There was a pretty full house for Sioned Davies’s talk on Lady Charlotte Guest last Friday and buoyed up by the buzz of the evening, people are now tuning their guitars, exercising their singing voices and waggling their piano fingers in readiness for the Noson Lawen at Earlsdon Park Village Hall (CV5 6JQ) at 7.30pm on February 8th.  Only £2.50 (non-members £3).  Come early, and have a coffee or a drink at the bar beforehand.

We start the New Year with Sioned Davies giving us her illustrated talk Lady Charlotte Guest – her life and legacy.  (Friday 18th January 7.30pm. Earlsdon Park Village Hall.)  Lady Charlotte Guest (1812-95) was one of the most outstanding women of the nineteenth century.  This illustrated talk will examine her contribution to Wales and to Welsh literature, in particular her English translation of The Mabinogion.

Sioned is a Professor in Cardiff University’s School of Welsh and was for twenty years its Head of Department.  She is the much acclaimed recent translator of The Mabinogion – stories from the 12^th and 13^th centuries compiled in Middle Welsh.  The Guardian wrote “This fresh, energetic translation is a revelation and, for the first time, shows off The Mabinogion tales as what they were originally: splendid entertainment.”

This WILL BE an excellent talk from an acknowledged expert in her field.

One year ago the Welsh Chapel Bilingual Carol Service was cancelled due to a heavy snow fall that disrupted the country for a few days.  This year no snow is forecast and the planned congregational carols, readings and a few musical interludes will definitely take place.  And afterwards we are all invited for a cup of tea, a piece of cake and a chat.  Circle Sunday 16^th December, 3pm, in your diaries.  Where?  The Great Meeting House, 116 Holyhead Road. CV1 3AE.

On Friday 16th November we welcome Tamar Eluned Williams, a multi award-winning storyteller. Among these awards is Young Storyteller of the Year Award, 2016.

Tamar will perform a collection of Welsh myths and legends under the title “Crochan Awen/ Cauldron of Inspiration“. It will be a journey through the landscape of Celtic myth and legend interweaving spoken word with song.

In October, Tamar gave this show to the Birmingham Storytelling Café. “Wasn’t Tamar wonderful! It was a real pleasure to listen to such a skilled storyteller. Her ancient stories kept us completely in the here and now. We were entranced throughout.”

On 19^th October at 7.30pm at Beechwood Tennis Club, we welcome back Brian Davies, an old friend of the Society, to talk about The Industrial Revolution in South Wales in Art.  When asked, “How do we sell another art talk to our committee?” he replied, “You ain’t seen one quite like this – the history it illuminates; the background.”

His previous talk about John Nixon and the Welsh Coal Trade to France elicited comments such as:

“Absolutely brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed.  One of the best talks we’ve had.” – HM.

“One of the best talks I’ve been to in years.” – SB.

Our St David’s Dinner was held at the end of the coldest, snowiest week of the winter.  Our singers from Aberystwyth couldn’t get out of the county but we held our nerve and the dinner went ahead as planned.  With two days’ notice Cambrian Society members and four singers from Andy Jones’ Côr Cymraeg Coventry stepped into the breach and provided the entertainment.

“You pulled it off!!  Da iawn wir – it looked as if it wouldn’t happen but it was brilliant!”  BH.

“We were very glad we made it last night – your TEAM of entertainers gave us a superb show, one we would love to see again! Our congratulations to all of them.”  MR.

“It was a great evening of homespun fun and relaxation, with so many friends under one roof enjoying good food and company.”  RM.

On the Friday 21^st October 1966 the coal tip above Aberfan slid down the mountain engulfing a farm, houses and a school.  144 people died including 116 children.  It was the day before the half term holiday.

Coventry Cathedral is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the disaster at their 12 noon service on Friday 21^st October, again the day before half term, incorporating the Litany of Reconciliation (in the Ruins) and Holy Communion (in the Chapel of Unity).  The service will be led by one of their honorary chaplains, Canon Roger Turner and the Coventry Cambrian Society will be participating with Dianne Thomas reading one of the lessons.  Everybody is welcome to attend.

Poster Landscape with post code. Dim Rhif

Unfortunately, because of ill health, Tim Ryan has had to cancel his September 18th talk about the Beachley Aust Ferry.  We apologise for this but we’re glad to say that at very short notice, Liz Pitman has rearranged her weekend to be able to give us an illustrated talk based on her book  Pigsties and Paradise: Lady Diarists and the Tour of Wales 1795 -1860.

“They were mostly well-to-do ladies.  They came, they saw, and they wrote… about landscapes, naked bathing, drunk coach drivers and terrible weather….”

More information on:  http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/authors-notes-liz-pitman-pigsties-2083252

Our trip on May 9th packed a lot into a day.  It started with a tour around Ynysangharad Park led by Brian Davies, one time curator of Pontypridd Museum.  He gave us a short history of the town, the canal, the Brown Lennox Chain Works and the composing of the words and music of the Welsh National Anthem by father and son, Evan and James James.

We split up for lunch in the town – a pub or an Italian café – and then made our way to the Museum for a tour led by Brian and Dave Gwyer, the Assistant Curator.

Then to the Rhondda Heritage Park with a trip underground, followed by a visit to Capel Rhondda in Hopkinstown where the hymn Cwm Rhondda was first sung one hundred year’s ago.  Brian gave us a history of the hymn which we then sang with gusto before having tea and cakes prepared by three kind ladies from the chapel.