Gŵyl Oswallt: Simon Brooks

Simon Brooks is a multi-disciplinary scholar who specialises in language planning as well as the history of Welsh-language culture. Books published include Why Wales Never Was (2017), and the prize-winning Hanes Cymry (2021), a history of ethnic diversity within Welsh-speaking communities.

He is currently writing the history of the Welsh in England, which features Oswestry and its unique bilingual culture.

Simon also advises the Welsh Government on Welsh-language policy. He is the author of the independent report, Second homes: developing new policies in Wales, which underpins much government policy in the field. He chaired the Commission for Welsh-speaking communities on behalf of the Welsh Government.