The University of Oxford has old, historic ties with Wales.
From its foundation, Jesus College has been an important centre of learning for students from Wales, and between 1571 and 1915, only one of its Principals was not from Wales or of Welsh descent. You could argue it is the first 'Welsh' university.
Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym ('Dafydd ap Gwilym Society') was founded in 1886, the University of Oxford's Welsh society, named after the poet and often referred to as 'the Dafydd'. It is the oldest university Welsh society, and the oldest active society at the University of Oxford after the Oxford Union, the famous debating society.
To put this in context, Bangor University is only two years older!
But the links with Wales continue to the present day....
We met with Manon Hammond, a current student and last year's co-president of Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym, to find out more about what it's like to be a student at the University of Oxford.
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Hi Manon! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m from Cardiff but am living in Oxford at the moment. I’m about to go into the third year of my history degree at university and am gearing up to make the most of my final year while also preparing for exams!
What made you choose to study at the University of Oxford?
It’s a beautiful city first of all. I’ve always felt so lucky to live in Cardiff which I think is a stunning and an exciting city, so I didn’t want to move somewhere which didn’t give me the same feeling. The university itself has a great reputation and the teaching is so personalised and focused, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to study a subject pretty much one on one with some of the world experts. I often have to take a step back and remind myself where I am and really appreciate the kind of university experience I’m getting, not just academically but socially too. Oxford is a lot of fun contrary to stereotypes (I promise).
Darogan was founded by students from the University of Oxford, so we know that the collegiate system is an important part of life there. Which college are you in, and what have been the highlights of college life so far?
I’m at Lincoln college (just opposite Jesus, the ‘Welsh’ college which everyone assumes I’m at when they meet me!) We like to think we’re pretty fun (we are) and though we’re small, I think we punch above our weight on the Oxford scene. The president elect of the Oxford Union is from Lincoln, the ex president of Women in business is a Lincolnite, and most student publications like the Isis, Cherwell, and Oxford Blue have Lincoln students on their senior editorial teams (not to mention our sports teams and their successes.) It’s an incredibly fun loving and ambitious community we have at Lincoln and I couldn’t be happier with the friends I’ve made there.
The University of Oxford has the oldest university Welsh society called ‘Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym’, and I hear you ran the society last year with a co-president. What was that experience like? What sort of activities did you organise and were there any highlights?
A lot of Oxford societies run on a termly basis, so whatever position you hold, it’s only for 8 weeks - the Dafydd has the same committee for a whole year, so running things for three whole terms across freshers, exams, vacations and more was quite a responsibility. The fantastic thing about running the Dafydd is the amount of freedom we had, of course there were traditional events which we wanted to hold in honour of its history and significance, but we also got to organise stuff that we thought would bring in new crowds and appeal to a variety of students. Before I became President I had been thinking that the Dafydd should run a black tie drinks event for Santes Dwynwen Day, so that’s what we did in Hilary term. It was a lovely moment getting to see something I’d thought of a long time ago becoming a reality and being successful too, it ended up being our most attended event in years!
What made you join Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym and get involved to the extent that you have?
Oxford is intense, it’s also a place where you’ll interact with people from all over the world with different backgrounds, political views, hobbies, languages, and personalities. It’s one of the best things about moving away to somewhere new for university! It’s also full on, and can sometimes feel like a world away from what you’re used to. Having a society that acts as a home away from home, where you can speak Welsh, watch rugby matches without a sea of people around you cheering the other team, see friends, and just enjoy the joy of a familiar culture, really helps with adapting to a new city. People can come as often or as occasionally as they please, we’re totally open and welcoming - the Dafydd is what you make of it.
For any students at the university thinking about joining a society this year, why should they get involved with Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym?
The workload is heavy, no one’s going to lie and tell you otherwise, it’s kind of the point here. HOWEVER…to balance out the work, it’s important that people do things for fun and relaxation too - that’s why Oxford has such a huge array of societies. If dinners, drinks, Christmas services, sing songs, Eisteddfods, speaker events, and sports sound like things that might take the edge off of Oxford academic life for you, then come along to Welsh soc!
You are going into your final year of study this year, and I know it might be a daunting thought… but have you thought about what you might do after you graduate? Do you know where you would like to work and what sort of sector?
Had you asked me this question a few months ago at the beginning of the Summer vacation, I would’ve told you not to ask silly questions and to leave me alone as in my head I’m still just a silly fresher. During the Summer though I got to use my college grant to travel to Ireland in order to complete my thesis research, and got thinking about what kind of research or work I’d like to do after leaving. I always thought I’d go straight into the world of work after my degree, but am now thinking of applying for postgraduate study in Political Science, since I did a few political theory papers last year and felt like a huge nerd because I enjoyed them so much. I won’t say where I’m thinking of applying though…there has to be some element of mystery…
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The University of Oxford has old, historic ties with Wales.
From its foundation, Jesus College has been an important centre of learning for students from Wales, and between 1571 and 1915, only one of its Principals was not from Wales or of Welsh descent. You could argue it is the first 'Welsh' university.
Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym ('Dafydd ap Gwilym Society') was founded in 1886, the University of Oxford's Welsh society, named after the poet and often referred to as 'the Dafydd'. It is the oldest university Welsh society, and the oldest active society at the University of Oxford after the Oxford Union, the famous debating society.
To put this in context, Bangor University is only two years older!
But the links with Wales continue to the present day....
We met with Manon Hammond, a current student and last year's co-president of Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym, to find out more about what it's like to be a student at the University of Oxford.
Hi Manon! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m from Cardiff but am living in Oxford at the moment. I’m about to go into the third year of my history degree at university and am gearing up to make the most of my final year while also preparing for exams!
What made you choose to study at the University of Oxford?
It’s a beautiful city first of all. I’ve always felt so lucky to live in Cardiff which I think is a stunning and an exciting city, so I didn’t want to move somewhere which didn’t give me the same feeling. The university itself has a great reputation and the teaching is so personalised and focused, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to study a subject pretty much one on one with some of the world experts. I often have to take a step back and remind myself where I am and really appreciate the kind of university experience I’m getting, not just academically but socially too. Oxford is a lot of fun contrary to stereotypes (I promise).
Darogan was founded by students from the University of Oxford, so we know that the collegiate system is an important part of life there. Which college are you in, and what have been the highlights of college life so far?
I’m at Lincoln college (just opposite Jesus, the ‘Welsh’ college which everyone assumes I’m at when they meet me!) We like to think we’re pretty fun (we are) and though we’re small, I think we punch above our weight on the Oxford scene. The president elect of the Oxford Union is from Lincoln, the ex president of Women in business is a Lincolnite, and most student publications like the Isis, Cherwell, and Oxford Blue have Lincoln students on their senior editorial teams (not to mention our sports teams and their successes.) It’s an incredibly fun loving and ambitious community we have at Lincoln and I couldn’t be happier with the friends I’ve made there.
The University of Oxford has the oldest university Welsh society called ‘Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym’, and I hear you ran the society last year with a co-president. What was that experience like? What sort of activities did you organise and were there any highlights?
A lot of Oxford societies run on a termly basis, so whatever position you hold, it’s only for 8 weeks - the Dafydd has the same committee for a whole year, so running things for three whole terms across freshers, exams, vacations and more was quite a responsibility. The fantastic thing about running the Dafydd is the amount of freedom we had, of course there were traditional events which we wanted to hold in honour of its history and significance, but we also got to organise stuff that we thought would bring in new crowds and appeal to a variety of students. Before I became President I had been thinking that the Dafydd should run a black tie drinks event for Santes Dwynwen Day, so that’s what we did in Hilary term. It was a lovely moment getting to see something I’d thought of a long time ago becoming a reality and being successful too, it ended up being our most attended event in years!
What made you join Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym and get involved to the extent that you have?
Oxford is intense, it’s also a place where you’ll interact with people from all over the world with different backgrounds, political views, hobbies, languages, and personalities. It’s one of the best things about moving away to somewhere new for university! It’s also full on, and can sometimes feel like a world away from what you’re used to. Having a society that acts as a home away from home, where you can speak Welsh, watch rugby matches without a sea of people around you cheering the other team, see friends, and just enjoy the joy of a familiar culture, really helps with adapting to a new city. People can come as often or as occasionally as they please, we’re totally open and welcoming - the Dafydd is what you make of it.
For any students at the university thinking about joining a society this year, why should they get involved with Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym?
The workload is heavy, no one’s going to lie and tell you otherwise, it’s kind of the point here. HOWEVER…to balance out the work, it’s important that people do things for fun and relaxation too - that’s why Oxford has such a huge array of societies. If dinners, drinks, Christmas services, sing songs, Eisteddfods, speaker events, and sports sound like things that might take the edge off of Oxford academic life for you, then come along to Welsh soc!
You are going into your final year of study this year, and I know it might be a daunting thought… but have you thought about what you might do after you graduate? Do you know where you would like to work and what sort of sector?
Had you asked me this question a few months ago at the beginning of the Summer vacation, I would’ve told you not to ask silly questions and to leave me alone as in my head I’m still just a silly fresher. During the Summer though I got to use my college grant to travel to Ireland in order to complete my thesis research, and got thinking about what kind of research or work I’d like to do after leaving. I always thought I’d go straight into the world of work after my degree, but am now thinking of applying for postgraduate study in Political Science, since I did a few political theory papers last year and felt like a huge nerd because I enjoyed them so much. I won’t say where I’m thinking of applying though…there has to be some element of mystery…
Mae gan Brifysgol Rhydychen gysylltiadau hanesyddol â Chymru.
Ers ei sefydlu, mae Coleg Iesu wedi bod yn ganolfan ddysg bwysig i fyfyrwyr o Gymru, a rhwng 1571 a 1915, dim ond un o’i Brifathrawon nad oedd o Gymru nac o dras Cymreig. Fe allech chi ddadlau mai dyma'r brifysgol 'Gymreig' gyntaf.
Sefydlwyd Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym ym 1886, cymdeithas Gymraeg Prifysgol Rhydychen, a enwyd ar ôl y bardd ac y cyfeirir ati’n aml fel ‘y Dafydd’. Hi yw cymdeithas Gymraeg hynaf mewn unrhyw brifysgol, a'r gymdeithas hynaf sydd dal yn weithredol ym Mhrifysgol Rhydychen ar ôl yr Oxford Union y gymdeithas ddadlau enwog.
I roi hyn yn ei gyd-destun, mae'r Prifysgol Bangor dim ond dwy flynedd yn hŷn !
Ond mae’r cysylltiadau gyda Chymru yn parhau hyd heddiw....
Cwrddon ni â Manon Hammond, myfyrwraig bresennol a chyd-gaplan (neu llywydd) Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym y llynedd, i ddarganfod mwy am sut beth yw bod yn fyfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Rhydychen.
Helo Manon! Allwch chi ddweud ychydig wrthym amdanoch chi'ch hun?
Rwy'n dod o Gaerdydd ond yn byw yn Rhydychen ar hyn o bryd. Rydw i ar fin mynd i mewn i drydedd flwyddyn fy ngradd hanes yn y brifysgol ac yn paratoi i wneud y mwyaf o fy mlwyddyn olaf tra hefyd yn paratoi ar gyfer arholiadau!
Pam wnaethoch i chi ddewis astudio ym Mhrifysgol Rhydychen?
Mae'n ddinas hardd yn gyntaf oll. Dwi wastad wedi teimlo mor lwcus i fyw yng Nghaerdydd sy’n ddinas hardd a chyffrous yn fy marn i, felly doeddwn i ddim eisiau symud i rywle nad oedd yn rhoi’r un teimlad i mi. Mae gan y brifysgol ei hun enw da iawn ac mae'r addysgu wedi'i bersonoli a wedi'i ffocysu cymaint, ni allwn golli'r cyfle i astudio pwnc un-i-un gyda rhai o arbenigwyr y byd. Yn aml mae’n rhaid i mi gymryd cam yn ôl ac atgoffa fy hun lle rydw i a gwerthfawrogi’r math o brofiad prifysgol rydw i’n ei gael, nid yn unig yn academaidd ond yn gymdeithasol hefyd. Mae Rhydychen yn llawer o hwyl yn groes i ystrydebau (dwi'n addo).
Sefydlwyd Darogan gan fyfyrwyr o Brifysgol Rhydychen, felly gwyddom fod y system golegol yn rhan bwysig o fywyd yno. Ym mha goleg wyt ti, a beth ydy'r uchafbwyntiau bywyd coleg hyd yn hyn?
Rydw i yng ngholeg Lincoln (yn union gyferbyn â Iesu, y coleg 'Cymreig' y mae pawb yn cymryd yn ganiataol fy mod ynddo pan fyddant yn cwrdd â mi!) Rydyn ni'n hoffi meddwl ein bod ni'n eithaf hwyl (rydyn ni) ac er ein bod ni'n fach, dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n cystadlu ymhlith y gorau. Daw llywydd etholedig yr Oxford Union o Lincoln, mae cyn-lywydd Women in business yn 'Lincolnite', ac mae gan y rhan fwyaf o gyhoeddiadau myfyrwyr fel yr Isis, Cherwell, ac Oxford Blue fyfyrwyr Lincoln ar eu huwch dimau golygyddol (heb sôn am ein timau chwaraeon a'u llwyddiannau.) Mae'n gennym ni gymuned sy'n hoff o hwyl ac sy'n uchelgeisiol yma yn Lincoln ac ni allwn fod yn hapusach gyda'r ffrindiau rydw i wedi'u gwneud yno.
Mae gan Brifysgol Rhydychen y gymdeithas Gymraeg prifysgol hynaf o’r enw ‘Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym’, a chlywaf ichi redeg y gymdeithas y llynedd gyda chyd-gaplan. Sut brofiad oedd hwnnw? Pa fath o weithgareddau wnaethoch chi drefnu ac a oedd unrhyw uchafbwyntiau?
Mae llawer o gymdeithasau Rhydychen yn rhedeg yn dymhorol, felly pa bynnag swydd sydd gennych, dim ond am 8 wythnos yw hi - mae gan y Dafydd yr un pwyllgor am flwyddyn gyfan, felly roedd rhedeg pethau am dri thymor cyfan ar draws wythnos y glas, arholiadau, gwyliau a mwy yn dipyn o gyfrifoldeb. Y peth ffantastig am redeg y Dafydd yw faint o ryddid oedd gennym ni, wrth gwrs roedd yna ddigwyddiadau traddodiadol yr oedden ni eisiau eu cynnal i anrhydeddu ei hanes a'i arwyddocâd, ond roedd rhaid i ni hefyd drefnu pethau yr oeddem ni'n meddwl fyddai'n dod â thorfeydd newydd i mewn ac apelio at amrywiaeth o fyfyrwyr. Cyn i mi ddod yn gaplan roeddwn wedi bod yn meddwl y dylai’r Dafydd gynnal digwyddiad diodydd tei du ar gyfer Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen, felly dyna a wnaethom yn nhymor Hilary. Roedd yn foment hyfryd cael gweld rhywbeth yr oeddwn wedi meddwl amdano amser maith yn ôl yn dod yn realiti a bod yn llwyddiannus hefyd, ac yn y pen draw hwn oedd ein digwyddiad mwyaf poblogaidd ers blynyddoedd!
Beth wnaeth i chi ymuno â Chymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym a chymryd rhan i'r graddau sydd gennych chi?
Mae Rhydychen yn le dwys, a mae hefyd yn fan lle byddwch chi'n rhyngweithio â phobl o bob rhan o'r byd o wahanol gefndiroedd, safbwyntiau gwleidyddol, hobïau, ieithoedd, a phersonoliaethau. Mae’n un o’r pethau gorau am symud i ffwrdd i rywle newydd ar gyfer prifysgol! Mae hefyd yn brysur, a gall weithiau deimlo fel byd i ffwrdd o'r hyn rydych chi wedi arfer ag ef. Mae cael cymdeithas sy’n gweithredu fel cartref oddi cartref, lle gallwch chi siarad Cymraeg, gwylio gemau rygbi heb fôr o bobl o’ch cwmpas yn bloeddio i’r tîm arall, gweld ffrindiau, a mwynhau diwylliant cyfarwydd, yn help mawr gydag addasu.i ddinas newydd. Gall pobl ddod mor aml neu mor achlysurol ag y dymunant, rydym yn gwbl agored a chroesawgar - y Dafydd yw'r hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud ohono.
I unrhyw fyfyrwyr yn y brifysgol sy’n ystyried ymuno â'r gymdeithas eleni, pam ddylen nhw ymwneud â Chymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym?
Mae’r llwyth gwaith yn drwm, does neb yn mynd i ddweud celwydd i ddweud fel arall, dyna’r pwynt o fod yma. FODD BYNNAG… i gydbwyso’r gwaith, mae’n bwysig bod pobl yn gwneud pethau i gael hwyl ac i ymlacio hefyd – dyna pam mae gan Rydychen amrywiaeth enfawr o gymdeithasau. Os yw ciniawau, diodydd, gwasanaethau Nadolig, canu caneuon, Eisteddfodau, digwyddiadau siaradwr, a chwaraeon yn swnio fel pethau a allai leihau straen bywyd academaidd Rhydychen i chi, yna dewch draw i'r soc Cymraeg!
Rydych chi'n mynd i mewn i'ch blwyddyn olaf o astudio eleni, a gwn y gall feddwl am hyn fod yn frawychus ... ond ydych chi wedi meddwl beth allech chi ei wneud ar ôl i chi raddio? Ydych chi'n gwybod lle hoffech chi weithio a pha fath o sector?
Pe baech chi wedi gofyn y cwestiwn hwn i mi rai misoedd yn ôl ar ddechrau gwyliau'r haf, byddwn wedi dweud wrthych am beidio â gofyn cwestiynau gwirion a gadael llonydd i mi oherwydd yn fy mhen rwy'n dal i fod yn fyfyriwr newydd gwirion. Yn ystod yr Haf serch hynny, fe ges i ddefnyddio fy ngrant coleg i deithio i Iwerddon er mwyn cwblhau fy ymchwil thesis, a dechrau meddwl pa fath o waith ymchwil neu waith hoffwn i ei wneud ar ôl gadael. Roeddwn i bob amser yn meddwl y byddwn i'n mynd yn syth i fyd gwaith ar ôl fy ngradd, ond rydw i nawr yn ystyried gwneud cais am astudiaeth ôl-raddedig mewn Gwyddor Wleidyddol, ers i mi wneud ychydig o bapurau theori wleidyddol y llynedd a theimlo fel nerd enfawr oherwydd roeddwn i'n eu mwynhau cymaint. Wna i ddim dweud ble dwi'n meddwl gwneud cais serch hynny...mae'n rhaid cael rhyw elfen o ddirgelwch...