Huw Edwards talks about what St David's Day means to him

Huw Edwards, the Bridgend born BBC news presenter believes St David’s Day is very simple, it’s about a celebration of being Welsh and it is a reminder that we should be proud of our national identity.

Mr Edwards, who graduated from Cardiff University in 1983 said: “We are Welsh regardless of the language we speak and we celebrate our identity wherever we are.”

For the president of the London Welsh society his memories of St David’s Day at school were full of excitement. He said: “When I was a kid I think it was the biggest school event of the year. I remember I was always reciting or singing, and I definitely can’t sing!”

He remembers it also as the most competitive day of the year, with boys and girls trying to bring in the biggest leeks from their gardens. “These were real leeks too,” he emphasised, “not the fake things you see around these days.”

He admitted as he grew up and went through the higher stages of education, less and less attention was put on the Welsh day. He said: "In Uni it was really just an excuse for a booze up!

“If I had any power at all I would encourage all secondary schools to celebrate the day.”

But he stays firm to the fact that in all cities there is no bigger Welsh event but there are still many people who do not know about the patron saint of Wales. He said: “It’s an interesting question, of what St David’s profile is today. I think he is quite a nebulous figure. I’ve addressed lots of societies over the last twenty years and many people do not know the story which is a bit of a shame”

“I still feel very happy to explain to people why St David is important to Welsh people. He’s a person we should feel proud of and he gave us the best quote, ‘do the little things’.”