Category: News

Like coals to Newcastle, a Norwegian male voice choir came to Cardiff

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

There is no shortage of male voice choirs in south Wales. But an afternoon concert at the Norwegian church in April provided a rare treat: a chance to hear a men’s choir from from Skien in south-eastern Norway: the snappily-titled Monastry Island and Scheen Waterfall Walking and Singing Men’s Association.

Twenty-one of the choir’s 25 members made the trip to the UK. They were based in Hereford and made a special day trip to Cardiff to give a free concert in the Norwegian Church in the Bay.

The choir was founded by its current conductor, Kjetil Svestad, in 2010. It is associated with the Gimsøy and Nenset congregation in Skien. Kjetil is the organist and musical director at Nenset Church, where the choir rehearses.

The choir needed a name, and a competition suggested many funny choices. In the end the name Klosterøen og Scheensvassdraget Spadser og Mandssangforening was chosen. Nice and simple!

Scheen is the old spelling of the city of Skien, which is two hours’ drive to the west of Oslo and has around 55,000 inhabitants.

Founded as a ‘men breaking out of an ordinary mixed church-choir’, the singers come from different parts of the city and from different churches, and they represent a variety of talents, personalities and backgrounds. They sing both sacred and secular popular songs, depending on the occasion.

“We’re a bunch of happy amateurs,” they say, “singing because we enjoy it so much.”

“We hope to touch peoples hearts and bring our joy to others.”

We thank the choir for their performance and for permission to show some songs here.

Read more about the choir (in Norwegian) at: http://www.xn--klosteren-r8a.no/

‘Barndomsminne frâ Nordland’ – almost an alternative national anthem, according to the choir leader
‘When you sing in the choir!’
‘Fare Ye Well’

Dr W Kenneth Davies, 1940-2024

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

We are deeply saddened to share the news that our dear friend and stalwart member of the society, Dr Ken Davies, has passed away. We know you will want to join us in sending heartfelt condolences to Ken’s surviving sons Robert and Gareth. Another son, Hwyel, predeceased him. Ken’s beloved wife Signe died in 2021.

Ken was a man of many talents and broad interests. Born in 1940 in Ffynnongroyw in north Wales, he left school at sixteen to go to sea. On his travels he met and married Signe, a Norwegian, and they spent time in Norway before settling in north Wales. Ken returned, aged 36, to college to get the further education he had missed two decades earlier. He studied psychology, sociology, history and linguistics, and also developed his interest in economics, industrial relations, politics, philosophy and literature. He studied further in Swansea, Birmingham and the Open University as well as teaching himself and spending many years working with disadvantaged people.

Ken wrote many academic papers and articles, firstly on his professional interest, but later broadening into maritime and local history. He wrote books on his beloved home town of Ffynnongroyw and the north Wales coal trade. He published a ‘fascinating and compelling’ novel, ‘Chasing the Tide’, in 2016, which was followed by an anthology of short stories and a collection of poetry.

Ken never lost his fondness for his wife’s native land, and was a stalwart member of the Welsh Norwegian Society. We recently made him an honorary member in recognition of his tireless efforts. He will be most fondly remembered and sorely missed. We will find a way to remember him properly in due course.

Ken’s cremation will take place on Friday 26th April at the Croesyceiliog Crematorium, Cwmbran at 1:30pm. Afterwards there will be a reception at the Ashbridge Hotel, Cwmbran. Everyone who knew Ken is invited.

WNS welcomes Tyra Oseng-Rees back to the speaker’s chair

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

Tyra Oseng-Rees is no stranger to the hot seat at WNS meetings. As chair, she led the successful campaign to restore the Norwegian Church to community control. She also steered the society through the difficult years of the pandemic. Not surprisingly, last year Tyra stepped down as chair to spend more time with her family and her growing business.

Now WNS has invited her back to talk about that work. She’ll be our guest at our monthly meeting at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay, at 2pm on Sunday 24 March.

Tyra is a glass artist who makes art and architectural pieces from recycled materials. She recently made a plaque which hangs in the Norwegian Church to remember Karen Allen, a former manager of the church and active member of WNS.

Karen Allen’s mother Mary and Torill Heavens of WNS unveil the memorial plaque that Tyra made from recycled glass to hang in the gallery at the Norwegian Church

Tyra says that as a designer in the creative industry, she feels there needs to be an emphasis on sustainability and the circular economy. Using waste glass as a raw material in her creations saves resources and energy, and is a contribution to reducing carbon emissions and tackling global warming. Tyra aims to break down the silo mentality between different disciplines by integrating the business into various sectors such as arts, education, construction, architecture, and the public and private sectors.

Tyra originates from Saltdal in Nordland, northern Norway. She came to Wales to study product design 20 years ago, and never left. She is now married with two children and firmly settled in Swansea. In 2017 she founded Oseng-Rees Reflection Ltd, which is the sole UK producer of architectural panels made from 100% waste glass, with notable installations at Cornell University and the Turner Museum of Glass. She has since gained a PhD in fused recycled glass material, and has been recognized as Bespoke Artist of the Year for 2023/24 and with the Female Entrepreneur Award for Swansea and West Wales in 2022.

Some of Tyra’s work

Tyra’s talk will take place in the function room at the Norwegian Church. Coffee and other refreshments will be available from the cafe before and throughout the afternoon. Guests are welcome.

Calendar of events for 2024

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

Your committee met and agreed the following dates for 2024. Note that some events take place on a Saturday, and others on a Sunday, to ensure meetings are available to people who have regular commitments on one or other day. Dates and times are always subject to change, so please check in here or on our Facebook page for the latest information about each event.

Sunday 24 March

We welcome former society chair Tyra Oseng-Rees who will tell us about her business making art and architectural pieces from recycled glass. Tyra made the memorial plaque to Karen Allen that now hangs in the gallery.

Saturday 20 April

It’s been suggested that we meet at the Norwegian-run Emmeline’s tea room in Abergavenny: emmelinestearoom.com

If there is sufficient interest we will book a room, if not we can takes our chances in the café. Let us know if you’d like to reserve a place!

Norwegian flag is raised at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff

Friday 17 May – Norwegian National Day, of course.

We will hold the usual procession from the Millennium Centre to the Church, with music, a service and speeches inside.

Saturday 8 June

Once again, we’ve kindly been offered the use of a family garden in south-west Gower for a summer barbeque and party. This was well attended and much enjoyed last year, despite an extended dry spell putting paid to our plans for a bonfire.

We are very keen to gauge interest of members in attending an event this year, as there are both costs and effort involved in putting it on, which the committee will gladly do if there is sufficient demand for it. We make a small charge per head to cover the cost of firewood, light refreshments and insurance. It is possible to camp onsite or, of course, in many other locations nearby. Please let us know at contact@welshnorwegian.org, on Facebook or via any member of the committee if you’d like to attend or perhaps even help with the organising.

July, August – no planned events.

Sunday 22 September

Our Annual General Meeting.

Saturday 19 October – a ‘show and tell’ of the bunad, the Norwegian national dress which varies according to the locality. All who have their own dress are invited to drag them out of the wardrobe and come dressed up and show off!

Saturday 23 November – decorating the Christmas tree in the church hall.

Sunday 1 December

Come and celebrate Christmas at our annual Festival of Light and Friendship.

We look forward to meeting you at one or all of our socials. If you have any requests, suggestions or comments, please share them with us. We are always looking for new ideas and new excuses to celebrate!

Learning Norwegian

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

Our February social at the Norwegian Church, Sunday 11 February 2024

Our first social of 2024 will be dedicated to a subject close to many of your hearts – learning Norwegian.

Whether you’re in a relationship with a Norwegian, have kids of dual heritage, or would just like to immerse yourself more deeply in the culture and traditions of Norway, learning at least a little of the language is often at the top of the list of things to do. But how to begin – or carry on – when you’re not surrounded by Norwegian speakers?

Come and chat with several members who’ve learned in a variety of ways – through online apps like DuoLingo to fully-fledged undergraduate university degrees. Find out how hard it is to learn Norwegian – and why you have a choice of two written forms! Yes, if two Norwegians are going to argue about anything, it will as likely as anything be about the language!

Language is a source of pride and identity — and getting a little acquainted with Norwegian makes Norway a whole lot more accessible, even if every one you ever meet seems to speak English as well as you do!

As usual, there’ll be coffee and cakes – and you will be welcome to chat, whether it be in English, Welsh or Norwegian.

Friendship ties renewed as WNS celebrates Christmas 2023

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

It was FANTASTISK to see so many members at our annual Festival of Light and Friendship at the Norwegian Church on Sunday 10 December.

It was standing room only for the first religious service to be held in the church in many years, led by the Revd Ingrid Ims.

The Salvation Band played, carols were sung, and the tree was lit.

And we remembered our former driving light, Karen Allen, with the unveiling of a plaque in her memory in the gallery.

The Festival of Light and Friendship is becoming the cornerstone of our calendar, and really helps to cement the bonds between Wales and Norway. Thanks to all who came and those who made it happen.

Talking trolls

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

Around ten members gathered upstairs in the gallery at the Norwegian Church to enjoy a presentation about trolls from the society’s own Thomas. Thom led us through a whistle-stop tour of the background of these mysterious creatures including their history, the different types of trolls one may encounter, their appearance in folklore and literature and and their portrayal in recent film and television. Refreshments were available via the Norsk cafe and Tyra kindly made a chocolate cake for all to enjoy. Thank you Tyra!

In which Thomas talked of trolls...

In addition, our member Mary brought archival items and documents gathered by herself and her family related to the Church such as newspaper clippings and original photographic negatives from the church re-opening. We are very grateful to have received such a special and important collection of items and are certain that these will be of value to the preservation of the Church’s history.

As always, there was plenty of time to catch up and mingle following the talk.

Membership renewal 2023-24

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

It’s that time of year again… when we ask for your money.

Actually, we’re a little late this year – but invoices are now being sent out for the 2023-24 membership year, which began on 1 October and runs through to the same time next year.

Membership is £10 and buys you the comforting knowledge that you’ve helped keep Norwegian culture and heritage alive in Wales. It helps us to continue putting on events such as the National Day celebrations, the Festival of Light and Friendship at Christmas, and talks and exhibitions celebrating Norwegian culture in Wales. It pays for the cost of maintaining this website and being active on social media channels. It also gives you access to members-only events, including our monthly meetings with chat, coffee and cake.

Many thanks if you choose to join us for another year, despite all the other demands on your cash. If you’re not a member and would like to join, just drop a line to contact@welshnorwegian.org and we’ll add you to our list – and ask you for a tenner!

If, on the other hand, you’d prefer us to stop bothering you, just let us know and we’ll take you off our lists.

Christmas at the Norwegian church – this year, including a service

by Kevin Burden, posted in News

A religious service in Norwegian and English will be held in the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay this Christmas for the first time in decades. Rev Ingrid Ims of the Norwegian Seamen’s Mission in London will lead the service in a new addition to the Festival of Light of Friendship.

Ingrid Ims of the Norwegian Church in London speaking in Cardiff
Ingrid Ims speaking at our Constitution Day event earlier this year. Rev Ims is based at the Norwegian Church Abroad (Sjømannskirken) where she is the pastor to Norwegian students in the UK.

The Festival has become a popular event in the society’s calendar, and celebrates the friendships forged over generations between Wales and Norway. We welcome visitors from Norway, usually including representatives of Vestland Council in Bergen, with whom the society and the church have long-standing links. The Salvation Army band plays, carols are sung, and the Christmas trees inside and outside the church are lit. Traditional Norwegian Christmas food and drink including hot dogs, waffles, pepperkaker (like gingerbread) and gløgg (mulled wine) are consumed.

All are welcome.

Programme for the Festival of Light and Friendship
Sunday 10 December 2023

3 pm – Christmas service, led by Revd Ims of the Norwegian Church Abroad

3.45 pm – Unveiling of the memorial plaque to Karen Allen, former member of WNS and manager of the Norwegian Church

4 pm – Salvation Army Band playing carols in the marquee

4.30 pm – Lighting of the Christmas trees

Please note that we will be decorating the indoor tree in typical Norwegian fashion at 2 pm on Sunday 26 November. Volunteers are again warmly welcomed!