The Association of Past Students (APS) was formally set up in 1898, so the organisation is already over a century old. Established as the official body to represent the interests of former students on the University Court, and to encourage and nuture social interaction between former students, the APS is still actively carrying out this important role. The Association is also inextricably linked to the Students Union, life membership of which is guaranteed to all APS members, and whose facilities on Park Place are frequented by the APS for its many social functions.

When University College Cardiff and University of Wales College of Science & Technology merged to form the University of Wales, Cardiff (now Cardiff University), the Associations of former students joined together to form one new Association of Past Students. This new Association has revived and gathered strength in recent years.

Michael Chiles, author of this brief review
and Chairman of Executive Council, A.P.S.

During the course of a year, the APS arranges a number of social events, the main one being the Annual Dinner. The dinner is usually held in March or early April, and we try to invite as our principal guest a former student who has achieved a distinction in the fields of literature, theatre, music, sport, commerce or academia. Recent guests have included Professor Henry Loyn, actor Phillip Madoc, and novellists Craig Thomas and Bernice Rubens. In 1998 our guest was Wales' number one romantic fiction novellist Iris Gower. The dinner is always a convivial social occasion which brings together former students from earlier years as well as some of more recent vintage.

Other events organised by the APS are a Strawberries and Wine evening and an annual golf tournament. The Strawberries and Wine evening usually takes place in Aberdare Hall in early July. For a decade ir has been held in conjunction with a Silent Auction, all proceeds going to the Joan Buckingham Memorial Fund. This is not the place to go into details of what a Silent Auction is, but I am able to assure all doubters that it is universally enjoyable, and has a facility for viewing your friends in a new light.

The Annual Golf Tournament for the Charles Hardwick Cup was revived in 1982 and, except for one year, has been played for ever since. The tournament usually takes place at the end of April (the last Thursday) and, in recent years, it has always been blessed with good weather. The Trophy is much coveted and the tournament always well-supported and keenly contested. We welcome all past students and both past and present staff. In 1998 the tournament was played at Wenvoe Castle, and the top six finishers were virtually all Wenvoe members! Bob Jones, from the history department and a most enthusiastic supporter of the event, was the year's winner and all the usual photographs of him with the cup were duly taken. Amongst former students were Jim Furr (circa 1957) and Jim Sadler, once the President of the Students' Union, who have both won the cup.

The above article was originally written by Mike Chiles in 1998.
Below is the APS events programme for that academic year.

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APS Social Programme 1998/99

19th March 1999	Annual Dinner, Mike Chiles
29th April 1999	Golf Tournament (Hardwicke Cup), Mike Chiles
8th May 1999	Opera: Magic Flute, Peter Griffiths
22nd May 1999	Opera: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci, Peter Griffiths
29th May - 5th June 1999	Trip to Brescia, Italy, Liz Walker
5th June 1999	Opera: Tristan & Isolde, Peter Griffiths
22nd June 1999	Executive Council Meeting, Liz Walker
24th July 1999	Strawberries and Wine, Mike Chiles
To be arranged	Wine Tasting, Mike Chiles
To be arranged	Quiz Night, Rhodri Evans & Liz Walker