Last Friday was the final meeting in 2014 of Tenby and District Arts Club, and members put on a celebration of Christmas.

The evening began with Jackie Barnett reading 'Advent 1955' by John Betjeman, and then John Beynon read Dylan Thomas's 'Conversation about Christmas', first published in the Picture Post in 1947 and later used in the writing of 'A Child's Christmas in Wales'. Phillip Marsden lightened the mood with an Ian McMillan poem, 'I keep my snowman in the freezer'.

With the expert accompaniment of Angela Harvey on the piano, the assembled group sang Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Margaret Hill read an account of Christmas in Poland by Monica Gardner. The main celebrations in Poland happen on Christmas Eve, when, after fasting during the day, an 11-course Star Supper is held as the first star appears in the sky. The table has hay on to remember the birth of Jesus in a stable, then a white cloth. The father says a prayer to welcome peace, and shares a wafer with his wife, and then it is passed and shared around the table. The meal begins with almond soup and continues with fish and vegetables, but no meat. It concludes with pastries, particularly poppy pastry, fruit and Hungarian wine and mead. Then when the dining room is cleared, Father Christmas, also known as Starman, and his helpers (Starboys) give out the presents. Carols are sung and the children go to bed. The adults get into sleighs and head to the village for midnight mass.

A Pam Ayres poem, 'Goodwill to men, give us your money...' was ably read by Tina Torkington, and Vicky Chiffi gave Clement Clarke-Moore's 'Twas the night before Christmas...'. The entire room then joined in the singing of 'O little town of Bethlehem'.

Roz Oak read a moving O. Henry story, 'The gift of the Magi'. As it is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War, it was appropriate that Joy Griffiths read 'Christmas Eve 1914' by Mike Harding. The next carol sung was Silent Night.

Margaret Acors read T. S. Eliot's poem 'Journey of the Magi', the first few lines of which T. S. Eliot found in a sermon preached before James I on Christmas Day 1622 by Launcelot Andrewes, Dean of Westminster. Jocelyn Morris regaled us with two Christmas jokes, and Kath Brown recited 'The Twelve Days of Christmas... or the Everlasting Turkey'.

After singing 'While Shepherds Watched', 'O Come all ye faithful' and 'We wish you a merry Christmas', a buffet supper and wine were enjoyed by everyone.

The first meeting of 2015 will be on Friday, January 9, at 7.30 pm, at St. Johns Church Hall, and Lynda Asman will be presenting 'Through my eyes: a community history.' It will be £2 for members and £4 for non-members - everyone is welcome!