And we welcome a new President too - see p5

www.cymryllundain.org.uk Tachwedd/November 2008 • Rhif/Issue 50-22 £2.00

From the London Welsh Trust and Association at Grays Inn Road

TUD/PAGE 2 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE

DiarySaturday 8 November - Cwrs UndyddCymraeg – intensive one day course forall levels. (See bottom of page fordetails)Saturday 8 November 2.30pm – Bar,Big Screen Rugby Wales v South Africa,Friday 14 November 7.15pm – Bar, BigScreen Rugby Wales v CanadaFriday 21 November 7.30pm – Bar,Clwb Comedi – Stand up comedy Saturday 22 November 5.15pm – Bar,big Screen Rugby Wales v New ZealandSaturday 29 November – Bar, bigScreen Rugby Wales v AustraliaMonday 1 December 7pm – Forum,Ted Sellick and Friends meet withJerome Kern (Showboat)Sunday 14 December 6pm – NineLessons and CarolsSaturday 24 January 7pm – GwawrOwen and Côr Caerdydd – a concert ofmixed classical and popular musicMonday 26 January 7pm – Forum, AlexMeredith – an illustrated talk on Tour deKaz – cycling in Kazakhstan28 February – St David’s Day Concert

Published by the London Welsh Association. 157 Grays Inn Road, London WCIX 8UE Telephone: 020 7837 3722 www.cymryllundain.org.uk /www.londonwelsh.org.ukEDITORIAL TEAM: Eirlys Bebb, TheoBrueton, Rita Clark, David Daniel, GordonRoberts, Bob Trevor and Gethin Williams.DESIGN SUPPORT: Taliesin CommunicationsADVERTISING: Rita Clark PRINTED BY: Y LolfaEditorial contributions may be sent to theaddress above or, preferably, emailed toRita@ritaclark.co.ukAdvertisers may also contact Rita Clark Views expressed in this publication must notbe taken as necessarily representing those ofthe London Welsh Association. The London Welsh Trust is a RegisteredCharity. This statement is given to supportany advertisement which appears in thecolumns of London Welsh Magazine fromtime to time in the name of the Trust anddeemed, in terms of the Act, to befundraising.

See What’s on and Where page 4 for London Welsh activities elsewhere

WEB INFORMATION;Don’t forget to visit the London WelshCentre’s bi-lingual web pages atwww.londonwelsh.org.uk for up to dateinformation on all events at the Centre.Also included is a special section forWales in London events and links toother in-house groups and other relatedorganisations.

It has been a busy fewmonths at the Centre. Wehave now had our first twoComedy Club evenings,which have been verysuccessful. I am alsopleased to announce thatcontinuity of the Forum hasbeen assured.

Following LodwickDavies stepping down asthe person responsible afterthree successful years, it isnow being organised by atriumvirate (including Lod!)and the next two eventshave already beenannounced.

My thanks to the teamresponsible for the LondonWelsh stand at theEisteddfod. After many yearsof organising this, they now feel it is someoneelse’s turn. I would be pleased to hear fromvolunteers who would be prepared to take overthis role to ensure continuity of this veryimportant function.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended theFestival of Male Choirs at the Royal AlbertHall. As one would expect at such a feast ofchoral music, it was a sell out and I’m sureeveryone else enjoyed it just as much as I did.

As you will be aware, Lord Morris steppeddown this year as our President and wassucceeded by Huw Edwards. The formalhandover took place during the Albert Hallconcert and Huw used the occasion to makean impassioned plea for support for theLondon Welsh Centre (obviously omitting tomention that it is just down the road fromITN!)

Another new event in our calendar for thefirst time this year was the Chairman’s CharityConcert. The chosen charity was the Welshcancer charity Tenovus.

We were entertained by an excellentperformance of chamber music by the Galliard

Trio. Unfortunately, partly due to the inclementweather and partly because we had a clashwith other events, the support for this eventwas disappointing and after deduction of costswe were only slightly above break even.

If, therefore, anyone who was unable toattend the event would like to make adonation to this very worthwhile cause, thiscan either be done directly (the websiteaddress is on page 3) or we will pass on anydonations sent to us.

My colleagues and I are currently involvedin intense discussions about planning the wayforward for the Centre. We would like to hearfrom you what you want from the Centre and,importantly, what you would like to do for theCentre.

We want to build on the successes ofrecent events, because only by doing so canwe ensure our financial viability andcontinuity. Success does not come cheaplyand requires a considerable load to be sharedamongst many people.

Barrie Lloyd

Building on success – but eventsneed organisers, and support!

Our AdvertisersPlease mention thismagazine when contactingour advertisers.If you knowof a potential advertiserplease contact Rita Clark:Rita@ritaclark.co.uk

Barrie Lloyd with Andrew Craven of Tenovus charity at the recent concert (see page 3)

Copy from contributors and advertisers needed by 10 January 2009 for inclusion in next issue.

Front Cover Picture: Lord Morris of Aberavon and Huw Edwards. See pages 2 and 9 for details. Photograph by John Downing

CLWB COMEDI

Stand up comedy is alive and kicking at theLondon Welsh Centre. Clwb Comedi, with itsfamiliar catch-phrase ‘There’s Lovely See’ hasnow been going for two months. For the priceof a £10 ticket (£8 for London Welshmembers) that includes a free drink at the bar,you can enjoy some seriously funny comediansply their trade. To make the appeal as broadas possible the comics speak in English butthe Welsh connection is alive and well as a fairproportion of the comics are from Wales,especially in the large frame of compère SionJames.

The October gig was a delight with thevariety and quality of the comedy. Welshcomedians Steve Parry and Paul Harry Allenwere joined by magician-comic Ali Cook fromLiverpool and James Dowdeswell whose WestCounty burr disguised the fact that his motheris from Merthyr and he went to University inSwansea. The November gig was headlined byPatrick Monahan, the renowned half-Irish, half-Iranian funny man from Middlesbrough. HenryPaker and Paul Harry Allen were the pick of

the other four acts on the night. So, apart from a free drink, what else do

you get for your ticket money? Well for a startyou have a good laugh. Those who have cometo the first two gigs have been treated tomoments of pure comic genius. There havebeen a few near misses where the gags haven’tworked quite as well the comedian might havehoped, but that’s life. And when they haveworked, the vast majority of the time, it’s beenvery good indeed. The array of comedians whohave graced Clwb Comedi so far have earnedtheir experience working in the clubs and pubs,many of them have performed at theEdinburgh and other big Festivals, and somehave been on national TV. You would pay a lotmore to see them at other London venues andyou wouldn’t necessarily have the relaxedatmosphere of the Centre bar to enjoy them in.

And don’t forget that all the proceeds fromtickets go to the London Welsh Centre. Oh,and you can buy a rather fetching T-shirt witha Welsh red dragon and a ‘There’s Lovely See’slogan on it. Come on down and have a laugh.

O’R GANOLFAN/FROM THE CENTRE TUD/PAGE 3 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008

CongratulationsTo Mrs Elisabeth Dilys Davenportwho celebrates her 90th birthdayin November. To David Sweet (Gwalia) on thebirth of his son Sion Owen. To Elinor and Michael Delaney onthe birth of a grandchild – CerysAnne daughter to William andLeonie Edwards. To Leis and Tom Lloyd Williamswho celebrated their GoldenWedding anniversary in October.To Euron Walters (Castle Street)on his success at the nationalEisteddfod. He was awarded FirstPrize for a tune to accompany ahymn which had won first prize ina previous eisteddfod. Euron andthe writer were presented to theaudience at the Gymanfa Ganubefore hearing a quartet sing histune “Gelliwastad” on the stage.Euron’s tune will be heard againat the Gymanfa Ganu at CastleStreet on 9 November. He also won First prize for amarch for the organ, arranging apsalm for a choir, and setting apiece of contemporary poetry tomusic using a poem by EmyrLewis. Llongyfarchiadau Euron.To Brian and Rowena Lewis onthe birth of a daughter – CatrinSoraya to son Kevin and his wifeKaren.To Arthur Leaves (Harrow) whocelebrated his 100th birthdayearlier in the year. Members whoremember Eisteddfod yCymdeithasau in London willremember Arthur competing in theRecitation section as a learner.To Graham ‘Newport’ (LWMVC)and Azy Roberts on celebratingtheir silver wedding anniversary;To Edward Tudor (LWMVC),whose historical novel ‘A MessageDelayed’ is being considered forthe Welsh Book of the yearawards.

Best wishesOur very best wishes for a fullrecovery are extended to a numberof members who are receivinghospital treatment or have been tohospital recently:Brian and Rita Clarke, HannahRoberts, Colin Jones, SheilaTaylor, Tom Lloyd Williams, AnneSnelling, Dewi Thomas, TudorJones and Brian Lewis (Harrow).

SympathyWe offer our sincere sympathy toEleri, Lynwen and GarethEbenezer on the death of theirfather Jack Ebenezer (Jewin) whodied in October – a very youthful91 years old.

There’s lovely see – Welsh stand-up is alive at London Welsh

Torrential rain did not deter some of our mostfaithful members from attending a delightfulconcert at the London Welsh Centre onSaturday 1 November. The concert given bythe talented Galliard Trio was organised onbehalf of the Centre by David Johnson.

The concert enabled the Centre toreconnect with the important Welsh Charity,Tenovus, who were to benefit from the concert.

The Galliard Trio gave an exemplaryperformance; the William Mathias divertimentohe composed in 1966 was very well received,as well as the more traditional pieces ofMozart, Dvorak, Poulenc & Albeniz. Thefireworks exploding outside during theperformance suggested Handel should havebeen added to the programme.

Andrew Craven from Tenovus spokemovingly about the important work being done,the challenges and ambitions, and the constantneed for funds to extend the reach of theCharity. More details are to be found atwww.tenovus.com and pictures appear on page 5.

Tenovus? Galliard three’scharity fund-raiser

London Welsh ForumCommencing with the events organised forthe current season (see page 4 for details)the London Welsh Forum will be run by aJoint-Chairmanship of Graeme Jones, TedSellick and last year’s chairman, LodwickDavies. Please contact them with any ideasfor future events.

TUD/PAGE 4 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 DIGWYDDIADAU/EVENTS

GWALIAMusical Director: Janet HaneyAccompanist: Christopher George29 November 90th Birthday party at Sidcup Old People’s

Home.13 December Joint concert with the Jubilate choir at St. John

the Evangelist Church, Crystal PalaceChoir rehearsals are held from 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. everyWednesday at the London Welsh Centre, 157, Gray’s Inn Road.All visitors & potential new members always welcome.For more information, please see our website at:www.gwaliamalevoicechoir.org.uk

LONDON WELSH TRUST FORUMJoint Chairmen: Graeme Jones, Ted Sellick & Lodwick DaviesAll meetings take place on Monday evenings at the London WelshCentre, 157 Gray’s Inn Road at 7.00pm for a 7.30 start.1 December Ted Sellick and Friends

– “Meet with Jerome Kern”26 January 09 Alex Meredith – an illustrated talk on

‘Tour de Kaz’Should any member know anyone who would like to entertain us,please feel free to let us know, there is a pigeonhole for theForum, if you wish to leave a message. The recommendation(s)will be appreciated. Thank you.

LONDON BRANCH OF THE WELSH FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETIES 20097 February AGM & Members’ Interests16 May FRC speaker: Records at the Family History

Centre12 September TBA21November Dr David Ben Rees: Howell Harris of Trefeca in

London (1739-1750)Venue: Meetings are now held at the FamilyHistory Centre, 64-68 Exhibition Road,Kensington, London SW 7, at 2pm.

Anyone with an interest in Welsh family history is very welcome tojoin us. Further details from the Secretary, Anne Jones, on 0208925 4000, e-mail annee.jones@ntlworld.com

LONDON WELSH RUGBY MALE VOICE CHOIRMusical Director: Michael Wyn Jones.Accompanist: Mari Williams8 November City Hall, Cardiff, for London Welsh RFC

Supporters15 November All Saints Church, Leavesden, Herts.9 December (Tues 6.30pm) St Martin ‘s in the Field,

Trafalgar Square.

LONDON WELSH CHORALEMusical Director: Dr. Kenneth Bowen 13 December 7.30pm - Handel’s Messiah at St Paul’s

Church, Knightsbridge14 December 6.00pm - Nine Lessons and Carols (in Welsh

and English) at the London Welsh Centre,Gray’s Inn Road (with the London Welsh BrassEnsemble)

4 April 09 Spring Concert at Dukes Hall, Royal Academyof Music.

Choir rehearsals are held form 7.30 – 9.30 pm every Tuesday atthe London Welsh Centre, 157, Gray’s Inn Road. All visitors andpotential new members are always welcome. For moreinformation, or if you are interested in joining the choir please seeour Website: www.londonwelshchorale.org.uk or e-mail:info@londonwelshchorale.org.uk

The London Welsh Camerata, drawn from the main Choralemembership, is a small group performing regularly at weddings,and special occasions of all kinds. If you would like to find outmore about the Camerata, to discuss repertoire, or to make abooking, please contact Rhiannon Hughes:Camerata@londonwelshchorale.org.uk.

LONDON WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIRMusical Director: Dr. Haydn James.Accompanist: Annabel Thwaite11 November Cenotaph, Whitehall, London.13 December Lancing College Chapel, Worthing, West Sussex.10 January 09 Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire,1 March 09 (Sun 4pm) Millennium Centre, Cardiff.Choir rehearsals are held from 7.30–9.30 every Thursday eveningat the London Welsh Centre, 157, Gray’s Inn Road. All visitorsand potential new choristers are always welcome.For more information, please see our up-to-date website at:www.londonwelshmvc.org

ANRHYDEDDUS GYMEITHAS Y CYMMRODORIONPresident: Prys Morgan, DL, MA, DPhil, FSA, FRHistS19 November “A Society for the relief of Emigrants”: The

Welsh Society of Philadelphia and Welshemigration to Pennsylvania 1798 - 1850”. Alecture by Dr Richard Allen, University of WalesNewport

The programme for Spring 2009 will include lecturers by DerekShiels, Peter Stead and Teri Rees.Lectures are delivered at 6.30 pm at the British Academy, 10,Carlton House Terrace London SW1. Further and up-to-dateinformation on www.cymmrodorion1751.org.uk or from JonParry, Hon. Secretary, 30, Eastcastle Street, London. W1W 8DJ

Who’s doing what, and where

DIGWYDDIADAU/EVENTS TUD/PAGE 5 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008

Who did what, and where

The singing of the audience hymn under the baton of Haydn James, at the end of the London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall

A happy winner at the Quiz night (page 7) Cerys Matthews performs at the Dragon Ball (page 8)

LWT chairman Barrie Lloyd congratulates Huw Edwards on his installation as LondonWelsh Trust President, as Lord Morris of Aberavon, the retiring president, looks on

Galliard Trio at the London Welsh Centre

TUD/PAGE 6 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 CELFYDDYDAU/ARTS

Côr Caerdydd, one of Wales’ leading mixed choirs returns tothe London Welsh Centre to give a concert on Saturday 24January. The choir’s conductor, Gwawr Owen is delighted withthis return visit as she has happy memories of the time spentat Gray’s Inn Road during her student years.

She’s looking forward to seeing familiar faces and isconfident that there’ll be a good informal sing song in the barafterwards. Côr Caerdydd has won at the National Eisteddfodten times, including the Cardiff 2008 Eisteddfod, and theconcert will feature popular choral and solo items.

The choir will stay overnight in London and all themembers are looking forward to their weekend in the capitalcity and to performing to the London Welsh audience.

Capital Welsh choir in the Capital…

Clwb ComediNovember 21st, 7.30pm till late

London Welsh Centre, 157 Grays Inn Road.4 young Welsh English-speaking comedians.£10 entrance (£8 members) including 1st Pint.

Don’t miss it!

Gwawr Owen

Wales in LondonChristmas Reception (sponsored by HSBC)Wednesday 10 December at HSBC Tower Canary WharfInfo. at www.walesinlondon.com

DIGWYDDIADAU/EVENTS TUD/PAGE 7 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008

The second Quiz for Africa to raise funds for a bore hole andpump for Kasupe Farm in Zambia Africa drew a full house to theCentre on the 1 October. A great night of hwyl, drama andmayhem in the bar saw the quiz go to a tie break and almostmore winners than losers in the raffle that ended up giving prizesaway as there were so many!

The grand total raised was £560 which now pushes the fundtowards £3000. If anyone would like to help nudge the fund upand over that sum then contact Fraser Cains by e-mail atfrasmarth@ntlworld.com. Diolch i bawb.

Fraser Cains.

Out to Africa – quiz fund-raiser

Newlywed Alyson wins something for the home Ceri wins the pickles

www.sainwales.comtel 01286 831.111 fax 01286 831.497orders@sainwales.com

Ysgol Glanaethwy O FortunaFinalists of BBC Last Choir Standing with an outstanding collection: Adiemus, The rhythm of life, Circle of life, Bohemian rhapsody…

The London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs 2008on DVD and CDWith the Cory Band, tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones and soprano Gwawr Edwards

The Welsh Gold Collection ShowstoppersWales’ fi nest male voice choirs sing hits from the shows: The rhythm of life, Anthem, You’ll never walk alone…

The Welsh Gold Collection HeartstringsTraditional melodies from the heart by Wales’ fi nest harpists. Tunes include Bugeilio’r gwenith gwyn, Ar lan y môr, Myfanwy…

Paul Carey Jones BARITONE & Llyr Williams PIANODer schiffer, Ozymandias, Y môr enaid, Y llyn, Y bardd…

Kenneth Bowen TENOR Mae hiraeth yn y môrA collection of Welsh songs from his early recordings

David Kempster Baritone“The CD is sure to bring a great deal of pleasure

to so many. Bravo David!” DENNIS O’NEILL, 2008

Nadolig Llawen i holl Gymry Llundain! Other Christmas releases by Llanelli, Hong Kong, Talgarth and Y Foel MVC,

Calan folk band and singer-songwriter Huw Chiswell

From Wales to the World Cerddoriaeth Gwlad y Gân

DISTRIBUTED IN THE UK BY PROPER DISTRUBUTION

TUD/PAGE 8 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 DIGWYDDIADAU/EVENTS

Cerys Matthews, Caryl Parry-Jones and succulent Welsh lambhelped make The Dragon Ball, held on 4 October a trulymassive success.

The Ball, sponsored and paid for by International PropertyFinders, a company owned and run by Eleri Cosslett and AdamMusson who are both passionate supporters of the Welshlanguage and parents at the London Welsh School, raised anastounding £45,000.

The money will mainly go to the Welsh School in London topay for a new garden and multi-purpose play area for thebenefit of all the children but other charities such as TheLondon Welsh Trust, The Home Towers Marie Curie hospice inPenarth, The BHT Trust, a charity based in Cardiff to assistbrain-damaged and severely disabled children in the capital tolive independently, The Iolo Morgannwg charity to help fund amemorial to him in Primrose Hill and lastly The Downs’Syndrome Education Trust.

The evening was a true celebration of all things Welsh, fromthe colossal Welsh Dragon Flag which framed the backdrop toCerys Matthews and Caryl Parry Jones’ stunning performancesto the Welsh lamb and the amazing red green and white flower

arrangements. In truth, said Eleri, we just wanted to get theWelsh in London together and to be able to celebrate ourculture and language in style, which is what I think weachieved.

When asked whether she would be doing it again she said“that it would be great wouldn’t it to be able to do this on anannual basis, but that she would need a long holiday first!”

Cerys and Caryl help make Red Dragon Ball a tasty treat

The Dragon Ball was held at the Porchester Hall and was an outstanding success

Cyrsiau Dwys Undydd2009

Intensive One-day Welsh Courses

Croeso i Ddysgwyr o Bob Safon!All Levels Welcome! including Complete Beginners

Cyrsiau nesaf:4 Mawrth, 13 Mehefin, 28 Tachwedd 2009

Next Courses:4 March, 13 June, 28 November 2009

Manylion a ffurflenni cofrestriDetails and registration forms

www.anoeth.demon.co.uk/pdc.html

Pwyllgor Dysgwyr Cymraeg ymholiadau enquiries

pdc@anoeth.demon.co.uk

DIGWYDDIADAU/EVENTS TUD/PAGE 9 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008

Standard arrangements applied for the biennial Festival of MaleChoirs at the Royal Albert Hall on 18 October. Eight hundred menfrom 16 choirs assembled in their multi-coloured jackets on stage,and their families and friends formed the bulk of the 4500audience out front.

This was the 21st such occasion. “It has taken us 39 years toget here,” remarked organising committee chairman David“Cochyn” Williams. “But having started on a wing and a prayer infar-away 1969, this show could go on for ever.”

Hosts London Welsh MVC were joined by six choirs fromWales: Brecon, Builth Wells, Cardiff Arms Park, Dunvant, Onllwynand Treorchy. There were four from England: Alcester, Cheddar,Hampshire Police and Rushmoor and one each from Australia[Melbourne Welsh], New Zealand [National Male Choir], theUnited States [Boston Saengerfest] and Slovenia, all joined by thesartorially elegant Hong Kong Welsh MVC.

Conducting for the ninth time was Haydn James, withAnnabel Thwaite at the piano and Jeffrey Howard at the organ.Tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones and soprano Gwawr Edwards providedsolo items and added a duet for good measure. The presence ofthe multi–prize winning Cory Band offered variety and brasssupport. Frank Lincoln compèred.

President Cliff Morgan made his inimitable contribution “Gohome with a spring in your step because there is a song in your

heart” to an excellentpublished programme andafterwards underlined hispersonal enjoyment of thefestival, included in amessage conveyingappreciation oforganisational work, talentand invention:“Llongyfarchiadau –Ardderchog”.

In addition to DavidWilliams, the festivalcommittee comprisedPatrick Hodges[secretary], KennethAdams, Byron Davies, Clive Jones, Colin Jones, Geoff Jones, CliveLewis-Jones, Bob Mountney, Harry Planche, Keith Warren andPeter Williams.

After the interval, Lord Morris of Aberavon installed HuwEdwards as his successor as president of the London Welsh Trust.Wearing his badge of office for the first time, the new presidentcommented “This will look good on the Ten O’Clock News”.

Barri Hurford

Concert of 800 Voices –This show will run and run

WHAT’S ON AND WHEREInterested in artists from Wales performing across a wide rangeof genres? Here are some dates for your diaries

November4 - Funeral For A Friend headline at The Forum 9-1 Highgate

Rd, NW5 (their album “Memory and Humanity” wasrecently released)

5 - Cerys Matthews with Paul Heaton at ULU - £17.50(ticketweb)

6 - The School (Cardiff) supporting at The Windmill, Brixton9 - 6.30 - Cymanfa Ganu - Castle Street, 30 Eastcastle St, W1

- www.egcll.org10 - 6pm - £44 - Stereophonics with Seasick Steve, in support

of MENCAP at the Union Chapel, Islington13 - 7.30 - £10-£15 - Evan Davis, economist, and presenter

on Radio 4 “Today”,: speaks on Dishonesty in the MemorialLecture for Richard Price DD FRS (1723-1791) “one ofWales’ most distinguished philosophers”, mathematician,theologian, actuarial pioneer, national finance expert,political pamphleteer, defender of human rights, and ministerat the Green - Newington Green Church, N16 9PR

26-28 - 10am-6pm - Exhibition of art inspired by the Newport

Wetlands Reserve by Monmouth artist Richard Corbett, inassociation with the RSPB - The Smithfield Gallery 16 WestSmithfield, EC1 020 7489 7550

26 - 7 for 7.45 - £13 - Lleuwen Steffan is the special guest ofWaterson:Carthy - the leading folk band in England for 30yearsEast Wintergarden, Bank Street, Canary Wharf E14 5AD

30 - 5.30 for 6pm - Cymanfa: Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol- Haydn James yn arwain, recording of two programmes forS4C by a production company - Eglwys Unedig GymraegCanol Llundain, 30 Eastcastle Street, W1N 7PD

December7 - 6.30 for 7.30 - Bryn Terfel with the RPO - Songs and

Carols to celebrate Christmas - indigO2 (next to the O2arena) Millennium Way SE10 0AX - www.theindigo2.co.uk0844 844 0002.

13 - 7.30 - £10 - Handel: Messiah - London Welsh Chorale -St Pauls Church, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge SW1X 8SH.

14 - 6pm - United Service of Lessons and Carols - with theLondon Welsh Chorale and London Welsh Brass Ensemble –LWC.

27 - £13.50 adv / £15 on the door - MAN - the legendary 60spsychedelic band celebrate 40 years - Rhythm, downstairsat 100 Club, 100 Oxford St.

David Williams, chairman of the Festival Committee,talking with Sir Graeme Davies at the President’s

reception.Photo Rebecca Heald

TUD/PAGE 10 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 CORAU/CHOIRS

The Gwalia has been busy during the summer and earlyautumn. In July we returned to St. Mary’s Church in thevillage of High Halden in Kent for a concert organised by oneof our choristers, Huw Davies.

Our guest soloist was the soprano Sally Silver who gave atremendous performance featuring classical opera and lighternumbers such as Gershwin’s Summertime, and was given astanding ovation at the end of her last number.

The Gwalia’s own top tenor soloist, Ted Sellick, sangseveral numbers including the spiritual No-one knows thetrouble I’ve seen and a very beautiful, rarely sung traditionalEnglish folk tune I gave my love a cherry, made famous byHarry Belafonte.

Ted ended with Goodbye by Robert Stolz, or The HankySong as it was dubbed by our compère Mark Bevan. In thissong, Ted invites the audience to join in the choruses bywaving goodbye with their handkerchiefs above their heads.Many thanks to our guest conductor Haydn James and to ouraccompanist Chris George for their contributions to a veryenjoyable and successful concert.

We performed at three weddings, including the weddingof the daughter of one of our choristers, Geoff Rogers. Thiswas held at St. Mary’s Church, Ide Hill, Kent in September.As usual, we sang several numbers as the guests arrived and

then as the bride walked up the aisle, instead of the normalwedding march, the choir sang the first verse of The Rose byAmanda McBroom, a special request of the bride.

During the signing of the register Ted Sellick sang thewonderful hymn How Great Thou Art with the choir joining inthe choruses. As the bridegroom was Scottish, we then sangthe lovely Hebridean classic, Eriskay Love Lilt, and endedwith the classic Welsh hymn Gwahoddiad.

Our fifth engagement was on Sunday, October 5th at theRichmond Golf Club who were holding what has become anannual Welsh day. We sang ten numbers for them, allunaccompanied, mostly firm Welsh favourites such asMyfanwy, Men of Harlech, Sospan Fach and Cwm Rhondda.

As an added bonus, we had the baritone Mark Evanswith us who had been persuaded to come along and sing byour conductor Janet Haney. Mark sang My little Welsh Homeand received tremendous applause. The choir were very welllooked after by our hosts and there was a lot of informalsinging in the bar afterwards. Altogether a thoroughlyenjoyable day out.

For details of forthcoming engagements over the next fewmonths, please see the Gwalia website at:www.gwaliamalevoicechoir.org.uk.

David Hurlbut

Gwalia

A little Hanky Panky at St Mary’s Church concert

The next big event in the the Chorale’s diary is especiallyimportant. It is a performance of Handel’s Messiah on 13December 2008 at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge.

It will be Kenneth Bowen’s last major concert as thechoir’s musical director after an extraordinary 25 years’service. As such it will undoubtedly be an emotional occasionand the performance is sure to lift the roof as the Choralethanks Ken for both his musical leadership and his friendshipover so many years.

We hope and expect to have a full house for this concertso please book early: tickets are £10, (concs available) fromChorale members, by emailingtickets@londonwelshchorale.org.uk or at the door.

The Chorale’s large concert - Mendelssohn’s beautifulwork Elijah in the summer at the Duke’s Hall, RoyalAcademy of Music was a huge success and very wellreceived.

And the Camerata was also active having been accordedthe honour of performing at a ceremony at the US Embassyin London to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of11 September 2001.

From January 2009 Gareth Hancock will be taking overas musical director. He has an impressive background havingtrained at Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music beforea career working as a coach, accompanist and conductorwith all Britain’s major opera companies, working with suchconductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andrew Davis and SirJohn Eliot Gardiner.

For more information about forthcoming engagements, orif you are interested in joining the choir please see ourWebsite: www.londonwelshchorale.org.uk or e-mail:info@londonwelshchorale.org.uk

Matthew Holt

London Welsh Chorale

Ken Bowen bows out – with the Messiah

Life is pretty hectic for a chorister in the London Welsh MaleVoice Choir most of the time, but no more than at the presenttime. Reports on the Choir’s recent visit to New York and Boston,and the Festival of Male Voice Choirs appear elsewhere in thismagazine.

By the time you read this report the Choir will have sung atthe Leatherhead Theatre on 1 November and will be preparing fora prestigious engagement at the Cenotaph in Whitehall tocommemorate the 90th anniversary of the ending of WW1, to betelevised live on BBC on 11 November. Then in December theChoir will make its debut appearance at Lancing College nearWorthing, singing at the beautiful Chapel there.

At the end of May next year plans are in hand for a three-concert tour of South West France. Basing the Choir in rugby-

playing stronghold of Angoulême, the Choir will also give concertsat Saintes and La Rochelle. However, at the end of January, thereis a possibility that the Choir will visit Qatar, for a cultural eventorganised by the British Embassy.

In between these two overseas visit there is a visit to Cardiff’sMillennium Centre on St David’s Day (Sunday at 5pm) for a mini-Festival. The LWMVC, along with the choirs from Wales thatparticipated at the Royal Albert Hall last month, will again beunder the baton of Haydn James. With Annabel Thwaite (piano)and the Cory Band, the massed choir will sing for the benefit ofthe Teenage Cancer Trust. Guest soloists will be Gwawr Edwards(soprano), Wynne Evans (tenor), Eddie Wade (baritone), andFrank Lincoln will compère.

All that should keep us all out of mischief!

LWMVC

High-flying choristers join the jet set

LWMVC’s annual 8 day overseas tour was in early autumn thisyear rather than the traditional Whitsun week. Our destinationsthis time were New York and Boston (the latter being thevenue of the 1999 tour).

The tour centrepieces at each location were enjoyable andenthusiastically received concerts, the repertoire being basedheavily on the (imminent) London Welsh Festival of MaleChoirs at the Royal Albert Hall on 18 October.

The first concert was a journey of an hour or so fromManhattan to its “stockbroker belt” at Harrison, White Plains.The concert hall was at a local high school with facilities thatthe richest UK public schools might envy, the concert itselfbeing expertly conducted by Michael Wynn-Jones.

The choir was very pleased with debut concertperformances of two RAH items and the audience reactioncorroborated this. The second, shared with and hosted by ourold friends at the Boston Sangerfest Male Voice Choir, was atRegis College in similarly privileged surroundings. Haydnshared conducting duties with our host’s musical director.

The hall’s superb acoustic and the joint and separate effortsof each choir and soloists (David Williams and Geraint Lewisfrom LWMVC) bringing the best from all concerned, with theaudience giving us a standing ovation.

As usual, there was plenty of time for socialising andsightseeing (ask an LWMVC chorister about the Highway Patrolmotorcyle escort and Arthur Simpson about the New York FireBrigade). This brief note on a most enjoyable and successfultour, from a cultural, activity and logistical perspective, cannotend without mentioning the LWMVC Tour Committee who putit all together. Many thanks indeed.

John Feltham

LWMVC Crosses the Pond

CORAU/CHOIRS TUD/PAGE 11 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008

Clive Jones went to Ellis Island to take this unusual view of New York’s Statue of Liberty

TUD/PAGE 12 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 CELFYDDYDAU/ARTS

WNO The Barber of Seville - (Left to Right) John Moore (Figaro) Eric Roberts (Dr Bartolo) Laura Parfitt (Rosina) and Colin Lee (Count Almaviva)Photo: Johan Persson 01565

We have become accustomed to successful seasons from WelshNational Opera but the current Autumn offerings are particularlynoteworthy. All three productions bring strong casts, excellentstaging and singing of the highest standard. In short, it has beensuccess all round.

The season’s new production is Verdi’s gripping Otello. PaulCurran’s production works well and there are excellentperformances, particularly from Amanda Roocroft as Desdemonaand Dennis O’Neill who is “on top of his game” with the role ofOtello.

Another very impressive performance is that of Chirk’s DavidKempster who offers a powerful and suitably sinister Iago. WynneEvans, originally from Carmarthen, rounds things off nicely asCassio.

There are some interesting touches in staging and costume.The huge sculpted golden Lion of Venice is certainly an attentiongetter. Claire Bradshaw’s “Boudica like” attire suits her well sungEmilia.

There is plenty for the chorus to do in Otello and that isanother obvious plus for WNO. Carlo Rizzi brings his usual verveas Conductor for what is a very enjoyable evening.

A revival of Janácek’s Jenufa adds a Czech flavour to anothersuccessful production. Some find Janácek challenging butmusically this is an excellent evening with the orchestra ablyconducted by Siân Edwards.

The title role is filled with aplomb by the always excellentNuccia Focile and Susan Bickley is in excellent voice for thecritical role of Kostelni� ka. The volatile “suitors”, Števa and Lacaare well sung by Stephen Rooke and Peter Hoare respectively.

There is a nice cameo role by Susan Gorton as thegrandmother and Siân Meinir makes the most of the mayor’s wifepart with Alastair Moore as the mayor. Their daughter Karolka issung by Llantwit Major’s Charlotte Ellett.

Jenufa is a dark and moving piece. It offers a striking contrastto the rousing antics of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville whichrounds off the Autumn Season. This is a tried and testedproduction, first staged in Cardiff in 1986.

Indeed, one pundit suggested that it might be older than somemembers of the cast! It really doesn’t matter. This is proof of theold adage that if something isn’t broken, we shouldn’t try to mendit.

The staging and costumes work well with the “chorus asaudience” ploy an effective one. If the production is slightlyelderly, the cast in the current season is not. Youthful enterprisehelps to bring the Barber to vibrant life. Particularly notable areJohn Moore in the title role and Laura Parfitt as Rosina.

Eric Roberts brings a deft comic touch to Dr. Bartolo and ColinLee is excellent as Count Almaviva. Paul Gyton as Ambrogio andTim Mirfin as Basilio join in the fun as does Naomi Harvey asBerta the housekeeper.

Gareth Jones keeps the music nicely on track as Conductor.This Barber is good fun and well worth seeing.

All three of the autumn productions have important roles forthe chorus which rises to the occasion all round. This is a verysuccessful season and, as productions prepare to tour, LondonWelsh readers can confidently book any or all of them and enjoyan excellent night at the opera.

Ray Howell

Czech this out –WNO brings Jenufato the Bay

NEWYDDION/NEWS TUD/PAGE 13 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008

London Welsh CC’s first season in Division 2 of the AJ SportsSurrey Cricket League ended with the club finishing in asatisfactory 11th place out of 16 with a playing record of 6 wins;8 defeats and one match abandoned.

After being promoted in third place in 2007 this represented asolid start to life in Division 2, the highest Division which the clubhas reached since it started to play League cricket in 1993.

As in 2007 the club’s star performer was Kiwi batsman, DavidSisam, who again topped the batting averages and won theDivision 2 Batsman of the Year award, a fine achievement in astronger Division after winning the Division 4 award in 2007.

David scored 816 runs in total with four 100’s and two 50’sto average 81.6 for the season. He was presented with a trophyand prize at the League’s end of season Presentation Evening onSaturday, 25 October at the Richmond Hill Hotel.

The summer of 2008 was dismal from the point of view of theweather but London Welsh only lost one game to rain althoughmany games were played in grey, chilly, cheerless conditions withrain in the air.

2009 must be an improvement after two poor summers. Whatwas encouraging in 2008 was the emergence of some young

players who showed good form despite their inexperience withFawaz Jawed providing a much need leg-spin option in the latergames of the season, taking 4-29 in the game against Morden.

Other highlights during the season were the visit to the gameagainst Sutton on 26 July of club Patron, Sir Ronald Waterhouse,who kindly presented Club President, Chairman and Life Member,Bill Jenkins, with a card, a gift of champagne and a bat signed byclub members to mark Bill’s 80th birthday.

On 16 August the club was delighted to see Life Member,Derek Williams, who reformed the club in 1978, who called induring the home game against Norwood Exiles while on a visitfrom New Zealand where he now lives.

A major disappointment for the club in 2008 was that thetraditional visit to Ross-on-Wye for the end of season game on 13September had to be cancelled as the Ross-on-Wye cricketground was completely flooded when the river burst its banks.

Pictures of the ground and the extent of the flooding can beseen on the LWCC website www.lwcc.quickonthenet.com whichalso has the final 2008 Points Table and other features such asPlayer Profiles and Player of the Month awards throughout the2008 season.

Moving on up – solid start to Division 2London Welsh Cricket Club 2008 Season Review

Madge Dresser, Reader in History at the University of the Westof England, addressed the society on 4 October, on Migrationfrom South Wales to Bristol. She used a rich variety of sourcesto demonstrate the attraction of Bristol to South Wales.

From the medieval period up to the first half of thenineteenth century, Bristol was the port through which mostWelsh produce was shipped to the rest of Britain andelsewhere, and was also a destination for migration fromWales.

Not surprisingly, the most common place of origin formigrants was Monmouthshire, but Pembrokeshire origins weremore common than Glamorgan, possibly reflecting maritimelinks. Analysis of Welsh surnames among Bristol records showWelsh people in a variety of roles: holding office in the boroughas early as the fifteenth century, serving apprenticeships,involved in the Bristol-based slave trade, or working in serviceor in a variety of trades.

Some migrants were transitory, staying for a short period asseasonal workers; some returned home to Wales at the end of aworking life to get poor relief in their parish of settlement;others became permanent residents.

The destination of the coastal trade from South Wales wasthe Welsh Back, where small trows landed agricultural produce,

coal and slate. In the second half of the eighteenth century a“Welch Market” was established in the area, where chickens,fish, and dairy produce were sold; the surviving book of traders’names dated 1760 to 1844 shows that most were women.

Religion played a part in the links between Bristol andSouth Wales. Members of the first chapel in Wales, Llanfaches,fled to Bristol at the outbreak of the Civil War, and many WelshQuakers were based there. Welshmen were prominent among Bristol Baptists, particularly Hugh Evans, who was headof the Bristol Baptist Academy. A Welsh Chapel flourished fromthe early nineteenth century.

Bristol’s position as the main Bristol Channel port began todecline following the abolition of the slave trade, with growingtrade from the South Wales ports, notably Swansea’s coppertrade from the early eighteenth century, and the pre-eminenceof Cardiff’s coal trade around the turn of the twentieth century.

Anne Jones’ talk in July illustrated the many complexities ofthe Welsh Patronymic naming system, particularly in the periodof the transition between patronymics and fixed surnames.Members of the same family could take different surnames,change their mind about which name to adopt or sometimeseven revert from fixed surnames back to patronymics.

Anna Brueton

Welsh Family History Societies: London Branch

Welsh migrants – and theirrole in Bristol’s Mercantile success

TUD/PAGE 14 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 MARWOLAETHOL/OBITUARIES

Cenydd Howells

Cenydd was brought up in Nantgaredig in ruralCarmarthenshire where his father, Iorweth, was Director ofEducation.

Cenydd attended Queen Elisabeth grammar School inCarmarthen, before proceeding to Selwyn College, Cambridgewith a College Exhibition to study Classics first and then Law.

He became Vice president of the University Law Society. Itwas a matter of pride for Cenydd that his son David alsostudied at Selwyn College.

He moved to London and was called to the Bar in 1964 byLord Denning, receiving the Bennett prize.

Cenydd’s interests and ambitions from the start were inChancery and Property law. He applied to join the Wales andChester circuit and his application was supported by no lesslawyer than Tasker Watkins V.C.

He became a recorder on the circuit which involved hearingChancery cases in the County Courts of Wales – in Welsh aswell as in English.

He often travelled from place to place in his camper van,having loaded it with all the legal books and documents hemight need for the cases he was to hear.

In places like Haverfordwest the judge’s clerk would haveplaced cones outside the court reserving his parking space andin Llangefni it emerged that Cenydd was identified as “the nicerecorder with the campervan”.

His attention to detail was legendary and because of hismany qualities he held many positions in the field of

conveyancing andwas elected as amaster of the Benchof Lincolns Inn in2005.

Cenydd was aman of manyinterests to whom theWelsh Language andhistory was veryimportant. He lovedmusic and he metGaynor throughmembership of theLondon Welsh Choirwith which they sangat the investiture ofthe Prince of Walesat Caernarfon Castle and he was thrilled that his daughterElisabeth now sings in the same choir.

Cenydd was a staunch supporter of the London WelshTrust. He was Chairman of the Trust in 1987 but remained aCouncil member for the rest of his life; his wisdom and advicewere much appreciated and respected.

He was a rounded man of many talents and interests whopractised his quiet but deep faith in the way he conducted hislife. Above all he was a deep rooted family man and we offerour sincere sympathy to Gaynor, Elisabeth and David and theirfamilies.

Yet Aberavon (48-17) and Swansea (26-10) were bothovercome with some ease in Wales, while the Magners CelticLeague side Connacht were beaten in a feisty Friday night duelin Galway by 17-12. League rugby is always a true barometerof a clubs standing, however, and it is certainly heartening thatby the end of October the Welsh had won all but three of theirnine engagements – all of them to top title contenders. Bedford(23-32) were marginally stronger, Leeds (0-38) were a classapart, while their nearest rivals Exeter (3-10) were just toostrong in Devon. Arguably, that narrow defeat in Exeter, whichat least earned a bonus point, was as significant as any of thevictories – and they have come thick and fast. Moseley (15-9),Sedgely Park (43-11), Plymouth Albion (25-24) and Newbury(20-9) all bent the knee on the road, while Doncaster were cutdown at Old Deer Park by 31-16 and Esher (43-19) weredestroyed in a vivid first-half display. Prior to the defeat inExeter the Welsh had recorded their fifth consecutive awayleague victory – the most successful run from home at thislevel.

A move to professional rugby inevitably means wholesalechanges to the playing strength, not least by many talentedplayers who did not wish to commit themselves to the full-timegame. No club has benefitted more from this switch than oldfriends and local rivals Rosslyn Park, where Chris Ritchie,

James Strong, Rob Jewell, Howard Quigley, John Swords andAmo Tauialo are among those who can be seen enjoying theirrugby in Roehampton. Inward bound, however, the Welsh havewelcomed several fine players, many of whom have experiencedPremiership/Magners league rugby. From over the Severn theWelsh have recruited half-backs Aled Thomas (who is nearing100 points for the season) and Alex Walker from the GwentDragons; Llanelli Scarlets have provided hooker Dan George andwinger Alec Jenkins; and the experienced former Osprey andBridgend captain Mike Powell is a valued addition in the secondrow. Meanwhile, No.8 Tom Brown, who has joined fromNewbury, has won Welsh international honours at rugby league.Other notable signings include Worcester scrum-half NickRunciman, former Leeds centre Tom Rock, the Oxford flyer TomTombleson, versatile centre Peter Murchie, full-back Ed Lewis-Pratt from London Irish, and two accomplished back-rowers inSaracen’s Tom Audley and the Army’s Darrell Ball. And recentlymaking their league debuts were Mark Harris, who has playedCurrie Cup rugby in South Africa and was once on Bedford’sbooks, and the Ireland Under-21 hooker Gavin O’Meara.

So it can be seen that director of rugby Martin Jones iscertainly leading a highly motivated and talented squad ofplayers, including many of those who formed the core of lastseason’s successful seventh-placed side. It is also pleasing toreport, and not altogether surprising, that attendances areshowing a marked increase. It is a long and winding road to thetop, but for the first time in many years the Welsh can nowcontemplate their future with optimism.

Continued from page 16

Welsh make their mark

Welsh make their markBy Paul BekenThe Summer (what summer you may ask) has passed, but sittingin the glorious autumn sunshine during the recent home gamewith Esher, and looking at the new stand at the Kew Gardens endof the ground and at the marquees along the touchline servingrefreshments – not least the ubiquitous hog-roast – and providingshelter whenever the rains may come, Old Deer Park was lookingan absolute picture.And all of this, it has to be said, is largely because of the club’sdecision to opt for professional rugby and make the classic oldRichmond ground even more of an attraction. Before considering these implications, however, we need to get therecord straight. Contrary to comment in some quarters, LondonWelsh are not embracing professional rugby for the first time.

Some eleven years ago, when Clive Griffiths was at the helm,the Welsh embarked upon a three year experiment in pro ranks.And with Rowland Phillips, Andy Currier et al in the vanguard, theWelsh enjoyed more success than ever before in league rugby.

A dazzlingly strong third division, which included Worcester,Leeds and Welsh, among others, saw the Welsh climb to whatbecame the Allied Dunbar Premiership Two, with fourth and fifthplace finishes in the years that followed. They were wonderfulyears for the London Welsh spectator, who also relished the sightof the Welsh scoring 210 (yes, two hundred and ten) pointsagainst Welsh visitors Llanelli, Newport and Blackwood.

However successful the move may have been in a playingsense, the sums just didn’t add up and the club reluctantlydecided to revert to its former status.

As a result, the Welsh were no longer playing on a levelplaying field and it was therefore a great tribute to the club’s latercoaches Adrian Davies and Martin Jones - no less to a dedicatedboard of directors – that they were able to maintain their place inthe first division, often in difficult circumstances.

That was a major feat, for sure, but it did not accord with theclub’s avowed aim of regaining its place among rugby’s elite.Ambition is one thing, but it rapidly became clear that the onlyway to make this a reality was by turning professional. So theLondon Welsh club took the momentous decision to take a secondbite of the professional cherry.

One consequence has been the realism that the Old Deer Parkwill not be able to meet the Premiership’s minimum requirementsin respect of ground capacity and seating. The old ground onceaccommodated more than 10,000 spectators, 7,995 of whompaid through the turnstiles. That attendance figure almost beggarsbelief, but it was achieved 36 years ago when the health andsafety czars were kept in their boxes and spectators generallydidn’t give a fig for their comfort. If you got to the ground early youwould have a good view of the game; if you didn’t you wouldbarely see a thing. It was as simple as that.

But times have changed and the received wisdom is that theWelsh may consider entering into a ground-sharing arrangement,possibly with the Brentford soccer club, just along the road. For

many that would be a bitter pill to swallow, but the news that theOld Deer Park will continue to stage good quality rugby andremain the club’s spiritual home has set many beating hearts torest.

At all events, the Welsh are making a fine fist of things in theirsecond incarnation as a full-time club. How far the club hastravelled was first revealed in a series of three taxing friendlies.

TUD/PAGE 16 TACHWEDD/NOVEMBER 2008 CHWARAEON/SPORTS

Aled Thomas gets the ball away against Leeds. Picture by Dave Jackson.

Continued page 14