Today, the National Eisteddfod announced that Dr Elin Jones will be the Honorary President at this year’s Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod. She will speak from the Pavilion stage during the festival held in Castle Meadows, Abergavenny from 29 July – 6 August.

Elin Jones is well-known for her great contribution to Welsh history and the awareness of mental health issues, and was honoured by the Gorsedd of the Bards at last year’s Eisteddfod. She returned to live in Ystrad Mynach, the area in which she grew up, after spending years in Cardiff.

One of Wales’ most eminent historians, she has worked as an independent consultant in history, education, governance and politics for over twenty years. She was responsible for developing the history curriculum in Wales from 1996 – 2006, and for commissioning teaching materials and advising the qualifications regulators in history, governance and politics during this period.

She was appointed to chair the taskforce looking at the Cwricwlwm Cymreig, History and the Story of Wales by the Minister for Education and Skills in 2012, part of the wider review of the Curriculum in Wales published last year.

Elin Jones is an important and passionate spokesperson on mental health here in Wales, with her willingness to speak sensitively about her family and personal experience a great comfort and support to many over the years. She is Chair of the Hafal Trust, Wales’ leading metal health charity.

She is very active in a wide range of areas, giving her time to all kinds of local and national organisations and societies. She is President of the Ystrad Mynach Boys and Girls Club, Chair of the Rhymney Valley Merched y Wawr and Chair of the Newport Chartists Education Convention Sub-committee. She is a member of the taskforce advising the Health and Social Services Minister on the use of Welsh in the Health Service and Social Cars, and a member of the Bywgraffiadur Cymreig Advisory Panel.

She is also a member of the Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative, the Women’s Archive of Wales, Institute of Welsh Maritime Historical Studies, and the Siloh Christian Community Centre, Ystrad Mynach. She can also speak Gwenhwyseg, the local Gwent dialect.

Elin Jones follows a number of leading Welsh people as the Eisteddfod’s Honorary President, including scientist, Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas, judge Nic Parry, former Wales First Minister, Rhodri Morgan and the actor and theatre director, Daniel Evans.

For more information regarding the Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod, go to www.eisteddfod.wales.