EVENING CONCERT
LADY LISBURNE OPENS NEW HALL
On Friday afternoon the Countess of Lisburne, Crosswood Park, opened a new Y.M.C.A. hall at Aberystwyth in the presence of a large company of townspeople. Captain Doughton, proceeding to the opening Ceremony and presenting a silver key to the Countess of Lisburne, said he had the honour on behalf of the Committee to present her ladyship with the key of the new Y.M.C.A. Hut at Aberystwyth and to request her Ladyship to open the door and declare the institute open. Principal Prys, who presided, in his opening address, expressed great satisfaction at having the Countess of Lisburne present to open the rooms. He was sure the company had not attended to hear an address, but were present to express good wishes to the Y.M.C.A. and to hope that the Institute at Aberystwyth would be a success. On behalf of the Committee he expressed satisfaction that the movement had so far prospered that they were able to provide what they regarded as a temporary building. The provision of that building involved considerable work which had been a labour of love to several friends who had taken active part in the movement.
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| Owen Prys, |
The idea of a Y.M.C.A. for the town was not a new one. Soon after he came to Aberystwyth eleven years ago some effort was made, but the promoters were daunted by difficulties which though perhaps imaginary to some extent then appeared to be insurmountable. Nevertheless the idea was never quite abandoned. It was always felt that something ought to be done and some of them had an uneasy conscience and felt that the difficulties ought to be overcome. Since then the great war had changed everything, changed their general estimate of the value of things and of movements. The world henceforth would never be the same to them; and in regard to that particular movement the war had made several revelations.
It was hoped that the movement would be a truly educative movement. They hoped to provide lectures by some of the ablest men of the county, as well as classes of various kinds. He had said that the war had revealed possibilities in the institution and in their young men. It had also revealed possibilities in the people. He doubted whether before the war it was ever dreamt that the people of this country were capable of making the sacrifices they were making to-day and were making without much grumbling. They were putting up with restrictions of all kinds and were giving up luxuries and to some extent necessaries and were doing so, as he had said, without much grumbling. It showed that British people could be inspired with self-denial in a great crisis. They had realized that wealth was of less value than human welfare. They had also realized that the education of the people must be perfected at whatever cost. He felt that that movement to establish a Y.M.C.A. at Aberystwyth would be supported because it was intended to serve the higher interests of their young people. The young men deserved it all. The nation owed them a debt it could never pay. The promoters of the movement felt that they must make the institute a success in order that the youth of the town would not go astray because there was no provision for their social needs.
Cambrian News 12th Oct. 1917:
A meeting of the Aberystwyth Y.M.C.A. General Committee was held on Wednesday evening when gratification was ex- pressed at the successful opening ceremony. It was resolved to fix the following fees:— Juniors (16 to 18), 2s. per annum; Seniors (18 and upwards), 2s. 6d. It was also resolved that the billiard table should be at the free disposal of wounded soldiers between the hours of ten and twelve, two and four on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays between ten and twelve. A letter was received from the Association of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors with regard to the appointment of caretaker and a reply will be sent stating that each had the careful consideration of the Committee.
Cambrian News 13th April 1917
Correspondence.
Sir,—Mr. R. Rowlands, The Pioneer,
North- parade, deserves every encouragement in the excellent step he has taken
to provide a Y.M.C.A. for the town. A branch is badly wanted, and I am
particularly glad, for the sake of the lade serving their country, that Mr.
Rowlands has taken the initiative in this matter. It will be a great boon to
our brave boys when they return home and they will know how to make the best
use of it. The Y.M.C.A. deserves the town's support for the admirable services
it has rendered on the field and at every training centre. Many letters I receive
show clearly that the Y.M.C.A. is a centre of healthy life morally and
physically, and when our boys come back, as I hope they soon will, nothing I
feel will give them greater pleasure than to be able to keep in touch with an
organization that has done so much for them.—Yours etc.
T.
R. FEAR RSM
Blog by Ruby Radwan, project volunteer
Notes below by William Troughton, Archivist, NLW
It seems that initially the YMCA was housed in what had previously been called the Temperance Hall at the corner of Queens Road and North Parade, demolished to make way for houses many years ago. Kelly's Trades Directory 1920 gives 'North Parade' as the address of the YMCA, with T .L. Old and R. Rowlands as joint Honorary Secretaries. Photo albums 1385 and 1392 both contain photos of the interior and exterior of the Temperance Hall. These albums are located on the open shelves in the South Reading Room.
By 1923 the address for the YMCA was Chalybeate Street, possibly the premises now occupied by Mikeys Cafe / Bar. Incidentally T Lewis Old was a plumber/ironmonger - his name can still be seen on many manhole covers in Aberystwyth. He was Mayor in 1941. Principal Prys was involved in many aspects of public life. He was the first Principal of the United Theological College in Aberystwyth in 1922 and president of Y.M.C.A in Aberystwyth in 1917.
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