SI Aberdare and District

Daffodil Festival

Aberdare Soroptimists' fifth annual Daffodil Festival which took place in Green Street Chapel, Aberdare, from Sunday 26 February - Wednesday 1 March, proved hugely successful and was a superb example of Soroptimist involvement in the community

Prior to the opening of the festival, hundreds of daffodil 'memory pots' had been sold and these made a magnificent display in the Chapel, together with floral displays by the Aberdare Flower Club on the theme 'Gwlad' (country).

The Festival began with a Gymanfu Gana arranged by Soroptimists in collaboration with Churches Together in the Cynon Valley. The singing was conducted by members of SI Aberdare.

St. David's Day 2006 was the 150th anniversary of the Welsh National Anthem and, as part of the Festival, a local male voice choir sang the anthem, broadcast from the Chapel by BBC Radio Wales.

Roy Noble, BBC Radio Wales, broadcast his morning programme from the Festival, interviewing members of the community including an interview with Teifwen George of Aberdare Soroptimists, who played a key role in the organisation of the Festival.

Community involvement in the event included local churches, schools, the University of The Third Age, local History Society, Flowerclub and local choirs.

Press and Radio coverage was extensive and certainly raised the profile and community awareness of Soroptimist International.

During the Festival £2,500 was raised for the Ty Hafan Children's Hospice, the Teenage Cancer Unit at the Wales Children's Hospital and local charities.