Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
Historian of Wales & the UK. Books include: Aberfan, Wales since 1939, England's Colony?, Welsh Not, Christmas & the British, History of sport in Wales.
History
43%
Political science
30%
Pinned
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Nov 13
My book 'Welsh Not' is now out. It explores both the perception and treatment of language in 19th-century education & the wider reasons for linguistic change in Wales.
£20 in paperback or a free pdf here: uwp.co.uk/app/uploads/...
£20 in paperback or a free pdf here: uwp.co.uk/app/uploads/...
Reposted by Martin Johnes
Britain sliding 'into economic crisis' over £85bn sickness bill, ex-John Lewis boss warns
The number of people who are out of work for health reasons has grown by 800,000 since 2019.
www.bbc.co.uk
If Britain is 'sliding "into economic crisis over £85bn sickness bill', what can UK Arts, Humanities & Social Science research tell us about alternative pathways?
Swansea University historians have some excellent answers. 1/4
@torstenbell.bsky.social @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
Swansea University historians have some excellent answers. 1/4
@torstenbell.bsky.social @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
A two-track REF 2029, seen as increasingly likely prospect, "could create a two-tier research ecosystem with major long-term—and unnecessary—negative consequences", one sector body warns.
@francesjones.bsky.social @fionamcintyre.bsky.social report www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
@francesjones.bsky.social @fionamcintyre.bsky.social report www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Fears mount over looming ‘twin-track’ REF - Research Professional News
Model under which some institutions would not need to submit returns seen as gaining ground
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
Wales really should just opt out of REF. There are far easier, and considerably cheaper, ways of distributing QR funding.
Reposted by Margot C. Finn, Martin Johnes
Fears mount over looming ‘twin-track’ REF - Research Professional News
Model under which some institutions would not need to submit returns seen as gaining ground
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
A two-track REF 2029, seen as increasingly likely prospect, "could create a two-tier research ecosystem with major long-term—and unnecessary—negative consequences", one sector body warns.
@francesjones.bsky.social @fionamcintyre.bsky.social report www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
@francesjones.bsky.social @fionamcintyre.bsky.social report www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Reposted by Martin Johnes
There is idirection at GCSE level but it's done in a way that actually discourages the study of modern Wales. Abolishing the requirement to study medieval, early modern and modern options would be an easy fix.
Welsh historian calls for urgent overhaul of GCSE history qualification
Emily Price Welsh history is being sidelined in secondary schools and a complete overhaul of Wales’ GCSE history qualification is urgently needed, a prominent historian has warned. Dr Huw Griffiths ...
search.app
A fair critique here. And one that's been made before but no one in government seems to want to listen. The Curriculum for Wales requires Welah history to be taught at all levels but never specifies what that means in practice. It needs to be far more directive.
Keir Starmer take note: the way to defeat Reform is not by adopting their policies and rhetoric. #Caerphilly
I know it's pedantic but 21 Oct 1965 was the date the reservoir was officially opened and not the date of the flooding, which was a gradual process. Given 21 October is also the date of the Aberfan disaster, it is probably better that a different date is used to mark the loss of Capel Celyn.
It's a bit bizarre of the author to think that universities have copied Plaid's manifesto. What almost certainly happened was that Plaid asked universities what needed to be done and then made that policy.
CPD and Training for Teachers
Take advantage of our special events, CPD, and training opportunities for teachers.
www.iwm.org.uk
CPD event on the Second World War and Empire for teachers. Travel and accommodation bursaries are available and they're keen to have teachers from Wales there.
www.iwm.org.uk/learning/tea...
www.iwm.org.uk/learning/tea...
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Sep 19
I was there (I think!).
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Sep 18
I'm a big fan of Robert Harris' historical novels but the idea that this would have happened in a 1914 Anglesey pub is silly.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Sep 17
Welsh National Identity and the Second World War - The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Professor Martin Johnes
www.cymmrodorion.org
I'm giving a talk in London on Wales and the Second World War next week: www.cymmrodorion.org/talk/welsh-n...
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Sep 17
Please don't use the phrase Welsh DNA. Being Welsh is something you feel. Arguing it's genetic is for the likes of Tommy Robinson.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Sep 12
I assume that's key, plus a general shift away from all languages.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Sep 12
British Academy Report Shows Cold Spots In SHAPE Provision
With more students than ever studying at local universities, a recent report published by the British Academy shows growing cuts of humanities, social sciences, and arts degree programmes in rural,…
university-council-for-languages.org
New research from the British Academy on declining arts & humanities provision in universities. Amongst its findings, is the fact that the number of students studying Welsh as a degree has fallen by 61% since 2011.
university-council-for-languages.org/2025/09/12/b...
university-council-for-languages.org/2025/09/12/b...
Humbug and a ‘Welsh Hindoo’: A Small History of Begging, Race and Language in Mid-nineteenth Century Liverpool
Abstract. In 1849, a Liverpool newspaper printed a letter about an encounter with a lascar who was selling hymn sheets. The same newspaper had recently rep
academic.oup.com
Here's the story of a Victorian Welshman who pretended to be Indian in order to make more money begging academic.oup.com/jvc/article-...
You seem to be running a lot of anti-renewable energy articles these days. How about something on the climate crisis or the potential for green energy to be a driver for economic renewal (provided it's locally/Welsh owned)?
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Aug 27
Labour could change the news agenda entirely by announcing referendums on PR and Europe. It could be brave and return to its values. Or it can carry on dancing to whatever tune Farage and the media plays and thus play a part in destroying the UK.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Aug 18
Here's what I was thinking of. Same year but earlier tnan Merthyr.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Aug 16
I was going to write a blog about this so looked for references in the digitised press. I seem to remember the claim that merthyr was first isn't actually in Gwyn alf's merthyr book. I may have misremembered that though.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Aug 16
There's a press reference to it being used by farmers in south of Englamd before Merthyr. Can't remember details of the top of my head!
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Aug 12
Future generations will be much happier dealing with some concrete than with a planet half destroyed by climate change.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Jul 30
There's a biography by John Harding. It must be 30 years old though.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Jul 30
Born #OTD in 1874 in Chirk: Billy Meredith (cap #161)
Described as the 'football wonder of all time', 'Old Skinny' was selected 60 times to represent Cymru, but club commitments limited him to 48 caps - a Welsh record until 1962. Was 45 when he won his last cap
Instrumental in founding the PFA
Described as the 'football wonder of all time', 'Old Skinny' was selected 60 times to represent Cymru, but club commitments limited him to 48 caps - a Welsh record until 1962. Was 45 when he won his last cap
Instrumental in founding the PFA
Also an ex-miner, banned for a year for attempted match fixing, ran a pub and starred in a movie. Someone should make a film about his life.
Reposted by Martin Johnes
Born #OTD in 1874 in Chirk: Billy Meredith (cap #161)
Described as the 'football wonder of all time', 'Old Skinny' was selected 60 times to represent Cymru, but club commitments limited him to 48 caps - a Welsh record until 1962. Was 45 when he won his last cap
Instrumental in founding the PFA
Described as the 'football wonder of all time', 'Old Skinny' was selected 60 times to represent Cymru, but club commitments limited him to 48 caps - a Welsh record until 1962. Was 45 when he won his last cap
Instrumental in founding the PFA
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Jul 11
Newspaper ad for Michael Jackson at Cardiff Arms Park 1988.
Martin Johnes
@martinjohnes.bsky.social
· Jul 11
Two young Welsh bands that deserve showcasing and celebration are Half Happy and The Stray Pursuit.