St David’s Day dinner

Friday 27 February 2026

The group of members and friends that gathered at Mortonhall Golf Club for our 2026 St David’s Day dinner was smaller than usual, but the quality and variety of the food and conversation made up for the lack of numbers. Our President, David Hughes, had sent a “Kiaora” message from his travels, so it was our ever-energetic Secretary, Jennifer Welsher, who welcomed members before Margaret Brandie said Grace.

After an excellent dinner, Jennifer introduced her theme of “First impressions”, having invited several members to take the place of an external guest speaker by telling of their first experiences of the Society. Her own had resulted from a chance meeting at the school gate with Vice-President Valerie Baguley – “You need to join the Welsh Society” – which led to her attending a Noson Lawen at which Eirwen Stillie had brought her junior school class of girls in Welsh National costume to sing “Calon lân”. “We’ve arrived!” – the friendship from the Society had saved her life, and Jennifer soon joined the Committee and became Secretary in 1979.

Margaret Brandie had arrived in Edinburgh from Germany (where she’d met Chris) in 1995, but didn’t discover the Society for over ten years, when a chance encounter with Mary Davies on the bus to Portobello led to her attending a Gymanfa Ganu and meeting Ann Evans. She also recalled a Society visit to Edinburgh Zoo facilitated by Ross Poulter.

John Bowles had left Wales aged 8, and turned up in Edinburgh in 1979, but discovered the Society only five years ago. He too had found the Society very friendly, and had learnt more about Edinburgh as well as matters Welsh …

Hywel Williams’ father had been a member in the 1970s when lodging during the week in Newington, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that Hywel and Pam found us. And that despite a childhood in the Borders! He remembered the talks – Dan Evans on the Arctic; Pearl McCabe on the Senghenydd colliery disaster; Geoff Parkhouse on Ancrum – and the walks – Abbotsford House; Gilmerton Cove. He commented that all had been splendidly organised … never a shambles, thanks to Jennifer!

Jennifer rounded up the first impressions with a story about Dr Emrys Thomas, a distinguished and sober member. As a student he had attended a confinement in an Old Town tenement with a Welsh friend. It was a long confinement – they sent out for chips twice! – and grannie heard them chatting in their native tongue. “The doctors are talking Latin” she exclaimed!

It was then time for Huw Thomas to lead us in singing, naturally telling us quite a lot about the pieces in his introductions. We started with “Calon lân”, just about managed to get our tongues around an ever-faster “Oes gafr eto”, before tackling “Gwahoddiad”. We did less well with “Unwaith eto’n Nghmru annwyl”, a celebration following a return home to Wales, but its sentiments led appropriately to “Hen wlad fy nhadau”. There were then three well-deserved cheers for Jennifer before we headed off, after having spent another splendid evening together. “Lovely to have seen so many well-kent faces” as Hywel had put it.