I am completely devestated, I can’t really believe we have lost such a vibrant advocate for Welsh. She was probably my first SSIW friend. Having spent two years learning by myself listening to Aran and Catrin as I drove up and down to work, I plucked up the courage to go on a bootcamp. The one in Caernarfon. I was terrified, I knew no one, I didn’t even know what Aran and Catrin looked like! What on earth was I doing taking a week off work to spend it with 10 strangers in Caernarfon in a language that I was decidedly dodgy in. And…I ended up sharing a room with Liz. She was so supported and so caring. When we went to find our rooms she could see that I was worried and just threw her arms round me and said ‘paid a phoeni, bydd popeth yn iawn’ and of course it was. She never once turned to English even though no one would have know. When I woke in the night she asked in Welsh if I was ok.
She didn’t realise to start with how close we live to Sycharth and Pennant Melangell so when she came back to following year to do research she stayed for a week. We had lots of adventures and lots of misunderstandings because she would only speak to me in Welsh. I remember going to the local flower and produce show with her. A friend who heard us saying to me afterwards, ‘oh I see now, you were trying to practice speaking Welsh to each other’ no I said we were speaking Welsh because that is how we speak to each other. I met her speaking Welsh and it seems perfectly natural to carry on.’ I was so looking forward to meeting up again and in fact she was booked to come and talk to our WI in November. She came over from Corris last time to speak in Welsh to our Clwb Gwawr about her journey into Welsh. I think her whole SSIW family have lost a very special person.
What ever it is it needs to be red and black 
I’m so sorry to hear this news - Liz, who had reasons to be otherwise, was one of the most positive and enthusiastic people I’ve ever met.
I had checked her blog not too long ago, wondering how her book about Marged, wife of Owain Glyndwr, was coming along. I see from her most recent blog that she had completed two thirds of it, and had just taken up a writer’s residency in Corris, intending to finish it this month. I know it’s too early to be thinking about this right now, but I hope there may be enough in writing for her family to consider having the book completed by someone, and that friends here would then look into having it translated into Welsh. It would be a lovely tribute to Elizabeth, and her enthusiasm for Wales and the Welsh language.
I could not believe this when I first read it. Jane and I linked via FB and were intending to catch up either here in Wales or when I was next in Oz. I am deeply shocked by such terrible news as she had become a good friend. She was an inspiration often telling me to get on with learning Welsh (I’m from Yorkshire but live in Cardiff). I kept promising we would converse in the language the next time we met. My husbands and my own thoughts are sent to her family here in the UK and and in Melbourne and all those who knew this truly wonderful lady.
Lovely words Aran, but such sad and shocking news. I had the pleasure to meet Liz on a couple of occasions. She has been an inspiration with her passion for the Welsh language, her Welsh heritage and through her writing. Colled enfawr xxx
I’m very sorry to hear this, and thank you Aran for composing such a heartfelt tribute, and shouldering the responsibility of telling so many of her friends here about such devastating news.
My memories of Liz are corresponding with her by email while she was in Australia to create the Parallel.cymru article Liz Corbett: 15 of us in Melbourne are helping to reach a million speakers and then meeting her a few times at the 2018 Cardiff Bay Eisteddfod. Her passion for the language came through in all her interactions with people, and seeing her on stage speaking in the Shwmae Su’mae learners tent (a repurposed Pierhead building) was inspiring. She had a remarkable ability to publicise her work, and through that show to many people that if someone on the other side of the world can learn our language and contribute to it’s culture, then anyone can.
I’m sure that a large proportion of the SSIW community will have interacted with her or read her words at some point. Not many people are so full of life that they get to be so well known in such a short space of time.
Liz, you will be sorely missed, and our condolences to her family and many friends Down Under who knew the librararian side of her.
I’m so sorry to read this. I met Liz on Bootcamp in Tresaith, and I was impressed because was speaking Welsh fluently and because she was so supporting and caring for everyone. I loved reading her novel and was looking forward to the next one. I can’t believe that she’s gone now.
Thank you Aran for your warm and lovely words.
Rest in piece, Liz.
I really don’t know what to say other than to echo all the lovely things already said. I only met Liz a few times but spent most of the parti 2017 weekend with her and Caroline after hitting it off immediately with the pair of them. Liz was very eager to talk about everything and anything, and a true pleasure to spend time with. Our community was lucky to have known her.
Liz and I were good friends - we saw each other at least once a week up until I moved away from Melbourne. I’m really having trouble processing the fact that she won’t be there when I return, ready as she always was with a smile and a big hug and fascinating research on her latest book. It’s become really hard for me to imagine my life without her in it. I didn’t know a single person who didn’t absolutely love her, and it was almost entirely her dedication and enthusiasm that kept the Welsh classes in Melbourne going. I’m going to miss her so much.
Thank you for expressing so warmly our response to the sudden and tragic loss of this admirable and warm member of our community. I feel enriched by having met her.
Terrible news - so enjoyed meeting Liz at bwtcamp in Caernarfon and again when she came to our SSIW cyfarfod in Norfolk. She was a force of energy and enthusiasm, especially for her beloved Wales and Cymraeg. Thinking of all her friends and family worldwide.
Alla i ddim credu be dwi ‘di jyst darllen! 
I didn’t get to meet Liz, although I almost did at the 2018 Eisteddfod in Bae Caerdydd, where I bought her book ‘The Tides Between’. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve only just managed to get around to start reading it a couple of weeks ago, but this news only makes reading her book all the more prominent now. Very sad news, and my thoughts are with her family and friends, and all who were lucky enough to meet her.
What a beautiful tribute, Aran.
Lovely, Aran. Well said.
And I can thoroughly recommend a visit to Liz’s site, as mentioned by Aran.
For those of you who might be able to be there, we’ve been told that the intention is for Liz’s funeral - in the Corris area - to take place towards the end of next week, possibly on the Thursday. I’ll update in here as soon as we have confirmation of date and location.
Sorry to hear about Liz. SSiW really is a kind of family. I didn’t know Liz but I’ve a real sense of her spirit from these wonderful tributes.
I’m hardly believing I’m reading these lines, all these posts above and am telling myself “This just can’t be true!”. But unfortunately and sadly it obviously is.
I didn’t meet Liz in person, but i had a privilege of speaking with her once through Skype just in a time of my struggles with learning Welsh when I was not at the beginning of learning anymore, but I was not able to tell that many things in Welsh yet also. She (among all the others) lifted my spirit and desire to go on.
Following her on social media and through her blog until recently was always a pleasure and inspiration to me and reading her novel was something what was the most exciting thing. I was anticipated to read more, to read the story further and now this story would never be finished …
My condolences to her family and friends and all those who have known her.
You will always be among us, Liz, always!
R.I.P. Liz. …
Here are the latest updates from Veronica, Liz’s dear friend…
Hi everyone, I have been getting a lot of questions about what is happening, so thought I would do an update. Please share. Today I start the process of handing Liz (Elizabeth Jane Corbett) back to her family. Jack and Vanessa and their two children arrive today. We are meeting with the vicar this afternoon to decide the Welsh celebration of her life which will most likely be Thursday. Tomorrow, Andrew, Seth, Phoebe and Andrew arrive. Tomorrow afternoon we should find out why this happened. Wednesday the family have planned a viewing. I don’t know if it is private or not but will let you know. Thursday, hopefully, the celebration of her life. Saturday and Sunday the family will head home and I think Liz will go home on Monday and the family will let you know their plans for once she is home. I will update this evening, so people in Wales can plan their week if they are planning on joining us here in Corris.
Dear SSiW family, here are the final funeral arrangements for Liz Corbett.
The service will be held on on Thursday 16th January, 11am at
The Holy Trinity Church,
7 Bridge St,
Corris,
MACHYNLLETH,
SY20 9SS
Afterwards there will be wake at
The Institute
Corris
SY20 9SH
EVERYONE is welcome. Please wear something red if possible.
If you would like to make a donation in Liz’s name, please make it to the air ambulance who worked tirelessly to save her.
“I Veronica and the family look forward to seeing you on Thursday and to honouring and remembering Liz’s amazing life and energy.”
I won’t be able to be there, but I will certainly be wearing red and thinking of everyone. x