A journalist is to be admitted to the renowned Ovate Order at the National Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire next month.

The honour for Dafydd Norman Jones, who retired from the Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald, has come from the Gorsedd of Bards, which has recognised his career as a writer and his contribution to the annual cultural event.

To Welsh people, the award is seen as being on a par with New Year and Birthday Honours from the Queen.

The ceremony will involve him wearing the green robes of honour at the Eisteddfod in St David's.

He was a full-time journalist for 47 years, starting with Y Cymro, then the North Wales Weekly News and later the Bangor and Anglesey Mail, before moving to the Caernarfon paper. He still writes for the Herald group from time to time.

The Eisteddfod is unique throughout Europe, and is the largest and oldest celebration of Welsh culture, each year visiting a different area of Wales.

The National Eisteddfod of Wales 2002 takes place at Pembrokeshire, St Davids, between August 3 and 10.

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