Dear Member
The people have spoken: the problem is I am not sure what they are saying……. No doubt we will all have a clearer idea soon.
I am now happy to confirm our next two events:
June 17th at 18.30 in the Arts Club we have an evening of readings and discussion with two of Wales’ finest poets/writers Owen Sheers and Dannie Abse. A contrast of ages and style but a common link through their love of words and their Welsh heritage.
July 14th at 18.30 at 45 Millbank we will be holding our summer reception which has been supported, again, by Metrix
More information on each together with booking details can be found on the web www.walesinlondon.com under events.
I am particularly excited by the Arts Club event. Many members have urged us to “widen” the scope of our activities and some of the recent social events have sought to do that. This builds on an earlier successful event at the Arts Club when Geraint Talfan Davies discussed his book “At Arms Length”. I am hoping that an evening with Owen and Dannie will create the interest and support it deserves. I will also ask them to bring copies of their work so you can (with luck) get them to autograph copies on the evening.
Since I last wrote I have been to North Wales to see Hywel’s play Pieces at Theatre Clwyd – I thought it was excellent (not surprisingly as he is my son…) but so to did the Guardian and the audiences. It runs until the 15th so not much time left to see it. The trip provided us with the opportunity to visit a part of Wales we don’t know well and to visit both Ruthin and Mold. Whilst in Ruthin we visited the Ruthin Craft Centre which is magnificent with a breathtaking selection of beautifully crafted goods for sale. It reminds one, yet again, of the extraordinary depth of talent we have in Wales in all “forms” of culture. Ruthin, through their famed touring exhibitions, have taken shows illustrating the best of Welsh talent all around the UK.
The more I think of it the more I am convinced that we, as a Nation, are missing a trick in terms both of how we support and use this talent. It is one of the key things that define us. It should be one of the key tools we use to “sell us” to that wider world.
Whilst at Theatre Clwyd I spoke briefly to Terry Hands and longer to Emma Hands who is promoting a new play about Clementine Churchill My Darling Clemmie at the New End Theatre Hampstead until May 16th. www.newendtheatre.co.uk.
In terms of other events:
• 12th May Cymmrodorion have their next London event at 18.00 at The Royal Academy of Engineering, 3 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1 (between The Mall and Pall Mall). The AGM will be followed by the lecture given by Dr Rhiannon Mason on "National Museums and nation building in the context of Wales and Britain".
• 14th -16th May at Rhos y Gilwen (outside Cardigan) an International Piano Festival featuring the virtuoso Russian pianist Nikolai Demidenko, Tom Poster, Simon Lane and cellist Nathaniel Boyd. Rhos y Gilwen is an extraordinary concert venue privately founded and supported by Glen Peters and Brenda Squires at their “country house”. Glen is offering an accommodation package for £120 fully inclusive of 2 nights B&B, 4 star accommodation in Rhosygilwen Mansion, 4 concerts and 2 preconcert dinners. The price per person is based on two people sharing a room in the Mansion. Bookings can be made on line on www.rhosygilwen.co.uk or by calling 01239841387. More details of programme on the web site.
Glen is also working on a scheme to promote and support local artists in West Wales by building on an annual event Art Art which is held at Rhos y Gilwen. When I have more detail I will post it on the web.
• 19th May at 19.00 at St Benet’s Church Queen Victoria St students and friends of the Guildhall School of music and Drama will be performing a 90 minute recital WALES AND BEYOND: An evening of harp (& chamber) music from around the world followed by light refreshments. Admission free, although suggested donations of £5, concessions £3 welcome. St Benet’s , of course, is the only undamaged, unaltered Wren church left in the City, Grade I listed and with a strong Welsh connection.
• 20th -22nd May at 19.45 at the Oval House Theatre Sherman Cymru’s current production Llwyth (Tribe) is being performed in Welsh with English subtitles. 4 star reviews from the Guardian. Tickets –see www.ovalhouse.com.
• June 2nd at 18.30 at the Medical Society of London, 11 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square the Glamorgan Society have Sir David Nicholas, CBE former Editor, Chief Executive and later Chairman of ITN as their guest speaker. His talk will give a great insight into the background to some of the big news stories which occurred during his thirty one years in television and will be illustrated with video excerpts of some of those major events. Tickets £20 – details in the news section.
• 17th July at 14.00 at Westminster Cathedral a bilingual service of celebration for the life of St John Roberts (1577-1610) of Trawsfynydd. More information in the news section but the service will involve both the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Rowan Williams, and the Head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Vincent Nichols, and will have many Welsh luminaries attending as well as the London Welsh Chorale; Welsh tenor Stuart Kale and others.
There are other events listed in the news section and, of course, The London Welsh Centre has an active programme (see www.londonwelsh.org).
Last Friday I was at Bristol; to see what turned out to be the last game of an eventful season for London Welsh RFC. A good match with, sadly, the wrong result… However I was pleased to hear that a group of Welsh businesses (currently 10) are founding a London Welsh RFC business club where they will both promote and support the club by entertaining clients at matches. Good for them, good for London Welsh – a true win, win situation. For more information on membership contact Dan Langford dan@acornpeople.com.
Finally I would note the recent death of one of the most prominent members of the London Welsh (and Aberystwyth University’s) community Dr John Gwynfryn (Gwyn) Morgan. A classics degree at Aber and a spell as President of the National Union of Students in the early 60s was the bedrock for his future career in the Labour Party where he was Assistant General Secretary and became the best General Secretary they never had losing out in controversial circumstances in 1972. With his interest in Europe it was appropriate, perhaps inevitable, that he would achieve much in the EEC initially as Chef de Cabinet to George (later Lord) Thomson one of the UK’s First Commissioners. He subsequently headed up EU delegations to a host of countries, including Wales and was someone whose role and influence was better understood outside Wales (and London) than “at home”.
Gwyn was one of that special generation of Welsh people who encompassed a wide range of interests and an even wider circle of friends. Perhaps his life should remind us all that we have the capacity (and obligation?) to contribute more widely.
I hope to see you at one of our events
Yours
Robert
