Iolanthe

What a fabulous Friday evening for operetta!

Archdeacon John Lewis from Llandaff Rotary, also Dean of Llandaff Cathedral, collected me around 4.30 this afternoon after which we collected Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan, Norman Lloyd-Edwards on our way to Cowbridge for tea at Archdeacon Lewis's house with the rest of the party attending tonight's performance. After sandwiches, strawberries, chocolate eclairs, tea and wine, we drove to Llantwit Major Comprehensive School for the Cowbridge Amateur Operatic Society (CAOS -- hee hee hee) production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe. Rotarian John Rogers's granddaughter, Sarah, was part of our group and she and I had a lovely time -- she is a pianist and an avid reader and we both think David Blaine is a bit of a nutter. This is a picture of, L to R: Archdeacon Lewis, moi, Sarah Richards and Capt. Lloyd-Edwards.

The Welsh word 'Llan' means 'church of' and Captain Lloyd-Edwards did cleverly tell me that Llantwit Major does not refer to the Church of St. Twit, but is rather a corruption of St. Illtyd :)

Llantwit Major was the first Christian site in the British Isles, dating to before St. Augustine came to Canterbury. St. Illtyd (or Illtud) founded a monastery here and it was an important seat of faith and learning, but nothing remains of it today. St. Donat's Castle is outside Llantwit Major and was owned by William Randolph Hearst as a get-away. Done up in the Hearst way with a hall imported from here, a mantle-piece from there... Apparently, Charlie Chaplin and the early Hollywood set were frequent guests! It is now Atlantic College, an international 6th form IB school.

Grand time, excellent fairy story (superb Lord Chancellor) and such interesting people with whom to spend an evening.