The St. Johns Church Festival of Daffodils opened on Wednesday, St. David's Day, after a rush of activity on the part of Mrs. Ann Maggs and her team of brilliant flower arrangers etc.
Outside the Tenby church and in the small garden area fronting onto the street, the magnificent daffodil cross stands, seven feet tall and covered with hundreds of daffodils. In the centre of the cross is a clock, which underlines the theme of this year's festival - 'Time.' The clock can be seen clearly from across the road. It reminds us all of the passage of time, irrevocable and apparently infinite, but nevertheless, it also reminds us of our mortality and the limited preciousness of our time on earth.
Immediately inside the door is the porch display, which is a very interesting collage depicting time around the world. In the charge of well-known local artist Carol Brinton-Thomas, the display is unusual and thought-provoking.
Inside the Sanctuary, the floral presentations are as diverse as they are beautiful. Using artefacts and memorabilia as different as a Christmas tree, an outline of Old Father Time and a rugby ball, the scene conveys a real sense of time and place. The pews are decorated with the posies in memory of loved ones and they fill the sanctuary with perfume and golden-yellow light.
The committee is grateful to all those church members, adherents and friends who have given up so much of their time and talent to create this Festival of Praise.
Events have been promoted through this newspaper and via the radio. This year, the Noson Lawen has proved to be a big attraction as tickets sold out 10 days ago. Numbers had to be limited, but even so, extra tickets had to be produced.
However, the Cymanfa Ganu on Sunday evening is an event open to everyone and is free of charge. Much rehearsal of the performing groups has taken place; Mrs. Phyl Williams and the Cymrodorion Ladies will be singing three items in Welsh during the Cymanfa to re-inforce the Welshness of the occasion.
The Cymanfa is the last event of the festival and it is hoped, that with an open invitation to all who love to sing, it will be a fitting finalé to the Festival of our Patron Saint.