September /October 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
North America Wales Foundation News Newyddion o Sefydliad Cymru Gogledd America Pages 19-21 From the President in a Season of Virtual Festivals This is the season of virtual Many more details about these expressed their gratitude for this festivals and performance on plans are given elsewhere in this material support. A priceless various social media outlets. It issue of Ninnau. bonus to this generosity was is a tribute to the commitment A highlight of the founda- their sense that someone cared and persistence of all involved tion’s annual activities is our for and admired them for how to lighten the burden and loneli- joint banquet with the Welsh they are dealing with adversity ness that the epidemic has North American Association on as they pursue their studies. caused many people. the Friday evening of NAFOW. Our director Gerri Baker This week, which brings July It is then that we present our Parry has undertaken an exten- to a close, several of us would most prestigious award the sive upgrade of our website. have packed our bags for depar- Heritage Medallion – y Among its many attributes will ture to the National Eisteddfod Medaliwn Treftadaeth – to indi- be that it allows single, easy in Tregaron, in the rolling hills viduals who have made major access to individual sections with their beautiful views of contributions to Welsh-North concerning activities in Wales Cardiganshire. They have American life. This presentation and North America while main- replaced the occasion with a is followed by a recital by the taining the unity of purpose and sustained series of virtual pre- recipient of the Osborne goals on both sides of the sentations available to all at Roberts Blue Riband presented Atlantic. Launch of the website [email protected] . to the champion soloist under is planned for the end of On our return, we would have the age of 25 at the previous August, and in the next issue of pointed ourselves towards year’s national eisteddfod. Ninnau, we will give details of Philadelphia for NAFOW over Edward Morus Jones was to how to access its content, anoth- the Labor Day weekend. receive the Heritage Medallion A reminder of how important our Welsh events our to us; the er way for us to remain in COVID-19 got in the way of in Philadelphia with music to be National Eisteddfod in Cardiff, 2018 touch, particularly since the our travel plans. But wait, this performed by Dafydd Jones. website will have a blog sec- did not deter the organizers led Both Edward and Dafydd live in good enough to provide greet- undaunted with their plans to tion. by Megan Williams and the Wales. While Edward is a fre- ings in words and song for continue and complete their I hope you will find it possi- local organizing committee quent visitor to Philadelphia to Philadelphia’s virtual NAFOW. studies in Wales. And each has ble to enjoy the virtual festivals from coming up with an ambi- be with his wife Mary, this was As we report elsewhere in this a compelling story to tell. online to tide us over until more tious plan for a virtual NAFOW to have been Dafydd’s first visit section of Ninnau, our founda- With gratitude, we thank a normal and less restrictive times that can be enjoyed by all, to North America. tion has completed a successful generous donor who donated a arrive. including those who would not Happily, both have indicated year of scholarship and grant substantial gift to be shared have been able to travel to their willingness to be with us at awards. We remain in touch among our scholars after read- Philip Davies Philadelphia – a slender silver NAFOW in Ottawa next year. with our 2019 scholarship recip- ing their stories in the last issue NAWF President lining to the COVID-19 cloud. As a prelude they have been ients as each of them continues of Ninnau. The students Original NWAF Director Wilfred O. Greenway, “Welsh Colossus” 1920–2008 By James Thomas 71), Wil had also been a found- Award for Outstanding ing director of the North Contributions to the Air Don’t the whisper the “pass- American Chamber of Transportation and Cargo word”; sing it out loud – Commerce, a vice president of Industry. “Croeso i Efrog Newydd. Cymru a’r Byd, and a vice pres- Wil was active to the end and Welcome to New York.” The ident of the Pendyrus Male always ready with a warm wel- first “Wales Week” in the city Voice Choir. come, help, and good advice. was celebrated in 1975 during He was also a founding direc- He attended Catrin Brace’s the North American Festival of tor (1975) and past president Wales Week in New York event Wales (aka the 44th Annual (1985–87) of the JFK Airport “Wales on Wall Street” and met Gymanfa Ganu). Celebrants Chamber of Commerce, a direc- with Welsh Assembly minister renamed the Regent Room of tor of the Queens [NYC!] Ieuan Wyn Jones, Welsh- the Hilton as the Welsh Inn, and Economic Development Canadian business man Sir 2,500 people attended. Corporation, and an active Terry Matthews, and NAWF Wilfred Greenway, chair of Freemason. He was master of Medallion recipient Sir Howard the local committee of the St. Britannia Lodge #1166 (three Stringer. David’s Society of New York, times) and District Deputy After his death on 7 March took charge (in his usual tactful Grand Master, Fourth District, 2008, he was remembered at his way) as, according to The New Manhattan, Grand Lodge of church, the Welsh Congregation York Times, the “enthusiastic New York. of New York. President David and knowledgeable dispenser of For the National Welsh- Morgan of the St. David’s Welsh lore, local and global.” American Foundation (NAWF), Society declared, “We will miss After five years of planning, he was a founding director in his wisdom and integrity.” As it had finally come to life. In the 1980, served as president in Dr. Philip Davies eulogized, tristate area, Will guessed, 1984 to 1985, and acted in Wil was” a colossus who “there are 5,000 Welsh people many different capacities after bestrode Welsh American life within 50 miles of the Empire that for the foundation until his for the 60 years that he lived in State Building, which is not death. As Editor Peter Williams Jean Ward Greenway and Wilfred O. Greenway at the 2006 the United States” and was “one exactly a St. Patrick’s Day said in The Eagle & the St. David's banquet in New York. of the great visionaries” to “pro- parade.” But he noted that, Dragon, the NWAF newsletter, mote Welsh-American history “people are glad to find there’s he “proudly served as our and contemporary life.” a Welsh organization in New NWAF roving ambassador.” often with the simple byline of With his wife Kay, he moved When his wife Kay suffered a York.” And the festival had He produced several presti- Ninnau Correspondent. That to New York in 1947 with the stroke in 1988, Wil provided “everything,” even two octets. gious NAWF events, including was a measure of his modesty. British Overseas Airways exemplary daily care for her “One of them is a 10-voice octet Heritage Medallion presenta- He just got the job done and Corporation to a distinguished until her death in 1997. He then …typically Welsh.” tions in 1999 in New York with didn’t worry about getting his career in the airline industry. He later met and, in 2003, married Years later in 2006, he was Paul Loveluck CBE and Will name up front. became Cargo Sales Manager Jean Ward, an international honored by NAWF with the Rhys; in 2000 in Washington Wilfred Owen Greenway was and later, Export Cargo business and cultural consultant, Order of American Ivorites at with Hywel Davies and Howard born in Swansea, Wales, on 12 Manager for BOAC (later who became his beloved second the annual dinner of the St. Patrick; and in 2001 in June 1920 but grew up in British Airways) in 1969 at wife as well as his business David’s Society for achieve- Philadelphia with Handel Abergavenny. He worked JFK. He visited over 40 coun- partner. She carries on his mem- ments on behalf of Welsh- Cromwell Evans and Lord briefly for London, Midland, tries to assess their ory and his work. Americans. As Dr. Arturo Gordon Parry. And he helped in and Scottish Railway, as did his import/export systems, develop- Roberts of Ninnau emphasized combining the NAWF award father, before he joined the ing a global network of con- in his presentation, Wil was ceremonies with the yearly Royal Engineers during World tacts. committed to the principles of NAFOW banquet, starting in War II. After campaigns in After retirement in 1972, he the Order – Cyfeillgarwch, 2004 in Buffalo with Ellis North Africa and Italy, he set up as a consultant and final- Cariad a Gwirionedd – Jones. retired after the war as a major. ly, in 1984, his own company, a Friendship, Love and Truth. And for many years, Wil was He was presented with the Oak Airport Consulting. In 2000, he At that time, as well as a past also the advertising director of Leaf Cluster by King George received the airlines prestigious president of St. David’s (1969– Ninnau and wrote many articles, VI. Bishop Wright Man of the Year September-October 2020 NINNAU Page 19 ‘On Being Welsh’ – In 2013 Hefina Phillips Accepted the NAWF Heritage Medallion Editor’s Note: Material and Fate of the Language”) given by that everyone in North America memories that never made the Lewis in 1962.