On 21 April, the first peace fair to be held in Tregaron in recent times celebrated the bicentenary of the birth of peace campaigner Henry Richard MP, whose statue stands in the town square.
Bruce Kent, the well-known CND campaigner, spoke about the importance of having peace movements all over the world and suggested that the existence of the European Union makes another war in Europe an impossibility.
Noted Welsh poet Mererid Hopwood reminded us that in Wales we host ‘the jewel of the British armed forces’ at RAF Valley and that planes from such places blight our skies with low flying practice.
Dr Hopwood urged us all to sign the White Book of Camarthen to promote peace (see PN 2545). Rhian Medi Roberts of the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru described recent celebrations in London to honour Henry Richard.
The peace fair featured stalls for CND Cymru, Cymdeithas y Cymod (Fellowship of Reconciliation, Wales), and the Movement for the Abolition of War, while Gwyn Griffiths signed copies of his Henry Richard biography.
On the cultural front, young Sara Evans from Ysgol Gynradd Tregaron gave a lovely rendering in Welsh of a song called ‘Dreams’; the WI presented a dramatisation of the life of Henry Richard; and the choir Côr Meibion Caron, gave a heart-warming performance of songs in Welsh.
Proceedings concluded with stirring singing, the audience joining the choir. Participants were enthusiastic about repeating the event next year.
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