Cambrian Floral Society

ON WEDNESDAY evening, 3 February, Marian Weston held a successful workshop at Bethel Chapel Vestry. It was encouraging to see that everyone who attended took part and there were no spectators! After Marian demonstrated an oval design everybody got down to work on their arrangement. The evening progressed in a jovial and relaxed atmosphere with refreshments prepared by Eurlys Jones. Before the raffle, was drawn and to conclude the evening, all arrangements were assembled on the front table and everyone agreed it made such a colourful display on a winter’s night.On Wednesday, 2 March, the group will welcome John James, our chairman, back from Turkey and look forward to his spring-themed demonstration. This will take place at 7pm at Bethel Chapel Vestry, Baker Street. All welcome.

Pakinson’s UK

THE CHAIR welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2016 and wished everybody a happy and prosperous new year. Zena Evans had celebrated her 70th birthday and with donations and games which her grandchildren had organised, Zena and Anthony contributed the sum of £377 to the funds. The Christmas dinner at Llanina Arms was a huge success and Dafydd Jones, Ystrad Meurig had come at the last moment to enter-tain us while his musical advisor Christine Reynolds played the piano for him. Also everybody had enjoyed their visit to the pantomime in the Arts Centre, which was completely sold out.We had a double for the speaker for the afternoon. One of our own members spoke about Borneo, be-cause her son Shaun Davies lived there, and the person thanking also had a relative that used to live in Borneo. Pat gave a report of how Shaun had spent his early work experience in Aberystwyth, before taking the chance of a lifetime to become an outdoor activities instructor in Peninsular Malaysia and after meeting Carynn Tanduba, and a whirlwind romance the couple married and live in the village of Kepayan, and set up and run together an outdoor expedition company. Shaun has learnt to speak Mandarin Chinese and Malay, and say his in laws are very welcoming. Their wedding in Borneo was a fantastic event. They spend their time taking visitors on jungle expeditions, and Shaun has learnt many tribal crafts, such as their own machetes, which they use in the jungle and everyday life. Pat explained the different culture between Borneo and us. The main food is noodles and rice. Pat and Gwyn have visited them in Borneo and the couple live in a posh house like a hotel. Shaun and his wife are very happy in Borneo.Iola Williams, whose brother in law was in the war in Borneo thanked Pat and reported it was her birthday, so the group sang happy birthday to Iola.The next meeting will be our AGM when Dawn McGuinness and Liz Morgan will be present.The meeting closed with the usual tea and cakes.

Bridge Clubs

RESULTS on 7 February: 1, Gill Joel and Jacqui Roberts; 2, Pamela Woodhouse and Elenid Thomas; 3, Mike Jones and Kim Marsh; 4, Margaret Ellis and Anne Edwards.Results on 9 February: 1, Jeff Thomas and Gwynant Edwards; 2, Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse; 3, Jo Davies and Elenid Thomas.Results on 12 February: 1, Margaret Hathaway and Gwynant Edwards; 2, Dai Hayes and John Valentine; 3, Betty Brookes and Elenid Thomas; 4, Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas.Results on 14 February: 1, Mike Jones and Kim Marsh; 2, Jeff Thomas and Robert Harvard; 3, Betty Brookes and Margaret James; 4, Pamela Woodhouse and Elenid Thomas.Results on 16 February: 1, Betty Brookes and Dylan Raw-Rees; joint 2, Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse /Alun Richards and Mike Yeo; 4, Betty Loyn and Ken Thomas.Results on 19 February: 1, Mike Jones and Keith Bellamy; 2, Yuan Shen and Tianhua Chan; 3, Pamela Woodhouse and Margaret James; 4, Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas.

Cymdeithas yr Aelwyd

NOS WENER, 19 Chwefror, Lionel Madden oedd cadeirydd y noson a chroesawodd Rheinallt Llwyd o Benparcau.Testun y noson oedd Cipolwg ar yrfa Islwyn Ffowc Elis a thrwy gyfrwng gair a llun aeth Rheinallt â ni trwy yrfa igam-ogam y gweinidog, heddychwr, darlledwr, llenor, darlithydd, cerddor ac artist.Wedi magwraeth a phlentyndod yn Nyffryn Ceiriog, bu Islwyn yn weinidog yn Llanfair Caereinion ac yn Niwbwrch, cyn mentro fel awdur llawn amser. Yna bu’n gweithio i’r BBC ym Mangor, cyn symud i swydd darlithydd yng Ngholeg y Drindod, Caerfyrddin. Wedi cyfnodau gyda’r Cyngor Llyfrau ac yn Wrecsam, treuliodd Islwyn ran olaf ei yrfa yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Llambed.Diolch am gael y cyfle i gofio awdur o fri gynhyrchodd 24 o lyfrau, yn cynnwys Cysgod y Cryman, a ddewiswyd yn lyfr gorau’r ugeinfed ganrif yn y Gymraeg.