NOVEMBER 2004
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 21
THE AWARD RECIPIENTS in the above photo are (L-R) Alan Jones, Neville Thomas and Ted Langley.
Dylan Thomas Circle Recognizes Founding Members
VANCOUVER -At the Vancouver Dylan Thomas Circle's annual general meeting on October 22, long-time member Don Thomas was elected president. Don has been active in the Circle for many years and was a popular choice to lead the group for the next year.
Other officers elected were David Webb (vice-president), Wynford Owen (treasurer) and Heather Davies (membership secretary). Russel Roberts is the immediate past-president.
Members-at-large are Neil Gray, Erica Jenner, Ted Langley, Paul Lievesley, James Lloyd, William Palmer and Neville Thomas.
During the course of the evening members recognized the contributions made by the three founding Circle members - Alan Jones, Ted Langley and Neville Thomas. Each was presented with a framed depiction by noted British calligrapher Barrie Parslow of one of Dylan Thomas's mostfamous poems, Fern Hill. Following the presentation, Alan Jones gave an impressive reading of the poem to an appreciative audience.
Other readings of the poet's work were given by Geoff Madoc-Jones and by Russel Roberts, whose readings were backed by the piano improvisations of well-known Vancouver composer and jazz singer Brian Tate.
The next event planned by the Circle is the annual popular presentation of A Child's Christmas in Wales on December 17at the Cambrian Hall. President Don Thomas promises an interesting interpretation of the perennial favourite this year.
Anyone wishing to join the Dylan Thomas Circle should contact the membership secretary, Heather Davies at (604) 734-5500. Memberships cost $20 single or $30 double.
Cambrian Hall 75th Anniversary Banquet
By EIFION WILLIAMS
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Welsh Society held an anniversary banquet on October 16 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the building of the Cambrian Hall.
A delicious buffet was followed by the cutting of a large birthday cake by three of the Society's long-time members, Nita Adams, May Lievesley and Phyllis Owens. The Master of Ceremonies was Vice-President Barrie Hancock.
Nita and Phyllis, along with Milton Morgan and Eirlys Ann Thomas, recounted some of their memories of the Cambrian Hall and their personal recollections of various renovations and additions to the building and its furnishings. In his own inimitable fashion. Gareth Prytherch also contributed a humorous anecdote from the Society's past.
David Llewelyn Williams entertained the audience with a reading from O law I Law, (From Hand to Hand), a story by famous Welsh novelist T. Rowland Hughes, set in a slate quarrying village in North Wales. David's grandfather was himself a slate quarryman and his appreciation of the humour and characters of the period depicted in the novel was evident in his reading.
The highlight of the evening was a musical performance by Bowen Island entertainer Ruta Yawnei. Ruta played on the Ukrainian and Celtic Harp and presented songs from many parts of the world, ending with the popular Welsh folk song Suo Gan.
After the banquet the members enjoyed the usual socializing in the Red Dragon. The evening's success was largely due to the efforts of Welsh Society Treasurer Gaynor Evans, who planned and organized the event.
Fox Hunt Ban Urged as Masters Complain of Shortage
DUBLIN - A ban on fox hunting was urged after hunters complained in a confidential letter that there was a "shortage" of the animals. Anti-bloodsports campaigners pointed out that this admission demolishes a central argument used by hunters to justify their activity, namely to keep fox populations down. The letter was circulated in October throughout Britain among 800 hunt masters.
Campaigners in Ireland are now demanding a ban on fox hunting by 2008. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) urged Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to carry out a census of Ireland's fox population.
ICABS spokesman Pat Phelan said the memo has enormous implications for Ireland. "Once and for all, we have evidence that fox hunting has nothing whatsoever to do with keeping animal numbers under control. Fox hunting is nothing more than a blood sport and a chance for some people to indulge their blood lust, " he said.
Phelan demanded that Coughlan should clarify the status of Ireland's fox population - and finally accept that hunting has nothing to do with pest control. "The truth is that in Britain hunts are trying to encourage the breeding of foxes because the population has dwindled so much. We need to know if the situation could be the same here, " he added.
With Britain set to ban fox hunting by August 2006, Phelan said it was "highly likely " British hunt fans will attempt to switch their operations to Ireland. The Irish anti-bloodsports lobby says it will abandon its non-confrontation policy and use protests, boycotts and a shame-campaign. The campaign will include disruption of all major fox-hunting events.
Shocking Suicide Statistics
BELFAST - Suicide now accounts for almost one-third of deaths in young Irish people aged between 15 and 24, with more people in this age group now taking their own lives than are dying through traffic accidents. The data, from a cross-border study, was published at a conference on suicide prevention in Belfast on October 18.
Researchers found that the situation in the Republic is slightly worse than that in the North. In 1991, 12 people per 100,000 in the 15-24 age group took their own lives and by 2001 this had risen to 17.5 per 100,000. In the North the rate rose from 10.5 to 14.2. Suicide was also up for discussion at the Irish Psychiatric Associations' annual general meeting.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Justin Brophy reported that the incidence of attempted suicide among men was far higher in Limerick than elsewhere; the figure for Limerick was 425per 100,000 and Galway was next with 260. Dr. Brophy saw alcohol as playing a significant role.
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