We’ve been asked to spread the word that Johns’ Boys Welsh Male Voice Choir (https://johnsboys.co.uk/) are currently touring the UK, and will be making their Scottish debut at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, at 7:00pm on Sunday 26 October. More details at this link. Please call for tickets at the box office: 0131 668 2019.

You’ll notice that the date is the same as our Harvest Service, which will give those who don’t live in Edinburgh the chance to come to the Reid, have tea with us and then proceed to The Queen’s Hall!

Our friends at Cwmulus invite you to listen in to their next on-line talk, by Dr Pat Williams at 7:00pm on Friday 5 September. The talk is in Welsh, without a simultaneous translation, but we have been advised that experienced Welsh learners should be able to follow it.

Cloth and clothing have been integral to the life of every person since civilisation began. Cloth production and international trade constituted a major sector of the economy of medieval Britain. The aim of this talk is to show how dress was used by authors to help their targeted audience to identify the status and function of some of the characters portrayed in their stories. Dr Williams’ main field of research is the language and literature of the Middle Ages and she has published numerous articles and books about Middle Welsh texts.

Registration (free) at this link.

Huw and Jent noticed an event taking place as part of Edinburgh Tradfest – a Welsh horror film, with a mini-concert first. It’s on Monday 5 May at 6.00pm at The Cameo, 38 Home Street, Edinburgh.

The first horror film to be made in the Welsh language, in 1981, O’r Ddaear Hen (From the Old Earth) follows a mysterious stone head that is unearthed in a council house garden in Bangor. When this ancient head is brought inside into the home of local archaeologist, their family begins to begins to experience terrifying visions of a half-man, half-animal creature, with a terrifying ties to the ancient gods of the land. Will anyone survive the encounter unchanged?

The film will be introduced with a special mini-concert from Welsh harpist and singer Gwen Màiri Yorke.

Information and tickets at this link.

Our friends at Cwmulus invite us to their next on-line talk by Mike Farnworth. At 7:00pm on Friday 9 May, it’s entitled “Bellowing, bleating, and beasts on the banknotes – the drovers of Ceredigion”.

It was as if they were made for each other. Mid-Wales had cattle and an appetite for money. London had money and an appetite for beef.

But between them were mountains, rivers. robbers, and a two hundred mile walk. At least there were plenty of pubs.

This talk tells how the drovers of Ceredigion developed their trade over centuries, taking livestock to London, bringing wealth back to Wales, and building some banks on the way.

Registration at this link.

Doubtless you are one of many in our Society who enjoy a wee dram. But did you know that there are eleven distilleries in Wales, and hundreds of Welsh whiskies to discover? Seeking to plug the gap in everyone’s knowledge is the Welsh Whisky Society, officially launched in Autumn 2024, debuting at the first annual Wales Whisky Fest this month. As one of their Board told us: “In a nutshell, we as a Society look to promote the past, present and future of Welsh whisky and want as many Members as possible to enjoy exclusive offers as we can provide.” More details at this link.