Tuesday 7 November 2017

Belgian refugees in Wales

On Thursday 9 November a symposium on the Welsh and Flemish experience in the First World War will be held  at the Pierhead building in Cardiff. Presentations will be offered on the military experiences in Flanders Fields, on the hosting of Belgian refugees in Wales, as well as on the wider social and literary context.

The symposium is organized with reference to the commemoration of the Passchendaele campaign of July-November 1917, 100 years ago and it is sponsored by the Cardiff University, the Government of Flanders, and the Welsh Government.

The refugee experience linking Belgium and Wales is just one of the subjects that will be explored in 'Flanders and Wales, a First World War Symposium' this Thursday at the Pierhead, Cardiff. Papers relating to the Belgian refugees are in bold below.


8.45 – 14.10
Registration for entire day or morning only, and coffee
Morning
9.15 – 9.30
Opening address and greetings from the Presiding Officers of the Welsh National Assembly and the Flemish Parliament
9.30 – 9.45
Chair: Julian Walker, writer and researcher, University College London: An introduction to the themes of the conference
9.45 – 10.15
1. Toby Thacker, Cardiff University: ‘The most dolorous scenes in British military history: Passchendaele in History and Memory’
10.15 – 10.45
2. Aled Eirug, Swansea University: ‘Conscientious objectors in Wales during the First World War’
10.45 – 11.15
Coffee

Chair: Hugh Dunthorne, Swansea University
11.15 – 11.45
3. Christophe Declercq, Leuven University/University College London: ‘Flemish and Belgian identity in Wales in the First World War’
11.45 – 12.15
4. Toni Vitti:  ‘The Belgian refugees in Rhyl’
12.15 – 12.45
5. John Bradshaw, former Portreeve of Laugharne, and local historian: ‘Belgian refugees in Laugharne and Carmarthenshire’
12.45 – 14.00
Lunch
Afternoon
                                    Chair: Christophe Declercq, Leuven University/University College London
14.00 – 14.30
6. Rhian Davies, Artistic Director of the Gregynog Festival:  ‘Belgian refugee musicians in Wales’
14.30 – 15.00
7. Peter Theunynck, Writer in residence at Tŷ Newydd Writing Cente: ‘"Wales is among the most beautiful spots in Great Britain". Gustave Van de Woestyne –  Painter in exile’
15.00 – 15.30
8. Hugh Dunthorne, Swansea University:Frank Brangwyn and Flemish refugee artists in Wales’
15.30 – 16.00
Coffee

Chair: Toby Thacker, Cardiff University
16.00 – 16.30
9. Gethin Matthews, Swansea University: ‘Welsh Soldiers and their Identity on the Western Front’
16.30 – 17.00
10. Ifor ap Glyn, National Poet of Wales, ‘Letters Home from Welsh Soldiers on the Western Front’
17.00 – 17.15
11. Christophe Declercq and Toby Thacker, Concluding Remarks
 

Have a further look at the following site for the full programme and more information: http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/events/view/flanderswales-symposium/

Attendance at the symposium is free and lunch will be provided. All those attending are invited to an evening reception. 

If you would like to attend, please register on the following webpage: https://flandersandwalessymposium.eventbrite.co.uk

The above text is an amalgamation of the Symposium invitation and a digest from the programme by Julian Walker on the Languages and the First World War blog.