THE latest community news from Dysynni

Dysynni Ladies

ON Wednesday evening, 9 January, chairperson Anne Rowlands welcomed members to the first meeting of 2019 and wished everyone a happy, but more importantly, healthy new year.

It was good to see the secretary, Pat Chadwick, back and now fully recovered.

There were several apologies for absence due to illness, so get well wishes were extended to those members.

The guest speaker for the evening was Beth Lawton, Bryncrug.

Bethan gave a synopsis of her life and career, commencing with her upbringing in Bryncrug and education in Bryncrug primary school, Tywyn secondary school and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

Having lost her mother as a teenager Bethan commenced her working life as a clerk/administrator at the Evans & Greenaway factory in Bryncrug, before moving in a like capacity to a local firm of solicitors.

Life moved on for Bethan when she married but another blow was to befall her when her husband died very suddenly, leaving her at the age of 22 with two young children to bring up.

She took various part-time jobs to support her family before returning to the then named Greenaway UK as administrator and during this period learned a great deal about the business and general business administration.

In 2001 upon the decision of the then managing director to retire, Bethan and one of her colleagues took the decision to purchase a majority shareholding in the company and then commenced a new period in her life travelling all over Europe to seek contracts for the supply of the specialised nuts and bolts they made.

Through their endeavours the business developed and succeeded and in 2008 Bethan was awarded the Welsh Business Woman of the Year title.

Business never stands still, and a year or so later, due to the financial instability in Europe, several of the company’s customers either went under or were purchased by large conglomerates resulting in a loss of orders and a downturn in business and its reappraisal ensued.

During this time Bethan was diagnosed with cancer, underwent successful surgery and treatment and continues to run the business, albeit in a smaller capacity, together with her community work as a county councillor, a community councillor, chair of governors of Ysgol Graig y Deryn, and sits on several other committees in the area.

Refreshments were prepared by Mary I Davies, Freda Jones and Jane Smith who stood in for Bessie Mitchell.

Competition winners were: 1, Gwenfair Pierce, 2, Gwyneth Thomas and 3, Anne Rowlands.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 13 February, when the guest speaker will be Gwerfyl Owen Harding on the topic interior design.

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