A TYWI Valley TV presenter has been named as the Urdd Eisteddfod’s President of the Day.

Each day, a well-known, local face is being named as President of the Day at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Llandovery.

On Monday, it was Ammanford-born presenter Alex Jones, and yesterday, it was Llandovery-born rugby player Wyn Jones, Mynyddcerrig rugby referee Nigel Owens and Carmarthen rugby player Ken Owens.

Today, Wednesday, May 31, the President of the Day is Bethlehem (Llandeilo)’s Heledd Cynwal.

Heledd was born in Cardiff but moved to Bethlehem in Llandeilo when she was nine and went to the village’s primary school and Ysgol Gyfun Bro Myrddin.

She graduated from Aberystwyth University and went on to join S4C’s Uned 5 presenting team and has presented Wedi 7 and Heno.

Heledd has also been part of the coverage of the Eisteddfod over the years, presenting Côr Cymru, and being part of the Eisteddfod T event during lockdown.

Her earliest memory of the Urdd is visiting Llangrannog residential centre with her primary school. She said: “After we all gathered in the canteen, T Llew Jones came in!

"He told us a ghost story, told straight from his heart, and I remember it like it was yesterday.

"He was leaning against a radiator with a canteen full of children hanging on every word that came out of his mouth.

“To be able to say that you had that experience is a big thing because I loved his books – it was quite a moment.”

On her experience at the Urdd, she said: “When it comes to preparing for a professional career, competing has definitely helped a lot.

"I remember being part of one of the Urdd’s drama productions where I played Now in the play Y Ffin by Gwenlyn Parry.

“Helen Jenkins and I performed together, and we had quite the success. When I think back on all the practices, the collaboration and the teamwork that goes into preparing for a competition, it’s as important as the competing itself and it’s paying off now because I know the importance of preparing thoroughly before doing anything.”

On being chosen as President of the Day, she said: “Being President of the Urdd Eisteddfod is something that means a lot to me.

"I was delighted when asked. I have a long relationship with the Urdd having been a member as a child when I was a pupil at Ysgol Coed y Gof in Cardiff, at Ysgol Bethlehem and then Ysgol Gyfun Bro Myrddin.

“I’ve also been lucky enough to be part of the Eisteddfod yr Urdd S4C broadcasting team for years, and it’s so rewarding to b a part of it and seeing the festival develop.

"Also, seeing young people grow up and seeing them go on to have successful careers in different fields.

"I have three children; all are members of the Urdd have had great experiences with the organisation on so many levels – socially, competitively, visiting the residential centres and taking part in sporting activities.

“The fact that I get to be president in my local area, here in Carmarthenshire, is so special. It’s an opportunity to show my appreciation to the area which has given me so much ever since I was a little girl growing up here."

The Urdd Eisteddfod in Llandovery is being held on the Maes until Saturday, June 3.