Welsh Society Celebrates 100th Anniversary at Weekend of Welsh Cultural Events

A CROSS-BORDER GROUP of celebrants in the Red Dragon. [BACK]: Alan Upshall, Geri Baker Parry and Brian Parry, all from Seattle. [FRONT]: Welsh Society President Jane Byrne, Mavis Williams and Eifion Williams.

It was a memorable weekend for members of the Vancouver Welsh Society and the many visitors who enjoyed the Society's 100th Anniversary celebrations on November 1-4. The various planned events attracted capacity audiences, while informal socializing in the Red Dragon added to the enjoyment of the festivities.

It was a weekend for making and renewing friendships, an occasion for participants to celebrate their common Welsh heritage or simply to show an appreciation for Welsh culture and traditions.

The celebrations began on Thursday evening with a Noson Lawen, a traditional Welsh amateur evening of singing, dancing, reading and comedy. Much of the comedy came from Dr. David Lintern of Victoria, whose Master of Ceremonies duties were interspersed with some deadpan humour.

Musical items were contributed by the Cambrian Circle Singers and by Nerys Haqq, Brenda Andrews and John Owen, a visitor from Boise, Idaho.

Popular poetry readings in Welsh were contributed by Neville Thomas and David Llewelyn Williams. The audience also gave a rousing reception to a group of visitors from Wales who presented their own musical contributions as a group and in a solo performance by one of their members, Gareth Huw Davies.

Guest conductor Eifion Thomas and his accompanist Gethin Hughes relaxing in the Red Dragon during the weekend.

The audience also enjoyed Scottish fiddle and dance by Annika and Cameron Parkinson-Dow and a rousing dance number by the O'Connor Irish dancers. The evening's finale was a hilarious comedy skit by the St. Martin Players from North Vancouver, leaving the audience well-entertained before retiring for some well-oiled impromptu singing in the Red Dragon.

On Friday evening a capacity crowd of 650 enjoyed a joint concert by the Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir, conducted by Jonathan Quick, and the Vancouver Orpheus Choir, conducted by Liana Bob, in Burnaby's Michael J. Fox Theatre.

The concert was chaired by Welsh Society member John Pritchard. Both choirs presented an eclectic mix of light opera choruses, American folk songs, sea shanties and popular Welsh hymns. The soloist was tenor Eifion Thomas, who sang several numbers and also joined the two choirs in a rousing finale.

On Saturday, the Dylan Thomas Circle entertained a large, eager audience at its annual gathering in the Red Dragon, organized by Neville Thomas. Following the annual general meeting the audience enjoyed a 1950s classic film entitled Dylan, starring a very young Richard Burton.

JANE BYRNE, president of the Welsh Society, addressing the audience at the Gymanfa.

After enjoying a delicious ploughman's lunch, an eagerly-anticipated annual repast for Circle members, Dr. Geoff Madoc Jones presented an address entitled Road Trips - Dylan in America, following which Dr. Gerald Morgan gave an account of his recent visit to Aberystwyth. Circle President David Webb also gave a brief analysis entitled Dylan the Alchemist.

The sold-out Centenary Grand Banquet took place on Saturday evening with celebrants enjoying an excellent meal catered by Jordan's. A toast to Canada and the Welsh Society was proposed by Lynn Owens-Whalen, who read an appropriate poem for the occasion, The Patriotism of the Ex-Patriot by Tom Phelps.

Lynn also recognized long-time Welsh Society members Phyllis Morgan Owens (Lynn's mother), aged 95, and May Lievesley, 94, both of whom were invited to cut the celebratory birthday cake.

Concluding her address, Lynn proposed a toast to Canada, inviting the gathering "as representatives of members of the Vancouver Welsh Society, the international Welsh community and as devoted Canadians, to toast the nation that encourages us and expects us to retain our love and pride in what it is to be Welsh."

Entertainment at the banquet was provided by Bronn and Katherine Journey from Sultan, Washington. Bronn's virtuosity on the harp, interspersed with his humorous comments, together with Katherine's beautiful soprano voice, delighted audience members, who responded with a standing ovation and demands for encores.

Those present were especially pleased with the Journeys' excellent rendition of some popular Welsh songs.

On Sunday morning a well-attended bilingual Church service was held in the Cambrian Hall, organized by Welsh Society member Ann Roberts. This was followed by a light lunch. Sunday afternoon saw the climactic event of the weekend, the Gymanfa Ganu. A capacity crowd filled the Cambrian Hall as President Jane Byrne introduced the guest conductor, D. Eifion Thomas, musical director of Wales' famous Llanelli Male Choir, and accompanist Barry Yamanouchi, who drew plaudits from all those present for his excellent accompaniment to the Welsh hymns.

95-YEAR OLD Phyllis Owens and 94-year old May Lievesley cutting the Centenary birthday cake. On the left is Lynn Owens-Whalen.

BRONWEN MORGAN, a visitor from Wales, who led and accompanied a group of her fellow countrymen in a musical presentation at the Noson Lawen on Thursday night.

For the next three hours the Cambrian Hall reverberated to the sound of traditional Welsh hymns under the skilful baton of Eifion Thomas, whose knowledge and enthusiasm for the music of his homeland is contagious.

The nostalgia and emotion was palpable in the audience, which included many visitors from Wales and the United States. Guest soloist Sandra Stringer also received an enthusiastic response to her beautiful renditions of classic Welsh songs.

The Gymanfa ended with Welsh Society President Jane Byrne thanking all those Society members and others who had helped organize the 100th anniversary celebrations. She also thanked Gren Thomas, Wilf and Lynn Owens-Whalen and Ken and Phyllis Owens for their generous sponsorship of the weekend events.

Following a benediction by John Pritchard and a final chorus of God Be With You Till We Meet Again , the Gymanfa Ganu and the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Vancouver Welsh Society came to an end, with participants in unanimous agreement that it had all been a resounding success.

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