A NEW ARTHUR

A new Arthur has been born this day, bringing happy news. He is the grandson of my Welsh friend, whom I call Fluellen—my buttock-flashing tour guide in the Welsh Mountains (Hills). Some of you may remember him from my blog post Sugar Loaf on 6th August, 2023, where I used a Henry V analogy to explain the Fluellen nickname I’ve given him. This nickname references the loyal Welsh officer in King Henry’s army, a comic yet honourable character in William Shakespeare’s tenth and final history play.

The arrival of this new Arthur carries extra significance, as Fluellen lost his father just a few months ago. Now, out of the void of grief, a new life has been born to bring cheer where there were once tears.

Arthur, of course, is a name synonymous with the great King of England (albeit a Welshman according to legend), and so we can only hope that this freshly born Arthur will not carry the weight of the name too heavily upon his little shoulders just yet. Instead, he must wrap it around himself like a protective shield, knowing that he is blessed with an immortal legacy.

Finally, in honour of this new arrival, I would like to dedicate the timeless Welsh hymn Suo Gân to the young Prince.