The speaker at the January meeting was Claire Mansell Lewis, whose topic was “My Life as the High Sheriff of Dyfed”. She explained that the post of High Sheriff was set up in the Middle Ages for the holder to act as the sovereign’s representative in the county in all legal matters and so her main official role had been to look after the High Court Judge when he was sitting in court.

However, she had had many more roles, both formal and informal, which she had enjoyed carrying out. Among her more formal activities had been visits to the Mid Wales Fire Service, the Probation Service to look at the drug rehabilitation programme and to the Environmental Enforcement Agency where she was shown measures to prevent pollution. More informally se had made a number of visits to schools to talk to and meet the children. She had been particularly impressed on a visit to the Mess up the Mess Youth Drama Project in Brynaman.

Mrs Mansell Lewis finished by saying that her final activity would be a charity concert given by the Bach Choir in Llandeilo Church on April 4 in aid of Plant Dewi, her official charity, and Tenovus. The next meeting will be on Friday, February 27 at 7.30pm in St Teilo Church when the speaker will be Keith Little who will talk on “BBC vs The Future”. New members welcome.