The Mayoress of Abergavenny was able to greet a prominent fellow countryman when the Argentinian Ambassador paid a visit to the National Eisteddfod at Castle Meadows.
Councillor Sheila Woodhouse, whose father hailed from a British-Argentine family, met with Ambassador R. Carlos Sersale di Cersiano today (1 August).
Newly-appointed to the UK, Ambassador Sersale and his partner Mrs Linette de Jager were guests of the Eisteddfod’s honorary vice-president David Davies MP.
As chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, Mr Davies led a successful parliamentary delegation to Patagonia in Argentina two years ago and is keen to strengthen the region's historic links with Wales.
Born in Buenos Aires in 1921, Councillor Woodhouse’s father left Argentina during the Second World War to volunteer with the Royal Air Force. Whilst in Britain, he met a Welsh girl and fell in love.
“The rest, as they say, is history,” said Councillor Woodhouse.
“My mother and father went to live in Buenos Aires, where my sister was born, but my mother was terribly homesick.
“She returned to Britain and my father followed, working his way overseas. He was quite the linguist and could speak five languages, including Spanish and Portuguese.
“They eventually settled in Abergavenny and after he retired, my father went back to Argentina several times to visit family members.
“He was very proud to hold both a British and Argentine passport and would have been over the moon to have the Ambassador here. It is a wonderful time to visit when we have the town looking so delightful.
“I am currently working on a family tree with my cousin, who lives in Bahia Blanca. Ambassador Sersale was most kind to offer us help with this.”
Mr Davies added: “Argentina is the only place in the world outside Wales where it is possible to hear Welsh being used in daily conversation, albeit among two relatively small communities.
“I was absolutely delighted when Ambassador Sersale accepted an invitation to attend the Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod. It was a great honour to introduce him to Sheila and walk around the Monmouthshire tent, which brilliantly shows off our beautiful county."
Ambassador Sersale also spent time on the Maes with Cymdeithas Cymru-Arianin, the Wales-Argentina Society.