Last Saturday, the De Valence in Tenby played host to something completely different, a fabulous Thai evening organised by Mrs. Siriphon Welch and friends.

The third successive busy weekend for the Tenby town centre function centre, Saturday's evening of Thai culture saw over 300 people attending.

Greeted and shown to their tables by Thai ladies in national costume, itself a sight to behold, the guests were then treated to an amazing buffet of traditinakl Thai cuisine, all cooked on the premises by Jumnian Miller, Kate Kelvington, Aud, the Thai chef from the Coach and Horses, Tenby, and Thai lady volunteers from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and beyond.

Following the buffet, entertainment was provided by Thai dancers and singers and the Jabalong Club from London, who gave fantastic displays of a variety of Thai martial arts, including Mauy Thai (Thai boxing).

The national sport of Thailand, feet, knees, elbows and fists are all used in this contact sport, which all agreed was very exciting to watch.

The evening rounded off with audience participation in traditional Thai dancing, with even the Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Trevor Hallett, having a go at emulating the intricate hand and arm movements performed by the Thai women.

Siriphon Welch and her friends were pleased with the event's success and would like to thank their sponsors Noi Hicks, of Milford Haven; Ben Jones, of the Coach and Horses, Tenby, and Geoff and Lorna Greasly, of Alfresco Catering, for the loan to equipment.

The evening raised over £2,000 for Shalom House in St. David's and the Buddhist Temple in Swansea.

A great cultural evening was had by all and the De Valence was pleased to stage such a prestigious event.