Published Writing
My historical writing, commentary and letters have appeared in Welsh and national publications including Nation.Cymru, The Guardian, The Times, ConservativeHome and The i Paper.
The selection below brings together externally published work on Welsh history, rural culture, national identity and public life. Historical and cultural writing is presented first, reflecting the principal direction of my research and publication.
Published in
Nation.Cymru · The Guardian · The Times · The i Paper · ConservativeHome
My Welsh family-history research has also been featured in Who Do You Think You Are? magazine. Further press and media coverage is collected on the Media & Speaking page.
Selected Historical Writing
These pieces most closely reflect my work as a historian of Wales, rural communities, Nonconformity and cultural memory.
“A church of the people: how the rules of discipline shaped rural Wales”
Nation.Cymru · July 2025
An examination of the rules of discipline maintained by Welsh Nonconformist chapels and their influence upon personal conduct, community expectations and the moral culture of rural Wales.
“Monks Trod: safeguarding the soul of Wales’ upland culture”
Nation.Cymru · June 2025
An account of the historic Monks Trod between Strata Florida and Abbey Cwmhir, and an argument for protecting the route as part of the cultural landscape of rural Wales.
“Why the world still ignores Owain Glyndŵr”
Nation.Cymru · July 2025
An examination of Owain Glyndŵr’s limited place in international popular culture and what his comparative neglect reveals about the wider representation of Welsh history.
“Edward didn’t conquer Wales, we let him”
Nation.Cymru · July 2025
A reconsideration of Edward I’s conquest of Wales, arguing that internal division, competing loyalties and the conduct of the native elite were central to the collapse of independent Welsh rule.
Welsh History, Heritage and Cultural Identity
“The quiet miracle of our Senedd: a nation’s long vigil fulfilled”
Nation.Cymru · July 2025
A reflection on the development of Welsh democracy, placing the Senedd within the longer history of national consciousness, Nonconformist civic culture and the campaign for political representation.
Selected Commentary on Welsh and Public Life
Alongside my historical work, I have published occasional commentary on Welsh politics, institutions and contemporary public debate.
“Why Reform UK isn’t good for Wales: a stark wake-up call”
Nation.Cymru · July 2025
An analysis of Reform UK’s appeal and its implications for Wales, examining political disillusionment, devolution and competing conceptions of the United Kingdom.
“The Age of the Keyboard Warrior: How Online Lies Are Silencing Truth in Wales”
Nation.Cymru · July 2025
A commentary on misinformation, online intimidation and political tribalism, considering how hostile digital debate can discourage informed participation in Welsh public life.
“Badenoch is Finding Her Stride, and Reform’s Theatre is a Gift to the Conservatives”
ConservativeHome · February 2026
An assessment of contrasting political styles and the argument that discipline and seriousness may prove more durable than political spectacle.
“The Rise of Reform is Driven by Voter Despair, Conservatives Must Find an Answer”
ConservativeHome · August 2025
An analysis of the economic insecurity, political alienation and cultural frustration contributing to Reform UK’s rise, with particular consideration of Wales.
National Media and Letters
“I’m 47 and work full time, but still can’t afford to pay into a pension”
The i Paper · August 2025
Editorial note: the published headline misstated my age. I was 43 when the feature appeared.
A contribution to a feature on retirement insecurity among working people, drawing on experience of low-paid employment, redundancy and the difficulty of maintaining regular pension contributions while meeting immediate living costs.
“School uniform costs are forcing parents to skip meals, this must stop”
The Guardian · August 2025
A published letter responding to evidence that some parents were going without food to meet school-uniform costs, arguing that reuse schemes can help but are undermined by unnecessary changes to logos and approved designs.
“Britain must acclimatise to heatwaves, and fast”
The Guardian · June 2025
A published letter arguing that periods of extreme heat should be treated as an increasingly regular public-policy challenge requiring practical adaptation in buildings, workplaces and public services.
“Iran and the prospect of regime change”
The Times · June 2025
A published letter considering the uncertainties surrounding externally encouraged regime change in Iran and warning against assuming that removing an established government necessarily produces a stable or liberal successor.
Third Sector Commentary
My longer commentary on charity retail, reuse, Phoenix Community Furniture, organisational culture and voluntary-sector governance is collected in a dedicated subject guide, including work published on LinkedIn and this website.
Explore More
For longer-form historical work published on this site, explore my essays and books. Press coverage and features about my research are collected separately under Media & Speaking.
Last reviewed: 25 August 2026.