Sir Terry Waite returns to praise Eisteddfod and speak of his new work

* John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod (left) and 2026 President Sir Karl Jenkins (centre) welcome Sir Terry Waite to Llangollen.

Six years after he gave up its presidency Sir Terry Waite was back at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on its 2026 opening day, speaking of its vital role in the world and of his continuing humanitarian work in many areas.

Sir Terry rose to international fame when he was held hostage for nearly five years after being captured in Beirut in 1987 while attempting to negotiate the release of other hostages and was ultimately freed in 1991.

Now in his late eighties, he has since devoted his energies to a number of humanitarian causes with the emphasis on bringing peace to a troubled world and its people.

He took on the role of president of the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 2006, became much loved and respected and eventually stepped down in 2020. But he has been a regular visitor to the festival ever since.

He was back once again this year to be greeted by a warm reception from trustees and volunteers and also Sir Karl Jenkins who has become the 2026 Eisteddfod president and was about to feature in the evening’s opening  concert, Uniting Nations: One World.

Sir Terry said: “It's great to be back again because the International Eisteddfod has got a very important role to play in the world by bringing people from different communities together.

“The Eisteddfod has had a very rough time, during Covid and beyond. But it has managed to get back on its feet and it has been absolutely vital that international music goes on.”

He added: “Over the years - and I saw it when I was president -  this festival has faced some very unusual challenges.

“One of them has been getting the people we want to come here from countries that are, some would say, beyond the pale politically, and getting visas for such people is exceptionally difficult and the team here struggle with that problem.

“I remember years ago we got hold of the chief officer in charge of visas in London. We invited him here to speak to us. He saw what was happening and understood the problem. But like all civil servants he was moved on.

“We’re now in an even more complex situation and some of our politicians - I can’t say who but certainly those in prominent people - have not necessarily helped matters at all.

“But I've often said that music has the capacity to breathe harmony into the soul and that's something that Llangollen certainly does.”

Since leaving the Eisteddfod presidency, Sir Terry has continued in his numerous other roles, including as co-founder and president of Hostage International and president of homeless charity Emmaus.

He said: “With Hostage International, one hour before coming here this afternoon I was talking to someone who has been held in arbitrary detention in Iraq for the last five years. I've been trying to help him and we've been giving support to his family. And that's just one of 100 cases that we have.

“Then with the homeless, there's also a lot of work to do. I'm still involved in this. We started off with the portable building and we now have 30 communities around England, Wales and Scotland.

“Then there’s the work I do with the children of war who are often left without parents and left without education. Sometimes they are also highly traumatised.

“When you see what's happening in places like Gaza and others, my goodness ,  so many children  will grow up with no parents, no home, no education, nothing and we have to try and do something about this.”