Welsh Journals

THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL JANUARY 2004 TO JANUARY 2005 Your Council continues to pursue the aims stated in our last Annual Report. Our programme of evening lectures was very varied, and we thank Bernard Morris for arranging them. The size of the audiences justified his efforts. The President's Invi- tation Lecture for 2004 was given by Swansea born Professor Richard E. Palmer, Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Birmingham, with title Nanotechnology: seven wonders of a small world; it was enjoyed by an audience of nearly 100. An excellent and humane delivery helped to unravel some of the mystery around nano. The series of lunchtime talks in late February and March under title Museum at One aroused much interest and press coverage. They dealt with current develop- ments in Swansea and, due to popular demand, the 2005 series continues the theme: Swansea 2005. Lunchtime audiences topped 80. We made two outside visits: in July a party went to the National Museum in Cardiff to view the truly amazing exhi- bition, Buried Treasures; in December, in connection with the centenary of the 1904/05 Welsh Revival, Eirwen Davies arranged a visit to Moriah Chapel in Loughor. A large group enjoyed Peter Freeman's background to 19th century religious development, and a representative of the chapel gave details of the various meeting places which we were able to see. The Sunday afternoon Young People's Programme, arranged by Gerald Gabb and Barry Hughes, continues successfully with a solid core of regular attenders: 22 children and 16 adults came to the September meeting to be enthralled by the flint knapper. Other workshops included bell ringing, Chinese calligraphy and a very popular one on the production of comics. The Christmas quiz was very successful, and the refreshments much enjoyed! Minerva XII was launched in late October at the Book Fair. It has proved to be a very popular edition. Thanks again to the contributors and the skill of our editor, Jenny Sabine. In 2003 we held our first Book Fair; the second was on 30 October 2004, organised by Michael Gibbs. His efforts were amply rewarded with a waiting list for tables, our maximum of 30 having been snapped up very quickly. Some 500 people came and the Social Committee's refreshments nearly ran out! Participants described it as an excellent event for both socialising and selling. The Social