Popular Welsh actor Wynford Ellis Owen’s first ever English language book, No Room to Live, was launched last night at The Temple of Peace, Cardiff. Written as a self-help book, it’s hard-hitting and thought-provoking, poignant yet suitably sobering.
Hosting the launch was popular TV presenter Angharad Mair while actors Mark Lewis Jones, whose TV appearances include 55 Degrees North, Bench and Con Passionate, and John Pierce Jones, famous for playing Mr Picton in S4C’s C’mon Midffild read passages from the book. Musical entertainment was provided by violinist Heulwen Thomas and The Bethlehem Chapel Quartet.
It was his successful Welsh language autobiography, Raslas Bach a Mawr, published in 2005, which gave Ellis Owen the initial idea to adapt the publication for an English audience. However No Room to Live has since developed to be far more than an autobiography of the actor’s life and his personal battle with alcoholism.
As chief executive of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs and a qualified addictions councillor, Ellis Owen has turned his experiences around and in doing so he saw the need for a self-help book with a difference. No Room to Live took shape and it will be essential reading for people and families struggling to cope with the plague of modern day society – alcoholism and dependency on drugs in its many guises.
A self-help book it may be, but given Ellis Owen’s engaging narrative style, it makes compelling reading. The narrative is based on anecdotes - some comical, some serious – influenced by the author’s own experiences. As a well-known and respected actor, Ellis Owen’s addiction to alcohol shook the foundations of Welsh society, especially for those who associated him as the character Syr Wynff ap Concord y Bos in the ground-breaking children’s TV programme, Teliffant, of the 1970s.
No Room to Live will retail at £11.95, with all proceeds being donated to a new charity established by the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, called The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd. This brand new charitable venture aims to set up a free, bilingual day-care rehabilitation centre in the capital to help people break the cycle of addiction. In time, the service will be extended to all major towns throughout Wales.
Ellis Owen’s success in beating his addiction and regaining his reputation in Welsh life, both on and off screen, put him in a unique position to write this self-help book.
Ellis Owen explains, “Alcoholism and dependency on drugs, both prescription and illicit, ruin lives. It’s a slippery slope into despair and despondency. You risk losing everything, your self-respect, your home, your family. I know because I’ve been there. My book, No Room to Live, focuses on how to regain control of life and find happiness once again.
“The road to recovery is not an easy one. It requires determination and commitment, strength and support. My book is one of many tools available to people to help them rebuild their lives. There is a range of support organisations out there too, including the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs. So while life for sufferers might seem a lonely and depressing place, there is hope, comfort and support.
“I’m delighted to reveal that all proceeds from my book will be donated towards setting up a free, bilingual day-care rehabilitation centre in Cardiff. The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd, will offer help for anyone experiencing difficulties relating to alcohol, drugs (prescribed or illicit), or any other dependency, such as eating disorders, love and sex addiction, gambling and self-harm. My book is intended, therefore, to help others to rebuild their lives.”
Actor Mark Lewis Jones commented, “It was a pleasure to support my fellow actor Wynford Ellis Owen as he launched his first ever English language book and an honour for me to be reading passages from his work at the event.
“No Room to Live depicts Wynford’s recovery from alcoholism and tells of his struggle to face his demons. It is written as a self-help book and I’m sure it will be an inspiration to others who find themselves trapped to an addiction of one kind or another. The book is testament to the fact that there is light and hope at the end of the tunnel.”
Actor John Pierce Jones, added, “It takes great courage to write a book like this and I was delighted to support Wynford as he launched No Room to Live. It’s an absorbing account of Wynford’s journey from addiction to recovery, told with warmth and humour.
“The book is positive and inspiring, and makes recovery a reality for even more people across the UK and beyond. It reaches out to alcoholics, addicts, their families and provides them with new hope that there is a way out of one of the most invidious illnesses known to mankind.”
From May 2010, the publication No Room to Live will be available to purchase directly from the Council, via their website www.welshcouncil.org.uk, and from www.gwales.com.
ENDS
For further information please contact Rhodri Ellis Owen at Cambrensis Communications on 029 2025 7075 or rhodri@cambrensis.uk.com or go to www.welshcouncil.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
*The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd, is based on the ‘Living Room’ concept operational at 8 - 10 The Glebe, Chills Way, Stevenage SG2 0DJ. A registered charity: No. 1080634, more information can be accessed at www.thelivingroom.me.uk. Janis Feely (its Director and Founder) will advise, act as consultant to the Cardiff venture, and be responsible for all staff training.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment