This week is the hundredth anniversary of the death of Daniel James. Daniel James was a poet and hymn writer, but he is far better known by his bardic name, Gwyrosydd. Whilst being a prolific hymn writer, he is best known for composing the words of Calon Lân, which is normally sung to a tune written by John Hughes who was from Ynystawe in Swansea.

He was both born and buried in Swansea. He was a member of Mynyddbach chapel, the mother church for the Independent movement in Swansea, which now has the Calon Lân Centre attached to it. He started work in the Morriston ironworks as a puddler and he later worked in Landore tinplate works. In his middle age, the Landore works closed, and he found work successively at Tredegar, Dowlais, Blaengarw, and eventually in Mountain Ash, spending 15 years in one of Nixon's collieries, and finally, whilst in failing health, working for the local authority.

Much of his verse was unassuming and very popular, appearing first in periodicals and newspapers. He would also write a poem for a pint at the King's Head in Treboeth—perhaps the original 'poems and pints'. There has been a memorial tablet in Treboeth Public Hall since 1936, and a more recent one has been installed in Caersalem Newydd in Treboeth. The Calon Lân Society in Swansea have held several events and will be installing stained glass windows in the local school to commemorate the life of Daniel James, an ordinary working man with exceptional talent whose hymn, Calon Lân is the best-loved Welsh hymn.