Former Eisteddfod competitor returns as Minister for Culture

* Culture and Sport Minister Heledd Fychan chats with Eisteddfod Friends chair Paul Spencer about his group's valuable fundraising for the festival over many years.

* The Minister meets volunteers in the floral tent.

A former competitor at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returned to the this year’s festival but this time as the Welsh Minister for Culture and Sport.

 

On her visit, during which she was given a guided tour of the busy Eisteddfod field by its chairman John Gambles, Heledd Fychan MS stressed how important the annual festival is in providing cultural activities which help overcome division in society.

 

She also praised the Eisteddfod for the strong emphasis it places on multilingualism and the promotion of the Welsh language through its signage, publications and advertising. 

 

The Minister, originally from Ynys Môn, revealed that over 20 years ago she competed with her choir, Côr Glanaethwy, quite a few times, winning on a number of occasions. Her young son has been following in her footsteps competing with his own cluster choir from the Bangor area.

 

She said: “I remember my choir had some successes here over the years and actually, a few years ago, when my son was here with the school choir he loved it, so it’s great to be back.

 

“This is my first time visiting the Eisteddfod as a government minister and I have really enjoyed meeting the volunteers working around the field.”

 

She added: “Obviously, the history of the Eisteddfod is a really interesting one as it’s about peace and bringing cultures together and celebrating them.

 

“I think it's really pertinent today when we so much division in our society that the Eisteddfod actually serves to remind us all of what unites and the part culture can play in this.

“It’s also important to be reminded that we have two national languages and that people coming to the Eisteddfod can experience the Welsh language as well and see the similarities between some languages.”

 

During her tour the Minister met people in their various work areas, including artistic director Dave Danford, backstage volunteers Mark Jones (stage manager) and John Gibbens then Michelle Davies of the floral team on their stall where she received a welcome spray of cold water on her neck to help keep her cool in the day's blazing sun.

 

Ms Fychan looked in on the heritage tent to receive a full briefing from Chris Adams on how the Eisteddfod’s records right back to its 1947 origins are being carefully preserved.

 

It was then over the official gift shop and the adjacent visitor centre where she chatted to Ian Lebbon, chair of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee and also chair of Denbighshire Destination Forum Partnership.

 

Later, she visited the competitors’ reception centre to be greeted by Alison Da Silva and then the Friends of the Eisteddfod tent where she spoke to the group’s chair Paul Spencer about the valuable financial contribution it has made to the festival over many years.