Friday 30 September 2022

There was an unusually large number of apologies for our Creoso at the Mortonhall Golf Club, but the twenty who attended (including some welcome new faces) enjoyed both another very generous meal and our Secretary’s entertainment! For this, the audience were presented with a map of Wales and encouraged to put a favourite spot on the map – if they wished, they could talk about the significance of the place to them. This led to some great stories …

• Jennifer Welsher remembered a pre-University summer holiday working behind the counter at Woolworths in Porthcawl, and “oiling the salamis”
• Myra Tarr recalled 1940s holidays near Lake Bala (Lllyn Tegid) and “Ceri’s eggs”
• Jim Hughes put his pin in Llandudno, leaving his exploits there to our imaginations!
• Margaret Brandie took the “Jones bus” from Cribyn (near Lampeter) to Aberaeron to taste the fish and chips and honey ice-cream, and enjoy the August Bank Holiday Carnival atmosphere.
• Hywel Williams earned his tourist guide badge by taking us round the beaches of the Llŷn Peninsula to his mother’s home near Abersoch, calling in on the way on two past presidents living at Morfa Nefin.
• Lisa Poulter told how the cries of seagulls always reminded her of holidays at Saundersfoot.
• Nigel Lindsay told of his holidays on a smallholding at Govilan (near Abergavenny) and trips to the “fleshpots of Barry Island” funded by collecting empty bottles.
• Steven Griffin has links with Merthyr Tydfil and Ogmore-by-Sea, but put his pin in Anglesey, marking the pub (“somewhere between Llangefni and Holyhead”) where he had had his first really positive experience in striking up a conversation with someone whose first language was Welsh.

By the end of the evening, the map was sufficiently populated for Jennifer to be able to call on Jim Hughes to lead the community singing, ending with “Mae hen wlad fy nhadau”.

Thank you so much, Jennifer.

Sunday 6 March 2022

A good turnout for our Gymanfa. As David Hughes was still testing positive, Huw Thomas and Jennifer Welsher stood in. It was lovely to be back in the Reid, and once we had finally located our Welsh hymn books and calmed down from the panic, our gymanfa began. Our members requested their favourite hymns and Huw Thomas played the piano and we sang. This was followed by a much appreciated cup of tea and slice of bara brith provided by Lilian John and a chance to chat, much missed over lockdown.

Friday 4 March 2022

Thirty three members and guests enjoyed a splendid meal at the golf club. We were well looked after by David Henderson and his team. Our President was sadly laid low with Covid but our lovely “First Lady” Alison stood in for him beautifully. Margaret Brandie said grace and we tucked in.

Following the meal not one but four guest speakers shared their reminiscences of the Society over the years. First, Jennifer Welsher’s daughter, Gilli, who grew up thoroughly embedded in the Society from the age of 5. Then Huw Thomas, President from 1991–2, recalled that he was welcomed not only to the Society, but to the strong Llanelli contingent. Thirdly, we heard how Megan Whitelaw joined as a student, left to concentrate on her finals, and joined again when she heard Jennifer’s name on the radio. And last but by no means least, Huw John, President from 2004–5, rounded off the evening with a toast to Dewi Sant. All four were delightfully funny, moving and entertaining. The evening was rounded off beautifully with community singing, led by Jim Hughes, assisted by Huw Thomas.

Sunday 20 December 2020

Margaret Brandie, with splendid technical support from Chris and Olivia, devised our Christmas carol service to which all were welcomed, and thirty came. Margaret used the mute button with discretion, so we could all sing the lovely Welsh carols and hear clearly the five Bible readings, some Welsh, some English, with the words displayed on the screen.

There was time afterwards to greet new members and guests and catch up with everyone over a virtual cup of tea and mincepie, before we waved goodbye – till next time.

Friday 27 November 2020

Our “Bards wanted!” Zoom meeting started with the 19 members present raising a glass to the memory of Jean Phillips, whose idea this session had been, but who is sadly no longer with us.

Jennifer Welsher was in the chair – not the one in the image, though she told its story, which you’ll find in this post – and led us swiftly through our 40 minutes of fun. Many dressed for the occasion, with glimpses of tartan, and many contributed their poems. Some of these were a wee bitty political, as one might expect in these strange times, and some struck a somewhat poignant note, but all were good-humoured.

Some of the non-Welsh content was local – Pam Williams talking about Nessie – and some less so, Jennifer’s own contribution ending up with a hint of Uncle Tom Cobley. Some of the poetry rhymed and scanned as intended; in some the poetry was rather more force-fitted than manipulated. If any one can think of a rhyme for Llanelli, Huw Thomas would love to hear!

With so many participants, it’s invidious to single out particular contributions, but Hugh Richards provided examples of haiku, limerick and other verse forms in both Welsh and English, and Alison Hughes read Pam Ayres poem “About Lockdown”. In the final minutes, Nancy Hacking recalled a W H Davies poem that she had learned in her youth. “Leisure” – the one that starts “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare” –  was indeed one to run out of time on!