THE ROMANTIC story of the Welsh people who settled in Patagonia over a century ago is challenged in a new book, revealing a darker side to the establishment of Y Wladfa.

Written by Aberystwyth University academic Dr Lucy Taylor, Global Politics of Welsh Patagonia draws on archival sources in Spanish, Welsh and English to disrupt the myth that the relationship between the Welsh and the Indigenous people was built solely on friendship and harmony.

The publication brings in the voices of the Tehuelche and Mapuche people, and foregrounds unfamiliar accounts of the role the Welsh pioneer settlers played in Argentina’s nation-building project in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Dr Taylor, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Politics who specialises in Latin American studies, says the aim of the book is to present a more rounded version of the history and reveal just how complex settler colonial relationships can be.

“The establishment of a Welsh colony in Patagonia in 1865 is familiar to everyone in Wales. It was a courageous, heroic endeavour in many ways, driven by anti-colonial resistance at home, but it also saw the Welsh become agents of colonisation,” says Dr Taylor.

“In a contemporary Wales seeking to promote anti-racist policies, I believe the time has come for a candid reappraisal of what can be considered the darker side of Y Wladfa and to re-examine conventional narrative through a decolonial lens.”

The book makes it clear that the Welsh did not use physical violence during the settlement process and says their policy of peaceful engagement has often been celebrated and romanticised, especially when drawn in contrast to the use of physical force by ‘English’ and British imperial colonisers in other parts of the world.

“As a result, Y Wladfa has not only been viewed as legitimate, it has been deployed as an asset, contributing to Welsh strategies for cultural resistance and social renewal back home,” according to Dr Taylor.

“Yet Y Wladfa was undeniably fundamental to Argentina’s nation-building project and, while the Welsh pioneer settlement might have had its own agenda, it was also a key factor in the Argentinian Government’s campaign at that time to dispossess the Indigenous people of their lands, and assert their own sovereignty and capitalist modernity.

“My book invites readers to think beyond the conventional stories so familiar to us all, to listen to the voices of Indigenous people from the past and to consider Wales’s complex position as both colonised at home and coloniser in Pagatonia.”

Dr Taylor hopes her research will help inform the new history curriculum in Wales as well as contribute to wider discussions around decolonisation and anti-racism.

Global Politics of Welsh Patagonia (University of Wales Press, 2025) will be launched at the National Library of Wales at 7pm on Wednesday 2 April when Dr Taylor will be in conversation with Emeritus Professor Paul O’Leary from Aberystwyth University’s Department of History and Welsh History. Tickets are available free of charge online but booking is essential.

AN EXHIBITION of evocative new paintings by Narberth-based artist Mark Crockett will be on display at the Joanna Field Gallery in the Torch Theatre throughout April.

Titled Rear View Mirror, the exhibition offers a deeply personal reflection on Mark’s life since falling seriously ill in 2021. His work captures the fleeting beauty of early morning and dusk — those quiet, in-between moments when the day begins or ends, and where change is always present.

A graduate of art college in the late 1980s, Mark left painting behind after a disagreement with a tutor. What followed was a colourful and unconventional life spent travelling the world — living in converted buses and caravans, restoring stone houses in the Portuguese mountains, fire-breathing at music events, DJing in clubs, surfing, and working as a wedding photographer.

“I didn’t touch a paintbrush for 35 years,” he said. “Then I became seriously ill with an autoimmune condition. Some days I couldn’t even walk. It was a dark time, and I didn’t know how to deal with losing the life I had. One day, for reasons I can’t explain, I picked up a brush — and the paintings just started to fall out.”

Mark now lives with his Canadian wife in a former Post Office building they are restoring together. Despite his return to painting, he never intended to exhibit his work.

“I wasn’t painting to sell or show them — I just needed to do it. It was for me,” he explained. “I’ve always drawn and painted since I can remember. My dad’s a sculptor and painter, my brother’s a digital artist, and now my daughter has just finished a foundation course at UAL. So we’re three generations of artists.”

Rear View Mirror is Mark’s first solo exhibition. “I’m nervous, but excited too. It’s strange — and lovely — to see all the work together in one space.”

His pieces often suggest untold stories or invite the viewer to consider a new perspective. One of his most recent works, Armistice Day, depicts a single red poppy on the far bank of a river — a quiet reflection on personal and collective loss.

Mark shares more of his work on Instagram @papersurfer and at www.papersurfer.com. All images © papersurfer studio 2025.

Rear View Mirror will be on display throughout April during Box Office opening hours at the Joanna Field Gallery, located within the Torch Theatre. For more information, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

Get ready for an epic night of nostalgia as NostalgiaFest rolls into Tenby this September. On 27th September, the De Valence Pavilion will host a live tribute event that promises to take you on a full-throttle trip back to the golden age of punk rock and skate culture.

This isn’t just any gig – it’s a high-energy, heart-pumping experience where the legendary soundtrack of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater meets the anthems that defined a generation. Whether you were a die-hard skater or simply cranked up the volume to the iconic tunes of the late ’90s and early 2000s, NostalgiaFest will have you reliving the thrill all over again.

As soon as the first note hits, you’ll be moshing to a live tribute to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtrack, which helped shape the skateboarding scene. From Primus to Goldfinger, Rage Against the Machine to N.W.A., the energy will be electric, bringing back memories of those adrenaline-fuelled sessions at the skate park.

But the nostalgia doesn’t stop there. NostalgiaFest will feature full tribute sets to some of the most iconic bands from the era. Expect face-melting metalcore from Killswitch Engage, punk anthems from The Offspring, and the unmistakable sounds of nu-metal with Limp Bizkit. Pop-punk queens Paramore and Avril Lavigne will bring the attitude, while indie rock legends Jimmy Eat World will round off the night with their unforgettable vibes.

The De Valence Pavilion, located in the heart of Tenby, provides the perfect setting for this vibrant event. Its intimate, alternative atmosphere makes it the ideal venue for fans of punk, skate culture, and nostalgia.

Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out on this chance to relive the soundtrack of your youth. The crowd will be filled with like-minded punks, skaters, and fans, all united by their love for the golden era of music and culture. Get ready to feel the energy, make new memories, and join in the celebration that will be talked about for years to come.

Get your tickets now – this is one night you won’t want to miss!

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nostalgiafest-tony-hawks-pro-skater-soundtrack-live-support-tickets-1298946286309?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl