Floral Society

THE club’s meeting on 19 April was well attended by members and guests to welcome the return of Adrian Cooke as demonstrator for the evening. The title he had chosen, ‘Let’s Go Dutch’ was echoed in his choice of containers, most of which were bought on holiday in Holland, and in his style of arrangements. He combined a selection of blooms including roses, tulips, gerberas and irises in strong and vibrant colours in some of his six displays and contrasted others with similar flowers in softer pastel colours, always enhancing the shape and structure with foliage of different texture and complementary colours. Whilst he worked, Adrian talked of his own involvement, together with that of the club’s president, Donald Morgan, in the forthcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show, (held 24 - 28 May) where they are two of a team of eight representing the Three Counties and South Wales Area of NAFAS in the exhibits of floral arrangements. He gave a fascinating insight into the rules and procedures laid down for exhibitors giving his audience opportunity for questions and lively discussion.Vice chairperson Pat Jones de-livered a vote of thanks to Adrian emphasising that it is always a pleasure to have him back and wishing him and Donald the best of luck for the Chelsea show. There were many entries in the members’ competition entitled ‘A Contrast of Colour’ and first place in the beginners’ group was given to Lucy Gaul with second place going to Glynis Somers followed by Ffion Hicks in 3rd place. The Intermediate group was won by Beti Wyn Davies with Carol Bland taking second place and Pat Edwards third. First place in the advanced group went to Lynne Garrett and Donald Morgan took second place.In opening the meeting, chair-person Christine Gilbert reminded members of the ‘Lonely Bouquet’ event on 6 May when NAFAS members leave a simple bouquet of flowers somewhere for someone to find and hopefully encourage them to share their interest and love of flowers and attend a local club.Tuesday, 17 May, will see the club meeting again at Llanfarian Village Hall at 7.30pm when Jane Pugh from Shropshire will be the demonstrator with the title “What a find”.The members’ competition is enti-tled ‘From the Shrub Garden’. Everyone is invited to come along and receive a warm welcome.

Inner Wheel

THE May meeting of Aberystwyth Inner Wheel Club took the form of a dinner at Llety Parc for visiting speaker district chairman Marian Curtis.President Pat Griffiths in the chair led the formal part of the meeting and other officers gave information on future events including the annual pig roast ,the date of which has been changed to 24 July this year.Chairman Marian spoke about the history and geography of Ab-erystwyth which makes it such a unique place to live and work. Into this context she wove the establishment of Inner Wheel here in 1951 and the activities of the club since then.She spoke of the impact of the work of the organisation in Wales and the world and emphasized the values of teamwork and communication.She congratulated the club on expanding its membership recently and encouraged us to raise its profile so others know more of its forms of service and fund raising activities with the themes of Unique and United.

Postcard Club

THE members of the Aberystwyth Postcard Club were given an exclusive insight into the former ‘Aberystwyth Yesterday’ collections at the Ceredigion Museum last Tuesday, 3 May, by Mary Turner-Lewis. The items shown came from a wide spectrum of periods from Victorian wear to household objects from between the wars and up to the 1950s. The next meeting of the club will be held in the St David’s Club on 7 June at 2pm when a ‘bring and buy’ postcard event will take place.Rotary club‘MUSIC of the First World War’ was the title of this week’s talk given by Lt Col (Ret’d) Geoffrey Kingston. He began a very illustrious army musical career in 1964 as a French horn player in the Staffordshire Regiment.In forty-one years of military service he was judged, in 1978, the best student bandmaster in the British Army after a spell in the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.He served as band master to many regimental bands and in 2000 was appointed Principal Director of Music at Kneller Hall.Music is everywhere-in super-markets, on the telephone even in lifts The popular music halls of old, were accessible to all, inexpensive with wonderful lyrics. The speaker had conducted the community singing at the last Cup Final in the old Wembley Stadium - standing in the centre of the pitch the noise was unbelievable.Col Kingston’s presentation included sound clips of many soldiers’ songs.Pack up your Troubles written by Felix Powell as a marching song regained popularity in the Second World War and still provides large sums in Royalties. Equally famous was It’s a long way to Tipperary written by Jack Judge though Tipperary was originally Connemara. Perhaps ‘ Colonel Bogey’ by Ken Alford is the most famous marching tune.‘Mademoiselle from Armentieres’ gave ample opportunity for the Tommies to insert their own words to make a bawdy version.In the early 1900s, Britain had a small standing army. With the prospect of war, there was imminent need for soldiers. In the recruitment drive, the Saturday evening music hall played a big part. Your King and Country Needs You sung by a famous artiste Vesta Tilley incited young men to join up. Recruiting sergeants were on hand to take your name.Singing in the trenches helped morale, though as the war moved on, the music became a lot more darker and home sickness prompted songs like When this B***** War is Over.Some songs told of the gap between the officer class and the Tommy and attempts were made to ban them. The lyrics of ‘Hanging on The Old Barbed Wire’ spoke of officers and NCOs drinking the company rum with the private soldier ‘hanging on the old barbed wire’.War poets like Rupert Brooke’s ‘The Soldier’ emphasised the futility of it all.The entry of the USA into the conflict in April 1917 brought their own music - Over There and The Marines Hymn soon took their place.The rendering of Take me back to dear old Blighty brought a fascinating talk to an end.In giving the vote of thanks past-president Hywel Davies said that it had been a real joy to have a multi-layered sound and visual presentation so professionally given.