In collaboration with Bangor University and the family of the late Dr Llŷr Roberts, who passed away in June 2023 aged 45, the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has established Cronfa Llŷr (Llŷr’s Fund) in his memory. The money raised will go towards supporting higher education students with their Welsh-medium studies.
Llŷr was one of the first lecturers to be appointed as an associate lecturer of the Coleg, and went on to make an invaluable contribution to Welsh-medium higher education, and to the Coleg’s wider mission over the years, as an educator, writer and communicator.
As a Welsh-medium lecturer in Business, Llŷr received national acclaim for his work and last year won the ‘Outstanding Welsh-medium Resource' award from the Coleg for developing the first e-book on Marketing in the Welsh language.
Dr Dafydd Trystan, Registrar of the Coleg Cymraeg who worked with Llŷr for over a decade, said:
“Llŷr was an inspiration to his colleagues and students at Bangor University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales, and there is a huge gap left in his absence.
“Within the Coleg community the news of his sudden death was very difficult to discern; many of us have lost a friend as well as a colleague but setting up this fund gives us the opportunity to channel that loss into something positive to support students – I'm certain Llŷr would have been proud of that.
“We are very grateful to Llŷr’s family for their support towards the Coleg at such a difficult time and also to Bangor University and the National Eisteddfod who have also lost a very dear friend and colleague.”
On behalf of Llŷr’s family, his sister, Lowri Gwyn said:
“As a family, we would like to thank the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol for establishing a fund to remember Llŷr.
“Llŷr was a very dear and special son, brother and uncle. It is a comfort to us to know that he also meant the world to his colleagues, his students and his friends.”
Dr Llion Jones, Director of Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University, said:
“In a short time Llŷr made a big impression at Bangor University. The care he showed his students and his commitment to Welsh medium education was evident to all. It’s fitting therefore that this fund will support matters that were so close to his heart.”
