MagnaMasters and CartaConsorts

1. Nantgarw Pottery. The source of some of the finest porcelain in the world for over 200 years.

2. Castell Coch. A gothic style castle rebuilt in the 19th century on an original medieval site.

3. The Royal Mint. All official British coins and those of many other countries are producedhere. A guided tour will be followed by a light lunch.

4. Llantrisant. Longbowmen from this medieval hill town played a decisive role in the defeat of the French at the battle of Crecy.

5. St Fagans National Museum of History. Set in the extensive grounds of a Tudor mansion are a wide collection of buildings great and small brought from all over Wales and meticulously rebuilt.

6. Llanerch Vineyard. Producer of highly regarded British wines. A guided tour is followed by a tasting and afternoon tea. In addition to the above a Gala Dinner with entertainment will be provided on Saturday evening at the Cardiff and County Club, celebrated for the finest cuisine in Cardiff. Following a drinks reception the menu will consist of: Cawl (traditional Welsh soup) / Cockles with Laverbread / Roast Middle of Lamb stuffed with leeks and rosemary, braised red cabbage, pea puree, dauphinoise potato, lamb jus / Tia Maria Creme Brulee, Chocolate Truffle,

Shortbread / Mini Welsh Cakes with Coffee. Wine and all other accompanying drinks during and after the meal will be bought separately. Members of the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales and other invited guests will pay to attend the evening but for MMA members and partners this will be included in their global payment for the weekend.

Hotel costs cannot be confirmed at this stage but best estimates obtained for June of next year indicate that the global cost per person for accommodation, transport and all items specified above will be in the order of £400 to £500. It is assumed that most members will arrive on Friday and leave on Sunday but accommodation at the venue can be extended pro rata should any wish to remain until the Monday

It was agreed that we should be targeting the weekend of Friday 4th and Saturday 5th June. It would also be useful to be able to extend the weekend to stay over on the Sunday night, 6th June 2027, so as to leave after a leisurely breakfast on Monday 7th June.

We would be looking for approximately 30 to 40 people (note that the coach Wayne currently envisages for the tours on the Saturday and the Sunday is a 37-seater).

A show of hands around the table indicated that this should be a very popular event for June next year. The Chairman suggested it might be nice if someone could give a potted history for, say, 5 minutes about The Livery Company of Wales. Wayne said that one of the principal founders of the Company is now 94 and he would be an excellent person to do exactly that. Note by way of brief extra details the proposal would be to arrive on the Friday night in time for choral evening song at Llandaff cathedral at 5:30 PM.

The Saturday would see a coach trip past Caerphilly Castle, to Nantgarw Pottery, followed by Pontypridd with lunch and a tour at the Royal Mint.

The Sunday would see a visit to Castell Coch, then on to Saint Fagan’s National Museum of History and ending at the Llanerch Vineyard for a guided tour, tasting and afternoon tea.