Tag Archives: Golf

GOLF DAY 29th AUGUST 2014

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What a fabulous summer and fortunately the weather on our golf day was once again kind to us. We had 18 golfers sign up, so it worked perfectly without drafting in any of our stalwart extras.  Mike Stythe was due to join us but sadly suffered some cracked ribs at the last minute and had to withdraw.  We had an additional 6 members came for lunch which was great.  Our President was unfortunately called away to America and was unable to join us.

IMG_4406The results were as follows:

Winning team:  Colin Thomas, Margaret Broomby, Marilyn Evans

IMG_4416IMG_4405IMG_4408Marilyn had a brilliant round, scoring top marks, 44 stableford points.  Jasper Garnham had the highest score for the men of 34.  Colin and Pam Britton won nearest the pin and the longest drives were won by Margaret and Gwyn Owen.  Ann Lawrence, who was unable to play due to injury this year, kindly presented the prizes.

Robert Britton addressed everyone, suggesting that maybe another year we should go to pastures new with fresh organisers and a new format.  No-one volunteered to take over the helm, and the consensus seemed to be ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’!  So we have booked the same Friday next year at Oakland Park.

Colin gave a vote of thanks to Pam and Rob for organising the event.

St David’s Day 2014

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P1040638This year’s St David’s Day dinner was the best attended yet, and what an enjoyable evening!

Eighty four people attended our event on 1st March at Gerrards Cross Golf Club. We all gathered about 6:30 for a glass of bubbly and this year Gwyndaf provided name badges, which were particularly helpful for our newer members (or people like me who can always remember a face, but not always the name to go with it).

P1040644The meal included a really delicious Welsh lamb steak, preceded by a prawn tart and finished off with a good old fashioned sponge pudding with custard.

After the meal we were entertained by the lovely Rhiannon Llewellyn accompanied at the piano by Peter Foggit.

Rhiannon told us tales about her background (including Wales & Chalfont St Peter) and the fact that she used to be taught by Jayne Pegler.

P1040654A wonderful operatic soprano, Rhiannon will this year be the guest soloist for the London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall. She gave a charming and captivating performance covering a varied programme, ranging from Puccini’s La Boheme to Gershwin’s Summertime. I think that most of the men in the audience liked the pieces where she played the ‘vamp’ and teased various gentlemen in the room singing amorously at them (soprano/lap dancer she says in a recent tweet).

 

P1040660Jonathan Pegler thanked the pair, Rhiannon was presented with a bouquet of flowers, and Peter with a bottle of wine.

 

 

Afterwards everyone gathered around the piano where song sheets were distributed and Jonathan played many of our old favourites.

Overall – an excellent evening of singing!

P1040675

 

Golf Day – 30th August

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Golf Day

See below for details of our next trip to The Magic Circle and also details of the London Welsh Male Voice Choir, which is singing at Eton School Hall on Saturday, 16 November

Another lovely day for our golfing visit to Oaklands Park, Chalfont St Giles.  I cannot remember poor weather for this event which has been running for a number of years, firstly at Harewood Downs and latterly at Oaklands Park.The course has been especially good this year and  did us proud again.IMG_4288

We were fewer in number this year, 21 as against 30 last year, and as usual a couple of guests came in at the last moment to make up the numbers. Eight non-playing members joined us for an excellent lunch after which our President,Ann Evans presented the prizes.

Jane Morris, Alan Longshaw and Ralph Broomby won the Team Prize. Ann Lawrence, with an amazing 41 points, won the individual Stableford Prize.IMG_4289

The nearest the pin prizes went to Margaret Broomby and Ralph Broomby, and the longest drive prizes to Brenda Adams and Colin Thomas.

Note the frequency of one family in the results; rumours that a new trophy cabinet has been ordered by Ralph have not been substantiated.

Chris Thomas

Chairman’s Report – Winter 2012

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The Annual Golf Day at Oakland Park at the end of August was held in glorious weather, despite it being one of the wettest years on record. It was decided by acclamation that we would seek to repeat the event at the same time and the same place next year.

For the two events in September, most members restricted themselves to just one choice so attendance was widely spread and both were much enjoyed. Thanks go to Anne Thomas for her inspiration and detailed planning of the Buckingham Palace trip. Hugh Griffith’s daughter studied at Jesus College and thanks to that connection he started organising the Oxford event. The attendees took lunch in the panelled dining hall at Jesus College and enjoyed the rare privilege of a tour of the Fellows’ Library. There we were allowed to read and touch some special books of great historical significance. These included a first edition of the Bible in Welsh dating from the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth. The two official guides who then took us around central Oxford added to the pleasure by their humour as well as their knowledge.

A coachload of members travelled in for the biennial London Welsh Festival of Male Voice Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall Concert. On this occasion we sat in the front rows of the balcony – an excellent position for the concert except for Kay Day’s guest who suffers from vertigo! We heard exceptional Brass Band music as well as the wonderful singing from the massed choirs. As usual several choirs had come up from Wales and also one from as far away as Glasgow.

Looking ahead, Christmas drinks will be held at the home of Jonathan & Jayne Pegler for the second year in succession. The catering will again be in the capable hands of Ann Tennant, this time with the assistance of a couple of young helpers to serve. The wine and canapés are provided free of charge but members are required to come prepared to join in some carol singing!

A highlight of our 2013 programme will be the presence of the renowned harpist Claire Jones at our St David’s Day Dinner. We have been fortunate that our President, Ann Evans, knows Claire personally. Until recently the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales, Claire performed for the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at their wedding reception in Buckingham Palace and she is now ready to perform for our Society. The Dinner will be on March 1st. Get ready to book your tickets soon.

A suitable venue is required for our Summer Lunch next June. Could you provide one?

And finally thanks to all who have chosen to pay their subs by Standing Order.

Gwyndaf John

September 2012 Update

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This is an update on the two events we’ve had so far in August and September.

On 20th September we will also have our Tour of Oxford with a Welsh theme, and I’ll add a report as it becomes available.

Maldwyn still has some tickets available for the Male Voice Choir Concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 13th October, so please contact him if you’d like to come along.

 

At the end of August we had the  very enjoyable Golf day at Oakland Park Golf Club.   A full description will follow, but I’ve added Maldwyn’s photographic record of the event below (bottom of the page).

Buckingham Palace

On 4th September,  Anne Thomas organised a trip to see the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace and a tour of the gardens.

Here is Jayne Pegler’s account of the day.

Tuesday 4th September was a glorious day. Some twenty five of us met at Buckingham Palace for our tour of the State Apartments.

Equipped with our earphones we were guided through the Throne Room, the Picture Gallery, the Dining Room, the Music Room,  the Ballroom, to name but a few; and instantly became absorbed into the lavish and historic world surrounding us. Elaborate cornices, lanterns and domes rose resplendent above us encrusted with symbolic motifs such as shamrock, rose and thistle (where was the daffodil or the leek?!) whilst regal red and gold engulfed us. The great masters from Titian to Van Dyke graced the walls and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s manuscript of the anthem he’d composed for the Diamond Jubilee was a centre-piece in a calm blue, lapis-lazuli pillared Music Room. The Ballroom, much loved by Queen Victoria, was home to eleven foot high and almost six foot wide English crystal chandeliers which apparently are lowered and sprayed with water before being hand dried with a soft cloth and raised into position. Did anyone recall that particular episode in “Only Fools and Horses?!”

Nash had a field-day when he transformed Bucks House into Buckingham Palace. No wonder he was relieved of his duties for exceeding the budget!

The dazzling diamond display of royal crowns, tiaras, necklaces, earrings and brooches was truly spectacular. When you read this, Jonathan, I particularly like the necklace …..

Our afternoon was spent in the gardens with Keith, our highly informative and entertaining guide.

We strolled along the Queen’s Walk admiring the champion trees, shrubs and the design of the borders. Apparently, only ten gardeners attend to the vast grounds! The roses were still in bloom and we viewed the particular rose bed the Prince of Wales had laid in memory of the Queen Mother. The tennis court on which Fred Perry played, and later McEnroe and Borg, gave rise to some interesting tales and all too soon we finished our delightful visit on a peaceful note beside the lake.

Many  thanks to Anne Thomas for organising such a wonderful outing for us. How ever did she even manage to get the weather right?!

 

Golf day at Oakland Park Golf Club