Sefydlwyd 2024
Ysbrydolwyd ein prosiect gan Huw Roberts (1957–2024) sy’n adnabyddus am chwarae’r ffidil a’r delyn deires. Roedd hefyd yn awdur ac yn hanesydd traddodiadau cerddoriaeth werin Cymreig. Daeth ei lyfr am delynorion Llannerch-y-medd (Roberts a Rhydderch, 2000) a’r arddangosfa a guradodd yn Oriel Môn (Tair Hen Delyn, 2024) ag ef i sylw rhai o ddisgynyddion Owen Jones a oedd yn ymchwilio i hanes eu teulu.
Roedd gan Huw edmygedd mawr o Owen Jones (Telynor Seiriol). Yn ystod cyfweliad â’r BBC ar 8fed Ionawr 2024 dywedodd: “Roedd o’n dipyn o gymeriad, yn delynor gwych, ac o ran hynny mi fyswn i’n licio cyd-chwarae efo fo a chael dysgu rhai o’r alawon. Ond hefyd roedd o’n hoff iawn o’i ddiod ac felly dwi’n meddwl fysan ni’n cael sesiwn reit dda dwi’n meddwl; y cyd-chwarae a chael peint.”
Ateb y Galw: Huw Roberts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/67882013
Ar ôl clywed am ddiddordeb Huw, cysylltodd rhai o ddisgynyddion Owen i drefnu cyfarfod. Anogodd brwdfrydedd Huw dros stori Telynoriaid Britannia o Llannerch-y-medd y teulu i godi arian ar gyfer sefydlu cronfa ymddiriedolaeth er cof am Telynor Seiriol.
Gwnaed cynlluniau i gomisiynu dwy delyn deires newydd (replica o’r un a chwaraeodd Owen drwy gydol ei oes). Bydd y telynau hyn ar gael i gerddorion sydd eisiau datblygu eu sgiliau ar y delyn deires. Un ar gyfer y tiwtor a’r ail ar gyfer y dysgwr.
Wrth i gynlluniau ar gyfer y prosiect ddechrau cymryd siâp, daeth yn amlwg y byddai angen cefnogaeth gan diwtoriaid posibl a gwahoddodd Huw ei ffrind a’i gydweithiwr Steffan Thomas i ymuno â’r grŵp.
Huw Roberts & Steffan Thomas
Huw a Steff yn y llun yma yn chwarae eu telynau deires yn Oriel Môn.
Sefydlwyd yr Ymddiriedolaeth yn ffurfiol ar 30 Awst 2024 yn ystod cyfarfod o’r aelodau sefydlu (Huw Roberts, Louise Messenger, Steffan Thomas a Danny Jones) yn yr Anglesey Arms ym Mhorthaethwy.
Mae’n destun tristwch mawr i aelodau’r ymddiriedolaeth fod Huw wedi marw ym mis Tachwedd 2024, ac na chafodd y pleser o weld y cynlluniau’n cael eu cyflawni. Serch hynny, ei ysbrydoliaeth a’i frwdfrydedd yw’r hyn sy’n parhau i yrru’r prosiect ymlaen fel etifeddiaeth i delynorion teires Ynys Môn.
Ymunodd Bethan Roberts, Megan Roberts, Wynn Thomas a Lowri Roberts-Drakley â’r aelodau sefydlu yn 2025.
Cyfarwyddwyr yr Ymddiriedolaeth yn derbyn y telynau newydd gan y crefftwr arbenigol Tim Hampson (Gorffennaf 2025).
Disgynyddion: Tom Jones, Louise Messenger (née Jones), a Daniel Owen Jones. Yn y llun yma gyda’r ddwy delyn deires newydd yn Eglwys y Santes Fair, Llannerch-y-medd (Medi 2025).
References
Roberts, H. and Rhydderch, L. (2000) “The Harpers of Llanerchymedd: The Britannia Family and others” Published by the Isle of Anglesey County Council, 2000. Department of Leisure and Heritage, Llangefni. Ynys Mon, LL77 7TW. Gwasg Dwyfor, Penygroes, Gwynedd. Wales, UK.
Ateb y Galw: Huw Roberts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/67882013 BBC Website (Accessed 17/01/26)
Established 2024
The project was inspired by Huw Roberts (1957–2024) who is well known for playing the fiddle and the triple harp. He was also an author and historian of Welsh folk music traditions. His book about the harpers of Llannerch-y-medd (Roberts & Rhydderch, 2000) and the exhibition he curated in Oriel Môn (Tair Hen Delyn, 2024) brought him to the attention of some descendants of Owen Jones who were researching their family history.
Huw had a great admiration for Owen Jones (Telynor Seiriol). During an interview with the BBC on 8th January 2024 he said: “He was a bit of a character, a great harpist. I would have liked to play along with him and learn some of the tunes. He also really liked his drink and so I think we would have had a pretty good session; playing together and having a pint.”
Ateb y Galw: Huw Roberts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/67882013
On hearing of Huw’s interest, some of Owen’s descendants got in touch to arrange a meeting. Huw’s enthusiasm for the story of the Britannia Harpers of Llannerch-y-medd encouraged the family to raise funds for the establishment of a trust fund in memory of Telynor Seiriol.
Plans were made to commission two new triple harps (replicas of the one which Owen played throughout his life). These harps will be made available for the use of musicians who want to develop their skills on the triple harp. One for the tutor and the second for the learner.
As plans for the project began to take shape, it became apparent that support would be needed from potential tutors and Huw invited his friend and colleague Steffan Thomas to join the group.
Huw Roberts & Steffan Thomas
Huw & Steff pictured here playing their triple harps at Oriel Môn.
The Trust was formally established on 30th August 2024 during a meeting of the founding members (Huw Roberts, Louise Messenger, Steffan Thomas & Danny Jones) at the Anglesey Arms in Menai Bridge.
It is a source of great sadness to the trust members that Huw passed away, in November 2024, and he didn’t have the pleasure of seeing the plans achieved. Nevertheless, his inspiration and enthusiasm are what continue to drive the project forward as a legacy for the triple harpers of Ynys Môn.
The founding members were joined in 2025 by Bethan Roberts, Megan Roberts, Wynn Thomas and Lowri Roberts-Drakley.
Trust Directors receiving the new harps from specialist craftsman Tim Hampson (July 2025).
Descendants: Tom Jones, Louise Messenger (née Jones), & Daniel Owen Jones. Pictured here with the two new triple harps in St Mary’s Church, Llannerch-y-medd (September 2025).
References
Roberts, H. and Rhydderch, L. (2000) “The Harpers of Llanerchymedd: The Britannia Family and others” Published by the Isle of Anglesey County Council, 2000. Department of Leisure and Heritage, Llangefni. Ynys Mon, LL77 7TW. Gwasg Dwyfor, Penygroes, Gwynedd. Wales, UK.
Ateb y Galw: Huw Roberts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/67882013 BBC Website (Accessed 17/01/26)