Patagonia Update - 16th August 2015
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Welsh settlers arriving in Patagonia, Velindre have organised a trek through Patagonia to help to raise much needed funds for their cancer charity. Joyce Gervis, Managing Director of Ty-Mawr feels hugely privileged to be joining a group of 50 individuals, including some Welsh celebrities namely the Manic Street Preachers, Rhod Gilbert, Sian Lloyd, and Derek Brockway, on this 11 day physically demanding, but scenically beautiful trek through that the mountains and valleys where the Welsh community settled 150 years ago.
Each participant needs to raise a minimum of £6,000 for the charity. Velindre is a charity that Joyce has come to know and admire through her involvement with Welsh Women Walking.
Patagonia Fest Velindre Cancer Centre provides specialist cancer services to people in South East Wales and beyond. Patients referred to Velindre Cancer Centre come under the care of Clinical and Medical Oncologists, who specialise in the non-surgical treatment of cancer. Fundraising allows the centre to enhance the service provided to patients. For example it provides free Wi-Fi and tablet computers for use during their stay. The charity has launched a children's book “Caring for my Family with Cancer”, to help explain what it means to the younger members of families. It also supports patients by supplying scalp cooling equipment to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy, and where required enhanced wigs and scarfs, Provision of clinical nurse specialists, complimentary therapies for patients, and also support for clinical trials.
On the 11th & 12th July, Nigel and Joyce hosted a Patagonia Themed festival at TyMawr to raise funds for Velindre and to help celebrate this historic event. See pictures and read more about the event in the centre pages.
It was an enormous effort by a huge number of volunteers (see over) which raised £3,540 - all profits when added to other generous on-line donations, takings at other events and the selling of Patagonia themed goodies etc. amounts to £4176, so over 2/3rds of the way there!
£6000 £4176 £3000 £0
The Patagonia 150 celebration In 1865, 162 intrepid Welsh men, women and children set sail from Liverpool, UK, aboard the Mimosa. Their aim was to establish a settlement in the Chubut Valley in Southern Argentina – 8000 miles across the Atlantic. Like many emigrants before them, they wished to find a new home in a new country where they could protect their language and culture. Over the following fifty years, hundreds of Welsh people emigrated there, establishing towns and thriving Welsh communities, in which the Welsh language was prominent. The settlement became known as Y Wladfa (pronounced - oo lad va)
Y Wladfa today Today the Welsh-Argentinian population is centred on the Chubut Valley and the Andean Region. The population of Trelew, the largest town in the Chubut Valley, is more than 120,000, and that of the province of Chubut around 500,000. There remains a strong sense of having Welsh roots. There is a Welsh-Spanish bilingual school in Trelew and some Welsh nursery schools. The Eisteddfod y Wladfa, which is held every October, and the youth Eisteddfod held in September, are stronger than ever.
Patagonia Fest – July ‘15 Some of the many highlights…….
Traditional Welsh tea in the walled garden
Intro by Joyce, illustrated talks by Marc Phillip (Chairman of the Patagonia 150 Committee) & David Howells
Beautiful Welsh folk songs sung by Sophie Jones, and played by the talented Matha Powell on the harp. Cai having a practice! Yummy food donated by many local business (see back page), prepared and served by TyMawr staff and friends
The hopeful (but unlucky) Paddy
The colourful Rene Griffiths and the Celtica Latina Band
“Happy birthday” sang to Harvey & Matilda in three languages!
Nigel ‘s final preparations
Goffee lighting the 9 metre tall dragon
Amazing photography by Sam Hale and unique lighting by Owain Turner
…and relax!
Patagonia Fest
Rae Gervis (catering/hospitality/site coordination)
Tarq Shaw, Graham Young, Kora Kunzmann, Linda Graves, Sue Toner, Dafydd Driver (catering) First and foremost a HUGE thank you to all Paul Edgley (sounds and staging) Owain Turner (Lighting/Electrics) those who bought tickets and attended Patagonia Fest – we couldn’t have done it Del Taylor (music direction) Kara Jones and Martin Tavener (logistics / without you all! administration / legalities/flag) Andy Brown and Jordan Ross (site SPONSORS & CONTRIBUTORS preparation), Burgoyne's Marquees – beautiful marquee Cemaes Evans (bales)
“Thank Yous”
Food and drink - Beacons Foods, Morrisons, Aldi, Co-op, Venison Centre, Talgarth Mill, Brecon Brewery, Montgomery Water Ridler Webster for designing the bird mugs and kindly designing, printing and donating the notelets of the Patagonian plants All those who given their time and expertise to preparing for and running Patagonia Fest::
Emma Harrison and Janet for organising the gate, parking and camping. Lizzie Spikes for the illustrated map, prints and cards, Grand Prize Draw prize contribution Sam Hale for staging the Welsh Landscapes exhibition and giving a prize Margaret Price – helping with accounts and running the bar along with Linda Graves! All at Velindre for their contributions, encouragement and organisation
Harvey who put hours into researching All Ty-Mawr Lime staff who covered for us as Patagonian birds and plants, painting them so well as contributing cakes, time and teapots! beautifully and letting me turn them into mugs and cards Speakers: Marc Phillips & David Howell Henry and Nigel for Patagonian tables and Music: Sophie Jones, Martha Powell and hours and hours of site preparation! Rene Griffiths and the Celtica Latina Band Cai for selling rhubarb, veg and eggs! Goffee (and his volunteer crew) and his Friends and family for all of their support and amazing Dragon encouragement!
Ways you can support Joyce’s fundraising efforts The following can be bought from Ty-Mawr Lime, Unit 12, email tymawr@lime.org.uk or 07967 037697 All those who contributed cakes and raffle prizes
Specially commissioned, limited edition painting by Lizzie Spikes - Patagonia 150 Map - A3 posters £10, framed and mounted prints £25
Patagonian Bird Mugs – £7.50 and pack of cards/notel ets (6 Patagonia Plant designs) £4 designed by Harvey Gervis aged 10
Patagonia Fest Bespoke garden tables made by Henry and Nigel Gervis from recycled pallets £35 each
Grand Prize Draw Tickets £1, book £5 1st Prize – Handmade Welsh Wool Throw 2nd Prize – Limited edition illustrated Map 3rd Prize – Welsh Landscape Canvas Plus many other prizes. All proceeds to Velindre draw will take place 31st August 2015
Sam Hale Original large Canvas prints of Welsh Landscapes £80 Samhalephotography.co.uk