Tywyn and District History Society Forum

At their meeting on Monday 21st September, the society was pleased to welcome Dr Lee Raye, Research Officer at Bangor University, Open University Lecturer, Fellow of the Linnaean Society, and author of recently-published Creatures of Story and Song for a talk Welsh Rivers in History - and the Life Around Them. Dr Raye selected Medieval and Early Modern accounts of animal species which became extinct in Wales. The viability and desirability of re-introducing these was considered. Those described were the beaver, the whale, the white-tailed eagle and the sturgeon. Only one species, to which he referred, the Greak Auk, has suffered world-wide extinction.

Lee's account was told with reference to myths, beliefs, stories and songs of the time and enhanced by contemporary illustrations and recital of some of the Welsh language sources. The speaker was warmly thanked for a fascinating, enlightening and very enjoyable talk. Questions and discussion followed.