveiled in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey on 1 March 1982. It lies between memorials to Lord Byron and George Eliot and is made of green Penrhyn stone, sculpted by Jonah Jones. The inscription, with a quote from his poem Fern Hill.
Dylan’s daughter Aeronwy became the Society’s President on the death of Ted Hughes in 1999. Engaging, charismatic, with a lovely smile and a distinctive speaking voice, she gave the Society and the Centre her unstinting support until her untimely death in 2009.
Happily, the role of President has now been taken on by her daughter Hannah, who was heavily involved in the planning of the many events both at home and abroad – for the 2014 Centenary of Dylan’s birth or Dylan Thomas 100, yet another year to remember. |
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