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AGM Weekend 2011
Gedwydd Flock
Winner of the Iolo Owen Points Prize R J Thomas
R J Thomas' Flock
This year the AGM was held on 22nd October and was hosted by Iolo Owen at his home on Anglesey in celebration of the centenary of his Gedwydd flock.
Before the AGM members gathered for a buffet lunch, kindly provided by Iolo, and were able to see the Gedwydd flock and enjoy the beautiful views of Anglesey from Iolo’s house.
After the formalities of the AGM Iolo gave a talk on the history of his flock and explained that the flock had always been closed with all the females descending from the original ewes bought by his father in 1911. It was interesting to hear how the fortunes of the breed have fluctuated over the last century with the breed almost dying out in the 1970s when wool prices were high and other breeds were replacing the Wiltshire Horn as the terminal sire of choice. At this time the Wiltshire Horn became a rare breed and the Society was down to only 22 members and it is thanks to the dedication and tenacity of those members who stuck by the Wilt that the breed survived at all. It was also interesting to see the first Wiltshire Horn flock book which included the three surviving original flocks, Gedwydd, Brockhall and Hoggeston, and it was a reminder of the great historical importance of the flock book to the breed.
Those members who choose to stay for the weekend attended a dinner held in a local hotel on the Saturday evening,
The following morning members were taken around the island to see four of the Anglesey flocks. The first stop was at the farm of B &H Thomas & Son where we were treated to a lovely Welsh spread of Bara Brith and Aberffraw cakes. Then it was on to see RJ Thomas’ flock where many of us, still suffering from the prolonged drought, envied his lavish green pasture. The next stop was the contrast of Richard Owen’s coastal farm near Aberffraw and then finally it was back to Llangefni to see the flock of W Roberts.
Members travelled from all over the country to attend the AGM, from as far afield as Cornwall and Sussex, and it was a good opportunity to meet members both new and old. The weekend was a great success thanks to the wonderful welcome and hospitality we received from Iolo and the other members who invited us to their farms.
Teresa Hodgkinson
Submitted: 21-11-2011
