Bibliographical Group

THE GROUP held its AGM in the Octagon at St Paul’s Methodist Centre on Tuesday, 15 March.The speaker was Dr Rhiannon Ifans of the School of Welsh and Bilingual Studies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Lampeter.Her topic was manuscript songbooks of mid Wales.Dr Ifans explained the plygain carol-singing tradition, an ancient custom unique to Wales which almost died out in the 1960s, but more recently has been revived in a number of places, including Aberystwyth and Penrhyncoch. Plygain carols are always sung from paper not from memory, and each plygain group – usually consisting of several members of the same family – has its own songbook, passed down through the generations and never shown to anyone else.As a result of this secrecy, the analysis and preservation of plygain manuscript songbooks has always been problematic, but the speaker did show a few examples on the screen with the permission of their owners.During the course of the lecture she performed a number of the carols with Trefor Puw, a member of one of the leading plygain families, who had taken time off from lambing to join the group for the evening.After the meeting, the group en-tertained the two performers with dinner at the Marine Hotel.A bibliographical outing is planned for September and a full programme of lectures has already been planned beginning in October.

Inner Wheel

THE MARCH meeting of Aberystwyth Inner Wheel, held on 14 March at Waunfawr Community Hall, took the form of a St David’s Day supper provided by members, followed by a talk from Aberystwyth Rotary Club president Dr John Harries.

Dr Harries spoke of his early life in Carmarthenshire and his career in agriculture, which owed much to his family background, though less to being educated at the same school as Barry John! From a student of agricultural botany he progressed through postgraduate study to lecturer and to principal of the Welsh Agriculture College. He became dean of the faculty of science when the college became part of the University of Aberystwyth and then took on the role of pro vice-chancellor.This role, Dr Harries felt, was among the most challenging, espe-cially during a difficult time for the university.He was very proud that the university achieved degree awarding powers during this time.Dr Harries retired in 2010. Since then he has enjoyed time with his family, found a new hobby in skïng and, of course, an interest in the Rotary Club of Aberystwyth.The club currently has 41 members and is looking forward to a variety of future activities.These will include a fashion show on 20 April and a pig roast joint-event with Aberystwyth Inner Wheel.St Padarn’s ChurchBISHOP Wyn of St Davids formally launched the Bro Padarn Local Ministry Area at a service in St Padarn’s on the evening of Monday, 7 March. Representatives from the 10 parishes involved in the area set candles on the High Altar, one for each parish, and declared before the bishop and the diocesan registrar, Anthony Jenkins, their intention to work together with each other in the mission of Christ’s Church.Then the members of the ministry team were presented to the bishop and they promised to work together, respecting each other’s ministries under the team leader, Rev Andrew Loat. Refreshments were enjoyed after the service in the church hall.