Tributes paid to drummer and Welsh rock pioneer Charli Britton

Tributes have been paid following the death at the age 68 of drummer and former Edward H Dafis band member Charli Britton.

He played for a range of groups during the 70s but is best known as the drummer with the hugely successful Welsh language rock band, Edward H Dafis.

Born in Cardiff, he studied graphic design at a London University where he was inspired to take up drums after watching a gig by Warhorse, a band formed by Deep Purple bassist Nick Simper.

Cleif Harpwood, the lead vocalist for Edward H Dafis, said: “He was in the backline but his devotion to the Welsh music scene was phenomenal – he was our music’s beating heart.”

Designer

The groups and performers he played with over the years includes Injaroc, Hergest, John ac Alun and Dafydd Iwan.

Along with his musical interests, he worked as a graphic designer and created book and album covers, including the ‘Plant y Fflam’ album for Edward H Dafis.

In recent times, his design skills have been used on the Lleu papur bro covering Dyffryn Nantlle and he provided drum tutoring at the Galeri in Caernarfon.

He leaves behind two sons, Siôn and Rhys.