16 May 2005
WELSH BLACKS END CENTENARY YEAR WITH AUCTIONS & ARIAS
The Welsh Black Cattle Society (WBCS) rounded off its centenary celebrations with a weekend of activities, mixing business with pleasure.

Open Day
More than 500 WBCS members travelled to Berthlwyd Farm, Llanilar near Aberystwyth on Friday, May 13th, for a special open day at the home of retiring Centenary President, Dai Jones, MBE, ARAgS, and his wife Olwen.

There the members – some of whom had travelled from as far as Devon, Sussex and Oxford – viewed the farm’s Nantrhys Herd of pedigree Welsh Black cattle.

Sponsored by Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), the day also provided the opportunity for visitors to discuss breed and herd health topics with HCC staff and facilitators from the Farming Connect scheme.

Mrs Olwen Jones, ably assisted by many of her friends and neighbours, performed the miracle of feeding the hundreds of visitors – treating them to a feast described as being “like a wedding breakfast”. Thanks were also given to Aberystwyth family butchers Mr & Mrs Robert Ratray and their staff.

Prior to the buffet an auction of promises was held, the proceeds from the 12 items - including a pedigree Welsh Black in-calf heifer kindly donated by Mr and Mrs Jones - going to the Society.

Concert
In the evening some 250 guests, friends and WBCS members packed Carmel Chapel in Llanilar for a concert. They were led by Dai Jones, who also conducted the proceedings.

Special entertainment at the bilingual event was provided by Sharon Evans of Anglesey, and Colin Jones and singers from North Wales

President for the evening was Dai Davies of Coedllys herd fame and a former neighbour of Dai and Olwen Jones.
Society Meetings

The following day (May 14th) saw the Society get down to business, with a series of meetings held to coincide with the fact so many members had travelled to the area for the weekend.

The first meeting of the day was the Executive Committee, where chairperson, Miss Lorraine Howells, stepped down after two years in the post, and was replaced by John Beynon ARAgS of Penlan, St Davids. On September 24th Mr Beynon’s well-known Tyddewi Herd will go under the hammer as he scales down prior to retirement.

Mr Beynon will be supported by Michael Wyn Jones of Tyddyn Perthi, Penisarwaen, Caernarfonshire, whose Deiniolen Herd was established in 1978.

At the following Annual General Meeting, Council Chairman, Evan Tudor of Aber Farm, Traswfynydd, Gwynedd, was elected as Society President for 2005-06.

Mr Tudor, who’s Aber Herd was established in 1940, is the only person in the Society’s history to have held both top offices in the same year.

President Elect is Robert Williams, Penywern, Talybont, Ceredigion. A former Chairman of Council, his Penywern Herd was established in 1946. He has also been chairman of the Society’s two breed development and herd health projects which were worth £1.23 million.

The Society’s accountants, W.J. Mathews & Son of Caernarfon, were re-engaged, and the Society’s accounts for the year ending December 31, 2004, were presented by Miss Lorraine Howells.

A Council recommendation that the Executive Committee revert to its original name of Finance and General Purpose Committee was accepted, as was the recommendation that former President, Mrs Gwenfair Jones, Hafod-yr-Esgob Isaf, Bala, be made and Honorary Life Member.

Retiring Young Member Ambassador, Dafydd Davies of Maescastell, Taliaris, Llandeilo gave a brief report of his activities on behalf of the Society over the year.

The new Ambassador for 2005-06 and holder of the Andrew James Perpetual Trophy is Heather Carberry of Maple Crest, New Inn, Llandeilo.

Following the presentation of awards, cups and prize money, a vote of thanks to Dai Jones and Society members was given by Enzo Sauro of Cwmberem Farm, Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire.
Annual Dinner

The Annual Dinner was held at The Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth, with guest speaker Charles Arch, MBE, FRAgS, a close friend of Dai Jones and a well known figure in farming circles.

“We had a terrific weekend, which rounded off what has been a truly memorable year for the Society,” said WBCS chief executive, Andrew James.

“We would like to thank all members and friends of the Society for making the weekend so enjoyable and the centenary year such an outstanding success.

“Our next area of activity will be at the Smallholders Weekend at the Royal Welsh Showground this coming Saturday and Sunday (May 21 & 22), where anyone wanting to know more about Wales’ native breed and the Society is welcome to come and pay us a visit.”

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