B. T. Hopkins

Benjamin Thomas Hopkins (3 December 1897 – 21 January 1981) was a Welsh poet from Ceredigion (Cardiganshire) who wrote under the pen name "B. T. Hopkins".^[1] He was a noteworthy judge of the National Eisteddfod.^[2]

He was born near Lledrod and raised by his aunt in Blaenafon, since his mother died shortly after his birth. He married in 1937 and farmed Brynwichell in Blaenpennal parish near Mynydd Bach until his retirement in 1964. He was part of the literary circle that included Jenkin Morgan Edwards and Edward Prosser Rhys.^[2]

He is mostly known for his cywydd "Rhos Helyg" ("Moor Willows"), which extols the agrarian life and Welsh culture of his region. There is a memorial to him and the other three poets of Mynydd Bach near Llyn Eiddwen.^[3]

Publications

• Rhos Helyg a cherddi eraill (1977)

References

1. Edwards, A. Wynne (11 March 1981). "Bardd, Blaenor a Bonheddwr". www.ceredigion.gov.uk. Goleuad. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
2. "Beirdd y Mynydd Bach". Placiauawduron.org. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
3. "Four Welsh Poets, Mynydd Bach, Trefenter, Ceredigion, Wales – Dead Poets' Society Memorials on". Waymarking.com. 31 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.

Further reading

Edwards, Emyr, ed. (1999). Bro a Bywyd: Beirdd y Mynydd Bach [Country and Life: Poets of Mynydd Bach] (in Welsh). Cyhoeddiadau Barddas. ISBN 978-1-900-437-349.

Stephens, Meic, ed. (1997). Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru [Companion to the Literature of Wales] (in Welsh). Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru. ISBN 978-0-708-313-824.