A message from our President:

Annwyl Aelod CCD, mae 2022 bron a dod i ben. Da ni yn gobeithio gewch chi gyfarfod hefo teulu a ffrindiau and cael llawer o bleser ac mwynhad dros y Nadolig a’r Flwyddyn Newydd. Felly Nadolig Llawen and Blwyddyn Newydd dda i bawb. Cymerwch ofal ac aroswch yn iach ac yn saff. Hwyl fawr.

Dear EWS member, 2022 is coming to an end. We both hope that you are able to have some time and lots of enjoyment with family and friends over the Christmas and New Year period. So please have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that we can meet again in 2023. Take care and stay safe and healthy. Best wishes.

David & Alison

At 7.00pm on Friday 9 December Dr D Ben Rees of Liverpool will tell the remarkable story of the Gwasg Gee press, and the famous literary figures behind it, in a talk illustrated by slides.

Gwasg Gee in Denbigh was one of the main Welsh publishers for the better part of two centuries. The company became famous as the publisher of Y Faner, Y Gwyddoniadur Cymreig, and many books of all types. It was established by Rev Thomas Jones in Rhuthun in 1808, then moved to Denbigh in 1809. Thomas Gee took over in 1813.

After its golden age a long decline came in the second half of the twentieth century, despite the heroic efforts of the novelist Kate Roberts, owner of the company from 1946 onwards. Kate died in 1985 and Gwasg Gee died in 2001.

Cwmulus are hosting this on-line talk, which is available both in Welsh and with an English translation. Details and registration at this link.

This is another in a the series of live, on-line talks from small organisations on interesting topics arranged by Cwmulus. This one is by Geraint Jones, an Welsh author, musician, and language campaigner who is one of the main leaders of Canolfan Hanes Uwchgwyrfai in Pen Llŷn.

Y Tri Cyprian, at 7:00pm on Friday 21 October is a lecture about three different ‘Cyprians’, all three representing ‘martyrdom’ and sacrifice of different kinds:

• Cyprian from North Africa in the Third Century and his remarkable martyrdom, a man who shares his memorial day with none other than Owain Glyndŵr.

• Cyprian, the Nineteenth-Century ship which was wrecked on the northern rocks of Llŷn in a severe storm. Its representation of sacrifice was used as the subject of sermons in Westminster Abbey and Soar Chapel, Nefyn. It is one of Wales’s most heroic stories.

• Cyprian, Wales’s most insignificant lifeboat, which only lasted for eighteen years, and its unlucky maiden voyage. Strangely, it was launched on the River Thames in a place that is now a refuge for a fugitive Russian oligarch.

As usual, the talk is in Welsh, but there is an option for a simultaneous English translation. For more details, or to register, go to this link.

In May 2021 we enjoyed a talk on “The last whispers of Welsh in the Borders” by Geoff Parkhouse of the Ancrum and District Heritage Society (ADHS). Geoff has invited interested members to join in the ADHS guided walks that are part of Scottish Archaeology Month. These walks, of just two miles from Ancrum to Ancrum Bridge and back, will highlight some of the locations Geoff mentioned in his talk to our Society.

Two dates to choose from – 11.00am on Tuesday 6 September and 2.00pm on Sunday 11 September. For details, click the image of the poster.

As well as the three shows mentioned by Jennifer in her August EWSNEWS, Hywel has told us about two other shows with Welsh connections and adult humour:

Tudur Owen (from Sir Fon) presents Just the Tonic – “Welsh stand-up and Fringe veteran Tudur Owen returns to Edinburgh with a true-ish tale of a man he once knew called Alive Huw” – Mash House, Guthrie Street, 5.55–6.55pm, 18–27 August.

Morgan Rees (from Merthyr Tydfil) presents Bi and Large – “Debut hour from Welsh funnyman Morgan Rees. An hour full of ‘fast gags, unexpected swerves and rolling stories’” – Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker One) 6.10–7.10pm, 18–28 August.  Hywel reports this has a 4-star write-up in Saturday’s Scotsman.