CAMBRIAN SOCIETY TO DINE TODAY

Press, Issue 30997, 1 March 1966, Page 18

CAMBRIAN SOCIETY TO DINE TODAY

More than 100 members of the Cambrian Society will celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the society tonight at a special dinner. They have chosen St. David’s Day as being the most appropriate for the occasion.

The first meeting of the Cambrian Society of Canterbury was held on March 2, 1891. The idea of the society was born the previous year when more than 50 Welshmen decided to meet together to celebrate St. David’s Day. During the toasting, Mr J. B. Williams expressed concern at the small number of Welshmen in New Zealand, and suggested forming a Cambrian Society.

Tonight’s dinner will take virtually the same form as the original one 75 years ago. A social half-hour will be followed by the dinner, toasting and a number of items. Most of those attending the dinner will be dressed in traditional Welsh costume.

A jubilee cake will be cut by a third generation member of the society (Mrs E. R. Caygill). Welsh cakes, which are similar to pikelets with cur-

rants in them, will be a feature of the meal.

A special invitation has been extended to I. J. Jones, the only Welshman in the visiting M.C.C. cricket team, to join in the celebrations. The team will be in the city, and it is hoped that he wi” be able to attend. Visitors from all over New Zealand are expected at the gathering. It is believed that the society’s 75 years of uninterrupted history is a record. St. David, who is the patron saint of Wales, lived in the sixth century and founded many monasteries all over Wales.

The Mayor (Mr G. Manning) is the present president of the society. Patrons have included Lloyd George and Lady Bledisloe. The society, which is believed to be the first Welsh one in New Zealand, has followed the same pattern through the years, although in the early days there were only men on the executive, and there is now a preponderance of women.