Celebrated musician Jean Hywel Williams confirmed as crash victim

Press statement from the family of Jean Hywel Williams.
5pm Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Released by Robert Lloyd 07777 683637 rlloydpr@btinternet.com
Please respect the family’s privacy at this stage. Any queries to Robert Lloyd.

The family of celebrated musician Jean Hywel Williams confirmed this afternoon that the pianist died following a tragic road accident in Llanelli town centre on Saturday night.
The accident happened shortly after Jean Hywel and her husband John Hywel Williams had completed a successful VE Day concert at St Elli Parish Church.
“As a family, we are shocked and stunned by the tragedy,” said Jean and John’s son Jeremy.
“We are still trying to understand what went wrong.
“She was an inspirational teacher and an outstanding teacher. Her legacy is all around us in the singers of the Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boy Singers and the Llanelli Choral Society
“Even at this early stage, as the news of her death is released, we have been overwhelmed with the messages of condolence and many sincere and deeply-felt tributes which have arrived at the family home.”
Jeremy had been with his mother and father until a few minutes before the accident.
John Hywel Williams was driving his BMW car at the time, with Jean Hywel as the front seat passenger.
John received suspected broken ribs in the accident and is currently receiving treatment at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen.
John had parked his car in the pedestrianised area of Bridge Street between Llanelly House and the Parish Church, as was his custom for performances at St Elli’s.
Jeremy said: “The concert was a fun old night and everyone left the show in bubbly post-concert mood, as is usually the case for a John Hywel concert.
“Obviously, the exact cause of the accident is to be determined.
“My mother died at the scene.
“The emergency services responded quickly and very professionally, but there was nothing that could be done.”
It has been a difficult couple of months for the family.
Jean Hywel’s twin sister Joan died six weeks ago and her brother, the Rev Eric Davies, died just over a week ago.
Jeremy added: “If there was a suggestion that mum should have missed the VE Day concert following the bereavements, it was brushed aside. She was a firm believer in the maxim that ‘the show must go on’.
“Mum was a wonderful musician with a passion for teaching.”

Other information about Jean Hywel (taken from an earlier biog)
Jean Hywel LRAM, LLCM, ALCM
Jean Hywel is a consummate and expert professional as both pianist and teacher, bringing together international concert and broadcast experience, pianoforte technique and personal development into the teaching environment.
A Licentiate of both the Royal Academy of Music and the London College of Music, Jean Hywel has enjoyed a distinguished career in pianoforte with countless performances and television and radio broadcasts in this country and abroad – spanning the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, USA, Canada, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Belgium, The Netherlands to name but a few.
This experience, together with the diversity of working with an unequalled breadth of artists brings valued experience to her teachings.
With sensitivity, nurturing and a passion for teaching, Jean Hywel introduces and reintroduces both children and adults to the joys, skills and therapeutic benefits of piano playing and music theory. Many pupils have been able to enjoy and be inspired by her many performances.
Jean Hywel is passionate for the development of young people and their involvement in music and the performing arts. This is much reflected by her lifelong commitment to young people and associated charitable organisations. Jean Hywel is the resident pianist to both the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers and also the Llanelli Choral Society and a founding Trustee of the Hywel Williams Foundation, a charitable foundation with the mission to help and support the health, well being, education and creative development of young people.

Extract from South Wales Evening Post website story -
A spokeswoman for Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service said: "Two fire crews from Llanelli attended."
They were called out at 10.56pm and were at the scene for nearly an hour.
Only one vehicle was involved in the accident and Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
Operations Inspector Richard Janas said: "The Dyfed-Powys Roads Policing Unit is appealing for witnesses to a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on Saturday night, One elderly occupant of the vehicle involved in the collision suffered fatal injuries whilst the other was taken to hospital for treatment."
Anyone with information should contact police on 101.