Today is always a very special day full of memories of sounds and smells. Growing up in Wales meant eisteddfods full of ‘Migildi Magaldi” folk songs. There were little girls in shawls, flannel skirts and ‘witches’ black hats cut off halfway to the point and the smell of Welsh Cakes, Cawl and little boys struggling to digest oversized leaks.
There was a definite divide amongst the lads between the leak lads and daffodil boys. I had little taste for leaks at the best of times so the thought of having one pinned to my jumper all through St David’s day wasn’t appealing. Add to that the fact that in my memory the inevitable physical results of small boys trying to eat raw leaks usually resulted in a rush of teachers with papers towels, buckets and mops usually added to the St David’s Day aroma which still haunts me.
My first St David’s Day away from the Land of My Fathers was in university. The Daffodils I bought the day before had spent the whole night under my desk with a reading lamp trained on them to encourage the buds to bloom. Having spent a small fortune on the daffs I decided to wear a small bunch to my first lecture where I was greeted by an American lady with the words “The joys of Spring are here tra la’. I tried my best to explain that I was honouring the Patron Saint of Wales but I expect that behind her smiles she had no idea what I was talking about.
Later in life my leak aversion was taken to another level thanks to Max Boyce. We were on a tour of Southeast Asia including Hong King, Australia and New Zealand…and South Korea. Throughout the tour one member of the band was given the responsibility of taking Max’s 6-foot fibre glass leak through airport security.
Now with the number of ex pats in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand the sight of the leak in its own heavy duty black case usually led to lots of smiles and laughter. Not in Korea.
As the newest member of the band, I was given the job of escorting the leak through Korean Customs. Let’s just say Max wasn’t quite so well known in Seoul as he was in Sydney. In truth it probably wasn’t more than 10 mins that I was held by security, but it felt like a lifetime. What with the language barrier and the fact that the rest of the tour party were the other side of the barrier laughing I haven’t really been able to stomach leaks since.
This week’s my St David’s Day Culinary adventures have been much more pleasant. Over the past few years, I have been delighted to support Maggies Cancer Centre in Swansea. The last 2 variety Concerts at the Swansea Building Society Arena have raised nearly £80,000. The centre relies on the goodwill of supporters and volunteers but these essential funds and the way the concerts raise awareness for the work to help keep the Centre running.
If you’ve never had cause to visit Maggies I would still encourage you to pay a visit sometime. Maggies is a haven of peace and information based at Singleton Hospital to support those who are being treated for Cancer. It’s everything that a hospital just can’t be. The first thing I noticed was that it didn’t smell of disinfectant. Maybe that’s because there was a wood burning fire at the heart of the centre. The staff and volunteers are dressed in normal clothes and the kettles seems to be on constantly.
On Thursday night, together with a Swansea concert party of singers Steve Balsamo and Ria Jones together with producer Ian Parsons, I went to the Maggies Centre in Hammersmith. We were there as part of the annual ‘Wales in London’ Celebration which brings people form all corners of Wales to London to build links with some of the movers and shakers in the country.
The idea of the evening was a celebration of Wales and to promote the work of Maggies in London and to showcase Welsh talent in an intimate setting. Every Maggies is the same but unique at the same time. The welcome and smile are the same, but the buildings are one offs, individually designed by some of the finest architects in the country.
The Maggies at Hammersmith was designed by award winning architect Sir Richard Rogers whose concept was a ‘heart nestled in the protective wrap of a building’s four walls’. To anyone in the area it’s known as the orange building. Sir Richard put his heart and soul into the design and the highest compliment that the hierarchy of Maggies told me was that the centre reminded them of Richard’s own home.
Sir Richard had also designed the River Café on the Thames. Executive Chef at the River Café is Sian Wyn Owen who had agreed to provide the refreshments for the evening. I must admit I wasn’t sure if I was more excited at the prospect of the River Café Chocolate torte.
Maggies Hammersmith Inside
The evening started with a short history of the Maggies Centres before a short interview with a woman who had benefitted from the Centre herself. It was heartbreaking whilst also heartwarming hearing her tell her story; how she had left the hospital consultation where she had been given her diagnosis in a state of despair and walking into Maggies where she found people who were there to help carry her through the whole experience.
Then the food… all I can say is I now understand why there is such a long wait for a table.
Then we got the guitars out and did our thing. Steve Balsamo sang a song written for his son Frankie and sang like an angel. Ria Jones told the story of her own journey with cancer and then sang a song we wrote together called ‘Fragile’ which is a song of triumph and hope.
Of course, we ended with a community rendition of Calon Lan and Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau before we walked out into the London night thanking the Lord that we were Welsh. Somethings about St David’s Day will never change.