From the Welsh Centre l at Grays Inn Road LWChwefror/February 2013 • Rhif/IssueC 66 L £2.00 www.londonwelsh.org

Celebrating St David’s Day at the London Welsh P5 & 7

Cylchgrawn Cymry Llundain The magazine of the London Welsh 2 LW CLl O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE Building a new vision of a sustainable future for the London Welsh Centre 2012 was a breathless year of And there has never been a more excitement – for the UK, for London exciting time to be a Trustee at the and for the London Welsh Centre. London Welsh Centre. We reformed the constitution, At the time of writing, we are very embedded a new staff structure and close to appointing an architect to launched a cultural plan to deliver provide the visionary design that, once more comprehensively on our delivered, will give the Centre a charitable objects. sustainable future. The appointment of I hope you have been able to the architect comes after two years of enjoy some of the results as we try hard work on a study of the feasibility to deliver a programme that appeals of the refurbishment of the Centre. to a broad range of people from Congratulations and thanks to choral concerts to live music gigs to James Thomas who has led this process quizzes to fascinating forum so diligently to this crucial stage. evenings. Alex Meredith We expect to reveal our final While new and exciting activities abound at the Centre – a design for the Centre at a launch event later this year. All play group, breast-feeding support group and a new drama group supporters will be invited. From there we will consult on the are the latest additions - the Trustees continue to focus on Centre design and fundraising for the project will begin in ensuring that good governance is at the heart of our earnest. We want as many supporters as possible to be involved organisation. in this vital process so please do stay tuned to Centre emails and In that context I am disappointed to report that Rita Clark letters so that you can help us deliver a London Welsh Centre fit has decided that the turn of the year is the right time to step for the future. down as a Trustee and Vice President. In the meantime, there will be our annual opportunity to Rita’s encyclopaedic knowledge of London Welsh history and celebrate some of the achievements of the past financial year depth of experience of the Centre will be a great loss to the and congratulate the staff and volunteers that have made them Trustee board. Happily we will retain Rita’s expertise on the happen at our AGM on 25 February at the Centre. The notice of editorial committee of the magazine. I would like to take this the AGM and a copy of the Trustees’ annual report are enclosed. opportunity to thank Rita for her continued dedication to the Please do have a read of the report as it gives the best overview Centre and for her wisdom and guidance as a Trustee. of the current position of our organisation. Rita stepping down does open up an empty seat on the The AGM is an opportunity to meet the Trustees and to bring Trustee board, and I would welcome and encourage any potential comments and suggestions on our performance. The Trustees are applicants. In order for the Centre to continue to make progress proud of what has been achieved in financial year 2011-12, and we need a we need your feedback to ensure that we are taking the Centre in LWC Ll - The Magazine of the London Welsh continuing flow of the right direction. The formal meeting will be short so we can

Published by London Welsh Centre Ltd. new faces with new concentrate on informal chats and getting to know each other 157 Grays Inn Road, London WCIX 8UE. ideas to join the at the reception after the meeting. Please do come along and Telephone: 020 7837 3722 www.cymryllundain.org.uk / www.londonwelsh.org.uk Trustees. Please do join us. EDITORIAL TEAM: Eirlys Bebb, Theo Brueton, Rita Clark, come forward if you Finally a word of thanks for a much-loved member of staff David Daniel, Gordon Roberts, Bob Trevor and Gethin Williams. would like to be who will be leaving us very shortly after nearly 20 years of DESIGN SUPPORT: Taliesin Communications. ADVERTISING: Rita Clark. PRINTED BY: Y Lolfa part of a dynamic service in the Bar. Geraint Williams will be familiar to everyone Editorial contributions may be sent to the address group of volunteers who has spent any time in the Centre over the past two decades. above or, preferably, emailed to [email protected] Advertisers may also contact Rita Clark running a superb Geraint’s hard graft, warm humour and polite service have been Views expressed in this publication must not be taken as necessarily representing those of the London Welsh charity at the heart great assets to the bar and will be missed. We thank Geraint for Association. of the Welsh so many years of loyal service to the Centre and wish him every London Welsh Centre Trust is a Registered Charity. This statement is given to support any advertisement which community in success in his future endeavours. appears in the columns of London Welsh Magazine from London. Alex Meredith, Chairman time to time in the name of the Trust and deemed, in terms of the Act, to be fundraising. @admeredith

Copy from contributors and advertisers is required by April 7 for inclusion in the next issue. O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE LW CLl 3

Famous faces at the London Welsh Centre

Photo: Aled Llywelyn www.aledllywelyn.co.uk

The London Welsh Centre welcomed a trio of famous faces on the run up to the New Year. First up was legendary Welsh singer-songwriter Dafydd Iwan in November. As part of his 50th anniversary tour, Dafydd and his band performed a lengthy set including many of the songs that made him such a vital cultural figure within .The band received a rapturous reception from all those present and it was fitting that the Centre was the only venue to host the band outside of Wales. Next came Stephen Jones , welcomed as the most capped Welsh Rugby player of all time. After a glittering club career with

Neville Southall with Rhian Jones

Footballer Neville Southall also visited the London Welsh Centre. The most capped Welsh footballer of all time chose the Centre to launch his new book ‘The Binman Chronicles’. With 92 caps for Wales and a lengthy list of honours in a distinguished career with Everton FC, Neville Southall is rightly included in the pantheon of great British Footballers. As the last goalkeeper to win Footballer of the Year in 1985, and Stephen Jones with Iain Richards ranked in the top 100 players of the twentieth century, it was a real the Scarlets, Clermont Auvergne and currently Wasps and an honour for the Centre to be hosting such a prestigious event. international career that includes 104 caps for Wales and 6 British & With some great support from the Everton supporters club, Irish Lions caps, Stephen’s achievements rank amongst the very best attendees were treated to stories from Neville’s career with both Wales has to offer. Everton and Wales and also provided with some of his Throughout the course of the evening, Stephen talked about his no-holds-barred opinions on the current state of football. An time in France, his new restaurant in Llanelli and provided some exceptional night for the Centre and a memory to cherish for all of great insights into life inside the Welsh camp. us who enjoy the round ball. Another memorable evening for the Centre and further evidence once again of the Centre’s ability to attract the biggest names in Iain Richards Welsh sport. Cultural Development Officer 4 LW CLl O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE Welcome on board - new clients help to balance the books and grow the Centre Like many others, the London Fel sawl un arall, mae Canolfan Cymry Llundain yn cyfri cost tywydd Welsh Centre is counting the oer mis Ionawr. Ond eto, mae’r rhagolygon ar gyfer gweddill 2013 cost of January’s cold snap. Yet dipyn fwy cadarnhaol. the outlook for the rest of 2013 Un o’r heriau mwyaf i ni fel Canolfan yw chwilio cydbwysedd is far from gloomy. rhwng ein hanghenion masnachol gyda chalendr diwylliannol sy’n Balancing the commercial fwyfwy amrywiol a hynny tra’n edrych at y dyfodol. Rwy’n hapus i needs of the Centre with an rannu newyddion da ar bob cyfrif. increasingly diverse cultural Yn gyntaf, rydym wedi sicrhau tair cytundeb llogi ystafelloedd calendar whilst building for the sylweddol yn 2013. Bydd hyn yn golygu peth sicrwydd ariannol ac yn future is undoubtedly one of hwyluso sut y caiff y Ganolfan ei rheoli o ddydd i ddydd a sut y caiff the biggest challenges we face adnoddau eu rhannu. Yn ail, mae’r Pencampwriaeth Chwe Gwlad and I am happy to share good wedi hen ddechrau a rydym wedi rhoi cynlluniau ar waith i wella news on all those fronts. profiad ein cwsmeriaid. Rydym yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid Firstly, we have secured three sizeable room hire contracts in allweddol, Peter’s Foods a Brains Beer i hyrwyddo’r brand Cymreig 2013 that will provide financial stability, helping day-to-day trwy ddarparu cynnyrch safonol o Gymru. Yn drydydd, mae’n bleser i management and allocation of resources. Secondly, 6 Nations Rugby groesawu dau grŵp newydd i’r Ganolfan. Mae White Desert is underway and we have put plans in place to improve the overall Productions yn gwmni theatr proffesiynol a fydd yn ymarfer ac yn match day experience - working with key partners, Peter’s Foods and perfformio yn y Ganolfan drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Byddwn yn Brains Beer to provide quality Welsh products. gweithio gyda’r cwmni i recriwtio Grŵp Drama Cymunedol. Mae Thirdly, we are proud to welcome two new resident groups to cylch chware ‘Cwtsh’ yn parhau i dyfu, diolch i ymdrechion y the Centre. White Desert Productions, a professional drama gwirfoddolwyr. Mae llwyddiannau ac uchelgeisiau’r grŵp yn argoeli’n company, will be rehearsing and performing at the Centre dda ar gyfer Cymry Llundain y dyfodol ac yn arwyddocaol o’r hyn y throughout the year and we will be working with the company to mae’r Ganolfan yn geisio ei gyflawni. recruit a Community Drama Group as well. Gwnawn ein gorau i gefnogi gweithgareddau a digwyddiadau tu ‘Cwtsh’, the Welsh playgroup has continued to grow, thanks to hwnt i’r Ganolfan hefyd. Rydym yn hynod falch i gefnogi the efforts of volunteer organisers. The achievements and ambitions yr Urdd tu hwnt i Gymru yng Nghapel Jewin am yr eildro, a hynny fel of this group bode well for future generations of London Welsh and rhan o benwythnos Cymreig i ddathlu Dydd Gwyl Dewi. symbolic of what we are trying to achieve at the Centre. Serch hynny, fel elusen rhaid i ni ganolbwyntio ein hymdrechion We also do our very best to support activities and events beyond ar anghenion y Ganolfan a sicrhau y caiff ein hadnoddau prin eu the Centre and are proud to support the regional Urdd Eisteddfod in defnyddio yn y ffordd orau posib. Yn ddiweddar rydym wedi ymuno Jewin Chapel again as part of a Welsh weekend to mark St David’s gyda Rhwydwaith Canolfannau Cymunedol Camden a bydd hyn yn Day. ein galluogi i rannu adnoddau a phrofiadau yn ogystal â chodi ein However, as a charity we do have to focus on the Centre and proffil a’n hygrededd yn lleol. ensure our limited resources are used effectively. We have recently Rydym bob amser yn hapus i drafod potensial ar gyfer joined the Camden Community Centres Network, a move that will cydweithio a mae tystiolaeth glir o sut y mae’r trafodaethau hynny enable us to share resources and knowledge and will raise our profile yn dwyn ffrwyth. Rydym yn parhau i annog adborth a syniadau a and credibility locally. chroesawn unrhyw gyfle i rannu ein cynlluniau tra’n meithrin We are always happy to discuss partnership working and there is dealltwriaeth o rai o’r rhwystrau presennol sy’n wynebu’r Ganolfan. clear evidence of how these discussions are bearing fruit. We also Ac wrth gwrs rydym yn annog unrhywun sy’n ymweld â’r Ganolfan want feedback and ideas and welcome an opportunity to share our nawr ac yn mwynhau’r profiad i roi gair ar led am le mor wych ac plans, whilst nurturing a broader understanding of some of the unigryw ydyw. limitations the Centre currently faces. Efallai i eira mis Ionawr darfu ar nifer o gynlluniau, gan gynnwys And of course we encourage anyone visiting and enjoying the gwyliau blynyddol y teulu Jones i Sir Benfro, ond rydym yn hyderus y London Welsh Centre now to tell others about this truly unique and bydd pelen eira Canolfan Cymry Llundain yn parhau i dyfu a wonderful place. chyflymu yn 2013. That January snow may have put paid to many plans - including the Jones family’s annual winter break in Pembrokeshire - but we are Diolch i chi am eich cefnogaeth a diolch arbennig i’r tîm sy’n gwneud confident that the London Welsh Centre snowball will continue to y cylchgrawn arbennig hwn yn bosib. grow and gain momentum in 2013 - no ‘downhill all the way’ jokes, please!! Rhian Jones, Chief Executive Thank you for your continued support and a special thank you to the team who make this wonderful magazine possible. [email protected] www.londonwelsh.org @LondonWelshCCLL

Room hire great rates • flexible options • warm welcome www.londonwelsh.org O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE LW CLl 5

PenwythnosGDŽylDdewiynLlundain 01/03/13ͲDiwrnodAgoredyngNghanolfanCymryLlundain(9amͲ4pm)  01/03/13ͲTwmpath+AdloniantyngNghanolfanCymryLlundain(6:30pm—hwyr)  02/03/13ͲEisteddfodyrUrddigystadleuwyrtuallaniGymruͲCapelJewin(cychwynam10am)  02/03/13—CyngerddGDŽylDdewiyngNghanolfanCymryLlundain(7:30pm) Gyda:ChôrMeibionGwalia,EirlysMyfanwyDavies,HywelGirls’ChoiraHywelBoySingers  Manylionpellachamyrhollddigwyddiadauwww.londonwelsh.orgawww.urdd.org/eisteddfod

StDavid’sWeekendinLondon 01/03/13ͲOpenDayattheLondonWelshCentre(9amͲ4pm)  01/03/13ͲTwmpath+EntertainmentattheLondonWelshCentre(6:30pm—late)  02/03/13ͲUrddEisteddfodforcompetitorsoutsideWales—JewinChapel(startsat10am)  02/03/13ͲStDavid’sConcertattheLondonWelshCentre(7:30pm) With:GwaliaMaleVoiceChoir,EirlysMyfanwyDavies,HywelGirls’ChoirandHywelBoySingers  Furtherdetailsonalleventswww.londonwelsh.organdwww.urdd.org/eisteddfod 6 LW CLl O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE s e n o J

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: o t o h P Y Bandana Huw Stephens Presents….. All the way from north Wales... and right on song s

Huw Stephens is a man who needs no introduction. But are you Bandana and Tom ap Dan, both e n o J aware of The London Welsh Sessions? On the last Friday of every from North-West Wales - s y r month, the London Welsh Centre will be showcasing the very Caernarfon and Y Felinheli a C

: best in Welsh talent. The London Welsh Centre is rapidly building respectively. As London is a o t o h

a reputation as becoming a platform in London, where bands multi-cultural city, we had people P from all over Wales want to perform, outside of the Welsh from all over the world flocking to Tom ap Dan circuit-scene. This, in turn, is helping them to reach out to a see both artists, in what can only be described as an amazing bigger audience and gaining them new fans from all over the night of live music. First up, with just an acoustic guitar for world. The London Welsh Sessions are demonstrating what is so company, was Tom Ap Dan performing songs he writes himself special and unique about the Welsh music scene at the moment. without any gimmicks. He has gained a loyal following with his This is helping to banish out-dated stereotypical musical honest and refreshing lyrics, as well as his melodic songs and expectations to the historical music-scrapheap. These artists are great voice. Caernarfon-founded band Y Bandana were next on, definitely not stereotypical. They are bringing a new creative four very young, fresh, enthusiastic, creative and fun guys and a expression to Wales’ music history and we feel that this is the group of talented musicians. The crowd certainly loved it and start of a new revolution in Welsh music, which needs to be they had women dancing and rocking around the stage all night celebrated and highlighted. with a set full of energy, enthusiasm and it was fantastic to see. January's Sessions welcomed the incredible talents of Y See the interviews on our web-site. Carys Jones

Iconic isolated Welsh Chapel - in the hustle and bustle of central London Ceredigion based artist, Wynne Melville Jones is showcasing his work at the London Welsh Centre during 2013. The series started with a painting of the iconic chapel, Soar-y-Mynydd. It is the first of twelve paintings by the artist to go on display at the Centre during 2013 and will remind in London of their nonconformist and cultural heritage. Rhian Jones, CEO, London Welsh Centre said: “We are delighted to play host to Wynne’s work at the London Welsh Centre. This is part of our ‘Platfform’ scheme which offers opportunities for Welsh creative industries to showcase their work in our wonderful Central London location. As a Cardi myself, the painting of Soar-y-Mynydd bears particular significance and I am sure that our regular customers, as well as visitors, will be impressed by the cultural and historical importance of Wynne’s Soar-Y –Mynydd paintings”. www.orielwynmel.co.uk O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE LW CLl 7 Welcome back – Hywel Choristers at the London Welsh Centre for St David’s Concert Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers It’s been a long time coming - 36 years since their last awarded Performance Singing appearance at the Centre in fact - but Llanelli’s Hywel choristers Scholarships to three deserving who have already kicked off an exciting concert season with young school children from performances with Only Boys Aloud, TV recording and concerts Swansea, Llanelli and in London are back. Carmarthenshire to help them The Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, will be making a become the singing stars of guest appearance at the London Welsh St. David’s Day Concert at tomorrow. the London Welsh Centre on Saturday 2 March. The driving force and founder Further to a sell out performance with Only Boys Aloud in behind the Hywel Girls’ Choir & January, Valentine’s night saw the Hywel Choir give a televised Hywel Boy Singers is acclaimed performance of Panis Angelicus and Y Delyn Aur for S4C. The conductor, John Hywel Williams who Also appearing at the London choir will also be featured on the Easter special edition of the is also the founder of the national Welsh Centre St David’s Day celebrations will be Eirlys ever popular S4C ‘Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol’. award-winning Llanelli Choral Myfanwy Davies and the Gwalia Behind the scenes, the choir’s 2013 Scholarship Programme Society. Male Voice Choir.

St David’s Day walk makes Welsh St David’s Concert 2013 connections with the capital This year’s St David’s Concert at the Centre will be held on Saturday 2 March with performances from The ninth Annual St David’s Day Walk takes place on Saturday 2 March 2013, the London Welsh Gwalia Choir, Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers gives you the chance to stroll through the City of London, see and Eirlys Myfanwy Davies. sites with Welsh connections and hear about some of the people connected with them, including Sir Hugh Myddelton Tickets are on sale from and his brother Thomas and some Welsh Lord Mayors. both from the Centre and online via our Centre’s website – Meet outside Exit 3, Bank Tube www.londonwelsh.org . (in front of the Royal Exchange) at 11am. London Welsh Centre The walk ends at St Paul’s and lasts around subscriber discounts will apply. an hour and a half to two hours £6 per person (all proceeds to the London Welsh Centre) Prices are: No need to book, just turn up! Full Price: £25 • Cartref: £22.50 For more information, contact Caroline James on Curiad: £21.25 • Calon: £20 07906 892337 8 LW CLl CORAU/CHOIRS

Gwalia Remembering Lloyd George - in song... Early in the New Year Gwalia Male Choir were privileged to be asked to take part in the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the birth of . Our guest conductor Haydn James led us in a rendering of in front of the statue of Lloyd George in Parliament Square. The media were there to record the event and you can see the full ceremony on the Gwalia website under ‘Latest News’. d l a

After the ceremony at the statue, the choir took part in a service e H

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inside the Houses of Parliament to commemorate Lloyd George’s c c e life in the Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft, which is a wonderfully b e R

: ornate chapel, originally built in 1297. o t o h

Afterwards there was a reception at which tributes were paid to P Lloyd George by, among others, Lloyd George’s grandson Viscount Gwalia Singing at the feet of Lloyd George Tenby, and the former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Lord lead the singing and sang Morte Criste on our own. Geoffrey Howe. Lord Howe’s opening remark was to declare that he As Christmas approached, the Gwalia sang carols at Thornhill was in the position of being able to say that his father knew Lloyd Primary School at the request of Denise Ward, granddaughter of a George! former Gwalia baritone, Gareth Lewis, and sang at a wedding in St. Last October, we again visited St. Mary’s Church in the village of Mary’s Church, Chiddingstone Kent. Horton Kirby in Kent. Our guest soloist was local girl Victoria On a sad note we have to tell you of the death of Anita Griffiths, Stanyon who sang a mixture of operatic and light-hearted numbers. wife of the Gwalia’s former President David Griffiths, who passed The choir gave its usual varied programme of traditional Welsh away after a long illness on 4 November, 2012. We would like to numbers and more modern ones such as an arrangement of Ysbryd y extend our deepest sympathy to all her family. Nos which was originally composed by the pop For details of our forthcoming engagements over the next few group Edward H. Dafis in the mid-‘70s. months, please see our website at: Our next engagement on Remembrance Day was at a Gymanfa www.gwaliamalevoicechoir.org.uk Ganu at Jewin Welsh Chapel in the Barbican. The Gwalia helped to David Hurlbut

LWMVC What a year 2012 - Olympic fame, Royal Albert Hall - and now for 2013

With the Wales Choir of the World concert at the Royal Festival The Choir’s concert in London Welsh Association Hall in early July, the London Olympics Closing Ceremony in Harpenden in January set the members will fully endorse Eiddwen Evans’ MBE for her August and the biennial Male Voice Festival at the Royal Albert LWMVC off to a good start for the charitable services, seen here with Hall in October, 2012 will go down as one of the London Welsh New Year with the Methodist the Honour at Buckingham Palace, awarded for her tireless Male Voice Choir’s most prominent years in the Choir’s 110 year Church packed to the gunnels – all campaigning on behalf of the Teenage Cancer Trust over many history. the tickets being sold a month years. She has also been Nevertheless, life goes on, and the Choir has a full before the concert. Edward-Rhys appointed a Volunteer Ambassador by the Trust. programme of monthly public concerts arranged for 2013. Harry conducted the Choir, having Whilst the Choir will visit Wales for performances at Monmouth, spent the previous week ill in bed, leaving Anita D’Attellis, the the Millennium Stadium and Barry during the year, many of its pianist at Harpenden, to also take the rehearsal on the previous concerts will be in the London and the Home Counties. These Thursday. Laurie Adams made an eloquent debut as the Choir’s will include concerts at Epsom, Dartford, Rochester, Harrow and compère, and the guest soloist was Alison Langer. Eton – see the back page of this magazine for full details. Annabel Thwaite took ‘leave of absence’ from her position as Unusually this year two of the Choir’s concerts will be in Central Choir accompanist in November and on 17 December gave birth London – at St Clement Danes in The Strand in April and City to daughter Emma. Congratulations are extended to Matthew Temple on Holborn Viaduct in September. and Annabel as they start a family. CORAU/CHOIRS LW CLl 9 s e h g u H

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: o t o h P O! Deuwch Ffyddloniad! Nine Lessons & Carols yn y Ganolfan Chorale The tale of Welsh composer Joseph Parry - through music

In November, the Chorale provided the music in an entertaining On 9 December, the Chorale sang at the 50th Annual Service of evening of words and music about the life of Welsh composer Nine Lessons and Carols held at the London Welsh Centre. The Joseph Parry, presented by Parry expert and musical director of the audience packed the Main Hall, singing lustily, accompanied by London Welsh Chorale, Edward-Rhys Harry. Edward led us through pianist Jenny Trew and the London Welsh Brass Ensemble, to do the fascinating tale of Parry’s life in America, his return to Wales and justice to the occasion. London and his life as a composer. As for what 2013 might hold, we have been invited to sing at the Adding to the charm of the evening, special guests Huw Rhys St David’s Day Dinner to be held at the Guildhall in the City of Evans and Carol Foulkes gave us a spirited re-enactment of the London on 1 March. Welsh tenor, Trystan Llyr Griffiths will also famous duet from Blodwen . An evening with a difference! perform and we look forward to singing with him. The Chorale’s Christmas concert at St Giles Cripplegate was Our Spring Concert, to be held on 16 March at the Church of St dedicated to the memory of Siân Busby with a performance of the Alban the Martyr, Holborn, sees us perform Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Haydn Te Deum (a particular favourite of Siân’s), Benjamin Britten’s Mater and the Fauré Requiem . Karl Jenkins’ notes tell us that the A Ceremony of Carols accompanied beautifully on the harp by Elen Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Roman Catholic poem attributed to Hydref and John Rutter’s Magnificat with the British Sinfonietta. The Jacopone da Todi and its text meditates on the suffering of Mary, occasion was a moving one and we were honoured that Siân’s Jesus Christ’s mother, during his crucifixion. Jenkins has also set husband, Robert Peston, accepted a role as Honorary Vice President texts that lie outside the original poem as part of this striking work. of the Friends of the Chorale, speaking of Siân’s love for and pride in Fauré began writing the Requiem in 1887 but the familiar version her Welsh heritage and of her commitment to the Chorale. we know today – with full orchestra – was not performed until 1900. The Requiem captured his view of religion based on love not fear and is confiding and tender and is an enduringly loved work. Our performance will be of the 1893 version of the work in which Fauré expanded earlier versions to include the Offertoire and Libera Me . Sales of our latest CD, a concert performance of the William s

e Mathias St Teilo and Joseph Parry Te Deum , are going well but, h g u

H should you not yet have ordered your copy, you can do so through

e s o the Chorale’s website www.londonwelshchorale.org.uk. R

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n As always we welcome new singers to the Chorale – please a i r B

: come along to one of our rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 o t o

h pm if you are interested in joining the Chorale. P Carol Foulkes and Huw Rhys Evans perform the duet from Joseph Parry’s opera, Lynne Tew Hywel â Blodwen 10 LW CLl O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE

Gregynog - a home in the hearts Win the World’s First of University of Wales alumni Many London Welsh Society members, especially those who are Welsh Speaking Bear University of Wales alumni, will remember Gregynog Hall, the black Learning Welsh has just got to be more fun with the launch of and white mansion deep in the heart of Wales where they spent the world’s first Welsh speaking teddy - BB Bear. time as students or lecturers. The empty wine bottles found in the Cute and cuddly, she’s been specially created to help attic, dating from Gregynog’s ‘dry’ days, testify to convivial nights babies and toddlers learn those all-important first words of long ago, perhaps with restorative walks in the gardens and woods Welsh. Voiced by a Welsh schoolgirl, the bear is a fun the following morning. companion and a learning tool for young children, winning a Gregynog survives to this day, and is still welcoming visitors silver award at the UK Practical Pre-School Awards 2012. from Wales, London and the world. The hall is available for BB, the brainchild of film producer and toy creator Adrian weddings and conferences, and there is holiday accommodation for Devane, is supported by the fun BB App for iPad, iPhone and individuals and groups. House tours, talks, concerts and other events Android with a pre-school animation series "BB and Bella" due help keep Gregynog’s historical and cultural traditions alive. to be launched in the spring. St David’s Day marks the annual opening of the Grade One listed gardens, and the stable yard café. Furthermore, in March 2013 www.babogbaby.com the Gregynog grounds will become a National Nature Reserve, to If you’d like to win one of four BB Bears all you have to do is answer the following question. protect the ancient oaks, the rare lichens and fungi found there. Then in August 2013 the University of Wales Council has announced that Gregynog will become an independent charitable trust, to Q. Who created BB Bear? Send your entries along with your name and telephone number secure its future for the people of Wales. by 15 March to: Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, the sisters who bequeathed London Welsh Centre, 157-163 Grays Inn Road, Gregynog to the University of Wales, spent much of their time in London WCIX 8UE. their Buckingham Gate flat, but always looked forward to escaping Or by email to: [email protected] from London to the peace and the birdsong of Gregynog. For competition terms and conditions please visit Fortunately, it is still possible for us all to do the same. www.londonwelsh.org Karen Armstrong Gregynog Famed for centuries for its hospitality Conference and meeting venue. Grade 1 listed gardens and woodland walks. Courtyard café and shop with special events throughout the year. Now available for weddings.

01686 650224 [email protected] www.gregynog.wales.ac.uk Located near Newtown, Powys SY16 3PW O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE LW CLl 11

Sadism at the Centre - Christmas Quiz is a cracker!

How many floors does the world’s highest building in Dubai have? How many languages are there estimated to be spoken throughout the y r

world? r e D Quiz Master and Cultural Development Officer, Iain Richards, e n i

displayed a really sadistic streak in setting questions for the LWC’s l o r

Christmas Quiz, culminating in a request to place Wales’s ten largest a C

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cities and towns in order by population size. o t o

But this only helped to stir up the enthusiasm of the 80 strong h P audience partying in the bar. Sixteen teams enrolled for the competition, even one representing the ’s London offices. Quiz champions Criw Cylch Siarad Iain kept us all permanently on tenterhooks by not disclosing any scores until the final count of the evening. The only knowledge of the challenging task. ongoing score we had in Criw Cylch was the marks we had approved for Many thanks to Iain for his hard work and showmanship, and to the adjoining table, whom we had beaten by a single point. We felt our Lynne Walsh and her band of volunteers for the excellent buffet. We own score had been no more than adequate, so on hearing that the were also regally entertained in the interval by up and coming, Conwy team of officers and friends on the adjacent table, had actually shared singer/songwriter A Girl called Ruth, fresh from recording her latest second place with the seldom beaten City Lit team, my initial reaction album in the studio. was loudly to demand a recount, until it sank in that this meant we had We can now all look forward to the battle for LWC’s Summer Quiz actually won the competition by the single point, even if this only gave Contest and another of Iain Richards’s evil set of questions. us an overall count of 31 points out of 50. Iain had indeed set a Peter Daniels

WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE SYMPATHY to the family and friends of: supported every Welsh cause in London – the London Carmarthenshire Society of course, MARGARET EIRLYS DAVIES. Eirlys was a true example of a London Welsh woman – born but also the Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire as well. She was a loyal member of St in Hackney in East London of Cardigan parents who kept a dairy and delivered milk daily. Benets Church, but also attended events at all the chapels. The Ladies Committee raised She was evacuated to the Tregaron area during the war and returned to live in Rugby thousands of pounds for the LWA over the years – Mary was its last hard working Street where she lived for the rest of her life as she and her husband Colin took over the chairman who encouraged the ladies to meet together ever Tuesday afternoon. I cannot business when her parents retired. She was a lifelong loyal member of Jewin Chapel, think of her without thinking of cakes and raffle tickets – she made them and bought where her father was a deacon and ‘codwr canu’. Her family was the centre of Eirlys’ life. them in their hundreds over the years, for some good cause or other. She was a Her daughters Bethan and Eleri spoke of her most lovingly but also amusingly at her remarkable generous lady whom we shall not forget. God Bless Her. funeral and it was testimony to the closeness of the family and to Eirlys’ influence on ANITA GRIFFITHS. She was known throughout the Eisteddfod world as Anita them that all seven of her grandchildren spoke about Mamgu at her funeral. Just before Williams Trimsaran, as she and her sister Pegi won record numbers of prizes for solos and she died her granddaughter Nerys introduced her to her first great-grandchild – duets in folk song competitions. She came to London when she married John Thomas MOSTYN HAYDN. Bendith arno a’r teulu oll. and they ran a hotel in Norfolk Square. Anita worked in a unit to help disruptive children MARY BOWDEN. Mary was probably one of the best known members of the and following her studies at the Royal College of Music she became a very versatile London Welsh Association because of her incredible loyalty to the Association over singer able to perform in a variety of styles on concert platforms. Anita was active in the many years. She was born over 91 years ago at Penpistyll Farm, in Brechfa in London Welsh community at the same time as Rhydderch, Ryan and Gwenlyn Parry and Carmarthenshire, and although she came to London in 1942 and stayed here for the rest she was an important member of their Noson Lawen team in the sixties. In 1972 she of her life, Brechfa remained close to her heart. It was there that she met Bert who was married Judge David Griffiths (Dai Pres), the president of the Gwalia Male Choir and attending the Royal Marines Training Camp which had been evacuated to Treglog. Bert accompanied the Choir on many of its tours. Anita had been ill for a long time but never was from South London and it was to London that they moved after their wedding. She expressed any feelings of self-pity – she was a brave lady. What’s on and Where March Interested in artists from Wales performing across a wide range of genres? Here 8 – The Joy Formidable Roundhouse Chalk Farm Road NW1 are some dates for your diaries, see also London Welsh events on page 16. 9 – Kernow in the City celebrating Cornish culture with a Stand-Up, a Singer-songwriter and a supporting bill at Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green ongoing... Road John Owen-Jones (tenor) “is currently reprising his role as The Phantom in The 18 – Dopamine at Barfly Camden 49 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 Phantom of the Opera, at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket. He initially played the role nearly 1500 times from 2001 - 2005, making him the West End’s April longest running Phantom. “ 19 – Il Divo Katherine Jenkins O2 Arena SE10 23 – The Keys The Water Rats 328 Grays Inn Road February 23 – Sweet Baboo The Lexington 96-98 Pentonville Road 11 – Nerina Pallot with Bright Light Bright Light supporting at Assembly Hall, 27 – Aled Jones Guildford Cathedral Stag Hill GU2 7UP Islington Town Hall, Upper Street N1 29 – through to 7th June Gwyn Hughes Jones tenor as Rodolfo in La bohème 11 – Masters In France at Birthdays 33-35 Stoke Newington Road N16 8BJ at London Coliseum 15 – through to 16th March - Rhian Lois (sop .) as Nerine in Medée at The Coliseum May 18 – Al Lewis at St Pancras Old Church 12 – Aled Jones Union Chapel Upper St. London N1 18 – Funeral for a Friend (matinee) at The Peel, 160 Cambridge Road, Kingston 17-18 – Masters In France, The Keys and many others at Gŵyl Pili Pala Fest Upon Thames, KT1 UK 2013 Swansea 18 – Funeral for a Friend at The Garage, 20-22 Highbury Corner N5 22 – Paper Aeroplanes, Bush Hall 310 Uxbridge Road W12 20 – Sweet Baboo at The Shacklewell Arms, 71 Shacklewell Lane E8 2EB 23 – Gŵyl y Gelli - Hay Festival . Full programme and tickets available in April. 22 – Bloc Party with The Joy Formidable in support at Earls Court, Warwick Early bird tickets for selected events on sale now. Road SW5 26 – Amy Wadge and Pete Riley Half Moon, Putney 12 LW CLl DIGWYDDIADAU/EVENTS

The last case to be prosecuted was in Harlech, where a Witches of Wales mysterious light, said to have spread from the grave of a suicide, was reputed to have burnt crops. Edward Floyd, a scientist, The horror with which people regarded witches in past times was thought that it was due to the presence of a plague of locusts perhaps comparable to present day reactions to paedophiles. which had decomposed to produce methane, which had then That’s what Richard Suggett from the Royal Commission on ignited. Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales told the London Branch In 1735 a new Witchcraft Act, reflecting changing attitudes, of the Welsh Family History Societies on 3 November 2012. abolished witchcraft as a felony and instead brought in penalties The concept of witches as enemies of God, to be sought out for its pretence. Nevertheless, most areas continued to have their and destroyed, emerged in Europe at the start of the fifteenth local witch, who might also be a fortune-teller. The Denbigh century, reaching England by the mid-sixteenth century, with the fortune teller Bela Fawr impressed artist Edward Pugh with the first prosecution in Essex in 1560. A century later the concept had respectability and profitability of her trade when he drew her for spread to North America, with the witch trials of Salem, and to Cambria Depicta. Scandinavia, appearing in Poland in the eighteenth century. Conjurors now appeared, mostly men, who like Dr Faustus In spite of contemporary ideas about Welsh occult beliefs and purported to summon devils. They ‘found’ lost or stolen goods, the supernatural powers of people like Merlin and Owain Glyndwr, ‘discovered’ treasure, ‘identified’ thieves, and ‘cured’ the sick and there were few prosecutions for witchcraft in Wales - around 40 the insane. They used protective charms, kept in a bottle and between 1550 and 1730. Numbers peaked in the 1650s, echoing placed on lintels, right up to the mid-19th century. the activities of Matthew Hopkins (‘Witchfinder-General’) in Ffynnon Elian in Anglesey, probably a mediaeval curative well, England, and again in the 1690s contemporary with the Salem was used in the eighteenth century to curse people. For 10 shillings cases. a person’s name would be written on a piece of slate, sometimes Gwen verch Ellis was the first woman in Wales to be hanged as with a wax effigy attached, and put into the well. The anxious a witch, in 1590. Twice widowed, she made her living selling charms victim might then pay 20 shillings to have the charm removed. and medicines, and was thought to be able to hurt as well as help. Alarmed members of the local chapel destroyed the well in She left a charm in the home of Sir Thomas Mostyn, thereby 1828. Jac Ffynnon Elian, a local man, constructed a new well on his provoking the enmity of a rich and powerful man. Several people own property, but was imprisoned for extracting money under testified to her ability to cause harm, and mentioned her ’familiar’ – false pretences. a monstrous fly. Despite widely-held belief in charms and magic, there were no large-scale witch hunts in Wales. Though witches and conjurors continued to play a part in Welsh life up to the nineteenth century, Nonconformity eventually buried these traditional customs and beliefs. Anna Brueton l e u m a S

n h o J

: o t o h P Priodas Priodwyd y gweinidog, Parchg. Peter Dewi Richards â Mair Gillard, un o'r diaconiaid yn Eglwys Gymraeg Canol Llundain, ar ddechrau 2012 gyda'r Parchg. Gwylfa Evans yn gweinyddu. Estynnwn ein dymuniadau gorau wrth iddynt ddathlu penblwydd cyntaf eu priodas.

14 LW CLl CHWARAEON/SPORT Fighting spirit of the London Welsh but is it enough to keep them in Premiership?

It’s 11 January and London Welsh, on 21points, are 10th in the twelve team Aviva Premiership, 5 points ahead of London Irish in 11th position, and 10 points ahead of bottom placed Sale. With 4 points on offer for every game won, to make up the difference, Sale would have to achieve at least two more wins than Welsh in the remaining nine games, plus extra bonus points for losing by 7 points or less, or scoring 4 tries, in a game. To date Welsh have 4 wins under their belt compared to 3

by Irish and 2 by Sale. All three teams have each only managed s e g

16 tries in total so far this season (compared to 33 by league a m I

y leaders Harlequins), so losing bonuses seem the most likely t t e G

source of additional points. Welsh have managed 5 of these so : o t o

far this season compared to 3 by the other two sides. h P The Premiership now takes a break until early February Seb jewell before Welsh’s next game at third- placed Leicester and then the crucial home fixture against Sale. This is followed by four more determined forward effort in the second half saw two consecutive away games; it is not in Welsh’s favour that only Welsh tries, one from wing Nick Scott after continued five yard three of their remaining nine fixtures are at home. pressure, the other from an interception. Numerous overlaps A disturbing feature, prior to the last home game against also went begging through a succession of three quarter Quins, was a failure to score even one try in their previous three handling errors. But having closed the gap to five points Welsh matches. Tries seem to come only from interceptions or driving defended defiantly and valiantly to preserve their losing bonus mauls by Welsh’s newly acquired forward strength. A clear point. indication of the latter is our French loose head prop Peter Daniels Montanella’s selection in the mid term Premiership Dream Team. Outside half Gordon Ross’s boot has provided 124 of Welsh’s league points, at a success rate of 81%. Welsh star, Gavin Henson, is still to return from injury, having only featured in three games so far this season, and a further factor in Welsh’s lack of mid field penetration, is the continued absence of key centre threequarter Hudson Tonga’uiha. But there is talk of a major new signing in this crucial position. Off the field Welsh are making every effort to develop local interest in the schools around their new Oxford home, even if the ambition of every recruited ball boy is to play for England. They have also announced the appointment of new CEO Tony Copsey, ex Scarlet and Welsh international, previously CEO of both Quins and Wasps, and latterly consultant to London Scottish. It is already rumoured that Tony is in discussion with Oxford United football club about a joint ownership bid for Oxford’s Kassam Stadium. The Wasps match over the Christmas period saw a Kassam home game attendance exceed 10,000 for the first time. But purchasing the stadium is obviously dependent on Welsh first achieving Premiership survival. The last game at home against Quins was a microcosm of Welsh’s season to date. Succumbing early on to the pace of the Quins XV, Welsh leaked three tries before half time. A much

Who’s doing what, and where Events at the London Welsh Centre London Welsh Male Voice Choir February Musical Director: Edward-Rhys Harry. 10 – Cwtsh (Welsh language playgroup) 10am-12pm Accompanist: Annabel Thwaite. 16 – Intensive Welsh Course / Cwrs Undydd 16 February St Martin of Tours Church , Epsom 22 – Huw Stephens Presents …The London Welsh Sessions 2 March Orchard Theatre , Dartford, Kent 23 – Six Nations Rugby Italy v Wales doors open 12pm 15 March Monmouth School , Monmouth 24 – Cwtsh (Welsh language playgroup) 10am-12pm 16 March Pre match entertainment: Wales v England , 25 – London Welsh Centre AGM Millennium Stadium Cardiff 26 – The Rugby Business Network 6 April Romsey Abbey , Hampshire 27 April St Clement Danes , The Strand, London March Choir rehearsals are held from 7.30 – 9.30 every Thursday evening at the 1 – St David’s Day celebrations (various activities throughout the day) London Welsh Centre, 157, Gray’s Inn Road. All visitors and potential new 2 – St David’s Concert choristers are always welcome. 9 – Six Nations Rugby Scotland v Wales doors open 12pm For more information, please see our up-to-date website at: 10 – Cwtsh (Welsh language playgroup) 10am-12pm www.londonwelshmvc.org 16 – Six Nations Rugby Wales v England doors open 12pm 18 – The Rugby Business Network 22 – Huw Stephens Presents …The London Welsh Sessions Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion 24 – Cwtsh (Welsh language playgroup) 10am-12pm President: Prys Morgan, DL MA, DPhil, FSA, FRHistS. Please note that unless indicated otherwise, all lectures are delivered at: April The Medical Society of London, 11 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, 13 – Cwtsh (Welsh language playgroup) 2.30pm – 4.30pm London W1G 9EB, at 6.30pm . 17 – Huw Stephens Presents …The London Welsh Sessions 12 March (Tues) The Welshness of Goronwy Rees . By Jenny 22 – The Rugby Business Network Rees with Peter Jeffreys , Honorary Secretary of the 27 – Cwtsh (Welsh language playgroup) 2.30pm – 4.30pm Cymmrodorion in the chair Please note that events are subject to change. Please check our website or 16 April (Tues) Origins, Values And Benefits Of Four call the Centre for the latest information. For further information on Cwtsh Cultural Projects In Wales -Artes Mundi, National please visit http://cwtsh.redantennae.co.uk Botanic Garden of Wales, Aberglasney and Plas Llanelly House By William Wilkins CBE DL, Gwalia Male Choir Director Artes Mundi, with Professor Stuart Cole Musical Director – James Hearn CBE, Council member in the Chair 2 March St. David’s Day Celebration , London Welsh Centre For details of further meetings consult the Honourable Society’s website 6 April Wedding – St. Mary’s Church, Wimbledon www.cymmrodorion.org Choir rehearsals are held from 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. every Wednesday at the London Welsh Centre, 157, Gray’s Inn Road. All visitors & potential new members always welcome. For more information, please see our website London Branch of the at:- http://www.gwaliamalevoicechoir.org.uk Welsh Family History Societies 11 May Mari Alderman : Dating Old Photographs London Welsh Chorale 14 September Topic and speaker to be arranged Musical Director: Edward-Rhys Harry 9 November Pam Buttrey : Booze, Bankruptcy Bastards and a Baker: 1 March St David’s Day Dinner , Guildhall, Gresham Street, researching an 18th century gentry family in N. Wales London EC2V 7HH With performances from the Meetings are held at 2 pm at Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel, 90 London Welsh Chorale and Trystan Llyr Griffiths Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 0EX. Anyone with an interest in Welsh 16 March 7.30pm Spring concert at the Church of St Alban family history is very welcome to join us. the Martyr , Holborn. Fauré ‘s Requiem, Karl Jenkins’ Details of meetings can be found on the branch website Stabat Mater www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wlslbfhs / or by contacting the 13 July Summer Concert , venue to be confirmed. Brahms’ Secretary, Anne Jones, on 0208 925 4000 , e-mail Requiem [email protected] . Choir rehearsals are held from 7.15 – 9.30 pm every Tuesday at the London Welsh Centre, 157, Gray’s Inn Road. All visitors and potential new members If you would like a PDF copy of the London Welsh magazine are always welcome. For more information, or if you are interested in instead of a printed version please let us know at [email protected] joining the choir please see our Website: www.londonwelshchorale.org.uk or e-mail: [email protected] The London Welsh Camerata, drawn from the main Chorale membership, is a small group performing regularly at weddings, and special occasions of all Llongyfarchiadau - Congratulations kinds. If you would like to find out more about the Camerata, to discuss To our Chairman ALEX MEREDITH and his wife KATE on the repertoire, or to make a booking, please contact Rhiannon Hughes: birth of their daughter ELSA CAITLIN; [email protected] To LWMVC pianist ANNABEL THWAITE, and MATTHEW JONES on the birth of a daughter, EMMA; London Welsh Rugby Male Voice Choir To GETHIN (past LWT chairman) and NEST WILLIAMS on Musical Director: Michael Wyn Jones. the engagement of both of their daughters. CARYS is engaged Accompanist: Anita D’Attellis. to Geoff Angell and HÂF is engaged to Shaun Grace. 19 March Tour to Hong Kong (HK 7’s Rugby Tournament) 20 April Concert in Watford (Venue to be confirmed) Belatedly to RAY HOWELLS, a past editor of this magazine 11 May All Saints Church , East Sheen for over 20 years, on his appointment as Professor of Welsh For further and more up-to-date information, please see our website at: Antiquity and Director of the South Wales Centre for Historical www.thelondonwelshrugbyclubchoir.org and Interdisciplinary Research at the University of Wales in Choir rehearsals are held once a month (usually 1st Sunday of the month) Newport. 11.30 – 4.00. Potential new choristers are always welcome.