Waldo Williams sculpture to visit Haverfordwest Library
Cerflun o Waldo Williams i ymweld â Llyfrgell Hwlffordd
A striking bust of renowned Welsh poet and pacifist Waldo Williams, created by sculptor John Meiron Morris, is on temporary loan from Cymdeithas Waldo to be displayed in the Gallery at Glan-yr-Afon (Haverfordwest Library), until Saturday 11 October 2025.
Born in Haverfordwest in 1904, Waldo Williams spent his later boyhood in the Preseli hills, where he learned Welsh – the language that became the medium for his most profound thoughts. Although he published just one volume of poetry, Dail Pren (Tree Leaves), he is celebrated as one of the most influential Welsh-language poets of the 20th century.
A committed pacifist and Quaker, Waldo was twice imprisoned by Haverfordwest Magistrates. He never owned a car, preferring to cycle the lanes of Pembrokeshire, and was known both for his visionary ideals and his playful, good-humoured nature. In later life he returned to Haverfordwest, where he died on Ascension Day 1971.
Special Events
- Please note: the sculpture will be unavailable for view for a few days from 25th September as it goes on display in Aberystwyth University for the annual Cymdeithas Waldo Lecture.
- On Tuesday, 30th September at 5.30pm, a new interpretive plaque will be unveiled at Pembrokeshire Archives in Prendergast, commemorating Waldo’s connection to his hometown and his early years at Prendergast School.
About the Gallery Partnership
The Gallery at Glan-yr-Afon is presented in partnership with the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Visitors can also enjoy the current exhibition CYFOES: Celf Cymru Heddiw · Contemporary Welsh Art, showcasing a vibrant range of works from the National Art Collection, including paintings, sculpture, and mixed media pieces by both established and emerging artists – with the majority being works by female artists. Highlights include Dannedd Dodi by Anya Paintsil, Y Fari Lwyd by Dr Adéọlá Dewis, Blodeuwedd by Natalia Dias, and Moelni Maith by Lisa Eurgain Taylor.
Running alongside CYFOES is the permanent exhibition Pembrokeshire: Past and Present, which explores the history, culture, and landscape of the county. This includes a photograph, taken by Julian Sheppard, of Waldo Williams with pupils at Goodwick Primary School in the late 1960s.
Both exhibitions, along with the Waldo Williams sculpture, continue until Saturday 11 October 2025.