March 1st is Dydd Gwyl Dewi � St David`s Day. On Friday 2nd, 105 members and guests of the Society celebrated the event with a dinner at the County Hotel, graced with the presence of the Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Margaret Hutchon. St David was a vegetarian and teetotal, a step rather too far for the Society ,who enjoyed a delicious meal of traditional cawl (leek and potato soup) and oen rhost a llysiau tymhorol (roast lamb with seasonal vegetables) followed by non traditional profiteroles and washed down with wines, in a room beautifully prepared by Cynthia Styles and Edith and David Brown. On arriving everyone was presented with a daffodil, one of the two Welsh national emblems, by young Tommy and Charlie Foote, and greeted with nostalgic strains of Welsh airs, beautifully played by harpist Rachel Bartels. The President, Derrick Thomas, proposed the Loyal Toast. In proposing the toast to Dewi Sant, Vice-President Cynthia Styles recalled his last words uttered, in Welsh of course, on his deathbed on 1st March 589: "Brothers and sisters, do the little things you have heard and seen with me. Be happy and keep the faith." Many Welsh societies world wide honour members who have given outstanding service by inviting them to become Members of the Order of the Leek. The leek was worn by the Britons, on Dewi Sant`s advice, to distinguish patriot from foe in a victorious battle with the Saxons, and the Welsh regiment hold a leek-eating ceremony on St David`s Day. This year the Society honoured Ron and Jean Jones. The toast to the Society was proposed by Guest of Honour Bryn Roberts, who sang with Derrick in Hong Kong Male Voice Choir. Born in Flintshire, he was in the RAF for several years before serving the British Government in foreign parts, including Mongolia! The President proposed the toast to "Our Guests." Responding on behalf of the guests, the Mayor said that she wished the English would celebrate St George`s Day with equal enthusiasm. The County Call by MC Betty Hammond revealed guests from Australia and Iran. The evening concluded with a sing-along led by Arthur Williams and accompanied by Rachel on her harp. The celebrations continued on Sunday 4th with a service at Little Baddow URC, conducted by Rev Dr Cally Hammond.
Jim Armishaw |
