Tag Archives: Welsh

Golf Day 2021

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The weather was fine and course conditions good for the CDWS Annual Golf Day on 27th August.

Ten members turned out for the event at our usual venue of Oaklands Park Golf Club.

Golf Day 2021

For the team competition players were allocated to three teams of three, each with a similar aggregate handicap. They were led by a lady captain, namely Kate Picton, Margaret Broomby, and Pam Britton.

The team scoring was the tried and tested Chris Thomas system, though the man himself was unable to be with us on the day. The Stableford points of all three players counted on the par-3 holes, the two best scores counted on the par-4 holes, and only the one best score counted on the par-5s.

All players competed for the best individual score including the tenth player, Brian Evans, who accompanied the final team on their round. As he went around on his golf-buggy he also played a useful role as a ball spotter for his playing partners.

To their consternation, the visitors found their usual handicaps cut, as Oaklands is rated as an easier than average course under the new World Handicapping System.

Oaklands members played off their usual course handicap, with the exception of Colin Thomas. He claims that his official handicap is now 29, but we all remembered that he returned the top score last year playing off 24. Unsurprisingly there was unanimity that he should score off the same 24 handicap this year. He still managed to return the second highest score!

It has to be admitted that the players’ performances did not match the excellence of the conditions.

With one notable exception. Pam Britton was in superb form and her 41 points was much the highest individual score on the day. With her in such good form her playing partners, Ralph Broomby and Gwyndaf John, only needed to make a modest contribution for their team’s shared victory.

The strong hitting trio of Kate, Rob Britton and Alan Longshaw made up the first three to tee off, and they returned a team score of 65 points. They also claimed a record for the number of “Blobs” on the team scorecard after much time spent searching for lost golf balls.

Oaklands is a tight course that rewards accuracy rather than length. As was found out by Ralph and Brian as well as Alan, all players more used to the long open fairways on the courses of Gerrards Cross and Harewood Downs.

Pam led the way in the second trio with low straight shots that ran on for a decent length down the fairways and avoided the trouble that lurked in wait for any loose shot. Her team scored 80 points.

Margaret Broomby’s team of her, Colin Thomas and Rob Brett all played consistently. They put up a fight to finish a close second with 76 points.

As ever with a round of golf everybody experienced highs and lows during their round. But everyone was very pleased to be out on the course together once again, and enjoyed the event.

After our morning’s exertions the players enjoyed a light lunch in  the open air.

Rob Britton has won two veteran’s competitions at Wexham Park in recent months. On this occasion however the honours were well and truly deserved by his wife.

Pam

Pam was presented with a bouquet of Agapanthus flowers for her team’s victory and also scooped the bottle of wine for the best individual score.

 

 

 

Gwyndaf John

Summer Lunch 2021

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Gazebo ConstructionA fine selection of able-bodied chaps gathered at Peter & Beth’s home on Saturday morning to put up the gazebos for Sunday’s Summer Lunch. The garden looked like a team of gardeners had been at work, but Beth assured us that they did all the work themselves.

Alan Longshaw had brought over his tents and Bill Jones was there to help even though neither of them were going to be able to make it to the lunch itself – what altruism!

Alan directed the operations, showing us which bit fitted where, and there was a general discussion about positioning of the gazebos in the garden. It didn’t take too long, and by midday, we were able to sit under the canvas to enjoy a well-earned drink and biscuit.

Many thanks to the construction team!

Sunday Lunch on Saturday 4th July at ‘Silvana’

With everyone having looked with fear and trepidation at the weather forecast for mid-day on the Sunday, what a great joy it was when Jupiter declined to agree and offered us a window of opportunity to have a most delightful and convivial get-together in the wonderful garden of Beth and Peter Sykes-Johnston at Gerrards Cross. On arrival at Silvana, and being welcomed by a Welsh Flag, a Welsh Dragon placed auspiciously on a small table offered the use of hand-gel to ward off the Covid terror.

  • Food Gazebo

Volunteers had been there earlier to put up 3 large excellent white Marquees sufficient to comfortably accommodate tables, each with up to 6 people, to keep us safe within the Covid guidelines.  Food was professionally provided by “…To Dine For…”, most ably administered by Stephanie and Susan, and most excellently arranged by Kay Day. The mature garden, resplendent with trees, flowering shrubs, floral beauties of all kinds interspaced with garden effects, was drowned by the engaging chatter of people enjoying a moment of real integration away from zoom meetings and distant exchanges. Each table was adorned with a white tablecloth and a floral tribute placed centrally, carefully arranged place settings, and supported with comfortable chairs. The sun shone, the air was warm: a Greek Elysian Llwyn Afallon by any standards!

In orderly fashion, befitting the recognised culture of the CDWS, each table rose when requested to collect their food and return to continue exchanges and reminiscences of visits to Wales, present and past events, news and family matters.

Photographs were taken of happy faces amongst the Welsh gold as each one toasted the future of the Society. The photographer witnessed only one fall amongst the aging assembly and that was of a beautiful stainless steel water-fall in the shrubbery! Those of us who managed to walk around were amazed at the variety of plants interspersed with vibrant sculptures and child oriented Peter Rabbit type memorabilia.

At an appropriate point, retired Chairman David Powell was thanked warmly by Lifetime President, Ann Evans, for the masterly way he had conducted the Society through a difficult Covid time and was presented with a bottle of the elixir of Welsh life – Penderyn Whisky – intended to alleviate his pains and help him continue unabated his work as a Committee Member.

As it was the President’s Birthday that day, a rousing tribute was sung to Ann to commemorate the auspicious event! Thanks were expressed by the newly elected Chairman, Colin Picton, for the wonderful part that Kay had played in arranging the cuisine, for the loan of the Marquees and the members who had erected them, and use of a beautiful garden for the event by Beth and Peter. Beth was then presented with a bouquet of flowers in grateful thanks, and Peter responded with Welsh candour and harmony.

Shortly afterwards, as if prompted by an unseen Zeus hiding in the trees, the heavens opened and blessings came down to ensure that we packed our bags and left for home!

Just another wonderful day in the history of the Society!!

Barrie Reece

2021 AGM

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2021 AGM Report

Friday 14th May by Zoom

Our 21st Annual General Meeting started as a Zoom meeting at 7pm with Jonathan Pegler acting as host to approximately 40 members. Before the serious business of the evening, we were randomly divided up in breakout rooms to meet people in groups of 4 or 5 to catch up and chat.

David Powell opened the formal part of the evening with apologies for absence, and approval of the Minutes of the 2020 AGM (with one correction!). As it would have been difficult to see a show of hands, Jonathan used a Zoom-based voting system, which allowed one vote per device (two people sharing a screen only had one vote).

David then gave the Chairman’s Report for 2020/21, saying that little did we think that when we had to hold the AGM by Zoom last year, we would be doing the same in 2021. In 2020/21 we had to cancel the Summer Lunch, but were able to hold a Golf Day in September. We also held virtual events for the Christmas Drinks, the Quiz Evening and our St David’s Day celebrations – which was a shame since we had such a good speaker in Dr Rowan Williams.

Under the eased Covid restrictions in April, Gwyndaf and Janet John were able to organise a Spring Walk to view the bluebells in Hedgerley.

David added that it is a pity that this year’s AGM is only a virtual one, as it marks 21 years since Ann Evans established the Society and proposed a vote of thanks to Ann. He then went on to give thanks to the Committee members for their work over the last year, and especially to Peter Chapman, who is now standing down as Treasurer after moving to Brecon.

Covid permitting, the Committee plans to hold a Summer Lunch on 4th July, courtesy of Peter and Beth Sykes-Johnston, a Christmas Drinks party courtesy of Ralph and Margaret Broomby, the Golf Day and hopefully another event in the Autumn.

Membership numbers have fallen slightly from 119 to 114, with one new member – Ruth Huckle.

Peter Chapman then gave his final Treasurer’s Report, a very short one. Our balance as of 31st March was £3239.06. The report was accepted by a Zoom vote.

It then came to the election of the Committee.  Jonathan Pegler has taken on the duties as Treasurer pro-temp. We also have a new Committee Member to welcome – Dr Barrie Reece.

A single unanimous vote was taken for the committee and the results are as below:

Position Name
Chairman Colin Picton
Minutes Secretary Merle Davies
Treasurer Jonathan Pegler
Membership Secretary Ann Lawrence
Secretary Gwyndaf John
Committee Members: Barrie Reece
  Kay Day
  David Powell

David then handed the meeting over to Colin Picton, as our new Chairman.

Colin thanked David for his chairmanship over the past 3 years and went on to introduce our speaker – Neil Rees, an IT professional who is also a keen amateur historian and writes for the Bucks Free Press and has some fascinating facts about Aneurin Bevan.

 

 

Aneurin Bevan – Welshman, Founder of the NHS and Chesham Resident

Aneurin “Nye” Bevan was born in 1897 in Tredegar in south Wales, growing up in a coal mining community. Elected as Labour MP for Ebbw Vale in 1928 and serving as Minister of Health in Atlee’s post-war Labour Government, Nye is considered the architect of the National Health Service, which started on 5th July 1948 and was inspired by the model of the Tredegar Medical Aid Society. The NHS was born out of the ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth.

 

Nye Bevan and his wife, the MP Miss Jenny Lee, lived in Chelsea until 1954. However, Nye wanted a home near London, but in the country. He was told about Asheridge Farm, near Chesham, which was on the market and he bought it for £9,000.

The old farmhouse came with just over 50 acres, plus farm buildings, and 2 cottages. The farm manager and cowman were kept on, together with the herd of Guernsey cows and 60 hens. Nye became an enthusiastic farmer. He built up the herd to 60 cattle, and also started to keep pigs. 

Nye and Jennie were very social, joined in local life, and shopped in Chesham. He used to visit the Blue Ball pub in Asheridge where he was friendly with the landlord and with many of the regulars.

Still working a couple of days a week in London, Nye would catch the train to London from Chesham Station.

In 1960 Nye fell severely ill and was later diagnosed as having stomach cancer. He died on 6th July 1960 at his home aged only 62. Bevan’s death led to an outpouring of national mourning, and there were memorial services to him both in Wales and at Westminster Abbey.

Jennie Lee did not share her husband’s interest in farming. In 1961 she rented out the land at the farm, but continued to live at the farmhouse until 1968, when she moved back to London.

In 1964 Jennie was appointed Minister for the Arts in Harold Wilson’s government playing a key role in establishing the Open University. In November 1970 she was made Baroness Lee of Asheridge, and continued to work from the House of Lords. She died in 1988 aged 84.

2021 Spring Walk

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Anne's groupOn Thursday 29th April Gwyndaf and Janet John organized a Spring Walk around the woods at Hedgerley.

Due to the fact that we hadn’t been able to meet in person for so long, there was a great deal of interest and 24 people signed up for the walk. The Johns organized us into 4 groups of 6 so that we could be properly socially distanced, and recruited Colin Thomas and David Powell to lead the other two groups.

The plan was to meet at the pond in Hedgerley at 10:30, book our meals at the pub and then set off covering very similar walks but at different times and in different directions. However, when parking the cars, people were so pleased to see each other again, that in true CDWS fashion, they stopped to chat and soon it was 11:00.

Nevertheless, we were able to give our orders at the pub and set off, aided by handouts from Janet showing us the difference between Spanish and English bluebells and pictures of other wild flowers to look for on the walk.

Both Gwyndaf’s and Janet’s groups had the advantage of expert wild flower knowledge, but the two other groups were supplied with pictures of plants to look out for – a bit like the old I-Spy books we had as children. The early purple orchids were not out yet, but the cowslips made a great display in the Glebe Meadow by the church.Cowslips

Three of the groups went for a slightly longer walk covering the trip to Hedgerley Green as well, but David’s group just covered the woods and then headed straight back for the pub.


The food was good and so was the beer, and the bluebells were almost at their best (a cold dry spring had delayed them a bit).

Thanks to Gwyndaf, Janet, Colin and Di Thomas and David for leading the groups.

 

There are some more photographs on the 2021 Gallery page.

Quiz Night 2021

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Quiz Night Friday 22nd January 2021

Considering the circumstances our Annual Quiz Night went very well.

Of course, this year was rather different – there was no fish and chips, we stayed at home rather than travelling to Coleshill, and there was less opportunity to socialise, but it was still great fun.

Jonathan Pegler did a tremendous job, in fact several tremendous jobs in setting the quiz, running the quiz and handling the Zoom meeting.
Quiz Night Zoom screen shot
There was a very good turn-out with 40 members split up into seven teams.

We were arranged in groups of about 6 and all signed into the Zoom meeting at 6:45. By 7pm, Jonathan had given each team a colour as its name and arranged who went into which team.

There were 6 rounds of ten questions and at the beginning of each round Jonathan revealed the password to reveal the set of questions. Each team then went into a break-out room and discussed whether any of us could give an answer.

After what seemed to be no time at all, Jonathan called us back together and revealed the answers. The first round was about people ranging from Barbara Windsor to Napoleon.

The questions were up to Jonathan’s usual taxing standard, and after rounds two or three it soon became apparent that the White Team – Team Gwyn – was pulling ahead, scoring almost full points on the rounds concerning balls and tables. The rest of us also wondered where they were playing as the Zoom backgrounds kept changing!

Team Gwyn screenshotAs we moved into the final round Team Goch put on a late spurt, but it was too late, Team Gwyn (appropriately consisting of Gwyndaf and Janet John, Bill Jones, Ruth Huckle and Ann Brown) were too far in the lead.

Asked about their success Gwyn said ”The stars of our team were the women. Ruth could probably have won the Quiz on her own. Knowing the answers to the question on the Book of Common Prayer and also the details of Roulette tables indicates she has eclectic interests. Janet’s years of Electronics teaching meant the binary sum was spotted instantly. Ann’s Chemistry background was recent enough to remember the Periodic table – even if she was too young to remember the 1971 Lions coached by Carwyn James and featuring the incomparable Barry John.”

Here are the final scores:

Final Scores for Quiz Night

I think that we’d all like to say a very big ‘Thank you’ to Jonathan for all his work in making the evening such a success.

Virtual Christmas Drinks 2020

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Christmas Drinks 5:30 pm 13/12/2020

This year’s Christmas Drinks party was quite different, and at least it didn’t mean a discussion about who was going to drive home.

Janet John acted as the technical host of the Zoom-based event, with Gwyndaf sending out invitations and Janet controlling the meeting in the background. We all signed in and soon saw 25 other screens looking back at us with about 45 members present.

David Powell welcomed everyone and explained how the meeting/party was going to be organised.
As a group we heard from members from their own rooms and were particularly pleased to see those who had not been able to make recent events (i.e. a year ago) or had moved away from the area.

Peter and Pat Chapman spoke from Brecon about the joys of living in the country and the fear of the rising river level!
Elan & Robin Preston-Whyte joined us from Englefield Green and we had a quick glimpse around their new flat.Group Screen shot

It was great to see Bridget Murray (with a backdrop of outer space) and Helen Hall again, who had both had issues attending previous meetings and new member Ruth Huckle introduced herself from Maidenhead.

Founder members, the Owens and the Broombys also gave their updates.
Colin and Di Thomas said that their house was a lot quieter this year than when they hosted last year’s get together!

Janet and Gwyndaf then randomly assigned us to ‘break-out rooms’ where we met in groups of 6 or so, so that we could chat informally amongst ourselves. This worked surprisingly well and it seemed no time until Janet called us all back into the main room and then assigned us all to different groups with new people to talk to. These sessions lasted about 8 minutes each.Break out

After 3 rounds of these chat rooms, David spoke about events planned for 2021.
These are currently ‘virtual’ events with a quiz night on Friday 22nd January and a virtual St David’s Day on 26th February with speaker Lord Williams of Oystermouth, better known as Rowan Williams. Born in Swansea, he was Bishop of Monmouth, the only Archbishop of Canterbury not to be a member of the Church of England, Master of Magdalene College Cambridge and is a prolific author and poet.

Depending on the level of restrictions, we may be able to hold a socially distanced Spring Walk and the AGM, but under current conditions, this looks unlikely. Unfortunately, there won’t be any trip to Wales this year.

After these notifications Jonathan Pegler then took over as master of ceremonies. Everyone’s microphones were muted (apart from Jonathan’s) and Jonathan played a selection of carols with Janet showing us the words on the screen. In effect we were all signing duets with Jonathan!

Finally, Jonathan played the National Anthem and we said our farewells to each other at about 7pm.

I think that everyone thought that the event went well, and our thanks go to Janet, Gwyndaf and Jonathan for making the evening go so smoothly.

Golf Day 2020

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CDWS Golf Day 4th September 2020

It was so nice to be able to be able to catch up with some old friends in a socially distanced way. It was the first occasion that the Chiltern District Welsh Society had been able to meet since our St David’s Day Dinner back in March at the start of the lock-down.

We arrived at Oakland Park Golf Club at about 9am to be greeted with bacon butties to prepare the competitors for the morning’s exercise.

Unfortunately, some of the participants had to call off due to injury and Gwyndaf John did some hasty rearrangement of the teams.

David Powell and Colin Picton formed the supporters group to wave off and welcome back the golfers.

Due to Covid restrictions rules were changed to allow for social distancing. Conditions were good, with sunshine and a slight wind.

The competitors formed themselves into 4 groups – three 3 balls and one 4 ball set off about 10 minutes apart.

The supporters returned to the course at 12:30 to find the first group at eighteenth hole and accompanied them for refreshments at the 19th hole.

Soon after the 2nd and 3rd groups returned and we compared scores, with Kate Picton quietly confident of the result. We waited for the fourth group to arrive…

Some 30 minutes later the last group arrived – and when their scores were compared – proved to be the winners! Gwyndaf looked quite pleased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman David Powell presented the prizes to the winning team.

As the restaurant was closed there was no chance for a meal, so after congratulating the winners, we said our farewells and returned home.

It was good to have a chance to see fellow members again.

 

 

Our thanks to Rob Britton and Gwyndaf John for arranging the day.

2020 AGM

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CDWS AGM 22nd July 2020

This year we had a distinctly odd AGM.

Held in the afternoon, in July, with no food, with very little time to chat, with no entertainment, with no wine, without leaving the house!

Even so, about 30 of us signed into our Zoom session and we got the business done while looking at 20 screens of other members looking back at us.

Chairman, David Powell opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and giving the sad news that Peter Day, Kay’s husband, had died earlier in the week from an asbestos related disease. Peter has been a good friend to the Society, a regular attendee and an organiser of our trips to wetlands bird sanctuaries in his role as chairman of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and he will be sorely missed.

David gave his Chairman’s report, commenting that although we had had to cancel or postpone 3 events, over the past year we had been able to successfully hold over 10 events.  The Society hopes to hold its Golf Day in September, a country walk in the Autumn, but it is still uncertain whether conditions will permit us to hold our ever-popular Christmas Drinks event.

Membership has remained steady at 120, with new members replacing those who have left.

Peter Chapman gave his Treasurer’s report from Brecon and said that the Society’s finances are in good order.

It then came to the election of the officials. All members of the Committee agreed to stand again for the following year, with the proviso that Peter Chapman will need to relinquish his post as Treasurer within the next few months when he and Pat complete their move to Wales.

David thanked the committee for their time and efforts in running the society and running its events. He also called for members to volunteer for Committee membership as without them, the Society cannot function.

This must have been the fastest AGM on record. We finished after about 30 minutes, with very little chance to chat and a final farewell as the Zoom meeting concluded.