Sunday 11 November 2018

It was Stephanie Ledger’s idea that we should mark the centenary of Armistice Day, and David Hughes curated an hour-long programme that was much appreciated. The proceedings were punctuated by chances for everyone to sing WWI standards with tenuous connections to Wales. However, all three attempts showed that, while we knew the choruses, we didn’t know the tunes to the words David had thoughtfully provided for the verses, despite Margaret Brandie’s best efforts to encourage us from the piano!

After we’d “kept the home fires burning”, Jean Philips continued on a positive note by reading John Buchan’s Scots poem “The Kirk Bell”, and Eirwen Stillie spun tales of her war. We were so glad that her family hadn’t all perished together in their Birmingham bomb shelter the day before a family wedding!

Huw John’s troupe of players then took to the stage, with dramatized versions of the story of Hedd Wyn and “The Eisteddfod of the Black Chair” (starring Hywel Williams) and Wilfred Owen’s poem “Strange Meeting” (with Chris Brandie and Wyn Davies) before the final song and National Anthem.

Members and friends then had an opportunity to refresh themselves while they looked at the display of memorabilia that had been assembled, including stories of the three servicemen listed in the Society Bible as having perished in the Second World War.

Grateful thanks to everyone who prepared and participated in this event.

Friday 7 September 2018

A Friday evening in September saw nearly 30 members of the Society gather at Mortonhall Golf Club for the social evening that traditionally opens our winter season. We were pleased to welcome four visitors, both bringing down the average age of the audience and (to the obvious delight of the President) increasing the percentage of Gogs!

David Hughes introduced the proceedings, which started with a far from solemn recounting by Jennifer Welsher of the recent funeral of Tegid Davies (see our newsletter).  He then shared a musical memory of a song he sang at the Urdd Eisteddfod in 1969, demonstrating the changes wrought by maturity …

After the usual splendid refreshments, Pamela and Hywel Williams conducted a closely-fought quiz, which had a very good balance of questions, before the company engaged in (well, fairly) close harmony with some favourite songs, before setting off home as usual with “Mae hen wlad fy nhadau” ringing in our ears.

Sunday 22 April 2018

20 members and friends responded to the invitation to come and sing hymns at our Mini Gymanfa Ganu in the newly-redecorated Reid large hall. Jim Hughes being sadly “unfit for active duties”, Huw Thomas introduced the items as well as accompanying our singing on the piano. Huw’s introductions gave an interesting insight into the music as well as telling selected stories behind the hymns.

An innovation was that Huw had selected just seven hymns to start with, leaving the final three for members to complete with their favourites. In our secret ballot, no fewer than seven hymns tied for third place with one vote each (from which the voting slip drawn was for Diadem), and second place went to Saron, which attracted three votes (and a story shared by Jennifer that we hope will be appearing in our archive slot). But first place, by a country mile, went to Calon Lân, with an astonishing eight votes! Happily this was also the favourite hymn of Trystan Poulter (age 5½) who had been brought along by his mother Lisa, our former Secretary.

Friday 20 April 2018

No, we didn’t get the date wrong … our plans for 2 March were disrupted by snow, so the St David’s Day dinner had to be postponed. Mortonhall Golf Club provided excellent food and a warm welcome to 35 members of the Society. We were pleased to see some new and younger faces, and welcomed John Evans, our Gwr Gwadd, and his wife Susanne.

John’s speech compared Welsh people who stayed at home with those who had gone abroad. He gave examples from different fields, many of which reflected on the supreme qualities of those born in Ceredigion. This was probably unsurprising – although John has lived in Scotland for many years, and has been a member of our Society on and off for some time, he was born in Aberystwyth and grew up in Aberteifi! Some of the “Gogs” (those from North Wales) in the company did not altogether agree with this bias!

In his vote of thanks, Hywel Williams made reference to John’s love of rugby and rugby refereeing, and brought out some momentos of games past …

A St David’s Day dinner is never the same without music, and Wyn Davies and Jim Hughes managed to squeeze in three favourites plus “Mae hen wlad fy nhadau” before the carriages were sent for.

Sunday 10 December 2017

Willing helpers, including Ceinlys and Ynyra Williams and Olivia Brandie, arrived early to set tables for our tea and chairs for our service. Margaret Brandie led the service of carols and lessons with Huw Thomas at the piano. This was followed by our family party starting with a scrumptious tea (with rainbow jelly and custard). Many thanks to all who brought food and helped to serve. The party continued with games and a visit from Santa for the children (and grandchildren).