Seven people from Anglesey have been named as Honorary Presidents for this year's Urdd National Eisteddfod.

The Urdd National Eisteddfod will be held from Saturday 23rd to Friday 29th May.

Alwen Jones, Amlwch

Alwen Jones, originally from Amlwch, has been involved with the Urdd in a variety of ways since her days at Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones.  

She enjoyed a highly successful Eisteddfod when the Urdd visited Menai Bridge in 1976, winning the Public Speaking competition. She also came second for the the Chair and third for the Literature Medal.   

She went on to study at Trinity College, Carmarthen, where she pursued a course in Education and competed in a variety of fields.  

After returning to Anglesey, she joined Aelwyd yr Ynys and began coaching. During this period, she wrote lyrics for ‘caneuon actol’ (traditional action songs) and achieved regular success in competitions at national Eisteddfodau.  

She served as Regional Secretary for 25 years, a role which included the significant responsibility of organising regional Eisteddfodau. When the Urdd National Eisteddfod was held in Anglesey in 2004, she served as secretary to the Executive Committee.  

Over the past two years, she has immensely enjoyed being an active member of the Local Appeal Committee in Amlwch, working with individuals and organisations who, like her, value the Urdd’s contribution to the lives of young people in Wales.   

She feels both proud and privileged to have had the opportunity to give something back to an organisation that has been so instrumental in her life and remains close to her heart.

Ann Peters Jones, Holyhead

Born in Pont-rhyd-y-bont, she received her education at Ysgol Gynradd y Fali (Valley), Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi (Holyhead) and Wrexham Cartrefle College, where she gained an ALCM diploma. She continued her studies at the Royal Scottish Academy, where she obtained a BA in Performance.  

She began her teaching career at Llanfawr School, Holyhead before spending fifteen years as Head of Music at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni. Ann is now a freelance musician and works for the Gwynedd and Anglesey Music Service and the dementia charity, ‘Forget me not’. For over forty years, she has also taught voice and piano privately, and takes great pride in her students’ achievements at a national level.  

She is in demand as an accompanist at Eisteddfodau and concerts, and has accompanied for a number of choirs, including Côr Ieuenctid Môn (the Anglesey Youth Choir).  

Ann had early experiences of competing in Urdd Eisteddfodau and continues to be an accompanist and adjudicator at local Eisteddfodau. Her interests include composing songs for children, and she is particularly pleased that four of the songs she co-wrote with her friend Delyth Wyn Jones will feature in competitions at this year’s Urdd festival.

Ann is deeply honoured and grateful to be named one of the Presidents of Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn 2026.

Derek Evans, Llannerchymedd

Derek was born and raised on the island, receiving his primary education at Ysgol Bodorgan before going on to study at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni.  

He began his career as a teacher at Ysgol Rhoscolyn in 1978, and that same year joined the Local Urdd Committee for the first time.  

He served as Deputy Headteacher at Ysgol Gwalchmai (a stone’s throw from the location of this year’s Eisteddfod), before becoming Headteacher of Ysgol Llanddeusant for several years. There, he provided pupils with opportunities to compete in Urdd Eisteddfodau and to stay at Glan-llyn and Llangrannog, experiences that were invaluable for children from rural Anglesey.  

In 2004, he was elected Chair of the Executive Committee for the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Anglesey, an unforgettable experience that he continues to treasure.  

Derek remains a dedicated member of the Anglesey Regional Committee and has served as its Chair for many years. He has witnessed the movement go from strength to strength on the island under the leadership of a number of talented Development Officers.  

He considers it a privilege to see the Eisteddfod return to the island and to play a key role in the arrangements as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee, as well as serving as one of the Honorary Presidents. He is confident that the Eisteddfod will be a huge success.

Edward Morus Jones, Llangristiolus

Having grown up in Llanuwchllyn, home of the Urdd’s founder, Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards, it was no surprise that Edward joined the movement at an early stage in its history. That was almost 75 years ago.  

From a young age, through local Urdd groups in Llanuwchllyn, he enjoyed opportunities with friends to socialise, take part in activities, and attend camps at Llangrannog and Glan-llyn.  

Over the years, the Urdd provided him with a wealth of valuable opportunities.   

He served as President of the Day at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Swansea in 1971, and later as Vice-President of the organisation to Dame Edwards during the 1970s. He chaired the movement’s Local and Regional committees for many years, served as a member of the Council for over 25 years, and led the Humanitarian Panel responsible for organising the Peace and Goodwill Message.    

He led, coached, and adjudicated at both local and national level for many years. Edward led one of the Urdd’s first major jamboree sessions, and co-organised and performed on the LP ‘Caneuon Gwersyll’ at Glan-llyn.

He was part of the small team that invited the Urdd National Eisteddfod to Anglesey when it was last held there in 2004. As Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee, he also took on a somewhat unexpected responsibility – overseeing all aspects of the festival’s caravan park arrangements!

He considers it a privilege to contribute to the work of the movement – an organisation that has played such a significant role in the lives of young people in Wales and helped realise the vision of Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards.

Grês Pritchard, Llannerchymedd

From a very young age, Grês dreamed of learning to play the piano and of teaching young children.  

Her unique talent was recognised when she was inducted into the Gorsedd, receiving the Green Robe in 1960 and the White Robe in 2006. Now in her eighth decade, she is widely recognised as a distinguished accompanist, teacher, coach, and conductor.  

She served as accompanist to Côr Meibion y Traeth (male voice choir) for 46 years and was awarded an MBE in 2010. During this time, she also provided accompaniment for Hogia Bryngwran, a group of singers renowned for filling chapels and concert halls with their vibrant performances.  

After marrying and settling in Llannerch-y-medd, she founded Parti’r Llan. In 2000, she continued this tradition by founding Lleisiau Llannerch and Meibion y Foel.   

She has served as accompanist at the Marianglas, Llanddeusant, and Anglesey Eisteddfodau, as well as the National Eisteddfod. The Urdd Eisteddfodau have been an integral part of her career and remain very close to her heart.  

Thousands of children and young people have benefited from her dedicated and inspiring leadership. Under her leadership, Ysgol Gynradd Amlwch consistently excelled, followed by similar success at Ysgol Gynradd Penysarn between 1980 and 2015. This success endures to the present day, as she continues to inspire pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn and a number of other primary schools.  

At the piano, Grês is truly a queen – and serving as Honorary President is a fitting crown to her achievements.

Helen Evans, Talwrn

Born in Llaneilian, Helen has lived for many years in the village of Talwrn, near Llangefni, with her husband, Gareth, and their children, Nia and Geraint.

She joined the Urdd in the early 1960s and had the opportunity to take part in an oral presentation team representing the county at two Eisteddfodau in South Wales, where she enjoyed both the competitive experience and staying with local host families.

Helen went on to become a teacher and trained a recitation group for learners while working at Ysgol Bryn Offa, Wrexham. She then returned to Anglesey and to Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, where she was responsible for Urdd activities for over 30 years. Over the years, she has been a key member of the Cylch Cefni Committee and the Anglesey Regional Committee, and for a period served as Secretary of the Anglesey Primary and Secondary Regional Eisteddfodau.

During the 1980s, Helen was among a group of parents who re-established the Aelwyd in Talwrn, which proved very popular for a number of years. The Urdd remains very important to Helen, as her daughter is one of the founders and leaders of Uwch Adran and Aelwyd yr Ynys and Adran Bro Alaw.  

Helen is delighted that the Urdd National Eisteddfod is returning to Anglesey and wishes every success to all those who will have the opportunity to compete on the island.    

Rhian Lloyd Jones, Bodffordd

Originally from Meirionnydd, Rhian developed a strong foundation in singing and competition through Adran yr Urdd in Corwen, at Ysgol y Berwyn, and later at Ysgol y Gader. While at Ysgol y Gader, she had the opportunity to accompany for the school choir and perform at local Urdd Eisteddfodau.

After a period at the Normal College, Bangor, where she accompanied for the choir and the college Eisteddfod, Rhian moved to Anglesey to take up her first teaching post at Ysgol Llanfachraeth. Here, she had her first opportunity to coach pupils to sing both individually and as part of groups and choirs.  

Her coaching continued at Ysgol Rhosneigr and Ysgol Llanddeusant. Rhian is proud of the opportunities she has had and is extremely grateful to the generations of children, as well as her colleagues, for all the fun, support and enthusiasm.

An ‘Adran’ was established in the village of Bodffordd, where Rhian lives, and she was one of the coaches who brought considerable success to the village over the years.

Rhian has continued to accompany at Urdd Eisteddfodau across Anglesey and is also an accompanist for Côr Meibion Goronwy (male voice choir).