EWSNEWS – October 2016

The story so far…

Saturday 1 October – Concert by the modern choir from Llanelli (The Philharmonics)

A wonderful evening!  The audience of 60–70 members and guests enjoyed a lively and innovative performance by 19 members of this lovely Ladies’ choir.  There was a half-time interval for refreshments and chat. Many thanks to our members who provided the delicious spread.  Generous donations from the audience allowed us to send a cheque for £150 to Ty Bryngwyn Hospice, the charity the choir wished to support.

Sunday 9 October – Harvest Service

Our service of Harvest Thanksgiving was led by Margaret Brandie with a thoughtful address by Chris Brandie.  Huw Thomas accompanied the hymns. A table full of groceries was left for the Church and will be taken to their local food bank.  Tea and welsh cakes were served after the service.  We presented Huw with our cheque to be sent on to the Hospice in Llanelli, and he presented the Society with a framed illuminated copy of “Mae hen wlad…” a lovely gift from the choir.

Forthcoming events:

Friday 18 November – Early St Andrew’s Night supper party at 7.30pm

We meet at Priestfield Church Hall, Dalkeith Road, EH16 5HW for a social evening with a Scottish flavour. We start the entertainment with a display of traditional highland dances; followed by “turns, and a Scottish quiz.  At half-time there will be a supper of haggis, neeps & tatties followed by cranachan; served with wine or non-alcofrolic elderflower, and followed by tea or coffee. We can offer a vegetarian haggis but will need to know in advance! The cost of the evening will be £20 each and we need numbers by Saturday, 12 November please, along with your cheque made payable to Edinburgh Welsh Society or Cymdeithas Cymry Dineidyn.

Sunday 11 December – Christmas celebrations from 3.00pm at the Reid Memorial Church large hall.

We begin with a service of carols and lessons at 3.00pm.  This will be followed by our family party, a vestry tea for all, and games and a visit from Santa for the children. As usual Santa’s little helper needs names and ages of all the wee people as soon as possible please, and the ladies of the kitchen would appreciate donations of food, sweet or savoury, for the tea.  A modest charge of £2.50 if you aren’t bringing food, please, payable on the day.

Society news

It is with great sadness that I tell you of the sudden death of Prof. Caradog Roberts on 25 September.  Our Crad was currently the longest serving member of the Society.  He had served as President in 1958/9, 1976/7 and 2001/2, and had been created a Life Member. He and Anne have both contributed enormously to the Society and we will all miss him so much. The Society was very well represented at his funeral.  Our love and deepest sympathy go to Anne and their daughter Fiona and her family.

Margaret Bowen will soon be moving to Guernsey to live near her daughter.  We wish her well and hope the move goes smoothly.

Hywel Williams is able to get tickets for next year’s Scotland v Wales Six Nations Rugby game, so please contact him ASAP (0131 447 3485) if you are interested. (£85; £62; or £40; with no ½ price for youngsters)

Martin Tarr is continuing to update the EWS website and would welcome pictures and reports of our events.  I plan to take over the editing once he has trained me – meanwhile we are very grateful to him for all the time and care he has put in to this very worthwhile project.

Huw Thomas has asked me to remind you that it is coming up to Panto season once again and Forth Dimension Musical Productions are putting on “1001 Arabian Nights (and a Matinée)” from Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 December at 7.15 pm, with a matinée at 2.15 pm on the Saturday at the Scout Hall, Port Edgar, South Queensferry, EH30 9SQ (Adults £8, Concessions £7, children £6) Please book early to avoid disappointment! (Tickets from Eventbrite)