THE WELSH SOCIETY OF VANCOUVER

Cymdeithas Gymraeg Vancouver

Cambrian News

Mai May 2008 2008

Society Newsletter – Cylchgrawn y Gymdeithas

From Vancouver to Bridgend National Eisteddfod1948

CAMBRIAN HALL, 215 East 17th Ave, Vancouver B.C. V5V 1A6

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VANCOUVER WELSH SOCIETY The Cambrian News

Officers: From The Editor: President:

Jane Byrne (604) 732-5448 This issue features some historical Press Vice-President: Clippings regarding Thomas Edwards, Lynn Owens-Whalen 266-2545 the first Leader of the Overseas Welsh at Secretary: the National Eisteddfod at Bridgend Lynne Shepard 879-6925 1948 and a founder of the Cambrian Treasurer: Hall. I am most grateful to Anne Bosch Gaynor Evans 271-3134 (nee Hutchinson) for providing me with Membership Secretary: copies of these historic documents. Heather Davies 734-5500 Immediate Past President: The front page photograph was entitled Tecwyn Roberts 464-2760 “Back to Swansea from Canada” and

read “Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edwards, Directors: accompanied by their daughter and John Cann granddaughter arriving at High-street Mary Lewis Station. They were greeted by relatives John Morris from Llangyfelach, Lougher and Alcwyn Rogers Gorseinen, who are also in the picture. Eifion Williams (Note: Anne is on the left of centre, her

mother Sarah Hutchinson is next, then Contacts Mrs. Edwards and finally Mr. Edwards Building Committee: on the right centre.) Lynn Owens-Whalen 266-2545 Cambrian Circle Singers: David Llewelyn Williams Nerys Haqq 278-8978

Church Service: John Cann 588-0249 On a sad note, we learnt that Marion Rentals: Griffiths passed away in New Zealand th Glyn Shepard 879-6925 on March 28 following a stroke. ([email protected]) Marion and her husband Ellis were Social Events Committee: stalwarts of the Society for 30 years. Mary Lewis 331-1573 Marion was one of the founding Welsh Folk Dancing: members of the Cambrian Circle Singers Gaynor Evans 271-3134 and both she and Ellis worked on the Welsh-Speaking Group: costumes for the 1980 North American Ann Roberts 987-6996 Gymanfa Ganu held in Vancouver. They Webmaster: enjoyed 61 years of married life together Alcwyn Rogers 742-1378 before Ellis died in 2005. Ellis’ obituary (www.welshsociety.com) is in the November 2005 Newsletter. Newsletter Editor: Recently Marion had moved to New David Llewelyn Williams 737-0305 Zealand to be with her daughter’s family ([email protected]) to whom we offer our condolences.

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Historical Press Clippings: their daughter Mrs. Hutchinson, and Prominent Business Man Donates their granddaughter Anne aged 17. Fully Equipped Ambulance (Fairview It was first suggested through News 1940) correspondence between Mr. and Mrs. “I am not so young anymore and my Lloyd Roberts, of Vancouver, who came days of possible active service for my from , and friends in Wales, country are past. But my love for the said Mr. Edwards. The members of the Empire in which I was born and have Vancouver Cambrian Society, of which spent my life is undiminished and I am Mr. Edwards is the honorary President, glad to have the opportunity of assisting and the St. David’s Society formed a to some small degree the welfare of committee to discuss the proposition. those who are fighting under her flag for Welsh people were asked to contribute the principles of justice and democracy individually. for which the British Empire has always Sufficient money was raised to pay for stood.” the chair and cover the delivery to With these simple words Mr. Thomas England. It arrived in two Edwards, head of the T. Edwards Co., days before Mr. Edwards reached the well known funeral directors of this Southampton. The chair, made with district, was one of the first to make a Canadian black walnut from the design donation on behalf of himself and his set by the Eisteddfod Council, has wife covering the cost of a Field leather upholstery with a design of the Ambulance, fully equipped to British Welsh dragon. It bears the symbols and specifications, for service at the front. motifs derived from the early West Coast totems and of the B. C. Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were both born in “It took a long time to make it because South Wales, near Swansea where a we were very particular,” said Mr. number of nephews and nieces and their Edwards, “We wanted it to be the best children still reside, many of whom are ever to come to the Eisteddfod, and I engaged on active service, both at home think we have succeeded.” and in the front. Last year the pair fulfilled a long cherished ambition and Mr. Edwards, who will present the chair made a trip to the Old Country. They from the Eisteddfod platform, will hand returned on the Queen Mary on her last to the Eisteddfod Council an album westward trip as the liner reached New containing the names of the Vancouver York on Sept. 4th (1939), one day after subscribers, with the age and birthplace the declaration of war. of each one. (Ed. Is there a copy with the Society?) Mr. Edwards also presented Vancouver man to present Bardic the Eisteddfod with £21 towards the Chair (South Wales newspaper 1948) prize for the chaired bard. The son of the Details of how the Welsh Community in late Isaac Edwards of Gaynor, Llanedy, Vancouver got together to present the Mr. Edwards left for Vancouver 58 years bardic chair for the Bridgend National ago. With Mrs. Edwards, who emigrated Eisteddfod was told today by Thomas 52 years ago, he was last in the country Edwards, aged 86, who has arrived at in 1939. They are now staying with Mrs. Llangyfelach from Canada with Mrs. Edwards’ sister, Mrs. Ann Lewis, aged Edwards, aged 84 a Llangyfelach native, 82, in Llangyfelach.

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Forthcoming Events Sunday, May 11th at 11.00 am Come with ideas (and a packed lunch) to Bilingual Church Service followed by the Cambrian Hall on Thursday May Te Bach

1st to plan the launch of a lunch group, th rd to start in September. Saturday, May 17 The 23 Vancouver Everyone welcome. All British Field Meet will be held on at Contact Pat Morris, 604-536-9556. the van Düsen Gardens. Over 400 classic British cars will be on the Great Lawn

th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Specially featured Wednesday, May 7 at 7.30 pm will be the Alvis cars whose history may Executive Meeting be of interest to members: T.G. John Ltd., the company which The Adventures of Pablo and Diego! became Alvis, was founded by Welshman TG John, a naval architect and highly qualified engineer, in 1919. From the start the company was based in the Midlands city of Coventry, already a major motor vehicle manufacturing centre. The first Alvis car appeared early in 1920, based on designs by Geoffrey de Freville. All Alvis cars are now desirable classics, with an enthusiastic following. Alvises were not mass produced, rather they were built in batches aimed at the high end market.

th On Friday May 9 there will be a film Wednesday, June 4th at 7.30 pm show at the Red Dragon. All are Executive Meeting welcome! Two members of "The Society for Sunday, June 8th at 11.00 am Visiting Old Ruins in Warm Places", Bilingual Church Service followed by take us to EASTER ISLAND. This Te Bach is another episode in the adventures of Pablo and Diego, bravely enduring Wednesday, June 11th at 7.30 pm sunburn and larva on this, the most General Meeting remote of inhabited islands in the world. We also visit the Chilean side of the Saturday, June 28, 7:30PM Patagonian mountains, and for those CÔR CYMRAEG DE CALIFFORNIA who saw the film "IL Postino" about Welsh Choir of Southern California Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet in exile, St. James Anglican Church, 303 we visit Pablo's house. After Pinochet's Cordova St., Vancouver, BC. fall from power, Neruda was able to The choir will be hosted for lunch at the return home. It's now a museum. Cambrian Hall, starting at about noon. Show is 1 hr long, start time 8 pm. All members of the Society are welcome Doors open at 7:30pm. to meet with them. If possible, bring a platter to help out. (No melons please!)

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Review of the Society’s finances Bring and Buy

Over the past weeks the Executive has The “Bring and Buy” stall is part of a become concerned that the Society’s Fund Raising venture initiated in capital is being eroded and has therefore response to Alcwyn Rogers’ excellent initiated a “number crunching” exercise. but sobering presentation at the General A summary of these figures was Meeting on April 9, 2008. If it proves to presented by Alcwyn Rogers at the be monetarily successful then it will be General Meeting of April 9th. set up at most of the club events held at the Red Dragon. At this time the total capital is around $33,000 a relatively small sum compared It will give members and guests a chance to that of a few years ago. It represents to donate as well as to buy “just what I approximately 50% of the yearly sum needed stuff”, allow for a good deal of needed to run the building. recycling and, at the same time, hopefully earn some desperately needed The breakdown of figures showed that if monies for the Welsh Society of we continue on the path that we have Vancouver. They do say that every been on, we will make large inroads on penny counts so, let’s all participate. our capital each year and so some changes have to be made. Alcwyn To the Membership from the Building suggested that the price to members for Committee various functions including dinners be You guys don’t know what you are increased by 25% as these functions missing! It’s Fun! Fun! Fun!!! currently run at a loss to the Society. He What am I talking about? also suggested that bar prices should be raised as very little profit is made on the “The Friends of the Cambrian Hall”, bar each year. who meet every third Thursday of each It is good to see that Rentals are showing month from 10 am to about 3 pm. an improvement and Glyn Shepard gave Our Purpose: us the excellent news that he is now To serve the Cambrian Hall so that it can getting referrals from satisfied clients. continue to strive. As result of discussion with Glyn it was To donate our skills, resources and felt that we should expect a considerable labour for the benefit of The Welsh increase in proceeds from Hall Rentals. Society of Vancouver. We also need to increase the income To improve the inside and outside décor from rentals handled by the Executive, in order to increase the rental revenue. which include members’ use of the Red Dragon and Car Parking. Why become a member of F. of C. H.? You can participate in monthly work Finally there was a discussion about the parties which could be a lot of fun and various methods we could use to raise some hard work too. You get to feel money for the Society. Later in the good about doing a good deed and evening we made a start by raising the ‘belonging’ to the Welsh Society. It’s sum of $44 at a Bring and Buy stall. great to just feel a part of someplace Gillian Rogers ‘special’.

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Some of these ‘friends’ have been active Bryn, most ably supported by pianist for quite some time already: Malcolm Martineau, who was with him Gillian and Alcwyn Rogers, Jane Byrne, every note of the way, presented a full Lynn and Wilf Owens-Whalen, Pat and program, starting with songs on poems John Morris, Gaynor and Gwyn Evans, by John Masefield, followed by works Lynne and Glyn Shepard, Heather by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Roger Davies, Mary Lewis and Art Kelm, Quilter. After the intermission, he John Pritchard, Eirlys Ann Thomas, moved to the continent and gave us Gwilym and Irene Evans, Derek Jones works by Handel, Mozart, Schubert and and Eifion Williams. Faurě, before concluding with a Each one ‘doing their own thing’ and selection of folk songs from Wales, cannot wait for the next session on May Scotland and Ireland. 15th. Come and join us! If you have any questions please contact Lynn Owens- Throughout the performance he held the Whalen, Building Committee Chair. audience in the palm of his hand, telling Eirlys Ann Thomas anecdotes between songs and in the case of the encore – from Don Giovanni – Bryn Terfel at the Chan Centre leaving the stage and singing directly to (April 12th, 2008) female members of the audience! Altogether a memorable performance! D.Ll.W.

With Bryn after the performance Society members who managed to buy tickets to Bryn’s sold out recital at the Chan Centre were amply rewarded. The concert was a most fitting conclusion to the Vancouver Recital Society’s season. To quote Lloyd Dykk’s review in the Vancouver Sun: “Let’s just say that Bryn Terfel is a rare one. And the man has personality to burn, the kind you can’t fake. Terfel has a gift for communicating what the words are about, grading his tone beautifully until it matches what he is singing about, nuance for nuance.” With Malcolm Martineau

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A Little Spring Affair OTTAWA—April 17th 2008. ‘Tis said you can’t teach an old dog new Her Excellency the Right Honourable tricks but, if you give him a bone, he’ll Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of wag his tail.’ Leaving the Hall Saturday Canada, announced today the names of night this old dog wagged his tail! Some 49 recipients of the Governor of the Saturday gang was joined by more General’s Caring Canadian Award. members of the Society to participate in Created in 1996 by the Right a unique festivity to welcome Spring and Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, the award say goodbye to the Canucks. is presented to individuals and groups whose unpaid, voluntary contributions But there was more! Our President Jane provide extraordinary help or care to Byrne and a merry band from the Social people in the community. The award Committee had worked hard to give us a consists of a framed certificate and a light supper of homemade beef or lapel pin for everyday wear. The award chicken pies with salad and some fruit symbol represents Canadians who and ice cream desert. But there was yet selflessly give of their time and energy more! Entertainment not seen in the to others. Presentations will be made at a Welsh Hall or Red Dragon before, none later date by a dignitary designated by of the usual high jinks but a very the Governor General or, on occasion, educational session of probing trivia by the Governor General when she quiz questions put on by Eifion travels across Canada. Williams. Ann Gwyn Roberts, North Vancouver, Over 30 people were divided into groups British Columbia of 4 or 5 and, shrouded in secrecy, they A woman of many diverse interests, Ann were given a random list of questions; Roberts has devoted more than 25 years the silence and whispering was to assisting seniors and at-risk youth in unbecoming of the Red Dragon. After 3 the North Shore region of Vancouver. rounds, the tables of Paul L, Alan T and She has addressed community concerns John P were victorious and each group about women and youth in crisis as a member won a prize. However no team member of the regional youth justice scored enough points to be awarded the committee and is committed to finding first prize, a fishing trip on Lake Bala. solutions to homelessness. She is a Many thanks to Jane and her band of strong advocate for affordable housing helpers and thanks to everyone for a for low-income families and has very entertaining evening. We even represented seniors on matters of learned that Lloyd George who knew my housing and safety. Mrs. Roberts has father was actually born in Manchester! also dedicated 25 years to the Vancouver Milton Morgan Welsh Society, serving in various key executive positions and helping to Editor’s Note: In the case of one of our organize Welsh language events and members, David Llewelyn Davies, religious services. Kamloops, his grandfather, Sir Alfred T. Davies, literally knew Lloyd George I am sure members of the Society take very well indeed, even acting as his pride in the recognition afforded Ann by agent in the 1895 election. this unique and distinguished award. Llongyfarchiadau!!

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Philip Jones Griffiths: Ganed Philip Jones Griffiths yn 1936 yn Ffotograffydd y dywedir i'w luniau Rhuddlan. Roedd yn tynnu lluniau gyda'i eiconig newid cwrs rhyfel . gamera Kodak 'Brownie' o oedran cynnar ac mae'n cofio un digwyddiad a daniodd ei ddiddordeb ymhellach. Aeth i wrando ar E. Emrys Jones, athro lleol a ffotograffydd, yn siarad yng nghlwb camera'r Rhyl pan oedd yn ei arddegau. Dangosodd lun gan y ffotograffydd Ffrengig Henri Cartier-Bresson iddyn nhw, wedi ei daflunio ar ei ben i lawr. Ymgais bwriadol oedd hyn i'w dysgu am gyfansoddiad llun, gwers nad anghofiodd Philip Jones Griffiths.

Roedd y Philip ifanc hefyd yn treulio Mae Philip Jones Griffiths yn cael ei llawer o'i amser yn arbrofi gyda gyfrif yn un o ffotograffwyr mawr yr chemegau ac yn creu ffrwydriadau yn yr 20fed ganrif ac yn un a dorrodd ei gwys ardd gefn. Roedd ei dad yn adnabod eiconig ei hun ym maes ffotograffiaeth rheolwr siop Boots yn y Rhyl ac newyddiadurol. Fe wnaeth ei luniau o oherwydd chwilfrydedd ei fab mewn ryfeloedd ar draws y byd gan gynnwys arbrofi penderfynwyd y byddai , Israel, Gogledd Iwerddon, fferylliaeth yn yrfa dda iddo a threfnwyd , Irac, Bosnia ac, yn arbennig ei fod yn mynd yn brentis i'r fferyllfa yn Vietnam, greu corff o waith sy'n cael ei y Rhyl. Aeth ymlaen i astudio edmygu a'i astudio gan fyfyrwyr fferylliaeth ym Mhrifysgol Lerpwl a ffotograffiaeth a newyddiaduraeth ar thynnu lluniau yn ei amser hamdden. draws y byd. Roedd y cyfle i wneud bywoliaeth o fod yn ffotograffydd ar y pryd yn brin.Ond "Not since Goya has anyone portrayed wedi 10 mlynedd ym maes fferylliaeth, war like Philip Jones Griffiths" cafodd lond bol a gadawodd: "Unwaith Henri Cartier-Bresson rydych chi wedi gorfod cyfri 1,000 o dabledi â llaw, rydych chi'n gwybod ei Wedi gadael Cymru a byw yn yr Unol bod hi'n amser gadael," meddai. Daleithiau am flynyddoedd, daeth yn ôl i fyw i Lundain lle bu farw ym mis Cafodd swydd gyda phapur newydd yr Mawrth 2008 wedi dioddef o ganser. Observer yn Llundain ac un o'i Ar ddiwedd ei oes mynegodd ei aseiniadau cyntaf oedd y rhyfel yn ddymuniad i'w waith gael cartref parhaol Algeria. Yn 1966 aeth i Vietnam a'r yng Nghymru. Er ei statws byd-eang fel lluniau rhyfel a dynnodd yno yw rhai o'i ffoto-newyddiadurwr a'i ddylanwad luniau enwocaf. Yn 1971, cyhoeddodd ei enfawr yn y maes, neu efallai o'i lyfr cyntaf, Vietnam Inc, yn croniclo herwydd, roedd Philip Jones Griffiths yn presenoldeb milwyr America yn dweud mai ei fagwraeth fel Cymro, ac Vietnam ac mae llawer yn dweud i'r yn arbennig, fel Cymro o'r Rhuddlan, lluniau yn y llyfr hwn, newid cwrs y oedd yn sail i bopeth a wnaeth. rhyfel. Cyhoeddodd tri llyfr arall wedi hynny: Agent Orange, sy'n edrych ar

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effaith y cemegyn Agent Orange ar Wales. He was born, one of three boys, genedlaethau yn Vietnam; mae Vietnam in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, and was at Peace yn croniclo hanes y wlad wedi'r educated at St. Asaph Grammar School. rhyfel a Dark Odyssey, ei lyfr olaf, yn His training in pharmacy at Liverpool gasgliad o'i luniau gorau. University stood him in unexpectedly Bu farw yn 72 oed yn ei gartref yn good stead, providing a passport to work Llundain ym mis Mawrth 2008 in the local chemist, and in obtaining his transfer to Boots in Piccadilly, . Editor’s Note: This biography is from There he found the opportunity to peruse the BBC. It contains a wealth of detail the Photography Annual - and finally to which I have chosen not to translate. engage in his vocation. He obtained a Instead I decided to include most of the position with the Observer, where one of obituary from . Missing his first assignments was to cover the from that is his wish that his collected war in Algeria. He began to travel on work have a permanent home in Wales war assignments - from Northern Ireland and his love for the Vale of Clwyd. to Rhodesia, Algeria to Israel, Zambia to Cambodia. And it was in Phnom Penh Amanda Hopkinson (The Guardian, that he got a major break, photographing March 24) Jackie Kennedy on holiday. It made him Philip Jones Griffiths, who has died enough to fund his Vietnam project. aged 72 of cancer, was the most impassioned and clear-headed of anti- To Jones Griffiths, Vietnam was another war war photographers. From 1966 to country where "a mechanised monster 1968, and again in 1970, he lived the had despoiled an innocent landscape". from the inside, sharing the He related it to Goya's etchings in The conditions of soldiers and civilians, Disasters of War; indeed, his hero Henri putting himself at immense personal Cartier-Bresson - the man whose picture risk. In 1971 he assembled his reportage had first inspired the 16-year-old Jones into a book, with his own scathing Griffiths at the Rhyl camera club - later captions, entitled Vietnam Inc, which wrote: "Not since Goya has anyone played a key role in changing public portrayed war like Philip Jones Griffith." perceptions of the conflict, especially in the United States. Almost paradoxically, Jones Griffiths The level of impact the book had is chose to live mostly in the US. It was a indicated by 's recent good professional base and he became comment: "If anybody in Washington Magnum president from 1980-85, the had read that book, we wouldn't have longest term ever served by a single had these wars in Iraq or Afghanistan." member. At the time of his death he was They needed also to read Vietnam at fully engaged in fresh projects. He had Peace, the follow-up 25 years later, settled in London, but in his mind, he exploring the legacy and how it takes repeatedly returned to Wales, that small another generation to begin the recovery. country once so brutally colonised by the English that, he claimed, the experience Jones Griffiths had a happy childhood as helped him to identify with oppressed a native Welsh speaker in rural North countries everywhere.

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