July 2007: Bangor Honorary Fellows

Two of the brightest stars of the arts world, the actor Rhys Ifans and the singer Siân James, were recently made Honorary Fellows during Bangor University degree ceremonies. And both were formally presented during the proceedings by members of the School of Welsh, Dr Jerry Hunter and Professor Gerwyn Wiliams.

Dr Jerry Hunter presents Rhys Ifans for an Honorary Fellowship at Bangor University 16 July 2007

When the newspapers were starting to talk about ‘cool Cymru’ some years ago, the actor Rhys Ifans was often cited as an example of that phenomenon. However, Rhys’s usual response was to deny that it was a new phenomenon, saying something like this to those journalists: ‘Don’t expect us to thank you for calling us cool; Wales has always been cool.’ He is a passionate spokesperson for the culture of Wales and the Welsh language.

Rhys Ifans was born in Haverfordwest in 1968 and raised in the Vale of Clwyd; he was educated at Ysgol Maes Garmon, Mold. He came to the attention of many Welsh-speakers for the first time as one of the Two Franks on S4C programmes, astounding viewers with his biting satirical humour. He attracted international attention following his performance as the character Spikey in the popular film Notting Hill in 1999. Since then he has appeared in a great number of television and cinema films, including Dancing at Lughnasa (1999), Rancid Aluminium (2000) and The Shipping News (2001). His portrayal of Peter Cook in the television film Not Only But Always (2004) won him a BAFTA for best actor.

In addition, Rhys is an experienced and electrifying theatre actor. He first started treading the boards in Theatr Clwyd when he was a schoolboy and more recently he has performed in London’s Royal National Theatre and Manchester’s Royal Exchange. However, in many Welsh homes he is better known as the narrator on the Sali Mali cartoon programmes.

It is a great pleasure to be able to recognize Rhys Ifans’s contribution and talent by honouring him with a University of Wales, Bangor, Fellowship.

Professor Gerwyn Wiliams presents Siân James for an Honorary Fellowship at Bangor University 17 July 2007

Image of Professor Gerwyn Wiliams and Sian James The place: the main hall of Welshpool High School; the time: around 1978; the occasion: one of the Urdd preliminary Eisteddfodau. Six months previously I had moved from Anglesey to Montgomeryshire, and I can still remember clearly a certain tall and blond soloist captivating the audience with her singing from that school stage. Her name was Siân James, a pupil at the time in Caereinion High School and a native of Llanerfyl, and this was the first time that I heard performing live. I can also recall the two of us being in opposing sides in a public speaking contest: rather than admitting which team won, it’s probably best to suggest that her public speaking skills were pretty formidable as well!

Siân went on to perform in more significant venues than Welshpool High School and to captivate audiences in Wales and beyond. Here at Bangor in the early 1980s, she gained a BMus from the Department of Music and a teaching diploma from the Department of Education. An indication of the range of her musical interests is the fact that her composition tutor, the late Professor William Mathias, was a source of inspiration and that she was at the same time lead singer of the folk group Bwchadanas which spent ten years entertaining audiences throughout Wales.

With her undeniable Montgomeryshire accent, she made an impact as an actress, e.g. in the Theatr Gwynedd production of William R. Lewis’s stage play, Golff, and in Angharad Jones’s television film, Tylluan Wen. But her most lasting contribution has been as a dedicated, original and often thrilling musician. A naturally gifted musician – she mastered the piano, the violin and the harp at an early age - she is also the product of the Welsh eisteddfod culture. She has been an active ambassador for Welsh folk music in places as far afield as Spain, Italy and Japan and she has also performed in concerts and festivals in Brittany, Ireland and Scotland and in cities such as Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco. Her renditions of Welsh folk music are constantly enchanting, artistic and creative and her own compositions equally striking and memorable. She possesses a distinctive stage presence and has been entertaining audiences from an early age. Since 1990, at least seven CDs of hers have been released – among them, as it happens, the sound track for a television series entitled Birdman which was presented by another native of Montgomeryshire, Iolo Williams, who will also be receiving a Fellowship from Bangor University later this week.

Siân James has a haunting, pure voice and is one of the most successful Welsh singer-songwriters of her generation. She also has a substantial talent and her artistry is characterised by integrity, authenticity and commitment. It is a great honour to be able to recognise her achievement and contribution by welcoming her back to her alma mater as an Honorary Fellow.