Cymru Cuba North Wales tribute to founder Selwyn Williams
Campaign News | Saturday, 1 March 2025
Selwyn Williams, joint founder member of North Wales Cymru-Cuba group
Cymru Cuba North Wales are deeply saddened to share the news of Selwyn Williams' recent passing. He was a passionate advocate and supporter of Cuban Solidarity for many years.
During the peak of Thatcherism in the mid-1980s, he and his longtime friend David Jones established 'Cymru-Cuba', the Wales branch of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
Over the years, Cymru-Cuba gained recognition for its vibrant Salsa fundraising concerts, engaging conferences, thought-provoking debates, film nights, and especially its presence at the Eisteddfod. No National Eisteddfod was complete without the Cymru Cuba bar, famous for its "El Che" cocktails.
Selwyn also organised a solidarity visit to Cuba in 2007 and in 2017 a visit to north Wales by Aleida Guevara, Che's daughter.
Inspired by the many examples of Cuban community based organisation, he was one of the co-founders of a number of co-operative initiatives in north Wales including the community hotel, Y Pengwern in Llan Ffestiniog, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, a network of 16 social enterprises in the Ffestiniog area and Cymunedoli Cyf. a network of 36 community initiatives across the county of Gwynedd.
Selwyn proudly wrote of the success of the co-operatives saying:
"Between them, the members of the Cwmni Bro employ around 150 people, and it has been shown that the income, to a large extent, stays and rotates and multiplies within the area. For every pound received in grants or loans, 98 pence is spent locally, mainly on wages. This is contrary to the situation in the case of corporations and large private companies. It is estimated that tourism generates an income of £17m a day on average in Wales. At the moment, large external companies receive most of the income and money flows out of the communities that run the facilities and resources for tourists".
Portraits of Che and NHS founder Aneurin Bevan hung appeared on the wall of the hospital ward during the days of his final illness. Selwyn gave his many visitors the clear instruction for the future- "Don't mourn - Organise."
Selwyn Williams 26 May 1945 - 25 February 2025
