EWSNEWS – August 2016

The story so far…

Saturday 24 July. Lunch, walk and visit to Dalmeny House from 12.30pm

We met at the Railbridge Inn where we ate a tasty lunch at a leisurely pace, with plenty of chat. We walked at a brisker pace and got to Dalmeny House just as the weather turned unkindly. The warm welcome soon had us feeling less soggy and the tour of the house was most interesting.

Forthcoming events:

Saturday 3 September – Borders train trip plus visit to Abbotsford House

Lilian has put together this splendid day out for us. The gardens at Abbotsford House are very lovely, so we can choose how long to linger after the tour, depending on the weather of course. Below are all the times of buses and trains.

Borders Railway: Leave Edinburgh Waverley at 10.25; arrive Tweedbank at 11.22 – off-peak day return £11.20 without railcard.
Bus no. 65 to Abbotsford leaves Tweedbank Station at 11.30 – Bus Pass if you have one!

Abbotsford House: Group lunch at 12noon (soup and sandwiches for £9); group tour at 13.45 costs £9.70 each and lasts 45mins.

Return: Bus leaves Abbotsford at 14.53, 15.23, 15.53, 16.23 with last bus at 16.53. Bus takes a circular route calling at Galashiels before Tweedbank. Train leaves Galashiels 15.32, 16.01, 16.32, 17.02, 17.33; Tweedbank 15.28, 15.57, 16.28, 16.58, 17.29; arrives Edinburgh Waverley after 55mins

We need definite numbers for Group Lunch and Group Tour so please e-mail ewsccd@gmail.com ASAP but before Saturday 27 August at the latest.

Friday 23 September – Croeso at the Merchants Golf Club 7.30 pm

The usual autumnal fare to start the session with a warm welcome. We plan a buffet supper, quiz and party turns, and plenty of time to chat. Please note the new venue. Further details to come in my next EWSNEWS. We are still crossing i’s and dotting t’s, so watch this space …

Saturday 1 October – Concert by the modern choir from Llanelli (The Philharmonics) Reid Memorial Church large hall, West Saville Terrace.

Huw Thomas’s brother, who lives in Llanelli, is musical director of a mainly ladies choir from Llanelli. They are a Rock and Pop Choir who are very keen to come and visit Edinburgh and perform for the Edinburgh Welsh Society. Huw says, “I know the choir leader very well, she’s a real hoot”. It would be wonderful to have as many members and friends as possible join us for this exciting evening. Donations from our members towards a vestry supper would be much appreciated. Further details in my next EWSNEWS.

Subscriptions:

The subs for the 2016-17 session are now due and prompt payment would be hugely appreciated. The rates are:-

Single – £15; Family – £22.50 and cheques should be made payable to Edinburgh Welsh Society or Cymdeithas Cymry Dineidyn please.

Many thanks to those members who have already paid.

Other news:

I received this e-mail from Michael Jenkins, Head of Languages and thought some of our members would be interested, or might know someone outwith our Society who would.

Languages for All at the Centre for Open Learning at the University of Edinburgh is planning to offer a beginners course in Welsh from September 2016, if we are successful in recruiting a tutor. The course will run, if there is sufficient take up of places. We are keen to add to our current offering in Celtic languages, which currently include Gaelic and Irish. The course will take place from 18.30 to 20.20 at Paterson’s Land, Moray House campus on Holyrood Road on Mondays from 26 September for 11 weeks. We are hoping to expand from this one course to offer other levels as well as new beginners’ classes, if there is demand, from January 2017.

I was also asked by a member of the London Welsh Male Voice Choir if we have our own MVC. Sadly – no – but could we? He is planning to move to Edinburgh in the autumn and I promised I would put the idea about.