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Martin Johnes

@martinjohnes.bsky.social

1.2K followers 270 following 100 posts

Historian of Wales & the UK. Books include: Aberfan, Wales since 1939, England's Colony?, Welsh Not, Christmas & the British, History of sport in Wales.

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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/...

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · 21d

I was there (I think!).

Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · 21d

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.

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · 23d

I'm giving a talk in London on Wales and the Second World War next week: www.cymmrodorion.org/talk/welsh-n...

Welsh National Identity and the Second World War - The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion

Professor Martin Johnes

www.cymmrodorion.org

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · 23d

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 · 27d

I assume that's key, plus a general shift away from all languages.

Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · 27d

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...

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

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Sep 8

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-...

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

Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Sep 5

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.

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Aug 18

Here's what I was thinking of. Same year but earlier tnan Merthyr.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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.

Podcast Pêl-droed @podcastpeldroed.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

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Jul 11

Newspaper ad for Michael Jackson at Cardiff Arms Park 1988.

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Jul 11

Two young Welsh bands that deserve showcasing and celebration are Half Happy and The Stray Pursuit.

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Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Jul 2

Big thanks to Neath Port Talbot Stroke Group for welcoming me this morning and listening to a talk on Wales and the Second World War. A public engagement activity enabled by @ukri.org supporting the humanities.

Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Jul 2

My book Wales since 1939 is half price (£10) at the moment. Enter SUN50 on the checkout page. manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9780719086670/

Manchester University Press - Wales since 1939

Wales since 1939 - Browse and buy the Paperback edition of Wales since 1939 by Martin Johnes

manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk

Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Jun 30

David Lloyd George appeals to Wales' military history in a 1914 speech to his "fellow-countrymen" about the role he felt they should be playing in the Great War.

Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Jun 28

Watching the Welsh rain out the window while London radio advises me how to stay cool in the heat wave.

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Reposted by Martin Johnes

Will Hayward - Wales Journo @willhaycardiff.bsky.social · Jun 27

Around 3/4 of people don’t want Reform in power.

But the narrative is that they are unstoppable.

First-past-the-post has warped British politics for far too long.

Now it risks letting the extreme right win a majority.

It needs to go. My latest guardian column:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Here is the single thing Labour can do to see off Reform and make British politics work | Will Hayward

Farage’s party could win 42% of Commons seats with only 26% of the vote. That’s not the way civilised countries do democracy, says Guardian columnist Will Hayward

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Martin Johnes

Sporting Heritage CIC @sportingheritage.bsky.social · Jun 18

#SportAndFashion month is a great opportunity to examine the history of your sports through its sportswear.

Here Martin Johnes considers the significance of the 1970's Admiral Shirt in Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 football. Can you suggest similar iconic sportswear moments?
martinjohnes.com/2024/02/27/a...

A brief history of Welsh football through the 1970s Admiral Shirt

Image credit: The Welsh Football Collection, Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives. This cotton Wales football shirt was worn by Nick Deacy of PSV Eindhoven in an under 21s international mat…

martinjohnes.com

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Reposted by Martin Johnes

Martin Johnes @martinjohnes.bsky.social · Jun 17

I'm always happy to give talks to secondary schools. If you'd like a talk about Welsh history or studying history just let me know.

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Reposted by Martin Johnes

Lucie Matthews-Jones @luciejones83.bsky.social · Jun 23

#skyhistorians We are happy to announce our Cardiff (29/07), Liverpool (14/08) and Online (18/09) workshops for our Divergent Minds in the Archive project. We are looking for all ND archive users to sign up and tell us more about your experiences. More info on the posters. Links in next messages.

Ydych chi'n ymchwilydd niwroamrywiol (yn y DU) sydd wedi defnyddio archifau yn eich gwaith?
Neu'n weithiwr proffesiynol mewn archif, llyfrgell neu â chasgliadau a fyddain hoffi goleuo
trafodaethau ar fynediad defnyddwyr niwroamrywiol? Neu'n weithiwr niwroamrywiol mewn archif
Ilyfrgell, neu â chasgliadau sy'n gallu cynnig mewnwelediadau i hygyrchedd?
Fel rhan o'r prosiect a ariennir gan EDI Caucus 'Divergent Minds in the Archive', byddwn ni, grip
• academyddion dyniaethau niwroamrywiol, yn cynnal cyfres o weithdai ymchwil a chyfnewid gwybodaeth mewn archifau ledled y DU, ac ar-lein, yn haf 2025. Bydd y gweithdai hyn yn dod â
defnyddwyr archifau a gweithwyr proffesiynol ynghyd i rannu profiadau am archifau, nodi rhwystrau
posibl i ddefnyddwyr niwroamrywiol, ac ail-ddychmygu'n greadigol gofodau archifol trwy wneud
gronau.
Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn recriwtio cyfranogwyr ar gyfer y gweithdai canlynol, iw cynnal gan:
• Archifau Morgannwg, Caerdydd. Dydd Mawrth, 29 Gorffennaf, 10am-4.15pm.
https://forms.office.com/e/u6UfZxv8Yh
• Swyddfa Cofnodion Lerpwl, Dydd lau, 14 Awst, 10am-4.15pm.
https://forms.office.com/e/7yP8u4hj2B
• Cyngor yr Alban ar Archifau, Ar-lein, 18 Medi, 10.30am-2.30pm.
https://forms.office.com/e/LvBsU4uJ9n
Gallwn ariannu costau teithio cyfyngedig i gyfranogwyr i weithdai personol, gan gynnwys teithio gweithwyr cymorth a llety dros nos lle bo angen. Gwnewch gais am un gweithdy personol yn unig.
Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau yw dydd Sul 29ain Mehefin am hanner nos.
Os na allwch chi ddod ir digwyddiadau yma, ond fe hoffech glywed mwy am y prosiect, cofrestrwch
i fod ar ein rhestr gohebiaeth am fwy o wybodaeth yn y man.
Mae croeso i chi gysylltu gyda chwestiynau pellach trwy divergentmindsarchive@gmail.com.
Mae'r prosiect yn cael ei arwain gan Dr Ria Cheyne. Ein partneriaid yw Archifau Morgannwg,
Archifau Gwent, History UK, Amgueddfeydd Rhyfel Ymerodrol, Archifdy Lerpwl, Cyngor
Archifau'r Alban, ac Archifau Tyne and Wear.

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