From the London Welsh Centre l at Grays Inn Road LWTachwedd/November 2013 • Rhif/IssCue 69 L £2.00 www.londonwelsh.org London Welsh Festival p13 Cylchgrawn Cymry Llundain The magazine of the London Welsh 2 LW CLl O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE A stellar performance for the London Welsh Centre’s first Festival Over the years we’ve had a forum, hosted We want to create a space that will be all sorts of events and put on plenty of the natural home for festivals and first-class one-day courses at the London Welsh events showcasing the talent we represent in Centre. But have we ever hosted our own London and Wales. But more than that we FesTIvaL at Gray’s Inn Road? want people to be excited about coming to In October after months of planning the Centre and to leave with a lasting sense and preparation, the Centre successfully of our cultural identity, as much as they staged the inaugural London Welsh might when they leave the Wales Literature Festival with fabulous Millennium Centre or the Guggenheim. contributions from across the literary It is a bold ambition. But the London spectrum. Welsh have always been bold. We may not I want to thank and congratulate Iain, stretch to flamboyant architecture, but in Rhian and all the team for bringing such a emulating the vibrant atmosphere and bold project to life at the Centre. If you capturing the essence of our community we missed it, you can read all about the are absolutely determined to deliver a stellar cast of speakers and performers in Alex Meredith mini-Guggenheim or Wales Millennium this edition of the London Welsh Magazine. Centre. If you were there, please send your thoughts and feedback on the We know it will not come cheaply. Raising the capital to complete events to Iain and the team. We want to make the Festival a key part of the project will be a challenging task. For that reason, we are currently our cultural programme for many years to come so, as with all aspects taking a huge step towards delivering our vision by recruiting a Head of of the Centre, your views are extremely important to the staff and Development to join the team at the Centre. The advert for the Head of trustees. Development can be found in this edition of the magazine and on the One thought that struck me after such a landmark success was as Centre website. follows; if we can do this in our current facilities, imagine what we could The Head of Development will be focused exclusively on raising the do in a spacious, modern, well-equipped environment? capital we need to deliver the refurbished Centre. Working with trustees, I was lucky enough to visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao over staff and supporters, the successful recruit will develop a fundraising the summer. Like the Wales Millennium Centre, the Guggenheim is a programme that allows us to realise our vision. building of truly jaw-dropping scale and flair. This is a key appointment for the Centre and we want to spread the It enthrals with its astonishing architecture, incorporating shapes net as widely as possible in order to attract the most talented candidate. that yield surprises at every turn, both inside and out. even in a short If you are interested in the position please apply, and please share the afternoon there, you sense how the building brings the activities, advert with anyone who may be interested. exhibitions and people within it to life. No matter what is happening in I look forward to introducing the successful candidate in the next such a space, it is exciting. edition of the magazine! Our vision is to deliver a building to capture that kind of spirit at the Alex Meredith, Chairman London Welsh Centre. @admeredith LWC Ll - The Magazine of the London Welsh Published by London Welsh Centre Ltd. It’s Christmas… 157 Grays Inn Road, London WCIX 8UE. Telephone: 020 7837 3722 Thursday 12 December - at the Centre www.cymryllundain.org.uk / www.londonwelsh.org.uk EDITORIAL TEAM: Eirlys Bebb, Theo Brueton, Rita Clark, 6.30pm - Wales & British & Irish Lions legend Gerald Davies launches his new book David Daniel, Gordon Roberts, Bob Trevor and Gethin Williams. at the Centre to kick off the 2013 Christmas Party. Looking at Rugby’s greatest tries, DESIGN SUPPORT: Taliesin Communications. Gerald weaves his way through some of Rugby’s greatest moments in his legendary ADVERTISING: Rita Clark. PRINTED BY: Y Lolfa Editorial contributions may be sent to the address lyrical style. above or, preferably, emailed to [email protected] 7.30pm - 2013 Christmas quiz - looking back over 2013 and ahead to 2014, Christmas Advertisers may also contact Rita Clark Views expressed in this publication must not be taken at the Centre wouldn’t be the same without a quiz! £10 per team. as necessarily representing those of the London Welsh 9.30pm - Christmas drinks – join us for Christmas drinks as the Centre winds down for Association. London Welsh Centre Trust is a Registered Charity. This the Christmas break. statement is given to support any advertisement which For further information: contact Iain Richards – [email protected] appears in the columns of London Welsh Magazine from time to time in the name of the Trust and deemed, in 0207 520 0070 terms of the Act, to be fundraising. Front cover: Pictures from the London Welsh Literature Festival – page 13 Copy from contributors and advertisers is required by January 6 for inclusion in the next issue. O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE LW CLl 3 Young Welsh Singer of the Year 2013 The Young Welsh singer of the Year 2013 is Joshua Owen Mills, a tenor from Neath. second prize was awarded to Céline Forrest, a soprano from swansea and third to elinor Rolfe Johnson, a soprano of Cardiganshire-born Grandparents. The biennial competition has long been established in the London Welsh Centre calendar and once again provided a platform for exceptional Welsh singing talent on saturday 26 October. y r The audience thoroughly enjoyed the six finalists’ o g e performances and were also treated to two songs by alys Mererid r G n e Roberts, whom the judges awarded the ‘Most Promising Young r a K singer award’. Céline Forrest also won the audience Prize for the : o t o Welsh song. h P The other finalists were mezzo-soprano eirlys Myfanwy Davies Competition organiser Geraint Lewis with winner Joshua Owen Mills and Main from Trimsaran, swansea-born soprano Rhiannon Llewellyn and Sponsor Philip Carne on behalf of the Richard Carne Trust baritone euros Campbell, who is originally from Bangor. Congratulations to all six finalists and thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Grays Inn Road. ‘Handy’ new recruit at LWC The London Welsh Centre would like to thank the event Welcome to William Rae who has joined the LWC team as sponsors and donors and all who made this year’s competition Facilities assistant. William is a carpenter by trade and will be possible. responsible for maintenance and general upkeep of the Centre. Geraint Lewis who has organised the competition since 2007 We extend a warm welcome and wish him well in his new role. announced that this would be his last year at the helm. Rhian Jones, CeO and compere for the night refused to accept Geraint’s resignation and said she would try to persuade him to Painting party / change his mind over a drink in the bar later that evening…the jury is still out! Parti paentio We are looking for volunteers to help give parts of the Centre a ReCRUITMeNT much-needed lick of paint. If you are available on saturday, Head of Development - 18 January, please let us know by phoning 0207 837 3722 or London Welsh Centre emailing [email protected] The Centre is recruiting a Head of Development whose main Your hard work will be rewarded by refreshments and an responsibilities will be to diversify the Centre’s sources of income and to lead the fundraising programme for the incredible sense of achievement. We are very grateful to Calon Centre’s refurbishment project. The Head of Development will subscriber BetiLyn alwyn-Jones, a former member of the have an important role to play in establishing a sustainable Chorale now living in Carmarthen who has very kindly donated future for the Centre and delivering a major project to money to help improve the appearance of the Centre. Diolch yn transform its facilities. fawr BetiLyn. The role is full time and will require regular attendance at the Centre, though flexible working arrangements will be considered. Cardiau Nadolig / Candidates are sought with previous experience of delivering both major capital projects and core cost campaigns. Christmas Cards For a full job description and application form please visit www.londonwelsh.org or email Rhian Jones, Chief executive Bilingual Christmas Cards in different designs are available to Officer – [email protected] buy at the London Welsh Centre. Proceeds towards Tenovus The closing date for applications is Friday 29 November. and the Centre. Room hire – great rates – flexible options – central location For more information contact The London Welsh Centre 020 7837 3722 www.londonwelsh.org 4 LW CLl O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE Waw Ffactor – The X factor – London y Ganolfan yn serennu Welsh Centre is rising Cyfoethog, bywiog, cynnes a chroesawgar –ambell air a Rich, vibrant, warm and welcoming – just some of the words used to ddefnyddiwyd i ddisgrifio Canolfan Cymry Llundain dros yr describe the London Welsh Centre in the past few weeks.