Notes from our Minutes.

January 2024.
First meeting of the new year was held at Yr Hen Ysgol on Monday January 8th at 7.30pm.
The meeting was well attended. After a word of welcome from our chairman Glynwen Bishop, a 50-minute film was shown, compilation of cine films taken by Harley Morgan in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Farming, YFC Events, The Village and its Characters, Weddings.
A glimpse into the past and its slower pace of life. After our customary cup of tea and biscuits and our guests had left, we held a short business meeting chaired by Glynwen.
Next meeting will be on February 12th – 7.30pm at Yr Hen Ysgol.
Our guest speaker will be Heather Tomos.
Her presentation is titled ‘Military Tribunals of World War One’.

February 2024.
Our February meeting, held on Monday the 12th and was well attended. Our chairman opened the meeting with a few words of welcome. Guest speaker was Heather Tomos and the title of her presentation was Military Tribunals of World War One. Heather started by giving details of how the war started, the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on June 28, 1914, and on July 28 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th, 1914. British military had only a small fraction of what the enemy had at their disposal. There was a great need for volunteers to boost the numbers of the regular army. Young men rushed to join up, many to escape from poverty and hardship which was prevalent at that time. In 1914 Horatio Herbert Kitchener became Secretary of State for War. Heather’s presentation showed on the big screen many of the posters encouraging young men to join up, with the slogans of the time, “Your Country Needs You” etc. She said that religious leaders and other leading members of society also encouraged young men to go and do their bit for their country.
More than a million men enlisted, but by the end of 1915 as the war expanded, this wasn’t enough to replace those killed in action. Government decided to bring in conscription. All single men between the age of 18 and 41 years old were liable to be called up for military service, unless they were widowed with children, later married men were also called up to serve. But there were exceptions, men doing work of national importance were exempted. Tribunals were set up to decide if there were sufficient reason to grant exemption for those applying. Farming families were badly affected. A family farm with two or three sons working the farm would see one or maybe two of the sons called to do military service as was decide by the tribunal panel, which consisted of leading members of society with someone from the military or of military background representing the war office. Those representing the war office didn’t have any sympathy at all for the applicants. The tribunals were swift affairs with only about five minutes given to each case. The tribunals were conducted in English, that made it more difficult for those from rural Wales at the time as Welsh was their native tongue.
Mike thanked Heather her interesting presentation and there were some questions from the audience resulting in further discussions.
The meeting ended with the customary tea and biscuits and some time to socialize. Next meeting will be on March 11th at Yr Hen Ysgol. Guest speaker will Gerwyn Morgan who will give us a taste of his latest book “The Faded Glory” The Tivyside Squires and their Mansions.

March, 2024.
The Heritage Society meeting was held at Yr Hen Ysgol on Monday March 11th.
Before our Chairman introduced the speaker, she asked for a minute’s silence to remember John Evans, Castle Lodge, a supportive member of our Society for many years.
Our speaker was Gerwyn Morgan who recently published his latest and revised edition of his book “Faded Glory, The Tivy Side Squires and their Mansion”.
Some of the pictures projected on the screen showed the splendour of the mansions, though many have survived, sadly some like Bronwydd have been demolished. The Lloyd family of Bronwydd who owned much land in our area were well respected by their tenants and neighbours, they did much to support local events such as eisteddfodau and made generous contribution to local churches and chapels, Capel y Drindod, Aberbanc and Bryngwenith Congregational Chapel were built on Bronwydd land.
Others were not always as well respected as the Lloyds.
Another who Gerwyn had a good word for was Thomas Colby of Pantyderi, Twm Colby, as he was known locally, who was educated in Bonn, Germany led a simple life, his favourite meal being ‘cawl’. Uncommonly, the family ate their meals on the same table as the servants and farm workers. Though Twm’s daily attire were labourer’s clothes he didn’t shrink from public duty, he was a JP, a councillor and served on the Cardigan Board of Guardians. He died in 1912 and was buried in the Llanfair Nantgwyn churchyard. Gerwyn described many of the fifty mansions, their estates and their owners featured in his book, some were of more than 10,000 acres.
Tricia Fox thanked Gerwyn for his presentation that was enjoyed by a larger than usual audience. The meeting ended with the customary time to socialize with a cup of tea and biscuits.
Next meeting is on April 8th a business meeting that will start with a short film of local interest.

Our business meetings will start by showing a short film of local interest.

Officers for 2024 are.

Chair – Glynwen Bishop;

Vice-chair - Diana Vaughan -Thomas;

Secretary - Will Thomas;

Treasurer - Brenda James;

Auditor - Adrian Charlton.