Review

Llanelli WEA audience encouraged to 'look long.....and carefully'

BY David Edwards

20 November 2025

On a freezing cold November evening a packed audience in the Selwyn Samuel Centre enjoyed a fascinating trip around Britain led by Llanelli born writer and journalist Jon Gower. The talk was based on his new book 'Birdland, a journey Around Britain on the Wing', one of over 40 titles he has produced covering a range of topics, including 'The Story of Wales' (the WEA attracts some big hitters!)

The illustrated talk focussed on Jon's lifelong love of birds, and how changes in global climatic conditions are affecting them - some have completely disappeared or had to move their habitat.

On the one hand the talk was an introduction to the world of the bird enthusiast and the excitement of finding a rare species. As Jon explained, to get the most out of this world you need to learn to 'look long, and carefully'.

But he also told of the fascinating people he has met when 'birding' and the scrapes it has got him into - from incipient hypothermia in the hills of mid Wales to a trip across a live tank firing range in Wiltshire!

The evening was over all too soon, and at the end Jon was kept busy signing copies of his book, which is highly recommended as a seasonal gift.

The next WEA Llanelli meeting will take place on January the 15th after a short Christmas break where Dr Darryl Perrins will give a talk on how the Welsh working class have been represented on film and television. A warm January welcome to all and an early Merry Christmas from all of us at WEA Llanelli.

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