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CCBC Officer Inaugurated into the Gorsedd of Bards

Posted on : 07 Aug 2024

CCBC Officer Inaugurated into the Gorsedd of Bards
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Policy Officer for Equalities and Welsh Language, Geraint Ashton, will be inaugurated into the Gorsedd of Bards at this year’s National Eisteddfod of Wales in Pontypridd.  The Gorsedd of the Bards includes poets, writers, musicians, artists and individuals who have contributed to Wales, the language, or its culture.
 
Originally from Tredomen, Geraint attended Lewis School Pengam where he studied Welsh for GCSE and A Level, before going on to Aberystwyth University, studying Welsh and the Celtic Languages.  Some of his studies were in Trinity College Dublin, where he studied modern and old Irish. After completing his degree, Geraint stayed on at university to complete his PGCE, doing placements in Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig in Aberystwyth and St. Cenydd Community School in Caerphilly.
 
On completing his PGCE, Geraint returned to the borough and began working in Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni teaching Welsh and mathematics in 2013, where he stayed until February 2019, leaving to move to Patagonia for the rest of the year teaching Welsh to adults and children. Whilst in Patagonia, Geraint immersed himself in the culture, getting to know members of the Welsh communities there and travelling between local towns holding Welsh classes and events.
 
On returning from Patagonia, Geraint got a teaching position back at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni before deciding to change career paths to work in CCBC as a policy officer for equalities and Welsh language, two fields that he feels very passionate about.
 
Geraint’s name in the Gorsedd will be Wil Rhymni deriving from his own and his grandfather’s middle name on his mother’s side, and Rhymni from his grandfather’s hometown on his father's side.
 
Famous members of the Gorsedd, known as druids, include celebrities such as presenters Huw Stephens and Alex Jones, Hollywood stars Ioan Gruffudd and Matthew Rhys, rugby stars George North and Jamie Roberts, athletes such as Tanni Grey-Thompson and rugby referee Nigel Owens, amongst many others.  The modern Eisteddfod tradition of the Gorsedd dates back to 1792, where Iolo Morgannwg held the first Gorsedd on Primrose Hill in London.
 
Geraint will be inaugurated in green robes, signifying members who specialise in the arts.  This happens for honours, by degree or by examination.

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