VALENTINE’S Day may well be a few weeks away, but two council employees are getting a lot of love for a valiant rescue of one stranded Powys resident during the recent snowy period.

Powys County Council highway workers Dai and Dewi bravely fought the frigid conditions earlier this week to rescue a driver who had slid off a treacherous stretch of the road near Llandrindod Wells.

And the brave act did actually take place on the Welsh version of Valetine’s Day, St Dwynwen’s Day – or Dydd Santes Dwynwen – which champions love and lovers, and is celebrated every year on January 25.

Powys County Council's Highways, Transport and Recycling Service posted pictures of the two “knights in shining armour”, who had come to the rescue of the “damsel in distress” – a heart-warming story on a day synonymous with love.

“Appropriate for Saint Dwynwen’s Day that our ‘knights in shining armour' Dai and Dewi, from Llangammarch Wells’ highways depot, were passing by,” read a post on the highways’ Facebook page.

“When a young 'damsel in distress' slid off the road into a ditch near Llandrindod Wells, these guys stopped to push her out.”

The tale of St Dwynwen’s Day

There is actually a heart-breaking love story behind this cherished saint, who holds a special place in Welsh hearts – and which traces its roots to Powys too.

The daughter of legendary king Brychan Brycheiniog who ruled Brycheiniog (Breconshire), Dwynwen was a 5th-century princess, whose tragic experience in love led her to dedicate her life to god, and lovers everywhere.

The tale has been handed down the generations, with most versions revolving around Dwynwen’s failed romance with a man or prince called Maelon Dafodrill.

Dwynwen was said to be the prettiest of King Brychan’s 24 daughters and her father had arranged a marriage for her. Dwynwen, however, had fallen in love with Maelon Dafodrill and wanted to marry him instead.

When Brychan said no to the union a distraught Dwynwen fled to the woods where she prayed to God for help. In her moment of desperation an angel appeared and gave Dwynwen a sweet potion that would help her forget her love for Maelon, but the moment she drank it he was turned into a block of ice.

God then granted the devoted Dwynwen three wishes – the first was that Maelon would be thawed; the second for God to help all true lovers; the third that she would never marry.

In thanks, Dwynwen dedicated the rest of her life to his service and became a nun, thus never marrying. 

She retreated to North Wales and set up a convent on a remote corner of Anglesey. Ynys Llanddwyn is a small tidal island off the west coast of Anglesey where Dwynwen is believed to have spent her life, and where she is buried. 

You can still visit the ruins of St Dwynwen’s Church, which is believed to have been built on the site of Dwynwen’s convent.

There is also Dwynwen’s Well, which, according to legend, can predict whether your romantic relationship will be a success or failure. Not so romantic, this prediction is based on the behaviour of eels that apparently live in the well.