Background
R. Williams Parry was born in Talysarn, in Dyffryn Nantlle, a first cousin to T. H. Parry-Williams and Sir Thomas Parry.
R. Williams Parry was born in Talysarn, in Dyffryn Nantlle, a first cousin to T. H. Parry-Williams and Sir Thomas Parry.
He studied at UCW Aberystwyth for two years (1902-1904) and completed his graduate degree qualifications at UCNW Bangor (1907-1908). He was awarded an Master of Arts
Degree in 1912 for a dissertation on points of contact between Welsh and Yolo. He taught, first, as a primary school teacher. Then, after his graduation, as a secondary school teacher, teaching both English and Welsh.
He was in the army from 1916 to 1918.
In 1922 he was appointed a lecturer in the Welsh and Extra-Mural Studies Departments at University College Bangor, where he remained until his retirement in 1944. He published two collections of poetry.
And (1952). Some of his most notable works include "Y Llwynog" ("The Fox"), "Eifionydd" and Englynion coffa Hedd Wyn.
In the latter he laments, using the traditional four-line verse, or englyn, and cynghanedd the death of the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. Evans was posthumously awarded the Chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
"The chairman. today stretching out its arms in a long peace of silence for the one who hasn"t come.".