..
A
CELEBRATION
OF THE LIFE OF
PEDR RHYS LEWIS
(26th September 1923 – 21st July 2009)
at 11.30 a.m. on Friday, 31st July 2009
at
Coychurch Crematorium, Bridgend
Funeral Director:
Owen E Jones & Co LtdZoar Chapel Of RestZoar Avenue, Maesteg CF34 9UT
Telephone: 01656 733167
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Celebrant:
Richard Paterson
Fir Tree Cottage, Royal Oak, Machen, Caerphilly CF83 8SN
Telephone: 01633 441044
www.humanism.org.uk .
FUNERAL CEREMONY FOR PEDR LEWIS
at 11.30 a.m. on FRIDAY, 29th JULY 2009 at COYCHURCH CREMATORIUM, BRIDGEND
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Introductory Music: ‘Gassenhauer’ from ‘Schulwerk’ – Carl Orff
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Cyfeillion, friends, comrades, we meet today to celebrate the life of Pedr Lewis, a remarkable man who will be remembered for many aspects of his life by many people. It was surprising to discover how many of those to whom I have spoken of him recently had met him at one time or another over the past 50 years, and vividly remembered him. I myself met him in Aberdâr, I think in the late 60s or maybe the 1970 election. Apart perhaps from his enjoyment of Welsh hymns, which we shall acknowledge a little later on, religion played no part in Pedr’s life and so this humanist ceremony is fitting for him.
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Pedr’s long life had run its course, and death spared him a descent into greater infirmity and indignity, so we need shed few tears for him, especially as sadness at what his death has taken is surely outweighed by gratitude for what his life has given you who knew him best. He was not always an easy person to know, or sometimes to like, but he has made his mark and he was the keeper of a vision of social justice encompassing socialism and republicanism, as well as of the nationalism without which there can be no authentic internationalism. It is as a Welshman that we remember him first by standing to sing:
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Song: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Congregation)
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Pedr never gave up on life; he lived it fully and energetically, and remained active and involved into his eighties. Until just these last two years, he was still speaking at rallies, still passionately arguing his cause. He was still enjoying music and poetry and he was an admirer of the work of Dylan Thomas; age did not mellow him, and he did not go gentle: Liz Screen Recited:
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DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
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Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my friend, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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Pedr Lewis was born on 26th September 1923 in Hong Kong, the son of Welsh-speaking Welsh missionaries. When his parents returned, it was in England – Wolverhampton – that they settled. Pedr apparently received a public school education, but his parents, like many of their generation, did not pass on to him ‘yr hen iaith’ and that meant that, when he went to West Wales on holiday, his cousins teased him and considered him an ‘English townie’. Later on, of course, he became a fluent speaker of Welsh. He went on to serve in the Merchant Navy, including during the war, and one of his ships was torpedoed in the North Atlantic – we also know that he jumped ship both in New Zealand, where he stayed for a while, and in Australia – which earned him a brief jail sentence.
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Eventually, he left the sea in pursuit of higher education, studying at Coleg Harlech in 1948 and later at Bangor. He was one of the first Welsh Republicans, and his politically-motivated activities – or perhaps it was his alleged activities – caused him to be imprisoned in 1953. Let us remember how few in this or any age would be prepared, as he was, to court and undergo incarceration – a deeply unpleasant experience with far-reaching consequences - because of their principles. Pedr was not only a political prisoner – he also suffered persecution, prosecution, imprisonment and other outrages not because of anything he did, but because of what he was. When - in the 1980s, I think - he was living in Aberystwyth, Pedr occasionally shared some reminiscences of his early life with a young student named Matthew Clubb, who will speak now:
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Matthew Clubb’s Tribute(unfortunately Matthew was not able to be there)
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As a republican and a hard-working Plaid Cymru activist firmly on the left wing of the party, Pedr became well-known in Welsh political life throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, and we shall hear more of his involvement very shortly. He rode his Lambretta scooter all over Wales, a familiar figure canvassing at elections, delivering leaflets, speaking at meetings and helping out with local organisation. He was widely read, a prolific writer of letters to the press, a lover of literature, fascinated by languages and a student of German in particular, and passionate about music. Even when seeing out the end of his life in hospital, he amused himself by sitting up in bed and humming along to the scores of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas which Liz Screen brought in for him. His devotion to Radio 3 was legendary, and he had a fine voice which he sometimes exercised by singing hymns at a local chapel – evidently the only vestige of religious sentiment bequeathed to him by his parents. So it’s not inappropriate now for us to stand and sing one of the best-known of Welsh hymns, ‘Calon Lan’
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Song: ‘Calon Lan’ – Congregation
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Pedr has left a large quantity of letters and papers which will greatly assist those who will one day chronicle Wales’ slow and stuttering rise to the mature and authentic nationhood that beckons. He worked tirelessly, relentlessly and without compromise to promote his vision of an independent Welsh socialist republic, and was merciless in his criticism of the lackeys and toadies who so enthusiastically support the status quo, though he reserved his most scathing condemnation for those former supporters of the cause who have sold out.
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Someone well qualified to pay tribute to Pedr’s work is his friend and admirer Gethin Gruffydd, who will speak now:
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Tribute by Gethin Gruffydd: In a short tribute, I remembered the first time i met Pedr, it was in the Plaid Cymru Office on Queen Street. I had just returned from living and working in Somerset, how I came to be there is of little import to this tribute but in Somerset I subscribed to the Welsh Nation and more and more came to be drawn to return to Yr Hen Wlad. That's how I came to be at the Plaid Office talking to Pedr, now Pedr could have gone on about a 1000 years of Welsh Culture or medieval heroes as Llywelyn and Glyndwr. But no Pedr talked about Rebecca, Merthyr 1831 and the Scotch Cattle and of the Chartists and the Newport Rising 1831. Betime Pedr had finnished it was getting dark outside, and Pedr put the lights on and took me to a map of Wales, he told me then about our land being stolen by the British Military, Forestry Commission and English Cities that wanted to build dams and steal Welsh water. Pedr hinted of the trouble he had got into in the fifties as a Welsh Republican resisting the Sovereignty of the English Monarchy over our Country, Pedr mentioned that he had served his prison time along side IRA fredom Fighters, then engaged in an armed struggle in the occupied North of Ireland. Well! After that it was easy, just throw six and go to jail! In so many words Pedr had become my earliest of mentors, who inspired me along the path of being as he, a Republican, Freedom Fighter and a Political Prisoner too, just like he.....'Ymlaen I'r Werinieath'.
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Pedr remained a friend and compatriot for many years, I went to see him about a month or two before he died and was thinking of visting him again. I phoned my daughter in Cardiff to find out where he was, he had been moved from the community hospital. I was told he was at this time in Bridgend Hospital and near to death, I could not see him that day but was hoping to the next but he died before I could say good bye. This is how it was with Denis too, so when I heard Glyn was on point of passing away, I just went and finnaly made it to the bedside of a compatriot to say 'farewell dear comrade'. This has nothing and everything to do with Pedr's death, as it speaks and says, when the call comes, go quickly to say that last goodbye!
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.In more recent times, Pedr became well-known in and around his adopted home town of Penybont – Bridgend - though few in a politically uneducated age will have known quite what he stood for or what to make of him. But he remained influential amongst those who appreciated his worth - fellow activists, friends and, not least, some of the succession of lodgers who shared his home over the years. Fortunately, there were always friends and comrades who were glad to know him and privileged to work with him and support him. One such was Margaret Davies, who will now share some recent memories of him, and she will also read a letter from one of those former lodgers who cannot be here but who, like Margaret herself, was with Pedr at the end:
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Cyfeillion a chyd-genedlaethwyr. Pawb roedd yn ‘nabod Pedr byddwn yn cofio stori personol i adrodd amdano. Roedd e’n cymeriad unigryw ond, mae’n anffodus does dim digon o amser gyda ni y bore ‘ma i glywed pob un.
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Friends and Fellow Nationalists, my memory of Pedr will be seeing him on his rounds with his cap on his head and his little dog running alongside, delivering the Post newspaper which he continued to do in all weathers until he physically could no longer do it. He was a well-known figure in his local community in Bridgend. This image did not reflect fully the man I knew. He was well-read and had a public school education in Wolverhampton. He also had studied at Coleg Normal Bangor. Not so many years ago, he was seriously talking about going on a holiday to Germany to practice the German he’d learned. Before that, he’d started to learn Mandarin and was a regular customer at the local Chinese Restaurant getting some practice in. There wasn’t much that he didn’t know about Wales; our history, the language and culture; his love of classical music and also singing Welsh hymns in a good baritone voice. He could be interesting company. He was very direct, especially about the things that he felt passionate about, which didn’t always go down well with people but, he could also, when it suited him, be very charming. I went to see him in hospital last week as soon as I heard that he was very ill, and felt guilty that I hadn’t seen him for quite a while. As I sat by his bedside, he died - which was a shock! Knowing Pedr’s sense of humour, he probably would have had a good chuckle and said ‘serves her right for not coming to see me more often’. There was also another visitor there who’d been a lodger with Pedr and had always kept in touch. He was on holiday with his family from Hong Kong and had happened to find out that Pedr was in hospital. I remember Pedr telling me about his lodger Sing, and he thought a great deal of him. Sing was with him at the end – holding his hand, stroking his brow and comforting him. Unfortunately, Sing was unable to be here today, but wrote a letter which he wanted me read out.
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Letter from Sing
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“Pedr was more than a friend to me. He acted as a guardian and mentor to me in the earlier years of my youth and had a real influence on my life and how I developed as a person. For those of us who knew Pedr well, he was certainly unique. A real gentleman, he was a free-spirited, with passionate views about matters close to his heart and without doubt, an intellectual individual. I knew Pedr for over 25 years. He watched me growing up as a student to become a mature man with 4 children of my own. Although I moved back to Hong Kong with my family 14 years ago, I visited Pedr every time I was back in Wales. He was just an “Uncle” to me.I was a lodger in his house for 5 years. 3 years when I was at University and the first 2 years of my working life. During those 5 years we had such good time in harmony, he acted as a “father” figure rather than a landlord to me. He taught me to speak good English, Welsh politics, patriotism, local history, classical music and opera etc. I even picked up the “good” habit from him until today – coffee with honey every morning so every time I take my morning coffee I will smile and think fondly of him. He regaled me with many tales of adventures that took place at his house (30 Brynteg Avenue), Plaid Cymru movement plus many unfolded stories. His generosity of knowledge and kindness of spirit had such an influence on me and set a good foundation for me as a young Chinese student in those days lacking an awareness of cultures and politics. I believe it was karmic fate that I was back in Wales and with him at the very last moment of his life. He gave me the last smile on the first day when I visited him despite being very ill. This will sustain my heart forever. Pedr, rest in peace. You are deeply missed and you are always in our hearts.” Sing (as he always called me)
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As Margaret began by saying, there will be many memories of Pedr amongst you here today, and many stories that could be told of him. We’ll spend just a brief time now, in silence, to think of him, to remember, to maybe call a favourite memory of him to mind.
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SILENCE & Adagio for Strings Op. 11 – Samuel Barber
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I’d like now to share with you some enduring images of Pedr, some of them touched on previously, together with some acknowledgements and thanks which Liz Screen has passed on to me. She had this to say:
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I haven’t known Pedr for nearly as long as most of you. We met through a mutual friend – Mary Crofton – when Arthur Scargill stood for election in Newport in 1997. Pedr and Mary had supported the miners during the 84/85 strike and were active in the Troops Out of Ireland movement, and this campaign always remained dear to him. He loved the atmosphere of political campaigning and, although he never joined the Socialist Labour Party, he spent many days tramping the streets with me, canvassing – always with his dog Susie trailing behind. The last 2 years have been very sad. He fought fiercely to keep his independence – often to the detriment of his own well being. He always had Radio 3 blaring on the radio and could never be persuaded to lock his front door. On one occasion the milkman could hear his radio when he turned into Brynteg Avenue at 3 in the morning. When he got to Pedr’s house the door was wide open and Pedr was fast asleep on bed. Pedr was completely oblivious of the worry caused to those around him. I am very grateful for the support of social services, his social worker Paul, and most especially his Community Psychiatric Nurse, Andrew, whose dedication went well beyond the remit of his job. I wish to thank all those who have been kind to Pedr in recent months.
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I don’t think I can allow this occasion to pass without reiterating sincere thanks and appreciation for all that Liz has done for Pedr. I have only an inkling of the time and effort she put in, travelling from Cardiff to Bridgend to deal with the many crises that beset him as old age and infirmity took their toll, but I know that her compassion and friendship will have made so much difference to his quality of life. Liz, I am sure that all who cared about Pedr are grateful to you.
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Those dismissive of Pedr’s views and principles might be tempted to write him off as an eccentric, someone so far beyond the pale as to be invisible, but he and those like him – those very few like him – have their vital place amongst us, rising above the common places of everyday survival, fighting in the teeth of opportunism, materialism and sheer indifference to preserve and promote a new order where ideals count and where the equality, dignity and common good of humankind is given full expression. The ideal which inspired him and drove him is that expressed so brilliantly by the Soviet writer Nikolai Alekseyevich Ostrowski – an ideal which has survived betrayal, ignorance and exploitation and which can still light the way for us:
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Man’s dearest possession is life, and since it is given to him to live but once he must therefore live as to feel no torturing regrets for years without purpose, never know the burning shame of a mean and petty past, so live that in dying he will say, “All my life and all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world, the fight for the liberation of mankind.”
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That is surely the right point for us to remember that Pedr was not only a patriot but a passionate socialist and internationalist who understood that our only worthwhile and meaningful goal in life is to achieve that ultimate harmony and equality amongst all peoples, so that no person and no nation should suffer and starve while others bask in selfishness and greed. Pedr kept alive that ideal, that vision – it is his legacy to us, and it is for us to strive in turn to make it a reality – in so doing, we pay him the greatest of all tributes. So let us stand and sing:
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‘The Internationale’ (Congregation)
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So now we reach the conclusion of this ceremony, this tribute to a man who was a standard-bearer of the noblest of causes. Certainly he was no saint, nor would ever have wanted to be; certainly not a man without flaws, but one who suffered for his principles and who should command our utmost respect and admiration for all that he did and all that he believed in. Would you please stand?
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His memory is already committed safe to the hearts of you who were fond of him, just as the vision that inspired him is committed safe to your minds. And so now, with sorrow, but above all with gratitude, affection, respect and love, we commit the body of Pedr Rhys Lewis, through fire, back to earth, water and air, into the natural world from which all life comes, which sustains all life and to which all life returns.
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Mae ei atgof wedi ei gyflwyno’n ddiogel i galonnau y rheiny ohonoch oedd yn ei hoffi, yn union fel dychymyg a’i ysbrydolodd sydd wedi’i gyflwyno’n ddiogel i’ch meddyliau. Ac felly nawr, gyda thristwch, ond uwchlaw popeth, gyda diolch, hoffter, parch a chariad, cyflwynwn gorff Pedr Rhys Lewis trwy dân, nol i ddaear, dŵr ac awyr, i’r byd naturiol o ble daw popeth buw, sy’n cynnal popeth buw ac i ble y dychwela popeth buw.
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COMMITTAL
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My thanks to all of you for being present here today.
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Announcements.
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Concluding Music: ‘Hymn’ - Vangelis.
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