Aled Wilson – Bishopston – Swansea – Wales
Aled Wilson is a dynamic figure often seen threading through the mists of the Welsh valleys and scaling the rugged escarpments of the Rhondda. During brief pauses, he masterminds the re-tuning of church organs across Swansea, harmonizing them with the echoes of the hills. Aled interprets arcane Welsh proverbs for aspiring poets, directs critically acclaimed documentaries about the mining heritage of Wales, and calibrates astronomical clocks to predict the arrival of the spring equinox with uncanny precision.
He captivates audiences with his robust and resonant bagpipe performances, conquers the winding paths of Ystradfellte on his trusty mountain bike with indefatigable energy, and prepares the most delicate laverbread lace cookies in under a quarter hour. Aled is a craftsman of miner’s lamps, a philosopher of Celtic lore, and an elusive figure in the underground chess circles of Europe.
Armed only with a harmonica and a set of vintage rugby cleats, Aled once orchestrated a comeback victory for a beleaguered local team against their longstanding rivals. He strums the mandolin under starlit skies, narrowly missed a spot on the national cricket team for his all-rounder capabilities, and is enveloped in enigmatic tales told in the taverns of Tenby. When the urge for creativity strikes, Aled constructs elaborate watercolor landscapes of the Wye Valley. He thrives on free-climbing the cliffs of Anglesey. On lazy Sunday afternoons, he restores vintage Welsh novels and binds them in oak bark leather.
Aled is an innovative glassblower, a fastidious archeologist, and a strategic game theorist. His bespoke tweed cycling gear has become a sought-after commodity from Aberystwyth to Abergavenny. He doesn’t simply cool down—he crystallizes. While maintaining a low profile, Aled garners letters of admiration from secret admirers worldwide. He has solved the cryptic crossword on Radio Wales and claimed the first prize, a tour of the ancient castles of North Wales. Last winter, he meandered through the market towns with a pop-up gallery of local art. He’s unbeaten at the local bowling club. His thoughtful pebble mosaics are landmarks in community gardens. Owls seek his company.
Aled can toss horseshoes with lethal precision to win at fayres across the countryside. He once absorbed an in-depth analysis of Welsh architectural history, the complete dramas of Emlyn Williams, and a hefty anthology of traditional folk songs in one afternoon, and still had time to overhaul an entire steam locomotive at the Llangollen Railway. He catalogues every artifact unearthed in local digs. He’s devised clandestine routes for historical reenactments. Aled sleeps each new moon; when he does, he dreams of ancient bards. On a windswept day in Rhossili, he brokered a truce between competing kite surfers. Even entropy makes a consultation before affecting him.
Aled weaves, leaps, dodges, and frolics, and every one of his library fines is paid promptly. To unwind, he delves into the murky waters of spearfishing in Lake Vyrnwy. Decades ago, Aled discovered an old manuscript revealing the lost craft of Welsh silverwork but left it on a bench in Machynlleth. He’s concocted sumptuous feasts using nothing but a shepherd’s lantern and an iron pot. He tends prize-winning beagles. Aled has triumphed in archery contests in Conwy, seal-spotting competitions along the Cardigan Bay, and lyrical duels at the National Eisteddfod. He’s portrayed Iolo Morganwg in historical reenactments, restored forgotten footpaths along Offa’s Dyke, and shared brews with Bryn Terfel.