Friends of Harlech Pool

THE GROUP has raised £200 towards the continuing survival of the pool in a recent table top extravaganza.A Hallowe’en cake was generously donated from Beti Miller and was won by Friends’ secretary, Tainia Stone, who guessed the exact weight (see picture).

Historical society

THE SOCIETY is holding two meetings this month. On Tuesday, 10 November, Dafydd Roberts will give a talk on the topic ‘Life by the seaside’ in which he will describe how the seascape of the Llyn Peninsula and Meirionnydd changed notably from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century.Dafydd is the keeper of the National Slate Museum at Llanberis, a native of Bethesda and completed a PhD thesis on the slate quarrying communities of Merioneth and Caernarfonshire from 1911 to 1939 at Aberystwyth University. He has lectured widely on the Welsh slate industry and other aspects of the industrial history of north Wales. His lively, entertaining lectures have made him a favourite of the society over the years.The meeting will be held at Neuadd Goffa at 7.30pm.History of a very different kind will be revealed at the meeting on Saturday, 21 November, at Aber Artro in Llanbedr when the society presents ‘The life and memoirs of Jackie Williams’. Many people will know him as Jackie Chips as he opened the first fish and chip shop in Harlech. but there was far more to Jackie’s life than that. His memoirs of Gallipoli, written in the 1940s, tell of the horrors of that ultimately doomed campaign. Jackie survived Gallipoli, but was wounded at the battle of Gaza in 1917. He also writes of his pacifism, his beliefs and life in the Harlech area. Jackie died in 1952 and it is fitting that his memoirs were published recently, a century after Gallipoli. Among the speakers at the meeting will be family members George Wright and Joyce Plant who will describe Jackie’s life and work, with a tribute to Ianto Humphries. Society chairman Neil Evans will describe the Gallipoli and Gaza campaigns, with reference to Jackie’s memoirs and the present owner of Aber Artro, Paul Morgan, will speak about the house as a hospital during the First World War and afterwards. The meeting starts at 2.30pm and tickets are available on the door from 2pm.

WI

THE PRESIDENT Christine Hemsley welcomed members and guests to the meeting at the Memorial Hall on Wednesday evening, 14 October.The president was also thanked for arranging the 100th year celebrations and to Eileen Green-ward for allowing us to use her garden.Annette Evans was also thanked for arranging the trip to Llandudno to see Dirty Dancing.The county letter was read and all relevant dates noted, especially the date for the autumn show at Harlech, the Christmas fair at Bala on 28 November, and the carol service to be held at Dolgellau on Friday, 4 December.After all business was finished, the guest speaker, Jeb Reynolds, a potter who works at the Clogwyn Pottery, was introduced.He the group us a talk on his work in the pottery and then members all had a chance to work with some of the clay.The entire group had a great time making Christmas decorations, which will be taken back to the pottery to be finished and then returned to us by Christmas.

Memorial hall

THE MANAGEMENT committee of the memorial hall is calling on the person (or persons) who borrowed 37 chairs without permission from the hall to return them immediately.If anyone has any information concerning the matter, they are asked to contact the caretaker or any member of the management committee.