THE latest community news from around Dolgellau.

Music Club

THE new Dolgellau Music Club season will begin on Friday, 7 October, with a concert at 7.30pm in Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor by Ruthin Choir.

It is now 20 years since this distinguished mixed-voice choir first visited the club.

In the meantime, since October 2007, the baton has been taken up by popular composer Robat Arwyn, previously the choir’s accompanist.

The choir is also lucky to have in its ranks two fine soloists: soprano Kate Griffiths, this year’s winner of the soprano prize at the National Eisteddfod; and baritone Meirion Jones, winner of the 2008 Blue Riband.

Altogether this promises to be a delightful evening of solo and choral music.

South Gwynedd Long-Term Health & Chronic Conditions Alliance

A MEETING was held at Dolgellau Hospital on Tuesday, 20 September.

The guest speaker was Eirian Wynne, engagement officer (west) for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and she gave a very informative presentation on the requirement for the health board to produce a strategy for engaging with and listening to patients, staff and the public.

This was followed by a question and answer session.

Some very useful information was shared by representatives of all organisations present.

It was decided to hold the annual Good Health Event again this year at Glan Wnion Leisure Centre and Dolgellau Fire Station on Friday, 14 October.

Organisations will be on hand to give advice and information, complementary therapies and provide a memory and friendship café. The event will be held between 10am and 2pm.

Dr Peter Higson, chair of Betsi Cadwaladr, will be opening the event.

The next meeting of the alliance will be held in March at Dolgellau Hospital (date to be confirmed).

For further information, contact Sioned at Mantell Gwynedd on 01286 672626.

St Mary’s Women’s Fellowship

TEN members attended the meeting when the speaker was Rev Mary Bolt who was assisted by her husband Rev George Bolt and Richard Withers.

The subject was Bardsey Island.

Mary explained she and George have visited the island regularly over the last 13 years.

They hire a wonderful little cottage for a week and enjoy a peaceful week of retreat, escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life and worshipping in the old monastery situated near to where they stay.

Bardsey is managed by the Bardsey Island Trust, and the Bardsey Bird Observatory is responsible for the welfare of the bird population on the island, essentially to monitor and census the breeding of migratory birds which use Bardsey.

The island has comfortable accommodation, cooking by gas, little electricity – no television or broadband here!

You must take everything you need for the week including drinking water and at the end of your stay take all of your rubbish home. Pets are not allowed.

Irene gave the vote of thanks. Thank you again Mary for a brilliant presentation. We all look forward to you coming again. George won the raffle.

Jessie read out the letters of thanks she had received from our speakers’ charities, all of them thanking us for our donations and continued support.

We then went on to discuss the coffee morning on 11 November.

Of course, all the funds raised from this event, and others we hold throughout the year are used for the donations to these charities.

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]