Monday, 15 September 2025

September 2025 meeting – Life in Pantomime

Ceri Stennett, son of Stan Stennett, illustrated his talk about his father's career in pantomime with slides of the pantos' advertising posters. Stan was a Cardiff lad. He was an orphan but had a happy childhood, raised by relatives. He was an extrovert and happy to be a show off. Stan had wanted to join the RAF during WWII but his eyesight wasn't good enough, being almost blind in one eye after a childhood mishap. So he joined the artillery. After the war, he entered talent contests and won one. The prize was theatre work for the BBC, and so his love of theatre work began.  

In the early years of his career, Stan worked as a lorry driver during the day and as an entertainer in the evening. He was spotted by the comedian Ossie Morris which led to more opportunities. He appeared in the radio show, Welsh Rarebit, and became the compere, along with Harry Secombe. Stan worked with many people who became famous, such as Morecombe and Wise. Stan and Eric Morecombe shared a sense of humour, and used to play pranks on the crew with whoopee cushions. Ceri told the story of a pumpkin, being used as a prop in a show, being insured for £1,000,000 by Stan. One of the conditions of the insurance was that the pumkin never be taken on a bus. Stan took the pumpkin on to the top deck of a double-decker bus and dropped it out of the window. It smashed to bits. The insurance payment was settled at £50 and donated to charity. It was a good publicity stunt.

As well as a long career in pantomime and entertainment both in the UK and abroad, Stan appeared in the TV show, The Black and White Minstrels, and in the soap opera, Crossroads. For pantos in South Wales he wrote scripts that would be particularly relevant and funny for the locals. Ceri explained that 1974 - 79 was the pinnacle of Stan's career with five years of topping the bill in the pantomimes at The New Theatre in Cardiff, and receiving an MBE for his contribution to entertainment. Stan helped raised 1000s of pounds for charity, opening fetes and such like. For a long time Stan had a stuffed dog called Bonzo as a part of his act. Unfortunately Bonzo disappeared one night, believed stolen, and had to be substituted with another dog.

Stan wanted to continue working even into his eighties, but sadly suffered a stroke during an operation to insert a heart stent. Ceri described how he sat by his father in hospital singing songs from the pantomimes. Although unable to speak, Stan moved his lips and clearly enjoyed joining in with the songs. Sadly, after three weeks in hospital, he died.

Ceri is himself something of a performer having appeared many times in pantomimes as a stand in. He also worked as a stage manager, and learned puppeteering while Sooty and Sweep were part of the cast of a pantomime. His professionalism was clear from the enjoyable, interesting and well-presented talk, which was enjoyed by all members.



Cyfarfod Medi 2025 – Bywyd mewn Pantomeim

Darluniodd Ceri Stennett, mab Stan Stennett, ei sgwrs am yrfa ei dad mewn pantomeim gyda sleidiau o bosteri hysbysebu’r pantos. Hogyn o Gaerdydd oedd Stan. Roedd yn amddifad ond cafodd blentyndod hapus, a fagwyd gan berthnasau. Roedd yn allblyg ac yn hapus i fod yn sioe off. Roedd Stan wedi bod eisiau ymuno â'r Awyrlu yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd ond nid oedd ei olwg yn ddigon da, gan ei fod bron yn ddall mewn un llygad ar ôl damwain plentyndod. Felly ymunodd â'r magnelau. Ar ôl y rhyfel, aeth i mewn i gystadlaethau talent ac enillodd un. Gwaith theatr i’r BBC oedd y wobr, ac felly y dechreuodd ei gariad at waith theatr.   

Ym mlynyddoedd cynnar ei yrfa, bu Stan yn gweithio fel gyrrwr lori yn ystod y dydd ac fel diddanwr gyda'r nos. Cafodd ei weld gan y digrifwr Ossie Morris a arweiniodd at fwy o gyfleoedd. Ymddangosodd yn y rhaglen radio, Welsh Rarebit, a daeth yn arweinydd, ynghyd â Harry Secombe. Bu Stan yn gweithio gyda llawer o bobl a ddaeth yn enwog, fel Morecombe a Wise. Roedd Stan ac Eric Morecombe yn rhannu synnwyr digrifwch, ac yn arfer chwarae pranks ar y criw gyda chlustogau whoopee. Adroddodd Ceri hanes pwmpen, yn cael ei defnyddio fel prop mewn sioe, yn cael ei hyswirio am £1,000,000 gan Stan. Un o amodau'r yswiriant oedd na fyddai'r pwmpen byth yn cael ei gludo ar fws. Aeth Stan â'r bwmpen i ddec uchaf bws deulawr a'i ollwng allan o'r ffenest. Mae'n malu i ddarnau. Setlwyd y taliad yswiriant ar £50 a'i roi i elusen. Roedd yn stynt cyhoeddusrwydd da.

Yn ogystal â gyrfa hir mewn pantomeim ac adloniant yn y DU a thramor, ymddangosodd Stan yn y sioe deledu, The Black and White Minstrels, ac yn yr opera sebon, Crossroads. Ar gyfer pantos yn Ne Cymru ysgrifennodd sgriptiau a fyddai'n arbennig o berthnasol a doniol i'r bobl leol. Esboniodd Ceri mai 1974 - 79 oedd uchafbwynt gyrfa Stan gyda phum mlynedd o frig y rhaglen yn y pantomeimiau yn Y Theatr Newydd yng Nghaerdydd, a derbyn MBE am ei gyfraniad i adloniant. Helpodd Stan i godi 1000s o bunnoedd at elusen, gan agor ffeiriau ac ati. Am gyfnod hir roedd gan Stan gi wedi'i stwffio o'r enw Bonzo fel rhan o'i act. Yn anffodus, diflannodd Bonzo un noson, credir iddo gael ei ddwyn, a bu'n rhaid cael ci arall yn ei le.

Roedd Stan eisiau parhau i weithio hyd yn oed yn ei wythdegau, ond yn anffodus cafodd strôc yn ystod llawdriniaeth i osod stent calon. Disgrifiodd Ceri sut yr oedd yn eistedd wrth ei dad yn yr ysbyty yn canu caneuon o'r pantomeimiau. Er nad oedd yn gallu siarad, symudodd Stan ei wefusau ac yn amlwg wedi mwynhau ymuno â'r caneuon. Yn anffodus, ar ôl tair wythnos yn yr ysbyty, bu farw.

Mae Ceri ei hun yn dipyn o berfformiwr wedi ymddangos droeon mewn pantomeimiau fel stand mewn. Bu hefyd yn gweithio fel rheolwr llwyfan, a dysgodd bypedwr tra bod Sooty a Sweep yn rhan o gast pantomeim. Roedd ei broffesiynoldeb yn amlwg o'r sgwrs bleserus, ddiddorol ac wedi'i chyflwyno'n dda, a fwynhawyd gan yr holl aelodau.



Thursday, 4 September 2025

Newsletter – September 2025

 September 8th meeting:

    Main Speaker: Ceri Stennett – Life in Pantomime, my father Stan Stennett

    Collection of Smartie tubes filled with cash as fundraising for our charity.

Outings and events:

    Llandaf Cathedral Guided Tour. Tuesday 16th September at 2pm. 
    If you want to travel together on the bus (No 24), meet on the Common at 1pm. 
    No charge, but a donation of £5 per head is requested.    

    Oakham Treasures, Bristol; 29th October; £9 entrance fee
    Meet outside Ararat at 9.30 am for minibus transport (£6). See notice board for more details.     Please note, the transport is a minibus – so limited numbers. Shared car transport could be
    available if more people wish to go.

Information
    Link to the Glamorgan Newsletters.
    MyWI site (registration and log in required)

Groups:

    Choir: the choir will not be meeting until further notice.

    Book Group: Wednesday 17th September / 11.00 am
    La Cucina da Mara, Whitchurch


    Craft Group: NB no meeting in September.

    Tangle Art Group: Wednesday 17th September / 2.00 pm
    5 Court Close, Whitchurch
    NB This group needs new members. Please ask Nor'dzin for more information. Relaxing, creative, no previous experience or artistic competency needed. A 'tangle' is a design created using patterns drawn in pen.

    Family History: 22nd September / 2.00 pm / 113 Pantbach Road

    Sunday Lunch Group: 21st September
    Ffynon Wen
 
    Poetry and Prose Group: Monday 22nd September / 11.00am
    The Ark coffee bar, Ararat / Topic: favourite poets

    
    St Mary's Gardens: Tuesday 9th September / 1012
 
Following meeting:

    Next meeting: 13th October in Ararat Church Hall, Whitchurch Common, 2 pm.
    Speaker: Keith Jones – ‘The Taff from source to the sea’


Saturday, 19 July 2025

July 2025 meeting

The meeting began with a short presentation by Dr Kristian Skoczek, Post-doctoral Research Associate for Cardiff University's REVAMP project. He talked to us about the eye condition glaucoma and how we could help with new research. They are aiming to find better ways to detect visual field loss and are looking for volunteers aged over 40 to help them. It was an interesting talk, and Kristian stayed till the end, seeming to enjoy hearing about musicals that would have been produced long before he was born, and the singing. Many members talked to him after the meeting and he was pleased with so many people offering to be involved in the project.


Christine Purkiss entertained us with the Story of Rodgers and Hammerstein – and with her wonderful singing. Not only does she have a beautiful voice, she animates the lyrics bringing the songs to life. Her presentation was highly professional and also informative, lighthearted and witty. She also included a few anecdotes about her singing career.

The original production of Oklahoma was in 1943. It featured the tensions between farmers and cattle drovers. The original production also included ballet. It appeared as a film in 1955, being the first wide screen production. Christine sang the title song.


Her next song came from Carousel which was produced in 1947. Christine sang 'June is Busting Out All Over.'

This was followed by fascinating information about South Pacific, which won the Pullizer Prize. Mary Martin was a favourite singer of Rodgers and Hammerstein, but often stars were given the leading roles in the film productions of their musicals with Mary's voice dubbed. Christine sang 'Some Enchanted Evening'.



Next we heard about The King and I, with Christine singing 'Getting to Know You'. From Flower Drum Song we were had a delightful performance of 'I Enjoy Being a Girl'. Then the last musical described was the famous Sound of Music, in which everyone sang their own songs we were told. Christine entertained us with the title song and 'Climb Every Mountain'.


What a wonderful way to round up the first half of the year and break for the summer. The speakers were followed by tasty cakes with our beverages. Have a lovely summer.

Gorffennaf 2025 cyfarfod

Dechreuodd y cyfarfod gyda chyflwyniad byr gan Dr Kristian Skoczek, Cydymaith Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol ar gyfer prosiect REVAMP Prifysgol Caerdydd. Siaradodd â ni am y glawcoma cyflwr llygaid a sut y gallem helpu gydag ymchwil newydd. Maent yn anelu at ddod o hyd i ffyrdd gwell o ganfod colled maes gweledol ac yn chwilio am wirfoddolwyr dros 40 oed i'w helpu. Roedd yn sgwrs ddifyr, ac arhosodd Kristian tan y diwedd, fel petai’n mwynhau clywed am sioeau cerdd a fyddai wedi’u cynhyrchu ymhell cyn iddo gael ei eni, a’r canu. Siaradodd llawer o'r aelodau ag ef ar ôl y cyfarfod ac roedd yn falch bod cymaint o bobl wedi cynnig bod yn rhan o'r prosiect.


Stori Rodgers a Hammerstein
Bu Christine Purkiss yn ein diddanu gyda manylion sioeau cerdd Rodgers a Hammerstein – a gyda'i chanu bendigedig. Nid yn unig y mae ganddi lais hardd, mae hi'n animeiddio'r geiriau gan ddod â'r caneuon yn fyw. Roedd ei chyflwyniad yn hynod broffesiynol a hefyd yn addysgiadol, ysgafn a ffraeth. Cynhwysodd hefyd ychydig o hanesion am ei gyrfa canu.

Cynhyrchwyd y cynhyrchiad gwreiddiol o Oklahoma yn 1943. Roedd yn cynnwys y tensiynau rhwng ffermwyr a phorthmyn. Roedd y cynhyrchiad gwreiddiol hefyd yn cynnwys bale. Ymddangosodd fel ffilm yn 1955, sef y cynhyrchiad sgrin lydan cyntaf. Canodd Christine y gân deitl.


Daeth ei chân nesaf o Carousel a gynhyrchwyd yn 1947. Canodd Christine 'June is Busting Out All Over.'

Dilynwyd hyn gan wybodaeth hynod ddiddorol am South Pacific, a enillodd y Pullizer Prize. Roedd Mary Martin yn hoff gantores i Rodgers a Hammerstein, ond yn aml roedd sêr yn cael y prif rannau yng nghynyrchiadau ffilm eu sioeau cerdd gyda llais Mary yn cael ei drosleisio. Canodd Christine 'Some Enchanted Evening'.



Nesaf clywsom am The King and I, gyda Christine yn canu 'Getting to Know You'. O Flower Drum Song cawsom berfformiad hyfryd o 'I Enjoy Being a Girl'


Yna y sioe gerdd olaf a ddisgrifiwyd oedd y Sound of Music enwog, lle canodd pawb eu caneuon eu hunain dywedwyd wrthym. Diddanwyd ni gan Christine gyda'r gân deitl a 'Climb Every Mountain'.

Saturday, 5 July 2025

Newsletter – July 2025

 July 14th meeting:

    Main Speaker and Singer: Christine Purkiss – The Story of Rodgers and Hammerstein

   Additional Speaker: Dr Kristian Skoczek, Post Doctoral Research Associate for the                   REVAMP Study on Glaucoma.

    As it is the last meeting before the summer break we will also be enjoying cake!

Outings and events:

    A trip is proposed to Oakham Treasures, Bristol in October. This will discussed again with         more information about the centre.

Information
    Link to the Glamorgan Newsletters.
    MyWI site (registration and log in required)

    Art Exhibition 11–18 July at Ararat Centre for the Community 
    Paintings created by people living with Alzheimer's
    Cards and paintings available for sale.

    St Mary's Gardens Open Day 12th July / 10 am to 3 pm
    stalls and plants for sale

Groups:

    Choir: the choir will not be meeting again until September.

    Book Group: Wednesday 16th July / 11.00 am
    La Cucina da Mara, Whitchurch


    Craft Group: Monday 21st July / 10.30 am
    41 Cherry Orchard Road, Lisvane


    Tangle Art Group: Wednesday 16th July / 2.00 pm
    5 Court Close, Whitchurch


    Family History: 28th July / 2.00 pm / 113 Pantbach Road

    Sunday Lunch Group: 27th July
    Llanishen Golf Club
 
    Poetry and Prose Group: Monday 21st July / 11.00am
    The Ark coffee bar, Ararat / Topic: bodies

    
    St Mary's Gardens: Tuesday 8th July / 10–12
 
Following meeting:

    No meeting in August!    
    Next meeting: 8th September in Ararat Church Hall, Whitchurch Common, 2 pm.
    Speaker/singer: Cwei Stennett – Life in Pantomime, my father Stan Stennet

Sunday, 29 June 2025

June 2025 meeting

Sheena Crossley gave a presentation on The Gardens of Wales. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed Sheena’s humorous talk, with slides of beautifully colourful gardens, from Cardiff to Anglesey. Each slide was accompanied by an anecdote describing her visits over a long period of time.

(Unfortunately we do not have any photographs from this presentation.)

The presentation was followed by a talk from Emma, the fundraising co-ordinator from Velindre, our charity for 2025. She explained how support through donations, events, fundraising and overseas challenges allows them to fund projects over and above those provided by the NHS, which improves the experience and outcomes of patients receiving treatment and care at the hospital. She explained that donations help to fund an entire team of clinical psychologists and counsellors, including a dedicated staff psychologist, providing essential one-to-one care for patients and staff; plus resources for children and families, such as specialist education books, lion teddies, toiletries, new pyjamas and digital devices to keep in touch with loved ones.

Members were reminded about Whitchurch Fete on 5th July, with a call for helpers and donations. 

The meeting closed with a poem to commemorate VE Day read by Jenny Andrews.

September 2025 meeting – Life in Pantomime

Ceri Stennett, son of Stan Stennett, illustrated his talk about his father's career in pantomime with slides of the pantos' advertis...