Pure Heart Podcast Set to Launch!

Pure Heart Podcast is set to launch

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) many events organised by the Calon Lan Society have not been possible but we want to ensure members and friends that the work of the society has not stopped.

A new English-speaking Podcast supported by the Calon Lan Society focusing on Welsh History is due to launch later this month called Pure Heart. The Podcast will explore a wide range of topics focusing on Welsh history, heritage culture, language and of course Calon Lan.

Our hope is that using this new medium we will be able to connect with Welsh societies and organisations and people from across the world. Through the Pure Heart podcast, we hope to engage with a wider and younger demographic than would normally attend our meetings and events. The podcast will have a wide range of guest who will help us to explore Welsh history and culture in greater depth and for a broader audience.

The first episode of Pure Heart will be based on the Calon Lan Societies ‘Poems and Pints’ event which this year had to be cancelled and will now be organised through the podcast.

We would love for this inaugural episode of the podcast to be inclusive and include a wide range of voices and poems just as Poem’s and Pints has always tried to be. If you would like to be involved in the podcast and have a poem, song or original piece you would like to share please contact sampritchard42@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

If you would like to support to podcast and the work of promoting the heritage of Wales and Calon Lan please consider donating to the Calon Lan Society or consider donating regularly through our Patreon Account.

By Sam Pritchard Secretary of the Calon Lan Society

Calon Lân in Parliament

Recently some Members of Parliament decided to protest the temporary closing of parliament by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. They decided to protest the suspension of Parliament by remaining in the chamber and singing. It was not very long after when some of the Welsh Members of Parliament began singing Calon Lân.

This demonstrates the continued cultural value of Calon Lân. The song is not just a historical remembrance but is still a contemporary piece used at a wide range of occasions. Including unsuspecting times like the protesting of the suspension of parliament, it seems to me that where there is a Welshman there is singing of Calon Lân.

This event occurred just months after Mike Hedges AM for Swansea East mentioned the Calon Lân Society in the Chamber of the National Assembly. This year this greatly beloved hymn has been championed by both political chambers across England and Wales.

Sam Pritchard Secretary of the Calon Lân Society

Second Annual 'Poems and Pints' Event

One year ago, in July 2018 the Calon Lan Society held its first ever event in the Kings Head Pub, Treboeth called ‘Poems and Pints’. Back by popular demand the Society agreed that this should be an annual event and on the 19th July we held the second ‘Poems and Pints’ events. 

Secretary Sam Pritchard with one of the owners of 'Flowers By Arrangement'.

The event was well attended by the local community, some of the local councillors showed their support for the event with Cllr Mike Lewis and Cllr Sam Pritchard attending. The Society is also very thankful for the continued generosity of local businesses in Treboeth. In particular we would like to ‘Terry’s One Stop Shop’ and 'Flowers By Arrangement' on Llangyfelach Road for the generous donation of raffle prizes.

The evening was naturally compared by the wonderful Phil Andrews who interjected stories and song throughout the evening. The contributions by members was fascinating ranging from famous poems, poems in the Welsh Language, stories and anecdotes, original poems, musical pieces and even recitals of Daniel James’ penned works. There were tears, laughs and many rounds of applause all evening. 

Members and Supporters of the Calon Lan Society with Daniel James Gwyrosydd's Chair.

This year we were very pleased to have Daniel James Gwyrosydd’s ‘high chair’ at the event. This was the same chair that Daniel James would sit in while writing Poems (sometimes as payment for pints) in the Kings Head where our event was held. Having the chair present was a very helpful reminder that 'Poems and Pints' is a tradition well over a hundred years old.

It was a fantastic evening in which we managed to raise over £200 for the Calon Lan Society. This marked two very important milestones for the society, a year since we started holding events but also this pushed the total money raised to over £5,000. 

A massive thank you to everyone who has contributed and participated over the past year.

As has become a favourite tradition of many of the Societies events we finished with a resounding rendition of Calon Lan. 

Sam Pritchard Secretary of the Calon Lan Society