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The Welsh Society of Western New England (WSWNE)

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Tina Davies welcomes all to our St. David's Day event Tom Bernard opens the Annual General Meeting despite Welsh dragon about to remove his ear Pamela Petro gives talk based on her book Travels in an Old Tongue: Touring the World Seeking Welsh Speakers Click here for more photos featuring attending members and guests

WSWNE St. David's Day Gathering 2009 The annual St. David's Day Gathering of the Welsh Society of Western New England was held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Nutmeg restaurant in East Windsor, CT. The luncheon was preceded by a welcome from our St. David's Day event organizer Tina Davies who again made all of the arrangements for our delectable luncheon and daffodil dappled room we have enjoyed year after year at the Nutmeg. The welcome concluded with the reading of a lovely poem "Cwmni" read by its author, WSWNE member Sherry Williams. Following the luncheon, WSWNE president Tom Bernard opened our Annual General Meeting by reading St David’s Day messages from the British Consul General to New England, Dr. Phil Budden and from the First Minister for Wales, Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM (see complete text on the News & Information Page). Officer reports were given and the Board of Directors was elected for the 2009-10 membership year (see listing near bottom of Home Page). The main program was presented by Pamela Petro who read and commented on excerpts from her book, Travels in an Old Tongue: Touring the World Seeking Welsh Speakers. Her book describes her odyssey that began when she became frustrated trying to learn Welsh in Wales ... because whenever she stumbled with her Welsh, the locals would always revert to English. She decided to go where English was not an option - all kinds of unlikely places with long-standing Welsh-speaking communities. She visited the Hong Kong Men's Choir, all Chinese men who sing in Welsh; the Japanese bardic "eisteddfod" in Tokyo; the Welsh golfers of Oslo; the diners of the Paris Welsh society; and Patagonia. Her talk also included her experiences learning the language through the Wlpan course in Lampeter. All in attendance enjoyed her experiences vicariously, especially those who have attempted to learn the language. A ripple of knowing laughter accompanied her description of  the Welsh language's "mutations" as "mutilations, shape shifting and musical clauses from Hell". Pamela Petro is a writer and artist who is Welsh not by birth nor heritage, but by choice. She has written about Wales for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Islands Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, and many other publications, on subjects ranging from hiking Glyndwr's Way to devolution and the Welsh Assembly. Her article, "The Eloquent Stones of Wales," published in the Sunday New York Times, received the Bedford Pace Award for Writing on Britain in 2000. Pamela Petro is the author of three books of travel literature, all published by HarperCollins, London. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, and is working on a novel set in New England and Wales.

Members and guests gather first in the lobby Luncheon in festive dining room Tom Bernard introduces program by Jodee James Jodee James displays a Calennig and holds her hobbyhorse Mari Lwyd. Click here for more and larger photos

WSWNE Christmas Gathering 2008 features Luncheon and Jodee James Program The annual Christmas Gathering of the Welsh Society of Western New England was held Saturday December 6, 2008 at the Willits-Hallowell Conference Center on the campus of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. This year's location was chosen in part for the lovely view from the window wall of the spacious dining room where the luncheon and program were held. Both this room and the welcoming lobby area were well decorated in the traditional red and green of the Christmas season, to which we added the red and green of the Welsh flag. About forty people, including both members and visitors, attended the event. The luncheon was preceded by a welcome from WSWNE President Tom Bernard, a lovely grace lead by Vice President Veronica Chapman, and the distribution of traditional party "crackers" contributed by Board Member Sallie Hughes Pitt. The popping of the crackers (revealing their paper crown, small gift, and joke within) has now become an annual tradition with our Society. After the luncheon, all attention turned toward the center of the window wall, where Jodee James presented her enthralling Celtic Winter Solstice program - including songs and commentary on Welsh winter season customs. Jodee James is the marvelous singer (in both Welsh and English) who has dedicated her professional career to making the music of Wales a significant part of the Celtic music scene in America. Her themes included traditions associated with the Holly and the Oak King, Christmas Eve and the Plygain service and songs, St. Stephen's Day/Boxing Day, and New Year Door-to-dooring. Jodee James provided handouts of lyrics so that we could all try singing along on songs like "Gower Wassail" and even attempt the Welsh text of "Ar Gyfer Heddiw'r Bore" (illustrating the plygain song tradition). Even the least adventurous of us could, with greater confidence, raise our voices in the more familiar "Good King Wenceslas". In addition to the telling and the singing were demonstrations of a Calennig and Mari Lwyd (see photo). Jodee held up a typical Calennig ornament featuring an apple studded with cloves, topped with evergreen sprigs, and supported by a tripod of inserted sticks. An original Mari Lwyd would have included a real horse skull whose jaws could open and close. Draped with a white sheet (that also covered the man holding it) and trimmed with colored streamers, it would be carried house to house by a group of men who would exchange humorous rhymes with the occupants, seeking to be let in. Jodee brought instead her hobbyhorse version of Mari Lwyd to illustrate the concept, held up a photo of one with a real horse skull, and led the group in singing "Y Fari Lwyd". The program ended all too soon, with so much more that could have been shared, given the myriad traditions and songs of the season that have come down to us from past generations. We dispersed to our homes - well fed, well entertained, and well enlightened - but not before wishing one another a hearty Nadolig Llawen.

Pirate Tom about to make grand entrance Welsh dragon cannot wait for Te Bach to begin Click here for more and larger photos

WSWNE Fall Gathering 2008 features "Welsh Pirates of the Caribbean" and a Te Bach The Welsh Society of Western New England (WSWNE) held its annual Fall Gathering on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the All Saints' Episcopal Church hall in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Instead of our usual luncheon followed by program format, we scheduled our program first to be followed by afternoon tea. WSWNE President Tom Bernard astounded the membership by entering the hall in full pirate costume (see photo). He then proceeded to give a fascinating talk on "Welsh Pirates of the Caribbean". The idea for this talk came when his Caribbean vacation included visiting a pirate museum. As Tom said of his eye opening experience there, "It is somewhat remarkable that during the 'Golden Age Of Piracy' in the Caribbean during the 18th century, three of the most prominent pirates were natives of Wales - Henry Morgan, Howell Davis, and Bartholomew (Black Bart) Roberts. Considering that there were thousands of pirates from many countries of Western Europe, one would hardly expect that three of the top swashbuckling leaders who have gone down in history would be from the small country of Wales!" The origins, early lives and piratical careers of the Welsh pirates were reviewed with many intriguing anecdotes added. Differences among pirates, privateers, buccaneers and freebooters were explained and, along with other pirate terms, were examined for current linguistic derivatives via an audience participation quiz. One interesting coincidence, and perhaps a linguistic connection to Wales, is that during the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean, we find Mona island and a much traveled pirate seaway called the Mona passage (between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico). Mona was also the former name for Anglesey (the largest island of Wales) where there is also a sea passage (the Menai Straits) between the island and the Welsh mainland. The program was followed by a special Welsh Tea (Te Bach) organized by WSWNE Vice President Veronica Chapman. Several members including the Sits and the Gilmartins not only served the tea but also made the traditional sandwiches and cakes that would be served in a Welsh home. Included were salmon & cucumber sandwiches, cheese and chutney sandwiches, sausage rolls, scones with jam and clotted cream, Welshcakes, and Maids of Honour (see photo). Metal dragon brought by Sherry Williams.

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WSWNE at Celts and Currachs festival New London, CT 2008 The Celts & Currachs Festival was held Saturday Aug. 23, 2008 at the historic waterfront district in New London, CT. on a beautiful, breezy day on the water. For the second year in a row, WSWNE was fortunate to have Shirley and Dan Gilmartin assuming primary responsibility for setting up and breaking down a marvelous Welsh Traditions booth in the Cultural Tent on City Pier. In addition to many of the same items displayed at Glasgow Lands, the booth featured a special photographic tribute to the Wales rugby team - winners of the 2008 Six-nations Rugby Cup in a grand slam, defeating all five competitors (England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy). This was joined by a variety of colorful posters, pictures of castles, framed sketches of Welsh costume and more - together forming the backdrop and side of of the booth. Also on display were a Welsh miner's lantern and Shirley's grandmother's very heavy bakestone graced by Shirley's delectable Welshcakes for visitors to sample. The WSWNE booth also became home base for the wonderful Welsh-American singer, Jodee James, who gave two one-hour performances, sharing her songs in Welsh and English with appreciative crowds at both of the festival's two performance stages. Shirley Gilmartin herself gave a fifteen minute presentation on the history of Wales to people gathered within the Cultural Tent. Many WSWNE members came to share the day, in some cases bringing even more items to display or helping at the booth. Among those present were Susan Jenkins Meers and Jason Ellsworth, Sherry Williams, Shirley Kiefer, Tina Davies, Leslie Evans and Diana Dunlap, Greg Ryder, and Ed & Beth Brown.

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WSWNE at Glasgow Lands 2008 For the sixth year in a row, our Welsh Society of Western New England participated in the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts. This year's event was held on Saturday July 19, a day with heat and humidity that would be hard to find in any of the Celtic nations. This fact, combined with rising gasoline costs, may explain why fewer people than usual stopped to visit awhile at our Welsh society "clan tent". But those who did were grateful for the opportunity to inquire about their own possible Welsh heritage and to peruse the many books, maps, and photos on display. Even the colorful opening ceremony was shortened this year to avoid keeping the participants standing out in the full sun any longer than necessary. Ed & Beth Brown were aided in setting up for the event by Veronica Chapman early on. Others soon arrived to do their part; Glynn Williams long reach was just the thing to get our flags placed high enough to unfurl in the morning breeze. Tom Bernard brought his own Welsh flag to grace the front of the display table and books to spread upon its browsing surface. Sherry Williams performed the first good deed in her new role as carpool coordinator by picking up Greg Ryder from Springfield on her way from Ellington, CT. Shirley & Dan Gilmartin helped at the tent and took the banner rig and flags with them at the end of the day for use later in the summer when they set up our Welsh culture booth at the Celts and Currachs festival in New London, CT. All survived the heat and, in the late afternoon, helped break down the displays and load the car - just in time to miss the afternoon rainstorm so typical of such a mid-summer day.

Speaker John Bollard explains a passage from The Mabinogi Click here for more and larger photos

The 2008 WSWNE St. David's Day Gathering was held at the Nutmeg restaurant in East Windsor, CT on Saturday March first: finally a St. David's Day Gathering held on St. David's Day! Despite a morning snowstorm, a large turnout braved the weather to enjoy a fine luncheon in the lovely, daffodil bedecked setting arranged for us each year by Tina Davies. WSWNE president Tom Bernard opened our Annual General Meeting by reading a St David’s Day message from the First Minister for Wales, Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM. The Board of Directors was elected for the 2008-09 membership year. The program was presented by WSWNE member Dr. John Bollard, whose scholarly studies of The Mabinogi folk tales are required reading in Celtic Studies programs around the world.  He read and commented on excerpts from his two most recent books, The Mabinogi: Legend and Landscape of Wales and Companion Tales to The Mabinogi.  Both volumes are illustrated with Anthony Griffith's stunning photographs of the Welsh places in which these tales are set. In addition to giving voice to the characters in these classic Welsh folk tales, he talked about their significance, their charm, and their place in the landscape of Wales. He delightfully demonstrated how the tales are closely tied to the landscape of Wales, and are integral to an understanding of Welsh cultural history and, indeed, of the Welsh sense of Welshness itself.  They are strong indicators of what it is, or at least was, to be Welsh – and they are among the most fascinating works of literature ever written in any language.

Veronica demonstrates opening a "cracker". Click here for more and larger photos

WSWNE Christmas Gathering 2007 Our annual  Christmas Gathering was held Saturday December 1, 2007 at the Figaro Ristorante in Enfield, CT. This new location was chosen in part to be more convenient for the large number of members from Connecticut. Our reserved room had a most festive decor: evergreen wreaths and garlands enhanced with large red bows and brightly shining lights. The luncheon was preceded by a welcome from WSWNE President Tom Bernard and the distribution of traditional party "crackers" by member Veronica Chapman, who also gave a lesson on how best to make them pop open, revealing the gold paper crown, small gift, and joke hidden within. Thus the theme of the gathering was set early as the sharing of members' memories of Christmases past. After the luncheon and self introductions by all present, with a focus on everyone's "Welsh connection", the formal program began. Three segments were shown from the 1986 film, "A Child's Christmas in Wales", based on the Dylan Thomas poem. Each film segment was followed by an opportunity for members to share their own related memories of family Christmas traditions ... particularly from families with a Welsh (or other U.K.) heritage.                                                 Some common themes were Christmas stockings, typically with a tangerine or orange down in the toe; the simplicity of the gifts and smaller numbers than today's children take for granted - yet appreciated so much more it seems. There was one exception; one member told of a boy who cursed up the chimney at Santa after the lad failed to receive a particular anticipated gift. There were cherished family recipes, prepared only at the holiday season: real mince pies, special puddings, and breads - recipes still followed to this day in member households. There were memories of the many musical instruments played in the home at Christmas - from harp and piano to fiddle and bow - while others reminisced about the songs of the season and caroling. One member even gave a long and most humorous discourse on how he met the woman who became his wife - when she was giving a political speech, in the rain, from the back of a lorry, in Wales. The gathering ended with a brief lesson on how to wish one another Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, taking care to pronounce the double "L" like a native Welsh speaker.

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WSWNE Fall Gathering 2007 Our Annual Fall Gathering for 2007 was held Saturday, September 29th at the All Saints' Episcopal Church hall in South Hadley, Massachusetts. The luncheon featured homemade leek and potato soup and great sandwiches plus homemade plum pie, lemon tart, and honey cakes for dessert. The program, "Exploring Your Welsh Family Roots", was led by Susan Davies Sit and Beth Roberts Brown.  Susan Davies Sit went over handouts outlining and illustrating the major sources of information from which she has traced her own family tree and assisted others in their genealogical research.  She emphasized starting with what is already available in the family: perhaps a family bible: birth, marriage & death certificates; tape recording recollections of family members before it is too late! - then putting what has been learned into a family tree outline format to organize it and see relationships more clearly.  There followed an introduction to how to find for more information in such forms as census and parish records for example - beginning in the U.S., then moving on to U.K. records. Her remarks were punctuated with numerous tips and cautions from her own experiences. Beth Roberts Brown shared anecdotes from her successful search for  family links - illustrating how asking the right questions and persevering in the quest can lead to success. For example, she traced her journey from the clue that only her own Roberts family (of the many other Roberts families) in Granville, NY were known as Cwm Dyli Roberts (though no one knew what that meant) ... to using an Internet message board posting to discover distant cousins in the U.K. who sent her information and photos of the Cwm Dyli area (at the base of Mt. Snowdon) where her ancestors' farmhouse stood ... to traveling to Wales to see Cwm Dyli for herself and literally walk in the footsteps of her forebearers. Other members added their own insights and experiences during the discussion.  Many, including the presenters, displayed family bibles and other records, books, photos, and mementos handed down through the generations.

Click here for more and larger photos plus newsletter article Click here for two bonus photos of Shirley and Susan holding these Welsh flags in the parade.

WSWNE at Celts and Currachs festival New London, CT 2007 On Saturday, August 25, 2007 New London, CT hosted the second annual Celts & Currachs, a unique waterfront festival featuring Celtic music, food, dance, and exhibition rowing races of traditional Irish Currachs (a boat with a wooden frame, over which is stretched animal skins or hides, related to the Welsh coracle). City Pier, located in Waterfront Park, behind Union Station in the downtown Historic Waterfront District. It was WSWNE members Shirley & Daniel Gilmartin and Susan Davies Sit who hosted the Welsh Culture Workshop on the water's edge with a nice breeze on a hot and humid day. Shirley had obtained many beautiful posters and handouts from the Welsh Tourist Board and other sources, which enhanced the booth and the Welsh experience. Attendees took travel information, talked genealogy, asked about Welsh surnames, took membership information, ate Shirley's Welsh cakes - displayed on her grandmother's very heavy bakestone (she wrote out the recipe many times!) and generally talked about their Welsh connections. Questions were also fielded about Welsh song books, the Welsh translation of The Lord's Prayer, Shirley's Welsh harp, the best season to travel to Wales, Welsh novels, Welsh films, and Welsh genealogy research. And they can't count the number of times they pronounced Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch! Shirley and Susan also marched in the parade, following behind a Scottish Marching Band, while proudly hoisting two Welsh flags - even higher than the Irish Tricolor in the line.

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WSWNE at Glasgow Lands 2007 For the fifth year in a row, the Welsh Society of Western New England participated in the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts. This year's event was held on Saturday July 21, a beautiful sunny day with low humidity. We set up our new, larger Welsh Society "clan tent" among those of our Celtic-cousin Scots. The new covering is a green color similar to that in the Welsh flags we flew above it. Also on display was our new professionally printed banner, newly constructed frame for our banner and flag-holders, plus two new bulletin board displays flanking our display table. One bulletin board display item that attracted considerable interest was a list of surnames common to people of Welsh descent. This parallels a practice common at each Scottish clan tent to provide such a list for that clan.

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The 2007 WSWNE St. David's Day Gathering was held on Sat. Mar. 3 at the Nutmeg restaurant in East Windsor, CT. Following a fine luncheon in the lovely setting arranged for us by Tina Davies, the Annual General Meeting was held electing the Board of directors for the new membership year and adopting amendments to the bylaws. President Tom Bernard introduced John Bollard who spoke briefly on his new translation of the Mabinogi and Caroline Cannings who spoke briefly about her father's book, Every Day was Summer. The program was presented by WSWNE member Margaret Lloyd (photo at left) read and discussed excerpts from her new book, A Moment in the Field: Voices from Arthurian Legend - a book length cycle of poems faithful to early Arthurian sources,

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2006 Christmas Gathering Our annual Christmas Gathering was held on Saturday, December 2, 2006 at a new location this year, the historic Lord Jeffrey Inn, Amherst, Massachusetts. The large turnout was served a fine luncheon, then treated to a talk by WSWNE President Tom Bernard on the topic of "The Impact of the Welsh Language on English".  Tom provided fascinating insights into a variety of areas ranging from family surnames and place names to the origins of common sayings. The audience enjoyed being able to actively participate, not only by asking questions, but by guessing some of the English words or phrases arising from the sources Tom described. For example, his question of how the ancient Druids might awaken the spirit of a tree led to more than one, "ohh,  they must knock on wood."

2006 Fall "Focus on Wales" Gathering Our Annual Fall Gathering for 2006 was held Saturday, September 30th at the All Saints' Episcopal Church hall in South Hadley, Mass. The luncheon featured homemade leek and potato soup, sandwiches, and homemade Angelsey cake and Welsh cakes. The program consisted of two parts: (1) An illustrated presentation on the 2005 trip by the Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Choir to perform at the Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales. The presenter,  Judy Case (seen in  the upper photo), is the choir member who alerted us both to the trip and to the lovely concert by the choir at Mount Holyoke College prior to their departure for Wales. Many of our members attended that concert, some even assisted with distributing programs there. (2). Memories of Wales and its People - based on the marvelous time we had at the last Fall Gathering when we just got to talking as a group about what we knew personally of Wales and things Welsh, we decided to make this an official part of this year’s program.  Those who have lived or visited in Wales, who recalled their Welsh parents or grandparents, or who have searched for their Welsh ancestry told their stories.

2006 Glasgow Lands Festival On Saturday July 15, 2006 , for the fourth year in a row, we had our Welsh "clan tent" pitched among those of our Celtic cousin Scots at the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival in Look Park, Northampton, MA. The festival began with great pageantry as the clan flags were carried in for the opening ceremonies - so many lions rampant and highland tartans carried by folks in kilts were joined by our red dragon flags held aloft by our representatives in "Welsh lady" and Welsh quarryman costumes. There were special performances by a variety of fine Celtic musicians & singers. Of special interest to us was Jodee James (the wonderful Welsh - American singer whom we have featured in past concerts) with two companions, on fiddle and percussion, forming the "Celtic Sisters". Thanks to our own photographer, WSWNE President Tom Bernard, for capturing this colorful moment.

The 2006 WSWNE St. David's Day Gathering was held on Sat. Mar. 4 at the Nutmeg restaurant in East Windsor, CT. Following a fine luncheon in the lovely setting arranged for us by Tina Davies, WSWNE President Tom Bernard (standing in photo on left) read letters and proclamations in celebration of St. David's Day. Tom also revealed his comedic talents with a masterful delivery of the joke, "The Welsh Spy", printed in the February "Ninnau". In addition to new member introductions, all present were asked to share a bit about themselves, with emphasis on their "Welsh connection". Shirley Kiefer then led the main program in which members supplied the voices for a dramatic reading of Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood".  Lacking time to complete the full work, we concluded appropiately with our own WSWNE Chaplain, the Rev. Arvel Steece, reading the famous prayer spoken by Llareggub's Rev. Eli Jenkins.

2005 WSWNE Holiday Season Gathering was held on Sat. Dec. 3.  - at Woodbridge's Restaurant in South Hadley, Massachusetts, deep green garlands and wreaths with red bows were joined by the green and red of our Welsh flag displayed proudly in the front window. Following the sharing good food and good fellowship around each table, the twenty eight attendees enjoyed a brief report by guest Judy Case on some of the experiences of the Mount Holyoke Glee Club Alumnae Choir during their visit to Wales that included competing at the 2005 International Musical Eisteddford in Llangollen. Our Christmas program featured excerpts from a stirring video, "Welsh Church Choirs Singing the Most Popular Hymns of Wales", featuring some of the finest Welsh church choirs in churches selected from several different regions of Wales. This was followed by our own Christmas carol sing-along under the direction of WSWNE member Mrs. Kathleen Steece. We did not attempt singing these in Welsh however, saving that more challenging activity for a possible future program.

Our 2005 Fall Meeting was held on Sat. Oct. 22. Following a delicious luncheon prepared by Veronica Chapman, plus Welsh cakes added by Kathleen Steece and Beth Brown, the program featured the video: "The Pivotal Role of Women in the French Invasion of Wales in 1797". The events, depicted through a combination of live action and clever cartoons, occurred near Fishguard, Wales. WSWNE President Tom Bernard added more from his research on the subject and had our "Welsh Lady" stand to illustrate the red shawl worn by the women whose marching fooled the French into thinking they were seeing red coated soldiers, Several members familiar with this region of Wales added insights based on their personal knowledge.  The lively discussion soon broadened to other topics including how to make Wales in general, and our Welsh Society in particular, better known in western New England.

The Welsh Society of Western New England joined our Celtic cousin Scots for the third year in a row at the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival held July 16, 2005 at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts. Our Welsh Society tent was well staffed by members including Beth Roberts Brown in her "Welsh lady" costume, president Tom Bernard, Ed Brown, Dan Fitzgerald and Jean Ross. Many festival attendees stopped by to browse our information table with its variety of Welsh related literature and to sample a homemade Welsh cake as well. As in past years, many visitors shared stories of trips to Wales or expressed an interest in things Welsh based on their own Welsh ancestry or that of their spouse.

On July 2, 2005 the Mount Holyoke Glee Club Alumnae Choir performed in Abbey Chapel on the campus of Mount Holyoke College before leaving to compete at the 2005 International Musical Eisteddford in Llangollen, Wales on Saturday, July 9. The choir even sang Suo Gan in Welsh. Eleven WSWNE members attended the concert (including our own costumed Welsh Lady). Four volunteered to usher, handing out trip brochure-programs, and, with the choir's permission, some WSWNE information handouts as well.

On April 17, 2005 Robin Huw Bowen, internationally recognized master of the Welsh triple harp, performed in a Sunday afternoon concert in the lovely sanctuary space of the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse in Springfield, MA. The event was cosponsored by WSWNE and the uNi Coffeehouse Concert Series. Robin Huw Bowen is seen here on the left, in this photo with Beth Brown (dressed in "Welsh lady" costume), and WSWNE president Tom Bernard. During the intermission, WSWNE provided the audience with samples of Welsh cakes, breads, and a wassail, in addition to information on WSWNE and all things Welsh. The Pioneer Valley Harper' Guild brought samples of Celtic harps and provided information on harps and harping .

On March 5, 2005, Tina Davies organized and presided at one of our best St. David's Day Luncheon Celebrations ever. A full room of WSWNE members and guests at the Nutmeg restaurant in East Windsor, CT enjoyed a menu expanded to include Welsh oriented cream of leek soup and a lamb entree. After the meal, WSWNE charter member Shirley Kiefer, a longtime devotee of Welsh story and legend, gave an inspired presentation of some of the themes in the Mabinogian. She even evoked the bardic storytelling tradition of having a harp accompniment (via a recording of Robin Huw Bowen plaing the Welsh triple harp). Tina Davies provided a grand finale touch at the piano as she led the singing of Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhaddau (Land of My Fathers).

On December 4, 2004, WSWNE members filled the dining room reserved for our traditional holiday gathering at Woodbridges Restaurant in South Hadley, MA Here WSWNE President Tom Bernard introduces WSWNE member Juniper Talbot, a skilled storyteller, folklorist and bard, for her talk, "When Pigs Could Fly " - an overview of mystery and magic in ancient Welsh folklore.

A large and attentive audience heard the speaker,WSWNE President Tom Bernard, at a "Video, Lunch, & Lecture" on the topic of "Prince Madoc and the 12th Century Welsh Discovery of America " - held at the All Saints Episcopal Church, South Hadley, MA on Saturday afternoon, October 23, 2004. WSWNE Newsletter Editor, Sue Davies Sit, is seen indicating where Madoc departed Wales, near her own birthplace. A plaque in Fort Morgan, Alabama is dedicated "In memory of Prince Madoc, a Welsh explorer who landed on the shores of Mobile Bay in 1170..."

WSWNE Chaplain, Rev. Arvel M. Steece, attended the Annual Gymanfa Ganu (Welsh Hymn Sing) at the St. James Episcopal Church in Keene, NH on Sunday, October 17, 2004. This was his 20th year (at least) of participation in this annual event.

Plaque dedicated at North American Festival of Wales (including the National Gymanfa Ganu) in Buffalo, NY on Labor Day weekend 2004. WSWNE participants included Martha Davies & Berwyn Jones, Tina Davies, Veronica Chapman, and Beth & Ed Brown.

Tom Bernard & Jim Loughman, flanked by Beth & Ed Brown (costumed as North Wales Welsh Lady and Slate Quarryman), were joined by many other WSWNE members hosting our "clan tent" at Glasgow Lands Festival, Look Park, Northampton, MA on July 17, 2004.

Several WSWNE members attended the July 13, 2004 Tanglewood concert by the acclaimed Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel. Members Susan Davies Sit and Tina Davies waved a Welsh flag; that got his attention and a wave back!