A Sad Farewell to a Patriot

From Welsh Remembrancer/Owain Glyndwr Communicates

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

COFIWN ROBAT AP STEFFAN (Castro)

ER COF AM

Rhobert ap Steffan (Castro)

1947 – 2011

Ysgrifennaf y deyrnged yma i Robat ap Steffan (neu i ‘Castro’ fel ac adnabuwyd e’ gan ei gydwladgarwyr a chyfeillion hir dymor) â thristwch enfawr.

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Bu i Castro ein gadael bore Mawrth, Ionawr yr 11eg, wedi brwydr a chancr; roedd yn un o feibion Cwm Rhondda ac fel mab o’r cymoedd glofaol yma, roedd wedi etifeddu’r angerdd tanllyd hwnnw sydd wedi ei wreiddio’n ddwfn i eneidiau disgynyddion y Cymry hynny yn y Cymoedd a orfodwyd i frwydro, un ffordd neu’ gilydd, dros eu tiriogaeth, eu bywoliaeth a’u hunan-barch.

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Bu i’r cymoedd meithrin Castro i fod yn bersonoliaeth llawn bywyd, caredig a hoffus a fyddai’n mwynhau dim yn well na chymdeithasu a thynnu coes yn ddireidus gyda’i ffrindiau niferus.

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Roedd hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn wladgarwr ymroddgar, yn aelod o Blaid Cymru a sawl mudiad arall ers y 60au. Bu’n gefnogwr brwd i Ymgyrch Gwrth Arwisgo 1969 ac i’r F.W.A ac yn ddiweddarach, i Cofiwn ac i Lysgenhadaeth Glyndŵr - ac onibai am ei ymrwymiad, a’r holl waith caled a wnaed ganddo i sicrhau cofeb deilwng ar weddillion Castell Llanymddyfri i goffâu dienyddiad arswydus Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan ar y safle yn 1401, byddai’r gofeb honno byth wedi gweld golau dydd.

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Gwladgarwr Cymreig a chymeriad unigryw arall wedi ei gymryd oddi arnom cyn ei amser; bydd gwacter enfawr ar ei ôl.

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Mae ein meddyliau ar yr adeg drist yma gyda Marlyn (gwraig Castro) Sioned, Iestyn a Rhys ei blant, a gyda'i unig chwaer, Jill.

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Llysgenhadaeth Glyndŵr

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It is with great sadness that I write this tribute in memory of Rhobert ap Steffan or ‘Castro’ as he was fondly referred to by his long term friends and compatriots. Castro quietly passed away in the early hrs of Tuesday 11th January following a battle with cancer, he was a son of Cwm Rhondda and had inherited that fiery passion that is so deep rooted in the psyche of the descendents of a Cymric people that have always had to battle over the centuries, one way or another, for the right to survive in their valley communities.

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These valleys had moulded him to be what he was, a high spirited, warmhearted likeable personality who thoroughly enjoyed socializing and a good old banter with his many friends and associates.

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He was also, of course, a dedicated Welsh patriot, was a long standing member of Plaid Cymru and since the 1960’s had been an active member of many Welsh movements including the Swansea based Young Nationalist Association and C.Y.I.G. He had also actively supported the 1969 Anti Investiture Campaign and had supported the F.W.A and later, Cofiwn and Embassy Glyndŵr – and had it not been for his hard work and sheer determination to see a gigantic memorial raised on the remains of Llanymddyfri castle to commemorate the gruesome slaughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan there in 1401, it is very unlikely that this memorial would have seen the light of day.

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Another unique Cymric patriot and character taken from amongst us long before he should have been. Castro, you will be greatly missed.

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Our thoughts at this very sad time are with Marilyn (his wife), his children, Sioned, Iestyn and Rhys and with his sister Jill.

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Embassy Glyndŵr