Mr David Davies late of Cwmaman, died recently at the Joyce Green Hospital, London, and was buried at Aberdare Cemetery on Tuesday. He was 71 years of age. Mr Davies was a Welsh poet of distinction and many of his poems appeared in the Welsh Press, his bardic title being “Derwydd.”
A resident of Cwmaman Mr Davies and his family left the village 15 years ago for Bexley Heath, London. He and his wife were members of two of the oldest families in the district, and they took an active interest in the religions, industrial, commercial and social life of the village.
Many of Mr Davies’s family are well-known. His son, Mr Thomas D. Davies, was the conductor of the Welsh Druids Male Voice Party; his sister, the late Mrs D. Evans, Mountain Ash, played “Helen” in the first performance of Dr Joseph Parry’s opera “Blodwen,” to be given in the area at the Workmen’s Hall nearly 60 years ago. His brother, the late Mr Thomas Davies, was the local Ambulance Corps Sergeant. Another sister is Mrs. L. Jones, wife of Councilor E. Edwin Jones.
Funeral at Aberdare
The funeral took place from the home of Mr Davies brother-in-law, Mr William Jones, Milton Street, and from there to Soar Welsh Methodist Church, of which he was a member.
Before the burial on Tuesday a memorial service was held at the church when the Rev. E. D. Davis (Llanddarog), and the Rev. J. R. Ebenezer, Ebbw Vale, nephews, officiated. Mrs Idwal Rees B.A., was the organist.
The mourners were: Wife; Mesdames Hibben and Gufillan (daughters); Messrs D. T. Evan, Iorwerth and Cynlais Davies (sons); Miss M. Davies, London (sister); Mesdames D., C. and E. Davies (daughters-in-law): Annie Barson and J. Davies (sisters-in-law); Councilor E. Edwin Jones, Messrs. D. Evans, Mountain Ash; C. Thomas and W. Jones (brothers-in-law); Mesdames Lloyd, Williams, Jenner and Miss A. Davies (nieces); Messrs Johnny Thomas, H. Jones, T. Howells and E. M. Evans (nephews); Mrs D. Howell (cousin).
At the house were Mrs Jos. Thomas (sister-in-law); Mrs. H. Jones and Mrs E. Evans (nieces). Unable to be present through illness, was Mrs E. E. Jones (sister).
The bearers were Messrs. David Lloyd (Dewi Lloyd), John Thomas (Ap Murmer Aman), T. R. Evans, A.T.S.C., David Owen, Tom Anthony and Ioan Isaac.
There were many floral tributes.