APPENDIX 36
Memorandum submitted by Undeb Cymru a'r
Byd Wales International
I attended the Oral Evidence Sessions held at
the Monsanto Suite, Llangollen International Eisteddfod Pavillon
as an observer on Tuesday 30 January.
Undeb Cymru a'r Byd/Wales International was
formerly known as Undeb Y Cymru ar Wasgar (The Union of Welsh
people living outside Wales) which was founded in 1948. The roots
of the movement go back to Cairo during the Second World War,
when Welsh servicemen decided that wherever they settled after
the war they would maintain a link with Wales. Meetings were held
with several Welsh organisations and a movement was founded. Sir
Ifan ab Owen Edwards founder of the Urdd-Welsh League of Youth
was a strong supporter. It is a non-political, non-sectarian movement
which links Wales with people of Welsh descent and friends of
Wales (whether Welsh speaking or not) throughout the world.
At the Royal National Eisteddfod held at Bridgend
in August 1948 a Ceremony of Welcome for Welsh people and people
of Welsh descent from overseas took place. Ever since that year
an annual Welcome Ceremony has been held at the National Eisteddfod,
together with an International Reception.
The aims of Wales International are:
1. To forge close and abiding world-wide
links between Wales and the people of Welsh descent and friends
of the language, culture and traditions of Wales.
2. To promote present-day Wales, its work
and culture outside Wales and to encourage and assist in the establishing
of Welsh Societies outside Wales wherever this is possible. Many
Societies Worldwide are already affiliated to the movement.
3. To provide a meeting place every year
at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales for its members and
its friends from all over the world.
4. To co-operate with the Eisteddfod Court
in all its arrangements for the Annual Welcoming Ceremony on the
Eisteddfod platform.
5. To develop and maintain a register/database
of worldwide Welsh contacts for individuals, cultural organisations
and public bodies.
6. To act as a source of information about
Wales and the Welsh people for friends outside Wales and to supply
on order literature, tapes, discs and other Welsh products.
The membership of Undeb Cymru a'r Byd/Wales
International is open to individuals, societies, choirs, companies,
entertainers etc, within Wales and worldwide. The membership fees
include a regular copy of our quarterly magazine "Yr Enfys"
(Rainbow).
During the period 1943 to 1945 a newspaper known
as "Seren y Dwyrain" (Star of the East) was produced
and edited in Cairo by Mr Griffiths from Llandybie. "Seren
y Dwyrain" was distributed to the Welsh service men in the
Middle East. Mr Griffiths now lives at Caeathro near Caernarfon
and was for over 40 years the Editor and Publisher of "Yr
Enfys" the quarterly journal of Undeb Cymru a'r Byd, and
also the Hon Secretary of our movement. He has devoted his life
to the movement and is now Honorary Life President. The "Enfys"
is distributed to members in over 50 countries worldwide. This
includes several well-known Libraries. You received a copy of
our latest issue of "Yr Enfys" at Llangollen.
Wales International has been fortunate to enjoy
the support of the Wales Tourist Board in the publication of "Yr
Enfys" in recent years, and also its sponsorship of the International
Reception on the day of the Welcome Ceremony at the The National
Eisteddfod.
Our current efforts as a movement are directed
this year towards establishing through the 2001 Census the number
of Welsh people who reside outside Wales in the UK.
We now have our own web page www.wales-international.org
and many enquiries are received regularly.
As mentioned at the Oral Evidence Session by
Mr Roger Guest of Hicks, Randles of Mold, we are mentioned as
a Voluntary Organisation Partner under Click-Cymru.
Having spoken to Mr Chris Ruane MP, for Clwyd
after the meeting in Llangollen and being advised by him, I am
forwarding this letter as evidence to be considered by your committee.
I hope that its contents will of interest to you. However, if
there are any points on which you require further clarification
please do not hesitate to contact me.
J Bryan Jones
Honorary Secretary
Edward Morus Jones
Chairman
9 February 2001
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