Giant of Welsh broadcasting Euryn Ogwen Williams passes away

Welsh broadcasting giant Euryn Owen Williams has passed away.

His son Rhodri Williams shared the news in a tribute to his father on Facebook earlier today, who said he was “our Hero, our Mentor, our Inspiration, our Friend”.

Euryn, who was presented a Special Award by BAFTA Cymru in 2018, was a key player in the founding of Welsh language television channel S4C, and was its first Director of Programmes from 1981 to 1991.

The honorary Fellow of Trinity St David’s University graduated from the University of Wales Bangor, before joining the television industry in the early 60s. He soon became the Director of Programmes at TWW before joing Harlech TV. He produced and directed a wide range of programmes for the BBC, and ITV until 1981.

Euryn has acted as special advisor to Gaelic Television, the Irish Language TV Channel, and to the Culture Committee of the Welsh Assembly during its Welsh Language Review.

During the 90’s he played a key role at S4C in developing its digital output and has been a leading voice in forging the development of digital platforms in order to reach diverse audiences across Wales and beyond.

He has published two volumes of poetry as well as many papers and pamphlets on the changing media scene.

The broadcaster has lectured on literary and media matters and he was the president of the Vale of Glamorgan National Eisteddfod in 2012.

Rhodri Williams said: “Today my sister Sara and I lost our Hero, our Mentor, our Inspiration, our Friend, our Dad and my mother lost her incredible husband of 55 years. Life will never be the same. Thank you for your love and support every single day of our lives. Sleep peacefully. We love you.”