Harper Cymru dinner 2012

Posted 20 March 2012

Carwyn Rees is congratulated by Harper Adams Principal Dr David Llewellyn on receiving the RWAS-Harper Cymry Student Award

Welsh students and guests gathered to celebrate on Friday night, at the annual Harper Cymru dinner at Harper Adams University College.

Organised by the 2011/12 committee of Harper Cymru, a society for students from Wales, the evening featured a delicious, three-course meal prepared by the Harper Adams catering team, an after-dinner speech by Dic Jones, the 2011 Royal Welsh Show President, and the presentation of a range of awards.

Mr Jones spoke of his rise to the post of RWAS President, despite not coming from an agricultural background. He served as an NFU Eifionydd group secretary, based in Pwllheli, for more than 30 years

After giving warm thanks to the speaker, the outgoing committee presented prizes for everything from the Best Fresher to the “Rear of the Year”, and announcing that the new committee would comprise Will Probert, from Monmouth (Chairman), Sarah Powell, from Welshpool; Laura Bowyer, from Usk; Joe Parry, from Corwen; and William Jones, from Denbigh.

Harper Adams Principal Dr David Llewellyn then announced the winner of the 2012 RWAS-Harper Cymry Student Award: Carwyn Rees, 22, from Llandovery. Carwyn is the 12th winner of the award, made annually to encourage students to contribute fully to developing both their academic and personal potential. The award is promoted jointly by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and Harper Cymry – the Welsh alumni association – and will be presented formally at the Royal Welsh Show in July.

To round off the night, the students hosted an auction of lots ranging from former committee members, to bottles of whisky, to a weekend stay in a luxury B&B.

The students would like to thank all of their sponsors and prize donors, Mr Jones, and Newport’s Rea Valley tractors, who donated the loan of a John Deere tractor, which was used as the showpiece at the entrance to the event, which was held in the Regional Food Academy exhibition hall.

A full gallery of images can be viewed on the new Harper Cymru Facebook page www.facebook.com/HarperCymru