We had a great turnout for our AGM on Friday 9th May. There must have been 55 people attending.
People started arriving at 6pm, greeting old friends as well as welcoming new members. It was good to see some of the long-time members again too, like Verlie Heal, Bob Ford and Hugh Griffith.
Colin and Diane Thomas greeted people as they came in with a glass of fizz or juice.
Chairman Gwyndaf John opened proceedings by welcoming everyone and saying that we had apologies from another 17. He said that as this was a special occasion, marking the 25th anniversary of the Society the celebration would be free and we would look back over the first 25 years since the Society’s creation. As he spoke, there was a slide show on the screen behind him showing photographs of our events over the 25 years – approximately 1,000 photographs!
In his Chairman’s Report, Gwyndaf described many of our activities over the past 12 months, including our walk around Windsor, where we had been recorded on YouTube watching as the Welsh Guards marched past.
Membership was reported to be approximately 115 (to be confirmed when final subscriptions were received). Gwyndaf welcomed new members Teifion and Barbara Jones, Russell and Veronica Fowler and Huw Meredith (Eirwen’s son).
Lloyd Jones then gave his treasurer’s report, indicating that the Society’s finances were in good shape, even after financing the evening’s food and drink!
Gwyndaf then reported that two new committee members have been seconded – Mike Owen as Minutes Secretary and Colin Thomas, who will initially assist with the Golf Day.
All the committee members were willing to stand again, and were duly unanimously re-elected.
Before closing Gwyndaf said that the committee intended to add an ‘In Case of Emergency’ contact to our membership details, and during the year members would be asked to nominate a suitable contact.
Sue Jones then proposed a vote of thanks to past and present committee members.
The formal part of the meeting then ended and we replenished our glasses while Ann Tennant provided us with an excellent evening meal with a choice of chicken or salmon.
The slide show of photographs continued during and after the meal as Gwyndaf opened the review of 25 years of the society’s history.
Ann Evans described how she came up with the idea and the first meeting in 2000 – a barbeque hosted by Gwyn and Jean Owen.
Gwyndaf then read out short reports from Ralph Broomby and Gwyn Owen, who were amongst our first chairmen, neither of whom could attend as they were on holiday in the Mediterranean.
Bob Ford then spoke about his time as chairman, and the 2004 trip to visit the Norwegian Welsh Society.
David Powell recounted his time in the society, featuring an eventful trip to the Magic Circle, and his chairmanship during Covid, when we all had to learn how to use Zoom and we had the Archbishop of Canterbury addressing us on the small screen.
Finally, Gwyndaf thanked all the people who had helped make the society such a success, including those who had lent us their living rooms and gardens for Christmas drinks and summer lunches, our caterers (especially Ann Tennant), as well as 
the organisers who had arranged outings, golf days and trips and all our committee members (giving special thanks to Jonathan Pegler and Maldwyn Pugh).
After a successful and enjoyable evening we turned off the projector, cleared the tables and chairs, and went home by 10pm.
We all met at The Queen’s Head in Little Marlow at 10:00 for a 10:30 start. There were about 18 of us in all. We ordered our lunches before setting off.
We started off by heading off to the parish church of St John the Baptist.
Norman times, was constructed from materials from the convent, one of the oldest parts is the font.
We were able to spot swans, great crested grebes, tufted ducks, and various geese (greylag, bean or was it pink footed?).
As we went, Gwyndaf pointed out features of the flood plain, including the alder trees that grew along the river. Alders love moist or boggy ground, and Gwyndaf showed us the unusual female catkins, which look just like very small pine cones. It is the only deciduous tree which produces a cone.
We gathered at 6:30 to be greeted with a glass of fizz or a soft drink, and this gave us the chance to catch up with old friends and to talk of anything except rugby.
This year we were particularly pleased to be joined by Bob Ford (who was chairman when I first joined in 2010) and Jayne Pegler as well as Peter & Pat Chapman, who had travelled from their home in Brecon to be with us. It was also good to see Ernest Morris back with us after his accident.
As usual with Gerrards Cross Golf Club, the food was very good, with the most popular choices being Beetroot and Orange Gravadlax and Lamb Tagine followed by Merlot poached Pears with Blackcurrant Sorbet.
After the meal, Gwyndaf introduced our speaker for the evening, Sarah Green, the MP for Chesham and Amersham.
Sarah was born and grew up in Corwen, Clwyd and speaks Welsh fluently.
John Breese then took to the piano and played the National Anthem, followed by a number of old favourites and everyone joined in using the song sheets provided.
The evening finished about 10:30pm, another successful St David’s Day celebration.
Colin Picton had created the quiz and was acting as question-master, assisted by his glamourous assistant Kate, though she introduced herself as ‘Samantha’ (after the fictional assistant on Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue).
Colin and Diane’s house was all ready for Christmas, with festive decorations in every direction and a large Welsh flag in the front window.
Diane and Colin greeted everyone as they started arriving from about 12:30 onwards, and people migrated first to the kitchen, where drinks were being served.
To our left, Ann Tenant was already there, preparing all the different canapes.
People drifted between the living room, where the canapes were served and the kitchen, where the drinks were laid out on the table. This year there was a good supply of Prosecco, as there had been comments that this was overlooked last year.
Towards four o’ clock, John Breese started playing a selection of Christmas carols, with everyone joining in.
Each team included a member of Oakland Golf Club, who would be familiar with the course. Rob Britton led the first team to tee off, accompanied by Rob Brett and Ray Brown. The latter was a last minute replacement for the injured Brian Evans, but was an eminently well-qualified substitute as his wife is Welsh. Despite sharing the same initials this team did not always share the same opinion when trying to choose their “best” shot. Perhaps a consequence of putting two retired legal eagles in the same team.
Whitworth, and the third saw Colin Thomas partnered by Pat Whitworth and Alun McCarthy.
The end result was very close indeed. Though there were no birdies recorded, there were plenty of pars recorded on all the scorecards. In the end Pam, John and Gwyndaf scraped home as the winners. They took 81 strokes, just one stroke less than the two Robs’ and Ray. Another three behind were Colin, Pat and Alun.
After the golf the players were joined by other members of the Society for a splendid two course lunch. Among those attending were Elan and Robin Preston-Whyte who had travelled over from Egham. A later than usual start to the golf meant a late sitting for the meal, so thanks are due to all the non-playing guests for their patience.
Prizes were awarded to the winning team, and Gwyndaf and Rob were thanked for arranging the event.
On Thursday 19th September, a group of 15 members met at10:00am on Windsor Bridge for a walk around Windsor and Eton.
David & Gwyndaf had done their homework and planned a walk that was to take in sights of Windsor that many of us had not seen before. The walk was loosely based on The Queen’s Walkway and a series of 63 of the town’s attractions, but we were to cover only the sights in the centre of the town.
There were many unusual attractions: the death warrant for Charles I, a game of hopscotch based on monarchs connected with Windsor and the parish church of St John the Baptist which held an 18th century picture of the last supper, a wonderful carved altar rail by Grinling Gibbons and the royal pew with two grand wooden thrones.
And so to the Sunday of the Lunch. At noon the elements decided to make their contribution – another downpour. Come one o’clock some 40 determined guests had arrived – looking dressed for a January walk in the Chilterns – vests included – so I was told by many of the ladies . However, then – the sun decided to shine on proceedings.
