Dear Member
In my last newsletter I mentioned that we were trying to agree the format of a “seminar type” event with Jonathan Price, Chief Economist with WAG – the purpose of the evening would be to explore both myths and realities about the economy in Wales. The intention is to make the session interactive and informal, structured around a quiz but with the opportunity to discuss where we think the economy in Wales is now, where it may be heading, and what, if anything, we can do about it.
I am delighted to say that we now have a confirmed date, July 27th and the evening will start at 18.00 ending at about 20.00. I hope that the Permanent Secretary, Dame Gillian Morgan will also be with us. We have still to finalise the venue (offers welcome!) and there will be a nominal charge of £10 to cover costs of some drinks and nibbles.
A number have already indicated interest and we will come back directly to you: others who are interested please email Bridget on bridget.robinson@rllj.com as we need to know numbers as soon as possible.
Since I last wrote we have had a very successful evening with Dannie Abse and Owen Sheers at the Arts Club. It is a rare privilege to listen to “men of words” read their works – it was truly a wonderful, wonderful evening and all members who were there urged me to do “more of the same”. I am delighted that Owen has said that he would be happy to help so we will try to have a programme “more like this”. A big thank you to Dannie and Owen but also to Seren Books www.seren-books.com and Hutchinsons/Random House for providing books for signature.
Our next event is, of course, the Summer Reception on July 14th which is, as expected, over sold. We are looking forward to an excellent evening due in large part to the efforts of Gaenor Howells who has organised the event. In a similar vein Helen Wakeman-Jones is working hard on our next social event which is scheduled (as the first event post summer) for September 14th. Venue and details to be confirmed but I have no doubt it will be as successful as the last two that Helen has organised for us.
Over the past weeks we have had a plethora of economic initiatives – from George Osborne’s budget which, no doubt, will provoke debate for a long time to come together with the recent second report of one of our members, Gerald Holtham, for WAG. The report proposes tax varying powers for the Assembly which would be a radical departure from the way in which Wales’s is funded. If adopted it would, in part, restore a link between taxation and spending and, who knows, might induce greater focus on fiscal responsibility.........
Earlier this week Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Deputy First Minister, launched his economic policy review (http://wales.gov.uk/docs/det/report/100705anewdirectionen.pdf> http://wales.gov.uk/docs/det/report/100705anewdirectionen.pdf Having read it relatively quickly it is difficult to take issue to the main thrust of the report though you might disagree on some of the detail. At first reading it does strike me that there is less clarity on issues such as how success will be measured and indeed on the question of what success will look like or indeed on the skill sets needed to achieve such success. No doubt this will come up in ensuing debates. It should, at least, add some spice to our discussions on July 27th.
Despite all the gloom there are a number of “good news” nuggets out there. I was talking recently to Guy Davies who is Managing Director of Westbridge Fund Managers, which is a Cardiff based private equity investor and Guy tells me that they have just had a successful first closing of its SME fund. Interestingly investors included both individuals and institutions and the intention is to invest in profitable UK businesses. It is particularly pleasing that both Westbridge and some of the investors are based in Wales – we need more like them. See www.westbridgecapital.co.uk.
In a similar vein I was talking to Richard Holmes who, with Amanda Faber, is putting together the financing for the feature film of Owen Sheers novel Resistance. The two have had a successful first closing and looks now as though shooting will take place in the last quarter in around the Llanthony Valley. For the film buffs amongst you the cast includes the Olivier Award winning actress Ruth Wilson and Danish star Ulrich Thomsen. Again funding came from a combination of institutions and individuals including the Welsh Film Agency. For more information contact Richard on richard@bigrichfilms.com.
One of the pleasures of Chairing Wales in London is that you do get correspondence from people who become friends and who are seeking “to do good things”. I recently had a letter from Elin Haf Davies who in 2007 became the first Welsh woman to row across the Atlantic in an all female pair and in 2009 crossed the Indian Ocean in a four being the first women crew to do that. Over the years Elin has raised £250,000 for charities and is now planning to sail around the world solo in aid of the World Health Organisation – ‘Make Medicine Child Size’. Elin is currently seeking a corporate investor to be part of her venture. If you need to know more contact Elin on email: E.Davies@ich.ucl.ac.uk or contact www.nurseelin.co.uk.
Another favourite charity is Tenovus. Lianne Toye called me recently to remind me that Tenovus is the charity partner for the 2010 Ryder Cup Wales partnership. As a result of the partnership Tenovus have a number of Ryder Cup season passes available for a minimum sponsorship donation of £2,000 for two tickets including a parking permit. For the golf fanatics amongst you who also want to support a great charity why not contact Lianne on lianne.toye@cancercarecymru.org.
In terms of events a number are posted in the news section. Including amongst them are details on
• Monday July 12th at 19.00 in Optometry Building, Cathays, Cardiff a One Wales Reception where Plaid are celebrating the anniversary of the One Wales Agreement.
• 31st July – 7th August. The Royal National Eisteddfod at Ebbw Vale. As ever it has a full programme and is a must for the aficionados. Well worth visiting and my (non Welsh speaking) experience is that it is hugely enjoyable, accessible and inclusive.
• Friday 13th August at 19.30, London Welsh play London Irish at Sunbury.
• Saturday 21st August at 15.00 London Welsh play London Scottish at Richmond Athletic Ground.
• Wednesday 25th August at 18.30 the Welsh Guards Military Tattoo at Old Deer Park. In addition to the Tattoo there are a number of other events and one of the purposes is to raise funds for the Welsh Guards Afghanistan appeal. More details in the news section on the webpage: www.walesinlondon.com.
• 5th and 7th September. SWALEC stadium are hosting two 20:20 matches between England and Pakistan. Packages are available – contact Angela Adams at angela.adams@glamorgancricket.co.uk or telephone: 02920 419310. As someone who recently attended the 50 over match against Australia I can commend the venue, the event and the hospitality………
• 9th and 16th September. One of our friends and a member, Cambridge Jones, is a world renowned photographer who is based both in America and the UK. This autumn Cambridge in association with the Welsh Assembly Government launches exhibitions of his works and these feature a host of Welsh creative stars – actors, singers, musicians, writers and designers. In the US the exhibitions will run in New York and Los Angeles whilst in the UK in Cardiff and London. The two London events are at the Proud Galleries and Canary Wharf. If anybody is interested please email Bridget bridget.robinson@rllj.com and we will forward more details.
To end on more positive news (and at the moment I think we need as much of that as we can get) I am delighted to say that Rod Rhys Jones, who many of you will know from our meetings, had a very successful event at the National Museum of Wales to raise funds for the British Antarctic Monument Trust (to celebrate the lives of those Britons who lost their lives in the Antarctic since we established a permanent base in 1943). He raised almost £3,000 and the Trust are now halfway to their target of £80,000 which will allow memorials to be placed in St Paul's Cathedral, next to the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge and in the Falkland Islands. If you want more information contact Rod on rod@rhysjones.com.
The National Museum staff were extremely supportive. It is therefore with great pleasure that one notes their success in raising the money to preserve, for the nation, a very important painting by William Dyce entitled “Welsh Landscapes with Two Women Knitting”. This was possible with support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and a host of individuals.
I think that both these indicate that, even in difficult times, people are prepared to support worthwhile causes. I hope so.
Finally Lisa Haf from S4C has asked our help in finding a young Welsh speaker who works in the oil business to contribute to a programme on the oil industry. Hacio is a weekly current affairs programme for young people on S4C and is televising a series over the summer and would like to have an item on the oil industry. They are looking for people who work in this industry who speak Welsh in order to ask for help in researching the programme and to contribute to it. If interested contact Lisa Hag at lisa.haf@itv.com.
I look forward to seeing many of you on July 14th at the Summer Reception. I am anxious to hear from you about July 27th (too good an opportunity to miss) and I want you to mark September 14th in your diary for our next social event.
Yours
Robert
