St David's Day Celebrations 2015

Copyright © Rachel Bartells                                                    Copyright © Rachel Bartells

Chelmsford and District Welsh Society celebrated the feast of their patron saint, Dewi Sant (St David), with a dinner at the County hotel and a Church Service at Little Baddow URC. The dining room was beautifully bedecked in the national colours: the 86 members and guests, wearing daffodils handed out by young Katie and Isabella Bartels dressed in national costumes, enjoyed a feast under the watchful eye of a resplendent Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon of Wales.The rousing processional march, the Men of Harlech, played by Rachel and Ken Bartels on the harp and flute respectively, announced the entry of the Mayor Cllr Bob Villa and Mayoress of Chelmsford, escorted by the President and her husband, Buddug and Ray Rowland Frank, and the Guest Speaker, Her Honour Judge Eleri Rees, escorted by the Vice-president and her husband, Shirley and Don Moody. The Loyal Toast to “The Queen” was proposed by the President. The Vice-president proposed the toast to the tee-total Dewi Sant, and in a humorous and well researched speech seemed to have discovered a St Don, much to her husband’s delight! The President introduced the Guest Speaker, who is the first female Recorder of Cardiff. In a masterful speech she reminded the audience that women were rare in the law profession when she graduated.  She had enjoyed an immensely interesting and successful career, which included an exciting period as Stipendiary Magistrate at Bow Street in London She reminded us that although Henry Vlll had Welsh ancestry, the Act of Union which he instituted in 1535, to his eternal shame relegated to obscurity the status of the Welsh language in all public office appointments. Fairly recently the legal status of the language was restored, and enhanced law making powers are about to be announced. She concluded by proposing the toast to “The Society”. The President responded, proposing the toast to “Our Guests”. She congratulated Judge Rees on the excellent delivery of her speech, and praised the charming daffodil girls and the talented musicians, their parents.  She congratulated Cynthia Styles for her impeccable planning of the event, Shirley Moody who provided the artistic daffodil table centre pieces, and David Brown the Society’s talented web master. In his speech the Mayor remarked on the coincidence that the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Society’s Golden Anniversary and the granting of City Status to Chelmsford all occurred in the same year. A varied and tasty diet of humour was provided by the MC, Brian Thomas. The evening ended on a high note, with traditional music provided by Rachel and Ken, assisted by Katie on the flute and Charlotte Rowland Frank on the harp.

The celebrations continued with the church service at the URC.  The hymns and Bible readings were in Welsh and English. The preacher was the Rev Canon Hugh Dibbens. Following tradition,the last hymn, Seintiau Cymru (the Saints of Wales), was dedicated to Society members who had sadly died during the year, this year Agnes Evans, Rene Foster and Norma Maskell.