THE latest community news from Aberystwyth

U3A

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the talk on the subject of ‘Old Land and Traditional Spirits’ was cancelled but will be rescheduled for a later date.

The next meeting will be held on 15 November at 2.30pm at the Morlan Centre when a talk will be given by Matthew Francis with the title of ‘The Mabinogi’.

Matthew Francis is the author of four Faber collections, most recently Muscovy (2013). He has twice been shortlisted for the Forward Prize and in 2004 was chosen as one of the Next Generation poets.

He has also edited W S Graham’s New Collected Poems and published a collection of short stories and two novels, the second of which, The Book of the Needle (Cinnamon Press) came out in 2014.

He is a professor in Creative writing at Aberystwyth University.

New members are welcome.

Cymdeithas yr Aelwyd

Nos Wener, 19 Hydref, croesawyd Anna Evans gan cadeirydd y gymdeithas, Gwynfor Jones.

Anna yw swyddog addysg Amgueddfa Ceredigion a thrwy gyfrwng lluniau cyflwynodd hanes adeilad y Coliseum. Bu’n theatr ac yna’n sinema cyn dod yn gartref i’r amgueddfa.

Erbyn hyn mae gan yr amgueddfa oddeutu 67,000 o eitemau yn cynnwys casgliad enwog Margaret Evans, Aberystwyth Ddoe.

Aeth Anna ymlaen i sôn am ei gwaith addysg gydag ysgolion a phobl ifanc, y gwaith a wneir gan wirfoddolwyr a’r arddangosfeydd a gynhelir yn y Coliseum. Braf oedd clywed fod cymaint mwy o bobl yn ymweld â’r amgueddfa ers agor y fynedfa newydd, y siop a’r caffi.

I gloi’r noson dangosodd Anna nifer o eitemau fyddai’n cael eu defnyddio i baratoi ar gyfer noson allan, a chafwyd cyfle i ddyfalu beth yn union oedd rhai o’r arteffactau hynafol oedd ar y bwrdd.

Plascrug Bridge Club

RECENT results:

18 September – 1. Jacqui Roberts and Mair Jenkins; 2. Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse; 3. Betty Brookes and Mike jones

25 September – 1 Betty Brookes and Mike Jones; 2. Pamela Woodhouse and Margaret James; 3. Mair Jenkins and Jacqui Roberts

2 October – 1. Betty Brookes and Mike Jones; 2. Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse; joint 3. Sue Sherman and Mary Jones/Doreen Anthony and Dylan Raw-Rees

16 October – 1. Doreen Anthony and Dylan Raw Rees; 2. Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse.

Bibliographical Group

THE Bibliographical Group began its 2018-19 programme on Tuesday, 16 October when Dr Nicolas Bell, librarian of Trinity College, Cambridge, spoke on The Welsh Martial: A Bibliographical Excursion with John Owen.

The speaker began by telling the group that John Owen was the most widely published Welsh poet before Dylan Thomas and probably the most widely published British poet before the 19th century.

He was proud of his Welsh upbringing, calling himself “Cambro-Britannus”, but wrote only in Latin epigrams.

Dr Bell’s interest in Owen began as a result of the recent donation of a large collection of editions of his works to the Wren Library at Trinity College.

Born in 1563/4, John Owen was the son of the Sheriff of Caernarvonshire.

After periods in Oxford, Monmouthshire and Warwick, he settled in London and made a career as a professional epigrammatist, publishing his first anthology in 1606.

He was patronised by some of the leading political figures of the day, including Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (the elder brother of Charles I), who died before he could accede to the throne. Amongst Prince Henry’s childhood schoolbooks at Trinity is a book of epigrams in John Owen’s handwriting.

The speaker went on to show images of a number of editions of Owen’s epigrams from the 17th to 19th centuries, printed in various countries, including translations into several European languages.

Some contain the bookplates of famous collectors, while others have been expurgated because of their anti-Catholic content.

Dr Bell concluded that this forgotten Welshman deserves renewed study.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 20 November, at 6.30pm in the National Library, when Dr Dylan Foster Evans will speak on Sir John Prise of Brecon and his Commonplace Book.

Rotary club

LAST week’s talk was given by Rotary club member Clive Parker, on the subject of ‘Travels in Eastern Europe’.

Clive gave an account of his recent visit to the Balkan states of Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia.

Montenegro is a long narrow stretch of land about two-thirds the size of Wales, and was currently the subject of considerable Russian and Chinese investment in tourism-related development.

Crossing over to Tirana, the capital of Albania, one saw a contrast in economic prosperity, with around one-third of working Albanians having to find work abroad, sending their earnings home to support their families.

Mother Teresa was Albanian, although born in Skopje the capital of neighbouring Macedonia to where her parents had emigrated, and the main square in Tirana had been re-named in her honour.

Religion had been banned in Albania during the Communist era, but the population now consists of both Muslims and Christians co-existing quite amicably.

Macedonia was a country with about the same land area as Wales, and a population of around 2,000,000.

It had, along with its neighbouring states, applied for EU membership, but had been vetoed by Greece, largely as Greece itself has a state called ‘Macedonia’ within its borders.

Clive’s talk was accompanied by photographs of landscapes, and artworks and adornments on the various mosques and churches visited.

Cats Protection

CATS Protection’s Aberystwyth branch has launched an online auction to help raise vital funds to continue caring for cats in need.

Bidders have until 29 October to check out up to 30 lots which have been donated by local businesses - including exciting days out, pampering sessions, original artwork and much more.

All proceeds from the auction, which can be found on Facebook by searching for Aberystwyth Cats Protection Online Auction, will help the branch continue is vital cat care work in the area.

Among the items up for auction are a six-month gym membership for Primal Fitness, a family ticket for Knowsley Safari Park and a group surfing lesson at Aber Adventures.

Volunteer Lucy Kemish, who organised the auction, said: “Local businesses have been extremely generous in donating items and we’d like to say a huge thank you for their support.

“We’ve got some brilliant lots, many of which will make fantastic gifts for family and friends – so taking part is a great way to get ahead with the Christmas shopping while also helping cats in need.”

Cylch Cinio

Y CYN-LLAWFEDDYG John Edwards oedd y g?r gwadd yn y cyfarfod ym mis Hydref yng ngwesty Llety Parc ar nos Wener, 12 Hydref.

Mae’n gymeriad lliwgar, galluog a charismataidd a chafwyd noson ddifyr iawn yn ei gwmni.

Soniodd am ei fagwraeth ar aelwyd Gymraeg yn Llundain a phwysigrwydd Capel Jewin i’w deulu.

Mae ei wreiddiau yn nwfn yng ngogledd Ceredigion ac mae’n hannu o un o deuluoedd yr hetwyr yr ardal.

Bu llewyrch ar y diwydiant gwneud hetiau yn yr ardal yn hanner cyntaf y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg ac roedd 51 o gynhyrchwyr hetiau yn Llangynfelyn cyn i hetiau sidan ddod yn ffasiynnol ac yna i’r gwaith cynhyrchu fynd i Lundain.

Bu John yn feddyg yn Ysbyty Charing Cross yn Llundain ac yng Nghastell Nedd cyn troi ei olygon i ardal ei wreiddiau.

Mae’n ffigwr adnabyddus yn yr ardal hon am ei waith gwerthfawr yn Ysbyty Bronglais dros ddegawadau fel Llawfeddyg Cyffredinol.

Wrth ei gyflwyno dywedodd y Cadeirydd Dr Richard Edwards bod natur gwaith John wedi golygu y byddai gallu delio gyda llawer iawn o anhwylderau gwahanol a bod hynny yn gyfraniad eithriadol mewn ardal wledig.

‘Dadrithiad’ oedd thema ei sgwrs gan gychwyn gyda’r siom cyntaf a gafodd oedd darganfod mai cymeriad hud a lledrith oedd Sion Corn.

Cyfeiriodd wedyn at brofiad ysbrydol ysgytwol a gafodd yn 1955 pan yn llanc ifanc wrth wrando ar yr efengylydd Billy Graham yn pregethu mewn stadiwm yn Llundain ond i effaith hynny ddadfeilio yn lled fuan ac er y profiad hwnnw a’i fagwraeth grefyddol gapelyddol mae wedi ei ddadrithio’n llwyr gyda chrefydd erbyn hyn.

Cyfeiriodd hefyd at y dadrithiad mae’n teimlo yngl?n â sut y mae’r proffesiwn meddygol yn ymdrin a chancr ac yr oedd yn coleddu y safbwynt dadleuol bod gorymateb yn aml i’r sgrinio helaeth sydd yn digwydd erbyn hyn ym maes cancr.

Diolchwyd iddo gan y cyn-ddeintydd Sion Griffiths a soniodd am ei waith nodedig yn Ysbyty Bronglais dros y blynyddoedd a gwyddai am gleifion oedd wedi elwa a derbyn iachâd yn sgil ei allu eithriadol John Edwards fel llawfeddyg.

Pwysleisiodd Sion y gwahaniaeth rhwng llawfeddyg cyffredin a llawfeddyg cyffredinol.

Enillwyd y raffl misol gan John Edwards.

Adroddodd y cadeirydd Dr Richard Edwards bod John Lewis wedi derbyn cadarnhad gan Drefnydd Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru Ceredigion a gynhelir yn Nhregaron yn 2020 mai Cylch Cinio Aberystwyth fydd yn rhoi’r gadair ar gyfer y Brifwyl.

Cynhelir y cyfarfod nesaf o’r cylch yn y Clwb Rygbi ar nos Wener, 9 Tachwedd, a hynny yng nghwmni John Roberts, BBC Radio Cymru.

Bydd croeso cynnes i aelodau newydd.

Bridge club

FRIDAY, 5 October: 1 Betty Brookes and Elenid Thomas; 2 Magda Corser and Martin Page; 3 Keith Bellamy and Mike Jones.

Sunday, 7 October: 1 Mike Jones and Jeff Thomas; 2 Elenid Thomas and Pamela Woodhouse; 3 Gabor Gelleri and John Holmes.

Friday, 12 October: 1 Keith Bellamy and Mike Jones; 2 Herbie Rowley and Doreen Anthony; 3 Gill Howells and Alan Stein.

Aberystwyth Bridge Club meets twice a week, Friday and Sunday starting at 6.45pm.

The club welcomes visitors and provides sessions for learners and improvers.

For further information, contact Elenid Thomas on 01970 828765.

Procession

A PROCESSION along the promenade to kick the bar has been held to mark the day in 1872 that Aberystwyth University first opened its doors.

Staff, students, alumni and members of the local community took part in the Founders’ Day walk from Old College to the foot of Constitution Hill where they all kicked the bar.

Kicking the bar after a walk along the promenade is a tradition still regularly observed today by university students and staff as well as member of the public.

The procession was led by the university’s chancellor Lord Thomas of Cwmgïedd and vice-chancellor, Prof Elizabeth Treasure.

Special guest at this year’s Founders’ Day was Sioned Wiliam - an Honorary Fellow and Aberystwyth drama graduate who is now commissioning editor for comedy at BBC Radio 4.

Prof Treasure said: “There was huge excitement on 16 October 1872 when Old College welcomed its very first students.

“Founders’ Day is our way of remembering the ambition, vision and passion of those involved in establishing the first University College in Wales here in Aberystwyth. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.”

Aberystwyth University opened its doors for the first time at 9am on Wednesday, 16 October 1872, after having celebrated a founders’ breakfast in Old College the previous day.

Assisted by two professors and a registrar-librarian, Thomas Charles Edwards welcomed 26 students to the converted hotel which become ‘the people’s university.’

Merched y Wawr

‘MAM a Merch’ oedd y teitl ar gyfer rhaglen Merched y Wawr Aberystwyth nos Lun, 15 Hydref.

Pleser felly oedd croesawu Sara Gibson o Benrhyncoch a’i mam Marian Evans o Gaerdydd.

Dwy â doniau anhygoel o amrywiol oedd y rhain a chawsom ganddynt hanesion a straeon am eu cefndir a’r dylanwadau a fu arnynt ar hyd y blynyddoedd.

Bellach mae Sara yn aelod o staff y BBC yn Aberystwyth a chlywir ei llais yn aml ar Radio Cymru, a Marian sy’n gyn-athrawes yn meddu ar ddawn arbennig gyda gwaith llaw.

Roedd y cwiltiau a wnaethpwyd ganddi yn brawf o waith perffeithydd, oedd â llygaid at liw a phatrwm.

Pleser o’r mwyaf oedd gweld y cwilt arbennig a wnaethpwyd ganddi ar gyfer codi arian tuag at Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Caerdydd eleni.

Mae Sara wedi etifeddu dawn ei mam er nad yw amser yn caniatau iddi eto i fod mor gynhyrchiol.

Roedd y gynulleidfa niferus wedi eu plesio’n fawr gyda’r arlwy a diolchwyd i’n gwesteion am noson hyfryd, gan y llywydd Eluned Richards.

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