Put Up Your Feet

With the words, 'starless and bible black', Dylan Thomas illustrated a sober view of Welsh society, under the thumb of Christianity from Roman Times onward. In one the most controversial cases of public reform, a series of 18 sittings that consisted of more than 400 witnesses, testifying on both sides, took place and the Royal Commission on Sunday Closings in Wales effectively halted the sale of alcohol on the Sabbath.

Welsh religion, before the Romans, consisted of the ancient practices of Druidism. These practices still have weight but have moved over to incorporate Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and a few others. All in all, Wales is a place where you can find religion if you want but their long running battle with the Church of England took the form of quite a few 'revivals' in which this group or that group would campaign and defeat the last bunch. Wales is known as the land of revivals. John Roberts led one such reform. Based on temperance, his campaign would result in two things: Pubs closing on the Sabbath and a drink named after him. Serves him right. Wales had developed a reputation wherein the strict censure of fun was born hence the 'bible black' reference from Thomas, who was known for his love of all things alcoholic.

To the everyday workingman there was only one answer and that was to take a very big tankard and fill it full on Saturday night so that there was no need to go without beer on Sunday. They called it, of course, a John Roberts. Don't underestimate the power of the people to remember your life's work with a joke.

Politicians come and go. Religions flourish and then wane but after all is said and done it's nice to sit down and have a beer to think over the days events. As the song says, "No, no, you can't take that way from me."