The Mary Vaughan Jones Award 2009
Angharad Tomos is the winner of the Mary Vaughan Jones Award 2009.
Angharad Tomos was born in Llanwnda, but now lives in Pen-y-groes, Gwynedd.
A prolific author, Angharad Tomos is best known as the author of Cyfres Rwdlan, a series of small-format books that have enchanted young children since the publication of the first book in the series, entitled Rala Rwdins, in 1983. This book has sold well over 15,000 copies to date. Television programmes and CD-ROMs have been produced based on the series, as well as new reading books for primary schools – Cyfres Darllen Mewn Dim.
She has twice won the Literary Medal at the Urdd National Eisteddfod, and also the Prose Medal, at the National Eisteddfod in Mold (1991) and Bala (1997), as well as Arts Council of Wales and Academi awards.
She has also won the Tir na n-Og award twice – in 1986 for Y Llipryn Llwyd (Cyfres Rwdlan) and in 1994 for Sothach a Sglyfath (Cyfres Cled).
‘This is an author who thoroughly deserves the award,’ said Menna Lloyd Williams – Head of the Children’s Books Department at the Welsh Book Council. ‘Her contribution over the years has been remarkable and her work has been enjoyed by thousands of children across Wales.’
The award was presented to Angharad Tomos at a special ceremony at Pen-y-groes on 19 March 2010.
Winners
2009 Angharad Tomos
2006 Mair Wynn Hughes
2003 Elfyn Pritchard
2000 J Selwyn Lloyd
1997 Roger Boore
1994 W J Jones
1991 T Llew Jones
1988 Emily Huws
1985 Ifor Owen
Mary Vaughan Jones (1918-1983)
This award was established as a tribute to Mary Vaughan Jones, one of the main benefactors of children’s literature in Wales.
Mary Vaughan Jones was a gifted infants’ teacher, and her contribution to Welsh education as a teacher and lecturer was considerable. Her main contribution, however, was to children’s literature – for over a period of thirty years. Although she was crippled with arthritis and mainly confined to her home, she continued to write for the younger age-group right up until her death. She published over 40 books and was a regular contributor to the Urdd magazines.
Prize
A silver trophy depicting characters from Mary Vaughan Jones’s books, and made by Canolfan Aur Tregaron (The Tregaron Gold Centre).
Mair Wynn Hughes (2006 Winner)
Mair Wynn Hughes was born in Bryncir, near Caernarfon, Gwynedd and was a school teacher at Pentraeth, Anglesey where she lived on a farm. Following their retirement, she and her husband moved to live in the village.
A prolific author, Mair Wynn Hughes has published books for a wide range of children, from infants to teenagers. Her first book, Storïau Sioni Sbonc (The Sioni Sbonc Stories), appeared in 1967 and since then she has published a further 80 titles.
She has already won the Tir na n-Og Prize three times. She won in 1984 with Y Llinyn Arian (The Silver String), in 1990 with Llygedyn o Heulwen (A Ray of Sunshine) and in 1996 with Coch yw Lliw Hunllef (Red is the Colour of Nightmares).
'This is an author who thoroughly deserves the prize,' said Menna Lloyd Williams, Head of the Children’s Books Department at the Welsh Books Council. ‘Her contribution over the years has been remarkable and her work has been enjoyed by thousands of children across Wales.’
The Award was presented to Mair Wynn Hughes at a special ceremony held at Oriel Môn, Llangefni, Anglesey.