Welsh culture to be celebrated at popular Daffodil Festival

Friday, 20 February 2009

On Monday next, St. Johns team of workers, led by Mrs. Ann Maggs, will begin the preparations for the daffodil festival (which had long become an annual event) in the church itself.
For some weeks past, the work of planning and organising has been going on quietly in the background, but when the ‘back doors’ are opened on Monday and the thousands of daffodils begin to arrive, then the whole of the church comes alive with the sound of people chattering and laughing, hammering and fixing, tea-cups rattling and music playing, as the physical work begins in earnest.
It will take from Monday to early Thursday morning to get the church looking as beautiful as it does during Daffodil Festival, with long hours being worked each day, but on Thursday at 10 am, the church will be opened at the main door, ready to receive visitors.
The first event that morning, beginning at 10.30 am, will be children from Tenby Infant School, who will come to celebrate St. David’s Day with their special songs etc. After their performance, a cawl lunch will be served in the large schoolroom. As this has been extremely popular in the past, it’s been decided to sell tickets for it at £3 per head and tickets are limited to about 70. Tickets can be bought in advance via Ann on 843971.
At 1.30, Tenby Junior School Choir will give a performance and at 2 pm there will be a service in the sanctuary, organised by the Network Rally group of peoples connected through the Methodist United Reformed Church partnership.
On Friday, there will be a day of various musical items, including organ recitals by Dr. John Harrison.
At 7.30 pm, there will be a quiz in the schoolroom - why not get a group of friends together and try your hands (or better, your brains) at this lively and friendly competition? Costs are kept to a minimum, so it is only £5 per table of competitors.
Saturday is one of the most popular days of the festival, as it begins with coffee and Welsh cakes being served from 10.30 am and also at that time, there is a free concert in the sanctuary where Tenby Brass Band will liven up proceedings in its own inimitable way. (Their Tom Jones selection in the past has been a real ‘hit’).
At 2 pm on Saturday, St. Mary’s Handbell Ringers will give a concert, followed at 3 pm by the lovely Irish dancing group. These talented youngsters, in their beautiful costumes, are quite amazing to watch.
The Nosen Lawen and Fish and Chip Supper at 6 pm is always heavily over-subscribed and at £3.15 (not £3.50 as previously stated) it is an excellent evening out. This is a ticket-only event of necessity, as the supper has to be ordered in advance. Mr. Ron Hurlow will, once again, compere the evening and everyone is assured of a really enjoyable time.
On St. David’s Day, there will be service in the sanctuary, including Holy Communion from 11 am. The preacher will be Rev. Peter Trow, who is the URC ecumenical officer. Peter has preached at St. Johns on a previous occasion and everyone is looking forward to his return. After service, there will be a Faith Lunch at 12.30 pm. This is exactly what it is named to be. Those members of St. Johns who contribute plates and dishes full of delicious home-made food, have faith that there will be enough for everyone who wishes to stay to lunch.
In the evening of March 1, the festival comes to a climax when the Cymanfa Ganu is held in the sanctuary, at 8 pm. In the past, the sanctuary has been full and it is hoped that this will be the case again. Local choirs who are taking part in the Cymanfa are St. Mary’s Church Choir, Tenby Male Choir, the Quaynotes choir and the Cymrodorion Ladies Choir, who will sing only in Welsh and who will include a very special new hymn to St. David.
The chosen hymns for the congregation will include most people’s favourite Welsh hymns, including the wonderful tune ‘Pantyfedwyn.’
Mrs. Melanie Walker will conduct the evening and Dr. John Harrison will accompany on the organ, while the invited choirs will be accompanied by Jill Williams (TMC), Mrs. Gwenllian Jones (Cymrodorion) and Mrs. Eileen Thomas (Quaynotes).
The wonderful singing of the Cymanfa Ganu always captures the very essence of what the festival is about and leaves everyone feeling elated. Our Welsh patron saint and Welsh culture is celebrated in a truly unique way and it is hoped that many people from Tenby and surrounding villages, will go along to enjoy some part of the festival.