Posts Tagged ‘50th Birthday’

Well it’s been a while since you heard from the Admin and Accounts department and we have been very busy bees let me tell you!

 Helen the Accounts Manager has acquired a new addition to the family in the form of the very cute and fluffy ‘Norman’ the hamster! He very much enjoys chewing his cage toys and making a mess!!

 Kelly the Administration Manager has been off treading the boards as Miss Adelaide in the musical ‘Guys and Dolls’ with the Port Talbot Amateur Operatic Society, which was a huge success (see photos) and was supported by many members of the Dragon Hotel Team.

 Kelly the Accounts Assistant has been far too busy studying for and passing her accountancy exams and has two more coming up (good luck Kelly we know you can do it!) but promises to have done something exciting for our next blog entry – although I have just had to remind her that she came to watch Guys and Dolls last week, which was very exciting indeed!!

 We have also been fortunate enough to have 2 lottery wins since our last entry and so have £20 towards a meal in the Dragon Brasserie!  To all food lovers out there, come along to the Brasserie for a visit and check out the new signage and Hotel face-lift that we have had done in honour of the Dragon Hotel’s 50^th Birthday! It’s fab!

 Well enough from us for now, until the next instalment……Will Norman clean up his act…will Kelly 1 pass her exams……will Tom Cruise invite Kelly 2 to be his leading lady….cue tense music……end scene!

It was not only the Hotel’s exterior that looked good at The Dragon Hotel’s 50th Birthday party on Thursday 12th May as guests from across South Wales and beyond turned in dressed up to the nines for a great celebration.

The champagne was flowing; the canapés delicious and even The Swans upheld their end of the bargain by performing brilliantly against the odds at the City Ground. Staff member Kelly Ann Allen provided entertainment on the piano and close-up magician Phil Jay wowed guests as the official part of the evening shaped up in The Piano Bar & Restaurant. (more…)

Louise Howells, Tim Priestland and Cath Garcia

It was a pleasure to see so many enjoying afternoon tea on Monday, 11th April 2011 when The Dragon Memories Exhibition was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Swansea, Councillor Richard Lewis.  With a trip down memory lane conducted by historian Professor Peter Stead, memories were flowing as swiftly as the tea and coffee!

With a delightful mixture of those who used to work at the hotel, those who celebrated their weddings here and those who simply came to enjoy the afternoon teas of a Saturday, there were plenty of tales captured live on air as Shanny broadcasted live for The Wave.

Ex Dragon staff take a trip down memory lane

The exhibition runs throughout the public areas of the hotel until May 12th 2011 and all are welcome to visit at their leisure to view the memorabilia on display.

For many people reaching retirement age is a much-anticipated landmark, viewed with excitement and plans of putting your feet up.

But for one Swansea lady that’s been far from the case.

Now 82, Brenda Porter is still working as a waitress at the city’s landmark Dragon Hotel in a career that spans 50 years since the Hotel’s grand opening in 1961. Now as the Hotel celebrates its 50th birthday year Brenda has received a celebratory treat of her own.

After reading about Brenda’s exceptional service at the Hotel in the Evening Post, Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea, Councillor Richard Lewis invited Brenda along to a coffee morning to chat through her memories of the Hotel and Swansea over the last 50 years.

During her hour with the Lord Mayor, Brenda reminisced about the highlights of working at The Dragon Hotel, which have included working at the grand launch night in 1961, and serving the great and good of Swansea at the many charity and society events held at the Hotel.

Speaking of her invitation to meet with the Lord Mayor, Brenda said: “I had a truly wonderful time and was delighted to have had the honour to meet with the Lord Mayor and take tea in his office.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my 50 years working at the Dragon Hotel, and it was lovely to chat about the memories that we both share and the events that we have both played a part in at the Hotel. It was lovely to sit and talk with someone who has such a great knowledge of Swansea and its people.”

Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Richard Lewis, said: “Brenda is clearly a remarkable woman. To have quite literally been serving the people of Swansea as well as many thousands of visitors to our great city for 50 years is a wonderful achievement that should be celebrated.

“It’s amazing that Brenda was there on the opening night of the hotel back in 1961 and is still there today doing a fantastic job. She is a tremendous ambassador for Swansea.”