Our friends at Cwmulus invite us to join on-line:
Dewi Sant a Chwedlau Eraill – hen chwedlau anghofiedig
Talk in Welsh by Pat Williams – with optional simultaneous translation
Friday 12 August 2022, 7:00pm
This talk will look at old legends about biblical characters and stories of saints which have been preserved in mediaeval manuscripts; but unlike the Mabinogion they have not received the attention which they deserved. In the Scriptures themselves the facts about the biblical characters who are portrayed in these legends are scarce and to satisfy popular curiosity the authors of the Middle Ages set about creating stories about them and their exploits which are as incredible as the adventures of James Bond and Dr Who in our own times.

Dr Pat Williams was a lecturer in the Celtic Studies Department of Liverpool University, then later in the Celtic Studies Department of Manchester University. Her 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.

Register for the Welsh or English version at the links.

In Wales there are hundreds of sacred wells amongst which are a small number where there was (and is) a custom of leaving rags in them, or nearby, or trying to foretell the future of a sick person by putting clothes in the well itself. This presentation will take a look at the historical evidence for these practices in Wales and beyond, and their geographical distribution, through interpreting the available information and weighing-up claims that they might be connected with paganism or Celticism. It will also look at the significance of the revival of the practices from the end of the Twentieth Century onwards.

The talk at 7:00pm on Friday 17 June will be presented in Welsh by Howard Huws, Secretary of Cymdeithas Ffynhonnau Cymry and editor of “Llygad y Ffynnon”, who has spent years studying our country’s sacred wells, and there will be an optional simultaneous translation. Register at this link.

Giraldus Cambrensis: gossiping and crusading around Wales, 1188
Talk in English by Mike Farnworth (plus special guest)
Friday, 18 March 2022, 7:00pm

Giraldus was a priest, author, grandson of a famous Welsh princess, but most importantly he was a dreadful gossip. In the spring of 1188 he escorted the Archbishop of Canterbury on a six-week trip around Wales, recruiting for the crusades. Four years later he wrote a book about their journey.

This talk gives a glimpse of life in an independent Wales during the age of the princes, illustrated by maps, pictures, stories, and the words of Giraldus Cambrensis himself. Although most of his book is true, Giraldus couldn’t resist also including improbable tales which he heard during his travels.

Register: English – Cwmulus

Porthladd Lerpwl – man geni iechyd cyhoeddus

Sgwrs yn Gymraeg gan Dr D Ben Rees – gyda chyfieithiad opsiynol

Nos Wener, 18 Chwefror 2022, 7:00yh
Tyfodd Lerpwl yn gyflym yn ystod y Bedwaredd Ganrif ar Bymtheg, a daeth ei masnachwyr yn gyfoethog dros ben. Ond ochr arall y geiniog oedd tlodi, salwch, a marwolaeth i bobl gyffredin y porthladd a’r ymfudwyr oedd ar eu ffordd i America. Ar un adeg roedd can mil o bobl yn byw mewn ardal un filltir sgwâr, yn dibynnu ar ffynhonnau dwfn am eu dŵr: amgylchiadau perffaith ar gyfer y colera. Bu farw miloedd o bobl.

Mae Dr D Ben Rees, Gweinidog Emeritws Capel Bethel, Lerpwl, yn enwog yn y ddinas fel hanesydd lleol. Bydd e’n esbonio sut brwydrodd Lerpwl yn ôl gyda gwyddoniaeth, hylendid, a dyfalbarhad. Daeth y gwelliant enfawr gan y ddinas yn amlwg yn ystod pandemig colera olaf y ganrif, yn 1892. Yn y flwyddyn honno bu farw 8,600 o bobl yn Hamburg, ond yn Lerpwl, diolch i’r mesurau iechyd cyhoeddus, roedd dim ond pedwar o farwolaethau oherwydd y colera.

Cofrestu Cymraeg – Cwmulus

The port of Liverpool – the birthplace of public health
Talk in Welsh by Dr D Ben Rees – with optional simultaneous translation

Friday, 18 February 2022, 7:00pm
Liverpool grew rapidly during the Nineteenth Century, and its merchants became very wealthy. But the other side of the coin was poverty, sickness, and death for the ordinary people and for emigrants on their way to America. At one period there were a hundred thousand people living in an area of one square mile, reliant on deep wells for their water: perfect conditions for cholera. Thousands of people died.

Dr D Ben Rees, the Minister Emeritus of Capel Bethel, Liverpool, is well-known in the city as a local historian. He will explain how Liverpool fought back with science, hygiene, and perseverance. The huge improvement by the city became evident during the last cholera pandemic of the century, in 1892. In that year 8,600 people died in Hamburg, but in Liverpool, thanks to the public health measures, there were only four deaths due to cholera.

Register English – Cwmulus

Our President, David Hughes, writes:

Annwyl Aelod – blwyddyn arall bron wedi dod i ben a doedd 2021 ddim gwell na 2020 – gobeithio fydd 2022 yn well.

Rhaid i ni gyd edrych ymlaen gyda agwedd “positif” a gobeithio fydd yr olygfa yn gwella cyn bo hir. Gobeithio hefyd cawn ni gyfarfod “wyned i wyneb” a hel straeon am y brechiadau.

Da ni yn gobeithio gewch chi gyfarfod hefo teulu a ffrindiau a cael ychydig o bleser a mwynhad dros y Nadolig a’r Flwyddyn Newydd.

Felly Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd dda i bawb.

Cymerwch ofal ac aroswch yn iach.

Hwyl fawr a diolch o galon am eich cefnogaeth – David & Alison

Dear EWS member – 2021 is almost at an end and we remain in the grip of this dreadful situation. In my 2020 Christmas message I expressed the hope that 2021 would be better than 2020 – well that didn’t work, did it!

However we must remain upbeat and positive and hope for a better year in 2022. I do hope that before too long we will be able to meet again in person – we can then compare our vaccination stories!

We both hope that you can have time and enjoyment with family and friends over the Christmas and New Year period.

So please have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Take care, and stay safe and healthy.

Best wishes and thanks for your ongoing support – David & Alison