Aeronwy Thomas opens the Dylan Thomas Trail Aeronwy Thomas and Bunny Evans cutting the ribbon

On July 8th, 2003, Aeronwy Thomas - daughter of the poet Dylan Thomas, cut the ribbon to officially open the Dylan Thomas Trail in New Quay. The ceremony occurred at Coronation Park opposite the Penwig Hotel on the sea front at Newquay at 3 p.m. 

She was introduced by Stan Thomas, Chairman of Ceredigion County Council before giving a short speech in which she said: "This trail celebrates places where my Father drank, stayed and lived; places he visited and even places he thought about."

Members of the Dylan Thomas Society and invited guests afterwards attended a reception at the Black Lion Hotel - one of Dylan Thomas' favourite watering holes, where Ms Thomas read extracts from the poem 'Quite Early One Morning'.

"New Quay was an enormous influence on the creation of Under Milk Wood because the description of the drowned sailors, submerged village and other images could only come from here," said Mrs. Thomas.

"Nevertheless the characters are universal and are drawn from Swansea, Ferryside and Laugharne as well as New Quay."

On Tuesday 15 July Mrs. Thomas was awarded a University of Wales Fellowship for her work in promoting her father and the city of his birth, Swansea.

Before this he had lived at Talgarreg and from 1941-1943 he stayed in the 'Gelli' Mansion at Talsarn where the beautiful River Aeron inspired Aeronwy Thomas' name. There is also another section of the Dylan Thomas Trail in this area. 

© Rod Attrill 2003