Wynne's incomparable new Eisteddfod role

Top tenor Wynne Evans has landed an incomparable new role - singing alongside the world-renowned former royal harpist Catrin Finch.

Wynne – who shot to stardom as the waiter who belted out catchy jingles in the Go Compare TV ads (pictured) – will be taking to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod stage for the third time in four years when the festival gets underway in July.

 

The multi-talented Carmarthen-born singer, TV and radio presenter will be performing on Wednesday, July 8, at an evening of music dedicated to The Sounds of South America that also features the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Catrin Finch will also be starring at the concert.

The concert will also see the world premiere of a new work to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Welsh colony in Patagonia in South America.

 

The work has been written by composer Hector MacDonald, a fourth generation Welshman who comes from Chubut Province in Patagonia where descendants of the original settlers cling on to their Welsh identity.

 

Among the other highlights at this year's Eisteddfod will be the Thursday night concert when heart-throb tenor Alfie Boe will be joined on stage by Britain’s Got Talent star Jonathan Antoine.

Other big draws include Oscar-winning music legend Burt Bacharach, the immensely popular Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and TV choirmaster Gareth Malone.

 

For the final concert, Ali Campbell, the voice of UB40 who sold 70 million records, who'll be reunited on the eisteddfod stage with two other founding members of the group, percussionist, trumpet player and vocalist Astro and keyboard player Mickey.

 

Wynne, who will also be presenting his BBC Radio Wales show from Llangollen during the week-long eisteddfod, says he always looks forward to performing at what he describes as a "wonderful festival of music".

He said: “Most performers only get to appear on the Llangollen stage once or maybe twice so for me to have been allowed on stage three times and in relatively quick succession is probably something of a record.

“Llangollen is such a fantastic event that welcomes all these different cultures from all over the world in a spirit of peace and harmony.

“It’s just an incredible event. I love seeing the different performers throughout the week and it isn’t just about classical music; lots of varied genres are represented.”

Wynne, who performed the role of Piangi in the 25^th anniversary performance of The Phantom of the Opera which was broadcast live to cinemas around the world from the Royal Albert Hall, added: “The festival is something special and should be cherished. People come from far and wide because of what it stands for.

“Where else could you see traditional Welsh dancers competing against folk dancers from around the world?

 “It’s about culture and styles and bringing it all together in a spirit of friendship. And it’s also wonderful seeing the whole town join in the festivities it isn’t just about what’s happening on the field.”

Wynne whose alter ego Gio Compario in the Go Compare ads was once voted Britain’s most hated man, is looking forward to hooking up with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Catrin Finch.

He said: “Catrin is a friend of mine and someone I’ve worked with her a lot over the years. And as well as being a friend she’s also one of the greatest harpists in the world, there’s no doubt about that.

“And I have toured with the BBC orchestra and we worked together at the Christmas concert. Of course I work with the BBC, both on screen and behind the radio microphone with my radio show, on a regular basis.”

Wynne, whose debut album, A Song in my Heart, shot straight to the top of the classical charts, added: “It should be a wonderful night of music.

“I’m going to performing some material composed by Karl Jenkins who, it has been announced, is to be knighted by Her Majesty the Queen.

“I’ll also be performing songs written by an Argentinian composer and some songs from West Side Story which has tenuous links to South America in that the characters were Puerto Rican.

“But it’s always good to perform some popular works that the audience will instantly recognise.”

The Eisteddfod's musical director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, is delighted Wynne Evans has agreed to perform again on the pavilion stage.

He said: “Wynne is a real supporter of the festival and it’s always a pleasure to welcome him back.

“He is without doubt one of the UK’s most popular and exciting tenors and I know how much the Llangollen audience likes to see and hear him perform.

“The Wednesday evening concert of South American inspired music, featuring Catrin Finch, Wynne Evans and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales promises to be a real highlight of this year’s festival and it’s a concert I’m really looking forward to.”

* To book tickets and for more details on the 2015 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Pilot scheme to protect people from falls

A pilot has been launched which sees North Wales Fire and Rescue Service working alongside the Single Point of Access in Denbighshire to help safeguard people in the home against a fall.

The aim is to make better use of the resources available to allow individuals to live a more healthy and active life, maintain their independence and reduce social isolation.


North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is moving towards adopting a more integrated approach to home safety which will enable working collaboratively with other emergency services, local authorities and partners to ensure residents remain safe in their homes.

This approach will not only consider the risk of fire but also other issues of safety, such as security and mobility, so that more vulnerable residents in particular will be provided with the best advice available from a whole variety of sources, stemming from just one home visit.

As part of this approach, a 'Falls in the Home' pilot has been launched in Denbighshire that involves fire and rescue staff who are undertaking Home Safety Checks helping to determine whether a person is at risk from a fall in the home, and if so then generating a referral to the Denbighshire Falls Prevention Service.

Stuart Millington, Senior Fire Safety Manager at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, explains: “One in three people aged over 65 will fall each year and this increases to one in two when 80 years of age is reached. Nationally 250,000 people are admitted to accident and emergency hospital departments each year with falls related injuries.

“Often the people who suffer from falls in the home are the same people who we as a Service would be targeting as they are also at an increased risk of fire. This is therefore an excellent opportunity to deliver a more integrated home safety check and a referral to our partners where appropriate which will in turn help keep our most vulnerable residents safe.

“Our community safety staff have undergone training provided by the Denbighshire Falls Prevention Co-ordinator who is integrated as part of the Single Point of Access. Such partnership working is paramount in ensuring North Wales is a safer place to live, work or visit.

"We are already regularly engaging with the public and entering their homes to carry out Home Safety Checks and are well place to be able to identify those in need of further support. Our Home Safety Checks have led to a visible reduction in the number of accidental fires in the home. Therefore by asking a few simple questions in addition to fire safety we are able to assist in making that person safer in general.”

The Denbighshire Falls Prevention Service is based on the evidence that was proving successful elsewhere.

Up until recently, an individual in need of medical or social services help may have had to wait several weeks before being seen whilst their requirements would be referred to the appropriate department.

To overcome this problem, Denbighshire County Council, the National Exercise Referral Scheme and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have collaborated to form a Falls Prevention Service which follows guidelines set out by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Social Care, said: “The Council has worked with the Health Board over the last 12 months to provide a single point of access that ensures efficient access to information, advice and assistance to promote health, well-being and independence.

"The service focuses on identifying the needs of the caller from the initial enquiry, making sure they get the right response which may include signposting to other services in the local community or directed to the correct service. It also enables people to access the wide variety of support available in their own communities.

“One of the primary targets for the Falls Prevention Service is to reduce the number of falls people are experiencing and as such reduce the associated number of injuries, calls to the ambulance service, hospital admissions, the need for treatment, and all the associated costs which can be reinvested in other areas of treatment and care.”

The Falls Risk Assessment Tool is used identify the members of the community who have had a fall or who are at risk of falling. Once identified through five simple closed questions, people are then referred to the service for a full assessment to reduce or eliminate their risk of falling which may include further referral onto further services such as: physiotherapy, exercise classes, home modifications, referral onto third sector services or simply a referral back to their GP for a review of their medication.

The training required to use the assessment tool has been delivered to multiple agencies such as social services, community therapists, care and repair agencies, Wales Ambulance Service and the Red Cross, and now includes North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and it will soon be delivered to North Wales Police.

Stuart Millington added: “Denbighshire will be the first county in which our staff will use the Falls Risk Assessment Tool in this way – and depending on results we may look at expanding this more widely.”

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service offers free Home Safety Checks, where a member of the Service will visit your home to provide advice on staying safe.

* To register for a free Home Safety Check, please call the bilingual 24 hour free hotline on 0800 169 1234 or visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk

To contact the Single Point of Access, please phone 0300 456 1000. People can also access the SPoA via e-mail: spoa@denbighshire.gov.uk

Limelight start rehearsals for new show

AM presses for modern rail links to region

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, Aled Roberts, has welcomed yesterday's announcement that the Welsh Government will be investing in improvements to the transport network in north Wales.

 

Mr Roberts (pictured below) said: “I very much welcome the announcements and I am also pleased that the A55 is being put forward for further improvements under the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

“It’s important now that all north Wales representatives at Assembly and local government level work together to pursue the case for electrification and modernisation of rail links in the region; there is also a need for us to make sure that the cross-Pennine route does not end at Chester and I would urge the Welsh Government to work to ensure that north Wales is included in that route.

 

“I have been involved in direct discussions with the Minister regarding investment in capacity issues on the Wrexham – Chester line which currently puts a constraint on Holyhead-Cardiff links and is also holding up improvements to the services from north Wales to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

 

“The challenge now is to ensure that opportunities created by the transfer of powers over the rail franchise are realised and that north Wales will be able to gain full advantage from these latest developments."

Dementia friends group is promoted

Paul Jones from the elderly mental health team at Denbighshire social services is promoting the dementia friends group which meets at St Collen’s Community Centre in Llangollen every third Wednesday of the month, from 10am-3pm.

Paul said: “We are tasked with building dementia friendly communities.

“We do this by delivering dementia friends sessions in the hope of educating people and removing the stigma that may come with hearing the word dementia, working one to one with individuals to help them access their community and we also set up and run dementia friendly social groups.

“The groups give people a chance to come and talk in a non-judgmental environment where people affected by dementia can come in confidence.

“Service information is available and there are activities with lunch provided. The groups are very relaxed and are open to everybody as another one of our aims is to limit isolation.”

He added: “We are currently in the process of reaching out to people in Llangollen to let them know of the social groups existence and what it is we are trying to do.

“We have held sessions at fire stations, taxi services and town councils, therefore helping people who have dementia access there town.”


  

St Collens Community Centre,  

Regent Street, Llangollen, LL20 8NU 

Non-denominational Group 

Every 3^rd Wednesday of the month 10am – 3pm 

£5 to include refreshments and a light lunch 

 

A chance to meet new people 

Massage taster, Games, Reminiscence 

 

An opportunity to meet some of the local services in a friendly, informal setting and gather some information and ask questions. 

 

·       For further information contact  

01824 706469 

Prince Charles to visit Eisteddfod's opening day

 

* The Eisteddfod's famous opening parade.

 

This year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will have a royal visitor when the Prince of Wales calls on the opening day of the annual event, Tuesday, July 7.

 

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will be there in the afternoon for the opening day Parade of Nations led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, CBE.

 

The Royal couple are scheduled to arrive by helicopter and make their way to the Royal International Pavilion just after 4pm, escorted by the Lord Lieutenant, Mr Harry Fetherstonhaugh and Mrs Davina Fetherstonhaugh.

 

He will introduce the Royal party to Eisteddfod Chairman, Gethin Davies, and other Eisteddfod officers before chatting with competitors who are taking part in the parade.

 

The Prince and the Duchess will then watch as the Parade sets off on its annual route into the town and back to the Pavilion before leaving at about 4.45pm.

 

The Eisteddfod is no stranger to Royal visits – in 1953 a visit to the Eisteddfod, was one of the first of the Queen’s official engagements after her coronation.

 

This is the third time the Prince of Wales has been to the Eisteddfod. He and Diana came 30 years ago in 1985 while in 2006 he came with the Duchess of Cornwall and other Royal visitors have been Princesses Margaret and Anne.

 

The Queen was also at the Eisteddfod in 1992 to open the Royal International Pavilion and one person to have seen all the Royal visits is Chairman Gethin Davies, 76, who is thrilled at the prospect of the Prince’s return.

 

The retired solicitor, who has been involved with the event since he began selling programmes for it back in 1951, said: “I remember the very first time the Queen came in 1953 when I was a teenage usher while still a pupil at Llangollen Grammar School.

 

“It is a great honour to have Prince Charles here again 30 years after his first visit. He has really seemed to enjoy coming here in the past and we’re very pleased to have the honour of his presence here for the third time.”

 

This year’s Eisteddfod also has musical royalty with the first ever appearance in North Wales of American song-writing legend Burt Bacharach who will play a curtain-raising concert on Monday night.

 

Prince Charles’s former Royal harpist Catrin Finch will perform on Wednesday evening at a concert to celebrate South American music and the 150^th anniversary of the founding of the Welsh colony n Patagonia.

 

At the Thursday night concert heart-throb tenor Alfie Boe will be joined on stage by Britain’s Got Talent star Jonathan Antoine, on Friday night the immensely popular Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright will perform and TV choirmaster Gareth Malone will be on stage for the Choir of the World competition on Saturday.

 

For the final concert, Ali Campbell, the voice of UB40 who sold 70 million records, will be reunited on the eisteddfod stage with two other founding members of the group, percussionist, trumpet player and vocalist Astro and keyboard player Mickey.

 

Children’s Day and the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite will take place on the Tuesday afternoon before the evening Heart of Llangollen concert.

 

Wednesday’s programme will include a new competition for the International Young Musician of the Year as well as the Children’s Choir of the World while Thursday’s competitions will see another first, the International Voice of Musical Theatre Trophy.

 

The Blue Riband event, the Choir of the World for the Pavarotti Trophy, is decided on Saturday night as well as the Open Dance competition and Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

 

* For more details on the 2015 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

 

Two events planned at St Collen's

Llangollen International Musical  Eisteddfod 

and St Collen’s Parish Church Llangollen 

 

Annual Eisteddfod Service 

Sunday 12 July 2015 at 11am 

 

Preacher: The Right Reverend Libby Lane 

Bishop of Stockport 

 

Theme: ‘For those in peril on the sea…’ 

 

Donations to the Mission to Seafarers 

AM asks government to help save D&C

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has asked the Welsh Government to help save one of his constituency’s biggest employers. 

  

He met the remaining staff at Dobson & Crowther on Friday after the Llangollen company went into administration and made 55 out of 79 workers redundant. 

  

Mr Skates, who is based in the town, has written to the Welsh Government economy minister Edwina Hart about the closure. 

 

The Welsh Labour AM (pictured right) said: “I am working with others to do whatever possible to save Dobson & Crowther and find a new employer for people in Llangollen. 

  

“After a positive meeting with David Shaw from administrators Baker Tilly last week, I am encouraged by the level of interest being shown in the business and I assured the employees I will do everything in my power to help. 

  

“We need to keep Dobson & Crowther in Llangollen, and I have asked the Welsh Government to help us achieve that.” 

  

Mr Skates has secured an assurance that details of the 55 employees laid off will be passed to any company which buys the business, and also welcomed ‘positive’ news regarding the development at Dobson & Crowther’s former site. 

  

Sainsbury’s was due to open a store there in time for Christmas, creating 130 jobs, but announced last month it was pulling out of the project. The supermarket giant is now looking to sub-let the brand new premises, which are almost complete. 

Mr Skates said: “I have spoken to Sainsbury’s within the past week and there is plenty of interest in the site, with early discussions under way with a number of both food and non-food businesses. While these are initial talks, there are certainly positive signs.” 

  

He added: “There seems to be some misunderstanding about what would have been the Sainsbury’s site, with some opponents of the project happy to peddle the myth that we’ll have an empty building on the edge of town.  

  

“Sainsbury’s is tied into a contract, so will lose money every day that the building is not occupied. It’s in their interest to sub-let the premises, so it will be finished and it will be filled by a business – or a number of businesses – which will create jobs for Llangollen.” 

  

Dobson & Crowther was forced to restructure last year after the loss of its biggest customer, and was later let down when its main supplier went bust. 

Challenge raises thousands for Cancer Research

* Organisers and participants of the 2^nd Llangollen Round Challenge in aid

of Cancer Research UK. Photo: Barrie Potter. 

ORGANISERS are hoping to have raised over £25,000 from the recent 2^nd Llangollen Round Challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Over the last weekend in May a total of 342 participants set out from Dinas Bran Leisure Centre – 216 of them aiming to complete 35 miles in one day and the rest aiming to finish 17 miles over two days.  

Weather conditions on the Saturday were perfect for the event - sunny but not too hot - and ideal for scenic views and photography.  

Star of the one-day competitors was local man Steve Stockdale who ran the route in an impressive seven hours, 52 minutes.  

The two-day walkers completed their walk at the Ponderosa at a more leisurely pace.

On the Sunday, after a night of rain, wind and power cuts, the intrepid walkers set out again and only two of them did not finish. 

At the leisure centre organisers also had use of Ysgol Dinas Bran’s restaurant where light snacks were laid on for walkers and supporters.  

All the walkers who returned were awarded medals and certificates.

Sandra Woodhall, chairman of Llangollen Committee of Cancer Research UK, said: “We would like to thank the school and leisure centre for providing the facilities for the event.  

“We would also like to thank all those who helped on the day, those manning the restaurant, marshalls on car park duty, road crossings, those on checkpoints and the sweepers. 

“Finally we thank all in the centre for making sure the whole operation ran smoothly. 

“It was a long, busy but satisfying weekend and we hope to raise a large sum from sponsorship for Cancer Research UK.”

She added: “We have no idea of the final amount raised but are hoping it will be well over £25,000. 

“Sponsor money is still coming in and we will probably not have the final figure for a couple of months.”

Llangollen couple’s killer back behind bars in Spain

The Shropshire Star is reporting that one of the brutal killers of a Llangollen couple has been arrested in Spain after four months on the run from prison.

For the full story, see: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/06/20/llangollen-couples-killer-back-behind-bars-in-spain/

Eddie Redmayne's choirmaster is Eisteddfod adjudicator

A MUSICAL maestro who led the school choir in which Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne was a star performer will be one of the adjudicators at this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Ralph Allwood MBE was in charge of the world famous choir at Eton College when the young British actor, who earlier this year landed the Academy Award plus a BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for his stunning portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking, was its lead singer in the early 2000s.

With a string of other prestigious musical accomplishments to his credit over more than 30 years, in July Ralph (pictured right) will once again bring his vast experience to bear in judging the cream of choral competitors from across the globe at the Llangollen Eisteddfod where he has been one of the guest adjudicators for over a decade.

For 26 years until 2011Ralph, 65, was Director of Music at Eton, the top people’s public school in Berkshire, and recalls that he was in charge of the college choir at the time - from 2000 to 2005 - when actor Eddie Redmayne was a key member.

He said: “Eddie was Keeper of the Choir at that time, which meant that he was the chief boy who was singing in it.

“I remember him as the nicest possible young man who was also a very good singer. He was a very useful tenor.

“I know that, apart from music, he was also very keen on acting and I was absolutely delighted to see that he won so many honours for playing Stephen Hawking in the film The Theory of Everything.”

After leaving Eton and going on to obtain his History of Art degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, Redmayne, a friend of Prince William at Eton, embarked on a successful career in theatre and film.

He brought the powerful tenor voice honed under Ralph Allwood’s guidance at Eton to bear in one of his most memorable big screen roles to date, as Marius Pontmercy in the 2012 blockbuster, Les Miserables, alongside Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway.

Also during his time at Eton, Ralph recalls being tutor to another student who went on to musical greatness, Edward Gardner, who eventually became conductor of the English National Opera.

“Edward was possibly one of he best known of the 13 boys to whom I was tutor who would go on to become conductors,” he said.

Another famous name of the musical world Ralph – now a freelance choral director - has worked with is Britain’s favourite choirmaster Gareth Malone, who he will meet up with again when Gareth  showcases his new choir at this summer’s Llangollen Eisteddfod.

The pair last teamed up when Ralph was a judge on the BBC2’s The Choir two years ago.

Ralph says of him: “He’s a really nice fellow and it was just wonderful to work with him on the series.”

At this year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod Gareth, who also masterminded the creation of the Military Wives choir, is looking forward to playing a part in the climactic Choir of the World event when choirs will compete for the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy.

Eilir Owen Griffiths, Musical Director of the Eisteddfod, said: “The guiding principle of the Eisteddfod is that it should involve people of the highest quality and Ralph is very much part of that tradition.

“He has tremendous experience at the highest levels in music and it is that quality and integrity that he brings to his role as an adjudicator and which helps make Llangollen what it is.”

During his own glittering career Ralph, who was made an MBE in the 2012 New Year’s Honours List, has become well known throughout the musical world for founding and directing the Eton Choral Courses which over the past 35 years have seen around 7,000 16-20 year olds receive week-long, residential courses providing intensive but fun training in singing and choral music.

He co-founded the Rodolfus Choir, made up of the best singers from the courses and which has produced over 20 CDs, and is founder and conductor of Inner Voices, a choir made up of singers from state schools in London.

Ralph is also Director of Music at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich with its Choral Scholars from Trinity Laban, and a conductor of the National Youth Choir of Wales.

He has conducted choirs for 40 live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and has written much music heard worldwide on radio and television.

Ralph is a Fellow Commoner and Assistant Director of Music at Queens’ College, Cambridge, and an Honorary Fellow of University College, Durham.

Another of his many roles is Choral Advisor to Novello, Wellington College and Trinity College, Oxford.

He teaches at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Westminster Under School and at his old school, Tiffin.

Apart from his annual contribution at Llangollen Eisteddfod, Ralph, who has a Doctorate of Music from Aberdeen University, also adjudicates at the Cork International Choral Competition.

He said he is looking forward very much to adjudicating once again at Llangollen and added: “I’ve done it for the past 12 years or so and it’s always really lovely because it’s a unique and highly enjoyable festival.”

Among the highlights at this year's Eisteddfod will be the Thursday night concert when heart-throb tenor Alfie Boe will be joined on stage by Britain’s Got Talent star Jonathan Antoine.
 

Other big draws include Oscar-winning music legend Burt Bacharach, the immensely popular Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and Ali Campbell, the voice of UB40.

To book tickets and for more details on the 2015 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk