Following an overwhelmingly positive response to the launch of Cronfa Llŷr during the week of the National Eisteddfod the Coleg Cymraeg would like to say thankyou for the generous contributions received and would like to offer another opportunity for people who have not yet contributed to do so.
The fund was launched in August in memory of Dr Llŷr Roberts one of the Coleg's first associate lecturers who died suddenly in June aged 45.
On Tuesday 26 September, Dr Dafydd Trystan, registrar of the Coleg Cymraeg who had worked with and was a friend of Llŷr for over a decade, will appear on S4C's Prynhawn Da, programme to talk about the fund.
The fund was established by the Coleg Cymraeg in collaboration with Bangor University and the family of the late Dr Llŷr Roberts in his memory. The money raised will go towards supporting higher education students with their Welsh-medium studies.
Llŷr was one of the first lecturers to be appointed as an associate lecturer of the Coleg, and went on to make an invaluable contribution to Welsh-medium higher education, and to the Coleg’s wider mission over the years, as an educator, writer and communicator.
As a Welsh-medium lecturer in Business, Llŷr received national acclaim for his work and last year won the 'Outstanding Welsh-medium Resource' award from the Coleg for developing the first e-book on Marketing in the Welsh language.
Dr Dafydd Trystan said:
"Llŷr was an inspiration to his colleagues and students at Bangor University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales, and there is a huge gap left in his absence.
"Within the Coleg community the news of his sudden death was very difficult to discern; many of us have lost a friend as well as a colleague but setting up this fund gives us the opportunity to channel that loss into something positive to support students – I'm certain Llŷr would have been proud of that.
"We are very grateful to Llŷr’s family for their support towards the Coleg at such a difficult time and also to Bangor University and the National Eisteddfod who have also lost a very dear friend and colleague."
On behalf of Llŷr’s family, his sister, Lowri Gwyn said:
“As a family, we would like to thank the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol for establishing a fund to remember Llŷr.
“Llŷr was a very dear and special son, brother and uncle. It is a comfort to us to know that he also meant the world to his colleagues, his students and his friends.”
Dr Llion Jones, Director of Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University, said:
“In a short time Llŷr made a big impression at Bangor University. The care he showed his students and his commitment to Welsh medium education was evident to all. It’s fitting therefore that this fund will support matters that were so close to his heart.”
Contributions can be transferred to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol bank account:
Sort code: 20-18-54
Account number: 43768945
Please provide "Llŷr Fund" as a reference when making a contribution.
Cheques payable to the 'Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol' by the hand of Emyr James should be sent to Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Y Llwyfan, College Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3EQ.