Vivid memories of old Brecon and farming life were enjoyed by members of Llanfrynach and Cantref Women’s Institute on a recent visit to Brecon’s y Gaer Museum and Art Gallery.

Looking at the relatively recent objects from everyday life and photographs of old Brecon stimulated memories and some great stories. These covered everything from butter making on the farm and nursing children in wooden cradles by the fire to filling inkwells in school and watching early television programmes on incredibly small screens.

Commenting on the visit, WI President Sue Brook said: “The displays of exhibits from Breconshire’s more recent past to which people could actually relate are a great complimentto the museum’s ancient historical displays.  So, we enjoyed viewing memorabilia of the lives of Sarah Siddons and Adelina Patti just as much as the old oak boat discovered in LlangorsLake dating from c 800 AD and the early Christian monuments.

Members were pleased to see the Gorsedd Stone which heralded the forthcoming 1888 Eisteddfod in Brecon on display. 

The WI had donated funds to have the stone restored from the proceeds of their book - Where We Belong – A life in the Beacons, Then and Now.  

Thanks were given to Mervyn Bramley (y Gaer Volunteer) and Jackie Williams (Collections Officer, y Gaer) for the guided tour which was rounded off by tea in the café.