March Update

St. David’s Day Annual Dinner 2012
Our annual dinner was held on March 2 at Harewood Downs Golf Club. As always the evening began with a ‘Welcome‘ drink and time to chat and meet new members. Our chairman Gwyndaf John then led us into the dining room which had been beautifully and appropriately decorated with daffodils. After taking our seats the majority of us commiserated with unfortunate minority who had been supporting England on the previous Saturday. Then Ann Evans our President led us in the Grace before we all settled down to enjoy a delicious dinner. There was a happy buzz in the room as everyone was having a good time.

Coffee was served and then Gwyndaf introduced our guest speaker—Mr. Roy Noble. Roy is a well known personality being a very popular and award winning Radio and Television presenter for BBC Wales. The reason for his popularity soon became obvious. The humour poured seamlessly from a most relaxed and charismatic story teller. We were challenged to consider who we are. Do we have a direct lineage to the Mabinogion of old or are we a patchwork quilt from chance encounters? I must admit that I’ve always believed mine to be pure North Pembrokeshire Welsh – but who knows? Roy opened up all sorts of possibilities! His colourful journey through life encompassing so many experiences and told in such an easy humorous style made for a fantastic and long to be remembered after-dinner speech. Laughter rang around the room and will keep us laughing for quite a while I suspect.
The evening ended with our beloved National Anthem and our equally beloved informal sing song thanks to Jonathan Pegler at the keyboard.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our wonderful committee (or sub-committee!) for making such an evening possible and thereby ensuring that we celebrate our Patron Saint in style. Diolch yn fawr i bob un ohonoch.

Heulwen Longhurst.

 

London Glamorgan Society

Anwen Rees has extended an invitation to all members of the Chiltern District Welsh Society to the next meeting of the London Glamorgan Society on Wednesday April 25 at the Medical Society of London, 11 Chandos Street, London.
William Roddick CB QC will address the Society on “Reshaping Britain”. He was the first Counsel General to the National Assembly of Wales and was awarded The Order of the Bath in recognition of ‘conspicuous services to the Crown’.
(6:30 for 7:15, cost £27 per person, contact Anwen on anwenrees@gmail.com).

 

St David’s Day Dinner 2012

Our St David’s Day Dinner this year will be held on Friday 2nd March at Harewood Downs Golf Club.

We have been extremely fortunate that Roy Noble will join us as our guest speaker this year. He is very much in demand as an ‘After Dinner Speaker’ with an inimitable way of story-telling.

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After a distinguished career in education this former Head-teacher is now one of Wales’ best known broadcasters presenting his own daily show on Radio Wales. He has also presented many TV programmes and written a number of books.

He was awarded an OBE for his charity work and is involved in very many charities. He is a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF,  a special envoy for the Welsh Tourist Board, and is the current Ambassador for the United Nations International Youth Movement.

A native of Brynaman, Roy now lives in Aberdare.

For the meal there will be a choice of starters, main course and desserts, with coffee & mints to finish.

Wine with the meal is not included in the ticket price but can be ordered on the night from an excellent selection offered by the Club Steward.

Those booking to attend will be provided with details of the course options from which to make your choice, and also the range of wines available.

Tickets are £40 per person, which includes the welcome drinks on arrival served from 7.40pm. The meal will follow from 8.20pm.

A keyboard and songsheets will be ready for our usual rousing finale, so all we need is for plenty of members and guests to turn up!

 

Quiz Night
Our Quiz night on 27th January was very popular with 38 people braving the weather and competing to answer questions with a Welsh theme.

Modesty forbids me from mentioning which team won.

Gwyndaf