Category Archives: Away Event

Magic Circle 5th November 2013

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Circle Stairs1This can’t be the place!

Many of us thought that we were lost when the coach dropped us off in North Gower Street and we made our way down Stephenson Way. We walked down a dark quiet cobbled street with no sign of a theatre, just offices and goods entrances. Then, near the end of the street, there was a small entrance with people going in – we’d found it.

We signed in and climbed a steep spiral staircase to a large room with many displays of props and accessories of famous magicians – David Nixon, Tommy Cooper, Paul Daniels, Houdin and Houdini were all represented.

Chairs were set out in groups of 20 around small tables, and our party was split into 2 with 20 in one group and 6 in another.

Soon the first magicians arrived – one to each table – only a foot or two from the audience. We had a series of 4 magicians demonstrating their close-up magic skills, and each selected at least one member of the audience to assist!

Patricia Payne was persuaded to demonstrate a finger guillotine and was very brave as the blade descended without any ill effect.

Irene Powell does a magic trick!

Gwen Finnerty and Irene Powell proved to be able assistants – Irene demonstrating a levitating card. Rob Brett and Liz Seely showed that they could not keep hold of cards in their hands as they mysteriously moved from one person’s closed hand to another.
Rob Brett and Liz Seely
We then had a talk on the history of magic from Egyptian times to the present day, including the formation of the Magic Circle in 1905.

A light meal was provided and we all looked for somewhere to sit and were joined by some of the magicians who continued to amaze us with tricks which seemed to be just impossible.

We then went back to the theatre where we watched acts by 4 different magicians, a couple of whom were familiar from the Penn & Teller television programme.

The show went on until almost 11:00, but our coach driver didn’t seem to mind that we were late and we got back home before 12:00.

The universal feeling was that the whole experience was simply Magic!

Trip to Cardiff 9th – 12th September

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Cardiff Trip

As we left on the M4, the heavens opened and rain washed the coach, but when we approached the majestic Severn Bridge, the heavens cleared, the sun shone and we were in God’s country, Cymru, once again!

First stop Dewstow Gardens, Caerwent. We were not disappointed. Fortified by soup and/or other foods we explored the Edwardian gardens, complete with remarkable grottos and waterworks put there by Henry Oakley in the early 20th Century, but covered up with soil ca 1940 until rediscovered by the Harris family in 2000; a truly great experience of magnificent trees, lawns, flowers, water features and plants in an undulating landscape and in excellent sunshine under a blue sky!

Then, back on the coach, we turned in the direction of Cardiff for a visit to the Senedd scheduled to start at 3:00 pm.

At the Senedd, we were met by Gareth Coombes, a young enthusiastic Welsh Guide who enthralled us with the efficiency of the 61 seats of the Assembly, the marvelous architecture of the Chamber, debate in the Welsh language, educational policy for teaching Welsh, accompanied by a knowledge and wit which successfully parried the diverse questions about the Assembly and its business we fired at him. Our first day finished in central Cardiff at a modern Premier Inn; well chosen, comfortable, excellent breakfasts and totally co-operative staff.

The next day saw a martial start for a visit to Caerphilly Castle built by Gilbert de Clare over just 3 years in 1260/70 at a then cost of £19,000. Jonathan provided an excellent running commentary on everything we saw from the coach and what we were about to see with considerable historic detail (at all times we were travelling in the coach!). The Castle did not disappoint with its ramparts, towers, 500 year old gates, green lawns, fantastic views of the surrounding hillsides, the massive moats, and visions of a green lady ghost!!.

We were conducted around the Castle by a lovely Scottish Lady who pointed out architectural detail, an open Guard robe complete with seated man and sound effects (!!), and the significance of the Castle to protect the South from an advancing army of Llywelyn ap Grufydd, which threat was removed in 1282 when he was killed. Not even with the assistance of men in the party could the massive leaning tower be pushed back into a vertical position!!

Next, we set off to Penderyn Whisky Distillery with a stop for light lunch at the charming Country Hotel “Ty Newydd” near Hirwaun. Here Ken the coach driver showed his experience by safely negotiating the narrow gate and road up to the Hotel, a skill he repeated magnificently at the Glyndwr Vineyard and Castell Coch!

At the family-run rapidly expanding Distillery we were treated to an excellent account of the process by the daughter of the owner, followed by a delightful tasting of the different products convincing us all of the merits of the Whisky, and purchases of this liquid Welsh gold!

Next stop was the Brecon Mountain Railway: carriages drawn by a 4-6-2, 47 ton American Narrow Gauge steam locomotive “No 2” (2 foot gauge, made by the Baldwin Company of Philadelphia in 1930) complete with bell and two-tone whistle steaming through part of the Brecon Beacons National Park alongside the large Taf Fechon reservoir. This experience was topped with a cornet of Sidoli’s Ice Cream on the return journey!

We ascended the coach once again and arrived at the Fig Tree restaurant on the sea front at Penarth with a view of the Severn, the Holmes and the Pier, for an excellent meal and further camaraderie before returning to our Hotel in Cardiff.

A relaxing start to the next day at 9:30 am saw us in the Market Town of Y Bont-faen (Cowbridge), again in great weather, to enjoy the picturesque buildings, the fine Physic Garden with its herbs and medicinal plants, and antique memorabilia.

Soon we were on our way to the family run Glyndwr Vineyard for a fascinating talk on grape culture and husbandry, an explanation of how semi-dry champagne is labelled “brut(e)”, a walk in the vineyards, pest control for the grapes, and a sample of some of the wines that are produced there topped with a quality buffet lunch. More bottles were added to our collections for consumption in safer surroundings!

In the afternoon we went to Dyffryn House and its splendid Gardens and Glasshouses to appreciate this property of John Cory; its willful dilapidations but colossal potential now being dealt with by the National Trust. The evening was free: some went to distant eating places in the City, some to the Theatre and the weather held up!

Early morning start on the last day saw us up and about, and with the coach fully loaded, a drive up the valley to Castell Coch, created by the 3rd Marquis of Bute at the end of the 19th century. Decorated somewhat similarly to Cardiff castle with painted walls and gilded ceilings, it was a truly fairy tale chateau nestling in the woods with great views.

Then back towards home, but firstly a stop at Chepstow, and in sunshine and under a blue sky we visited the Castle, had tea, coffee and lunch in the delightful array of shops, and bought strawberries from a barrow on the concourse whose sellers were ably assisted by the vocal powers of Eilwen!!

A delightful, educative and enjoyable tour well organised and led by Jonathan, with a camaraderie between members of the group that formed a firm base for success!! Diolch!

Barrie Reece 13/09/2013

Next Event: The Magic Circle on November 5th
The Magic Circle runs a regular evening of mystery and laughter provided by some of the club’s top magicians for members of the public.  “Meet The Magic Circle” lasts for about 3 hours.

If you have never experienced this attraction before it is a wonderful evening’s entertainment. And also one that is worth repeating as the performers and their magic constantly changes.
The coach will pick up from Amersham Community Centre at 5:30pm, then the Wildwood at Gerrards Cross, and the Denham bus stop (if needed). The doors open at 7 for a 7:30 start and it will finish at 10:30pm. A meal at the venue is included.
We have booked 20 tickets, so please respond as soon as possible to secure a place.  Cost will be £34 for the ticket plus £13 for the coach.
In the first instance please email or phone Gwyndaf John (Tel: 01753 884490) to confirm that you want to go on this excursion. You will be asked to pay for the event after you have been advised that a place is available for you.

London Welsh Male Voice Choir at Eton College on 16th November 7pm

See attachment below:

Concert Flyer v7 (1)

Visit to Highgrove 12th June 2013

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On a somewhat overcast day 26 of us visited the Prince of Wales’ Highgrove Estate (15 acres of garden tended by 12 gardeners as well as the HRH when he has time). In a short video made by Prince Charles, he explained the garden’s development and his organic principles. He incorporates lots of the gifts he receives into the various estate gardens. Camilla must be relieved that the urns etc. do not end up in the house!

Reclaimed ecclesiastical stone is used in landscaping the gardens. Perhaps HRH gets this as the next prospective head of the Church of England? The gardens also show that bind weed and ground elder are no respecters of princes and can only be got rid of organically by constant digging and weeding.

There is a large walled garden which incorporates a semi circle of apple trees pruned into the shape of coronets with the yellow crab apples in season to provide the golden balls.
The Arboretum includes the National Collection of 70 different specimens of Birch. Behind is the Sanctuary where HRH often goes to contemplate (it is his shed at the bottom of the garden but not a pigeon in sight!).

In the next garden are 3 beautiful large olive oil jars sculpted out of Welsh slate chippings.

The famous Wildflower Meadow Garden started with a seed mix nicknamed the ‘Gloucestershire Farmers’ Nightmare’.

 

The tree house built for young Princes William and Harry has Welsh slate stairs and is on 4 Welsh slate pillars.

The Prince’s Thyme Walk has 20 varieties of Thyme and shrubs clipped in to all sorts of geometric shapes .This is HRH’s pun that visitors walk through time along it!

The Prince has a statue of a child donated by Latch (a children’s’ cancer charity in Carmarthen who are invited to visit Highgrove every year).

Finally we entered the Turkish Carpet Garden designed by HRH and others and which won silvergilt at the 2001 Chelsea Flower show. The garden and central mosaic water feature were based on a Turkish carpet in Highgrove.
Many thanks to Anne Thomas who arranged a wonderful day out with impeccable timing, organisation and weather.

Peter & Eirwen Sykes

Summer Lunch 14th July

Hosted by Diane & Colin Thomas, 52 Windsor Road, Gerrards Cross, SL9 7NF

Cost £20 each
Map 
Note that parking may be difficult – there is limited parking in Wayside Gardens, Camp Road, Meadway Park and the Hedgerley Lane spur (right at the lights and right again).

 

September 2012 Update

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This is an update on the two events we’ve had so far in August and September.

On 20th September we will also have our Tour of Oxford with a Welsh theme, and I’ll add a report as it becomes available.

Maldwyn still has some tickets available for the Male Voice Choir Concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 13th October, so please contact him if you’d like to come along.

 

At the end of August we had the  very enjoyable Golf day at Oakland Park Golf Club.   A full description will follow, but I’ve added Maldwyn’s photographic record of the event below (bottom of the page).

Buckingham Palace

On 4th September,  Anne Thomas organised a trip to see the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace and a tour of the gardens.

Here is Jayne Pegler’s account of the day.

Tuesday 4th September was a glorious day. Some twenty five of us met at Buckingham Palace for our tour of the State Apartments.

Equipped with our earphones we were guided through the Throne Room, the Picture Gallery, the Dining Room, the Music Room,  the Ballroom, to name but a few; and instantly became absorbed into the lavish and historic world surrounding us. Elaborate cornices, lanterns and domes rose resplendent above us encrusted with symbolic motifs such as shamrock, rose and thistle (where was the daffodil or the leek?!) whilst regal red and gold engulfed us. The great masters from Titian to Van Dyke graced the walls and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s manuscript of the anthem he’d composed for the Diamond Jubilee was a centre-piece in a calm blue, lapis-lazuli pillared Music Room. The Ballroom, much loved by Queen Victoria, was home to eleven foot high and almost six foot wide English crystal chandeliers which apparently are lowered and sprayed with water before being hand dried with a soft cloth and raised into position. Did anyone recall that particular episode in “Only Fools and Horses?!”

Nash had a field-day when he transformed Bucks House into Buckingham Palace. No wonder he was relieved of his duties for exceeding the budget!

The dazzling diamond display of royal crowns, tiaras, necklaces, earrings and brooches was truly spectacular. When you read this, Jonathan, I particularly like the necklace …..

Our afternoon was spent in the gardens with Keith, our highly informative and entertaining guide.

We strolled along the Queen’s Walk admiring the champion trees, shrubs and the design of the borders. Apparently, only ten gardeners attend to the vast grounds! The roses were still in bloom and we viewed the particular rose bed the Prince of Wales had laid in memory of the Queen Mother. The tennis court on which Fred Perry played, and later McEnroe and Borg, gave rise to some interesting tales and all too soon we finished our delightful visit on a peaceful note beside the lake.

Many  thanks to Anne Thomas for organising such a wonderful outing for us. How ever did she even manage to get the weather right?!

 

Golf day at Oakland Park Golf Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman’s Report – July 2012

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Chairman’s Report
Once again it is my great pleasure to report that the Society has had an enjoyable period of very well attended events. And of course the sun shone – even on our Summer Lunch in the midst of the wettest summer on record.

At the AGM the entire committee was happy to stay in office – which goes to show that it is a pleasure rather than a chore! We were joined by Jonathan Pegler as our new Vice
Chairman. He will take the chair in May 2013.

A highlight of our programme was the presence of Roy Noble as our guest speaker
at the St David’s Day dinner. An exceptional entertainer and a lovely man too. Not only did he entertain us so well that evening after driving all the way up from the BBC studios in Cardiff, he even wrote and thanked us afterwards. Special thanks go to Hugh
Griffith for his dogged determination to get us such a special guest speaker.

The cold wet weather stopped for just a few days while a party of 23 members went to
Snowdonia in May. The glorious scenery was seen at its best in lovely sunshine and the
train journeys were a highlight. The group descending Snowdon’s PYG track managed
to keep up with Mike Stythe without mishap, whilst Margaret Broomby and Chris Thomas in the group descending the supposedly easier Llanberis trail managed to get in some acrobatics practice en-route (but survived to tell the tale). Many thanks go to Mike for the idea of the trip and for his experienced advice, and excellent choice of hotel.

In June Bob Ford organised a superb trip to the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen (see below).
Looking forward the 2012 schedule includes the Golf Day – in glorious weather again?
There are two exceptional trips in September to Buckingham Palace and to Oxford,
followed in October by the biennial Festival of Male Voice choirs at the Royal Albert Hall.
Finally, Ann Tennant has been our regular caterer at events and her meals and service
much appreciated. I am pleased to report that she received an MBE in the recent honours
list. Our congratulations go to Ann.
Gwyndaf John

Visit to Snowdonia 20th-23rd April.
“The day we went up Snowdon & returned by the Llanberis path”
Another sunny & hot morning in north Wales, & the intrepid walkers all wait in anticipation at Llanberis Station. None of the glitz of St. Pancreas or Waterloo, but quaintness personified. With justifiable Welsh pride we all await the pre-journey video – “good to get out of the sun”! What an engineering feat to think that all of this was put in place over 100 years ago – 1896 to be exact – the grand opening.

With all tickets duly dispensed we are allowed onto the platform – where a small engine & carriage glides slowly backwards to squeeze us in. The weather just perfect – we could see for ever! The engine climbed the 3,650 feet to the summit whilst we were entertained by brilliant commentary from the driver. A journey to be long remembered. A photo opportunity around every bend.

Fifty minutes & we are at the summit.

Here the party divided into 3 groups; some waited for the return trip by train; another party prepared for the Pen Y Gwryd (PYG) track – 11 kilometres with descent of 2,370
feet; whilst a 3rd group departed on the Llanberis path – 14.5 kilometres with descent
of 3,200 feet.
Despite a few mishaps (3), the Llanberis path/walk was brilliant. The silence
in the mountains “had to be heard to be believed”!!- all this, occasionally interrupted
by the screams from a fallen climber or walker. Everyone arrived back with a real
sense of pride & achievement. Even for the seasoned walkers – the Llanberis path was
’tough’ but rewarding, especially as we had views of the trains creeping cunningly along
carefully & classhcally constructed cog cortege – ah!, the alliteration – one gets
carried away !

A day to catalogue. Well done to our organisers.
Gwyn Owen

Summer Lunch 10th June
About 50 of us were exceptionally lucky with the weather. It had been raining all week, but
the rain held off for our annual garden party, held this year courtesy of Tony & Irene Glyn-Jones in their beautiful garden.

While we were tucking in to a delicious meal prepared and served by Ann Tennant, Mr
Jonathan Pegler had devised a teasingly difficult cryptic quiz – Gwyndaf’s team won (again).
John and Thelma Lusher organised an enjoyable ‘heads or tails’ auction for a bottle
of Penderyn Welsh whisky, raising £100 for the Tenovus Cancer charity.

The fine weather lasted until about 4 o’clock, by which time a fine team of volunteers had
packed everything away before the rain started.

Llangollen International Eisteddfod
We arrived in good time at the Bryn Howel hotel with luggage and much needed macs, umbrellas hats etc.

Later, on site and after seeing usual numerous stalls and stages, we took our seats for the evening performance of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert. Top artists: Alison Balsom (solo trumpeter) was fantastic, Nicola Benedetti (violinist) magnificent and Lesley Garrett excellent with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, all first class. About 9.30pm the heavens opened, heavy storms in competition with the music!
Flood and mud were everywhere, but thankfully we returned to the hotel safely.

On Thursday 5th July we toured the shops, then back on site in the Royal Pavilion we
saw fantastic dancers in beautiful costumes from different countries. At one o’clock
everyone held hands for a minute’s silence, the Llangollen message of peace, a new idea
and most moving. Solo artists and choirs followed, two outstanding ones were from
Singapore and South Africa. Weatherwise the sun shone, and it was too hot to sit in! That
evening seventeen members from the Chiltern Welsh Society assembled in the
marquee for Alfie Boe to a packed, enthusiastic audience house.

On Friday, some of us visited Plas Newydd House. It rained again but it was a delight to
see the home of the Ladies of Llangollen. All the rooms were beautifully oak panelled and it
had wonderful, manicured gardens.
That evening, we all met up in the hotel for a truly, lovely meal, good in both quality and
quantity. Thank you, Bob, for a good choice of hotel.

With purchases of a 2013 Snowdonia National Park calendar, Welsh honey and
Penderyn whisky we set off for home with lots of memories. I’m looking forward to the next
time.
Eilwen Turner.

 

Forthcoming events
Golf day at Oakland Park Golf Club, Three Households, Chalfont St.
Giles – 31st August
The annual follow up to the Open! Nonplayers are welcome at the after-golf lunch.

 

Visit to the State rooms and Gardens at Buckingham Palace on the 4th September.
A tour of the State Rooms will start at 12.45pm, last approximately two and a half hours. The Garden Tour will follow at 3.15pm and the visit should finish at 4pm.