Dafydd ap Gwilym Society


The Dafydd ap Gwilym Society is the Welsh society at the University of Oxford. It is a Welsh language society, as opposed to a society of Welsh people like its sister-society in Cambridge, the.

History

The society was established in 1886, making it the oldest society in Oxford after the Union. It is known by its members as "Y Dafydd". In the 1990s, several of the society's magazine editions, feature articles on the creative work of its members, as well as some of its guest speakers.
Among its founding members were O. M. Edwards and John Morris-Jones. The society began accepting female members in the academic year 1966–1967.

Traditions

The society is named after the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym, and it was the tradition for every meeting to begin with a reading of his work by the Chaplain, followed by discussion.
The Society had some formal rituals and prestigious-sounding positions, though they were intended to be ironic. Today the chairman keeps the title of Chaplain, and the prestigious job of Headquarters remains.
It is traditional for members and alumni of the society to meet annually at the National Eisteddfod.

Caplaniaid of Y Dafydd

Presidents

Some former-Fellows of the University who have served, or now serve as honorary presidents of the society: