Bradford St. David's Day

How nice it was to see the Welsh flag flying in front of Bradford City Hall today, and how good to see Blip World full of daffodils.


this city
of many cultures
home to the dragon

There has been a St. David's Society* in Bradford since 1902, at which point it was estimated that there were two hundred Welsh people in the area, with non-conformist ministers being prominent amongst them.

At their 1908 St. David's Day tea , the President declared: "It is gladdening to Welsh eyes to see so many sons and daughters of Wales gathered together in this typical city of Saxon. They paid the Saxon the compliment of saying they found his city profitable and pleasant to live in."

In 1920: "In celebrating the day of Dewi Sant they were glad to own that Bradford had done well for them and that fact would always help them to give of their best for the city."

In 1933, the annual dinner was addressed by Reverend T.J. Evans, Congregational Minister of Allerton: "St. David - their hero was not a king, a soldier, nor a politician but a saint who symbolised religion, culture and world wide peace...Wales stood for peace and their saint exemplified and symbolised the spirit of brotherhood throughout the world." An appropriate sentiment for a city home to so many cultures from around the world. Bradford's view of Britishness has always been an inclusive one.

Happy St. David's Day and Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus.

* Source: Roberts, Glyndwr, G. (2002) History of Bradford and District Saint David's Society 1902-2002, Bradford and District St. David's Society: Bradford.