The Writers of Wales Database

HUGHES, DAVID

2 Richmond Road, Uplands, Swansea SA2 0RB
Tel: 01792 465762
Email: Davthughes@hotmail.co.uk  
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Poet. David was born in Bargoed, although he has spent most of his life living in Swansea. He trained as a teacher at Trinity College, Carmarthen and taught in the West Midlands and Swansea for five years before becoming a social worker. David worked for social services in West Glamorgan, Dyfed and Swansea for 32 years specialising in mental health and adult protection. He retired in 2007.

His poetry has appeared extensively, including in Celyn, Planet, Poetry Wales, Radical Wales, Swagmag, Symbols and The Western Mail. David's poems have also been published in anthologies from Heinemann, Alun Books, Parthian and Seren. His collection Tidy Boy (Swansea Poetry Workshop, 1998) won the Harri Webb prize in 1999.

Reviews:
With respect to Tidy Boy (Swansea Poetry Workshop 1998):

”…he is at his best in his terse acerbic, satirical poems…here is a poet of wit and passion…”
Meic Stephens, The Western Mail

“…Hughes’ dialect poems are his best…The accurate speech patterns present image, action, motivation and aftermath. This is beautifully concise..”
Malcolm Lewis, Planet


Selected Publications:
Tidy Boy (Swansea Poetry Workshop, 1998)

Contributed to:
Love is a Four Letter Word (co-writer) (Lovebards Press, 1988)
The Streets and the Stars (contributor) (Seren, 1995)
A Swansea Anthology (contributor) (Seren, 1996)
Over Milkwood (contributor) (Alun Books, 2000)
Fifty Strong (contributor) (Heinemann, 2005)
Poetry 1900-2000 (contributor) (Parthian, 2007)