Diary of a Retired Parson

Christopher Lewis Jenkins celebrates St David’s Day with pride. But it hasn’t always been easy.

As a younger man, I didn't really appreciate it. When I was seventeen years, three months, and three weeks old, I joined the Merchant Navy training school in Gravesend, Kent.

The reason I stated specifically the exact date was because at seventeen and four months and older, I would have had to wait until I was twenty-one to join.

Anyway, whilst at the training school I was the oldest Welshman (boy) there and on St David's day, on parade, I had to eat probably the largest leek I had ever seen (raw). The Captain of the training school was a Welshman himself, hence the ceremony, which baffled most of the English, Scots, and Irish trainees.

Then, when I joined ships, I lost my name, forever, whilst in the navy, became Taffy/Taff to all and sundry. The name Taffy was well known all around the world. Unfortunately, it was mostly accompanied by the old nursery rhyme: "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief, Taffy came to our house and stole the piece beef etc etc. Needless to say my back was up a lot of the time.

Roll on the years and here am I celebrating St Davids' Day as a priest. It was an interesting time in the Navy especially recounting all the anti-Welsh things that happened throughout history. The Welsh language banned, local assizes in English where the local population didn't speak English and lots of other situations.

So, may you celebrate our patron saint and enjoy your Welshness…always.