THE LLANELLI Ramblers walking group have a close friendship with walkers from Agen in south-west France (Llanelli’s twin town) and have arranged walking holidays in Wales and France every two years since 2005.
This year it was Llanelli’s turn to host and a full programme of events was planned, including a weekend in North Wales, Cresswell Quay, Burry Port and Kidwelly.
This was the one Alwyn Williams, Chairman of Llanelli Ramblers and I were leading.
It was a wonderful day in Kidwelly on Tuesday, leading the 26 visitors from Agen on a 3-mile walk around Kidwelly showing them some of the highlights of our town. We began in Ysgol y Castell, where we had a wonderful welcome and were treated to a fantastic concert, prepared by Mrs Gwen Pearce of pupils from the Foundation phase singing a variety of Welsh songs. This was followed by a Dawns Gwerin group from Key Stage 2. Lloyd Edwards a musically gifted 5-year-old pupil stunned the visitors with his mastery of the violin. He played a medley of Welsh airs accompanied on the piano by his mum and Lola King gave a lovely solo singing performance.
The visitors were then treated to refreshments including Welsh cakes made by the children.
The group were then taken to the Quay where they were greeted by Cllr Crish Davies, Mayor of Kidwelly who welcomed them to the town and wished them a pleasant walk.
It was raining when we led them along Kymer’s Canal, but soon the sun came out and we were blessed with dry weather after the torrential rain.
We came back to the Quay along the bank of the Gwendraeth Fawr River. Here the ornithologists among them enjoyed some bird spotting.
A lovely surprise awaited us at the quay. Mrs Anne Gilley, representing our local Coop, had set up a table brimming with Welsh produce for the visitors to enjoy: Welsh cakes, bara brith, cheeses, waffles.
After enjoying the hospitality, Ann then showed the Agenese Kidwelly’s latest attraction…the Sensory Garden.
Next stop was beautiful St Mary’s Church where the Harvest display was seen. Then along the main street next to one of the best preserved Norman castles in Wales and around the memorial to Gwenllian, we sang Hen Fenyw Fach Cydweli with the French lustily joining in the Ffalala chorus and then on cue Hen Fenyw Fach Cydweli herself aka Mrs Peggy Davies appeared. The visitors were delighted.
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