OCTOBER 2019

CYMANFA GANU

at Roxwell Church

 'A CELEBRATION of DYLAN THOMAS' 

with the PHOENIX PLAYERS of MERSEA ISLAND 

October was a very busy month for the Society. On Sunday 20, members joined the congregation of St Michael and All Angels Church, Roxwell for the traditional Songs Of Praise. The President, Liz Armishaw, welcomed everyone to the service. The hymns, which were sung in a mixture of Welsh and English, were chosen by invited members of the Society and of the congregation, and in their introduction they each described the significance to them of their chosen hymn. The Church Choir, and the Black Sheep Choir, which was formed many years ago by Society member Derrick Thomas to sing at the annual January Noson Lawen, also sang. One of the Black Sheep’s songs, Ely Jenkins’ Prayer from Under Milk Wood was especially chosen by to celebrate Don Moody’s birthday. Deborah Allen- Morgan, an accomplished soprano and a new member of the Society, delighted with her solos. The singing was accompanied by the church organist, David Pattrick. Tea and cakes followed the service. The collection was for the church fabric fund.

On Tuesday 22nd Brian and Marion Farmer hosted a successful fund raising/charity coffee morning, raising £152 for the J’s Hospice, the President’s charity for her year of office.

At the monthly meeting on Wednesday 23 October, members were mesmerised and delighted by The Phoenix Players of West Mersea’s full presentation of Dylan Thomas’ finest work, Under Milk Wood, a work about night, morning, afternoon, evening and night again in the parochial little Welsh sea side town of Llareggub. The fifty one characters were played by 12 members of the cast, with full sound effects, and helped along by Prof John Davies’ part of the two anonymous narrators. The cast’s portrayal of the gossip, rumour and innuendo of the small town was indeed developed to a fine art, and would surely have pleased Dylan himself. One wonders how many members of the Society recognised just a little bit of their own personality in the folk of Llareggub! At the conclusion, the audience expressed their appreciation of the excellence of the performance. Very generously, the Phoenix Players donated their fee to the President’s charity.