Waldo Williams
| Waldo Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born |
30 September 1904 Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Died | 20 May 1971 (aged 66) Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Occupation | Poet, teacher and political campaigner |
| Known for | Poetry, pacifism |
Waldo (Goronwy) Williams (30 September 1904 – 20 May 1971) was one of the leading Welsh language poets of the 20th century. He was also a notable Christian pacifist, anti-war campaigner, and Welsh nationalist.
Williams was born in Preseli, Pembrokeshire. His father, a primary schoolteacher from the county, spoke Welsh as his native language and his mother English. He himself spoke only English in his early years.
In 1911 his father was appointed head of the primary school at Mynachlog-ddu, Pembrokeshire, and it was there that Waldo Williams learnt to speak Welsh. In 1915 Williams's father moved again, to be head of Brynconin School, the primary school at Llandissilio, Pembrokeshire.
After attending the grammar school at Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Williams studied at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he graduated in English in 1926. He then trained as a teacher and worked in various schools in Pembrokeshire, the rest of Wales and England, including Kimbolton School, Huntingdonshire. He also taught night classes organised by the Department of Extra-Mural Studies at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Williams married Linda Llewellyn in 1941, but she died in 1943, and he did not remarry. He left the Welsh Baptist Church for the Quakers during the 1950s, and during the Korean War refused to pay his income tax on pacifist grounds. He continued until the ending of compulsory military service in 1963 with a campaign for which was sent to prison.
Williams stood as a parliamentary candidate for Plaid Cymru in the Pembrokeshire constituency at the 1959 General Election, when he won 4.32% (2,253) of the votes.
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