Award throws spotlight on new operatic star

* Terry Waite hands the Pendine trophy to Erin Rossington.

A ‘uniquely talented’ young soprano won one of the main prizes at an international festival – just 24  hours after tending the sheep on the family farm.

Erin Rossington, 23, from Llanfairtalhaiarn near Abergele, was crowned as the Pendine International Voice of the Future at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

She was presented with the Pendine Trophy, a solid silver salver, and a cheque for £5,000 by Eisteddfod president Terry Waite on behalf of Mario Kreft, proprietor of the arts loving sponsor, the Pendine Park care organisation.

In what judges acknowledge was a very close competition Erin clinched the title just ahead of Pembrokeshire soprano Jessica Cale, 27, who received the runner-up prize of £2,000.

The international competition began with a preliminary competition, with the two finalists making it onto the main Llangollen pavilion stage for the culmination of the contest.

Mr Kreft and his wife, Gill, pledged to contribute £5,000 to the International Voice of the Future competition through their Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports cultural and community initiatives, with the balance coming from

the Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation and the Eisteddfod.

An overwhelmed and thrilled Erin said she would be using the prize money to further her dream as a career as a professional opera singer.

She said: “It was a wonderful feeling to win such a prestigious competition and I can’t believe that I’ve come this far.”

Erin, who was helping out on her family’s sheep farm just the day before the competition preliminaries, has been a passionate singer since she was very small and has competed at eisteddfods right across Wales and even abroad.

In 2013 she was part of a group from the Urdd Eisteddfod which journeyed to the Welsh settlement in Argentina’s Patagonia region to compete in its own eisteddfod, proudly taking second place.

Four years ago she played innkeeper’s wife Madame Thenardier in an Urdd production of Les Miserables in Cardiff.

Erin has been studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and has just graduated with a Masters of Music Degree at the Guild hall in London

She grew up with her three sisters helping to run their parents’ sheep farm and says she was helping to tend the flock just before coming to compete in Llangollen.

“My lifetime’s ambition is to become a professional opera singer and this fantastic prize will go towards helping me achieve that,” said a delighted Erin.

The performance which clinched her star prize included operatic pieces by Handel, Tschaikovsky and Welsh composer Meirion Williams.

A close runner-up to Erin was 27-year-old Jessica Cale from Haverford West in Pembrokeshire.

Like Erin a singer since childhood, following a two-year course at the Royal College of Music in London Jessica is due to receive her Master’s Degree later this week and will then set the seal on her studies by joining the International Opera Studio at the college in September.

She said: “I’ve been singing all my life as my parents are both ministers of the Church in Wales which meant I grew up singing hymns and psalms.

“I sang in a church choir in Pembrokeshire and reached the final when I took part in a singing competition in Cardiff last year.

“This was my first major eisteddfod and I’ve really enjoyed being part of the Voice of the Future competition as everyone was so lovely.”

Jessica’s competition repertoire included works by Handel, Richard Strauss an Frank Bridge.

Mario Kreft said: “I believe a star was born this evening as Erin Rossington’s  performance was simply breath-taking and and highly commended by the judges.

“She is a spectacularly talented young lady who I am sure will go on to enjoy a glittering operatic career.

“Her victory was all the more commendable because she was up against a truly international field with competitors from at least six different countries vying for the title.

“Llangollen is known as the town where Wales meets the world but on this occasion it was where Wales beat the world.

“However, Jessica Cale also put in a stunning performance which will long be remembered.

“Our aim in supporting the competition in conjunction with Sir Bryn Terfel is to provide a springboard for brilliant young singers from around the world to achieve

their dreams of establishing a career on the global stage.

“The competition chimes perfectly with our ethos at Pendine Park because the arts in general and music in particular provide the golden thread running through everything

we do to enrich the lives of our residents and staff alike.

“I hope the recognition Erin and Jessica will deservedly receive after this competition will help them in their chosen careers and we see all three fulfil their ambitions of becoming major opera stars.

“The Pendine Trophy, which is solid Edwardian silver bearing a Chester hallmark, was been kindly donated by Chester jewellers Tony and Julie Kaye of Kaye’s Jewellers. It’s a

stunning and beautiful trophy.”

According to the festival’s music director Dr Edward-Rhys Harry, winner Erin has a “unique talent.”

He said: “She has a beautiful timbre to her voice which also has a lovely sense of feeling. There is also an expressive quality to how she sings.

“However, the judges found choosing a winner very difficult as Jessica also has a fabulous voice." 

Performance showcases unity and diversity

* The Tapestry performance on the Pavilion stage yesterday.

Local community groups performed together yesterday to help Llangollen Eisteddfod celebrate over 10 years of the festival’s Inclusion Project.

The project has helped promote unity and diversity throughout North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire by bringing local communities together.

This year’s group performance theme ‘Tapestry’, was inspired by a quote from the distinguished American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou: “We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their colour.”

Taking part were Wrexham Singing Hands, a British Sign Language Choir, mental health Ukulele group, Mind Tones, Wrexham One Love Choir, consisting of member who have experienced homelessness, addiction and marginalisation, Derwen on Tour (DOT), a group of Creative Studies students from Derwen College in Gobowen, Shropshire, who offer Makaton sign, song and dance performance and workshops, and the Theatretrain Regional Choir from Mold.

Reflecting the diversity of society and the International Eisteddfod’s ethos of promoting understanding and acceptance though music and dance, the project saw all five groups present their own short performance before coming together to perform on the pavilion stage.

Speaking about the inspiration for this year’s performance, Leslie Churchill Ward, the project’s Creative Director said: “The theme of Tapestry lends itself beautifully both musically and choreographically. The new song that has been created is based around all of these ideas, and how we weave our lives together to create art and friendship.”

Made possible by a grant from Chester and Wrexham-based Grosvenor Insurance Services, the performance reflected on important issues concerning diversity in a thought-provoking and emotive piece.

Eisteddfod music director Dr Edward-Rhys Harry said: “The Inclusion Project is close to everyone’s heart here at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, as it provides people who may not usually get the opportunity to perform on stage, in front of an international audience.

“Thanks to the generous support of Grosvenor Insurance Services with their donation towards the cost of the Inclusion Project, it has been able to continue its life-changing work and enables people from all walks of life to perform on the Eisteddfod stage."

Eisteddfod performers draw crowds in the town centre

* Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir sings in Centenary Square.

Performers from the eisteddfod have been drawing the crowds in Llangollen’s Centenary Square this afternoon.

Winning a particularly warm welcome in the hot sunshine was the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir, singing for the first time in Wales to mark their 40^th anniversary year.

The 55-strong choir was formed in 1978 by a small number of ex-pats living in the former British colony, mainly South Walians who had gone out there to work on major engineering projects such as the underground railway.

This is currently the only Welsh male voice choir operating in southern Asia.

Although most the choristers have Welsh origins around half a dozen were actually born in the country.

During the past four decades the choir has sung around the world at venues in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. It is proud to have performed three times at the Royal Albert Hall in London and in the Sydney Opera House.

Despite its international touring this is the first time this Welsh male voice choir has sung in Wales as it makes its debut at the eisteddfod in Llangollen.

Choir spokesman Bill Kong, who is this year acting for the seventh time as an eisteddfod volunteer international welcome host, said: “Ninety per cent of the choir members have never been to Llangollen before and a similar number haven’t been to the eisteddfod either, so they think it’s great to be here and singing for the first time in Wales.

“Although we’re not actually competing in the festival we’ve got a full programme of engagements.

“On Wednesday we were singing in Centenary Square and afterwards joining the Cor Bro Gwynedd at an event in Bala.

“On Thursday we’re doing the lunchtime concert in St Collen’s Church at 1pm and going back up to the eisteddfod field to sing in the Ampitheatre at 3.15pm.

“On Friday we’re singing on the World Stage on the field at 11am at at 1.30pm at a care home in Dolywern. Later that afternoon we’re looking forward to taking part in the famous Parade of Nations through Llangollen town centre and at 7.30pm the choir is at All Saints’ in Gresford.

“We’ll round things off with an appearance on the Globe Stage on the field.”

Bill added: “We’ve enjoyed every minute of it and we’d love to come back to Llangollen again - this time hopefully to compete at the eisteddfod.”

Also performing in Centenary Square this afternoon were the Qypryllinite E Roshnikut Visaret E Gore folk musicians from Albania.

There were cheers from the large crowd when its flag-bearer danced with Town Crier, Chem Cheminais.

* Singing in the Wednesday lunchtime concert at St Collen’s Church was the choir from the East Tennessee State University.

Its members presented a varied selection of choral music from Europe, the USA and Wales.

* Qypryllinite E Roshnikut Visaret E Gore folk musicians from Albania play in the square.

* Town crier Chem is invited to dance by the band's flag bearer.

 * The East Tennessee University Choir sings at the St Collen's lunchtime concert.

New Story Hub encourages tales of the eisteddfod

* Volunteer Charlie Jones, centre, with children from Ysgol Rhosymedre

 recording their impressions of the eisteddfod on a big montage. 

A dedicated band of volunteers is busy gathering memories and impressions of the festival from visitors to the eisteddfod.

They are working in the Story Hub which is appearing for the first time this year and is

located just to the left of the ticket office as you come in from the town entrance to the site.

One of the volunteers, Charlie Jones, explained: “The Story Hub has been created to record what people love about the eisteddfod, their memories of it over the years right from its early days to the present and what it means to them.

“We’re taking written notes of what they say and also working closely with fellow volunteers from Deeside Radio who plan to make a programme based on impressions they’re capturing on audio.

“So far it’s been going well and many people have been in to speak to us.

“On Monday we even had a visit from Jules Holland who was appearing in the evening concert with his Blues Band.

“Yesterday was Children’s Day so we had lots of young people in from schools across the region. They were enjoying making a record of how they felt about the eisteddfod by writing their impressions down on a big montage.”

Charlie added: “We’d like to see as many people as possible coming in to see us over the course of the week and everyone will get a warm welcome.”

Catch the eisteddfod action in the square

Eisteddfod organisers have issued a list of performances by festival competitors in Llangollen's Centenary Square. They are:

Wednesday:

1.45pm-2.15pm: Qypryllinite E Roshnikut Visaret E gore from Albania

2.15pm-3.15pm: 2x Competitors

3..15pm-4pm: Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir

Thursday:

2pm-2.30pm: Artistic Cooperative Les Emissaires de la Paix

2.30pm-3pm: Gema Citra Nusantara from Indonesia

3pm-3.15pm: Spraol

3.15pm-4pm: Alla Polacca from Poland

Friday:

2pm-2.30pm: Cor DAW

2.30pm: Megan Lee singer-songwriter

2.40pm: Short spoken word by Evrah Rose 

3.15pm-3.45pm: Punjabi Bhangra Cultural Group from India

3.45pm-4.15pm: Cathays Brass from Cymru

4.30pm - PARADE OF NATIONS!

Saturday:

2.15pm-2.45pm: Heritage/Albania/Ghana

2.45pm-3.15pm: Young Voices of Colorado from USA

3.15pm-3.45pm: Oscars Ungdomskor from Sweden

3.45pm-4.15pm: Kenyalang Sarawak from Malaysia

4.14pm-4.45pm: Bulgarian Dance group

Chirk hospital gets hospice outreach facility

* Kay Ryan, Outpatient Services 

Coordinator at Nightingale House Hospice.

Nightingale House Hospice is taking its specialist patient and carer support into the community providing information, advice and support for those who need it.

A new outreach facility has been set up in Chirk Community Hospital to enable patients and their loved ones to tap into a wealth of expertise and services within a community setting.

It is a chance to speak to someone about what a patient is going through or worried about.

Kay Ryan, Outpatient Services Coordinator, is responsible for the new service and says the thinking behind the new project is to make it easier for patients living in these areas to access services. 

She believes that it will also help de-mystify the image of a hospice only being available for end of life care.

The hospice helps patients lead an improved quality of life even with a life-limiting illness.

Kay says many people do not know that Nightingale House helps patients to access numerous services they may not know are available to them such as bereavement support, art and music therapy, drop-in sessions, and complementary therapy, as well as clinical support if required.

It is a myth she is keen to bust and emphasises the focus is very much on patient need and quality of life: “People’s perceptions are that think we only provide end of life care and new patients are often frightened to come to our main hospice building in Chester Road. 

"The majority of people don’t realise the range of services we offer. We can also signpost them to other services with the help of District Nurses, Community Palliative Care and Nurse Specialists in hospital or via their GP based on their needs at the time.

 “Our services aim to meet the needs of the patients and families who attend. It may be their physical or emotional well-being that they are struggling with or it could be family or work worries. We hope that by having an Outreach Service it will enable people who do wish to attend the Hospice to still access our support. It provides the opportunity for them talk to us and for us to be able to provide information and support that will allay their fears and help them to address their problems."

Attending the outreach sessions gives patients or carers a chance to find out more about pain management, living well and achieving their goals, having important conversations around health and well-being and how to improve sleep. Family members are often keen to talk to a skilled healthcare professional away from a formal environment such as a hospital or GP surgery.

Kay said: “It opens up access to the hospice in different surroundings for people who initially may only want to know what we offer. Very often family members or friends come to us first to get information and help.

"It is often the simplicity of help that has the greatest impact on patients. For example, one gentleman who had an advanced neurological condition and was losing the ability to speak was anxious about how he was going to be cared for as he couldn’t access the services he needed. 

"A phone call to the GP resulted in the GP offering the patient a one hour appointment where he was able to allay the patient’s fears. Sometimes the answers are so simple and can make such a massive difference."

Kay has been managing the Outpatient and Day Care Services at the Hospice for the past 10 years and feels it is important to spread the word about the new Outreach Services: “The most special and satisfying aspect of the job is being able to make a difference at a time when some people think that no-one can help them. 

"This is possible because we work as a multidisciplinary team, with a full mix of skills and expertise, we can usually find a solution to improve a problem.”

Nightingale House Outreach is available at: Chirk Community Hospital Tuesday from 10am – 12.30pm.

* If you would like to know more about Nightingale House Outreach then feel free to drop in to one of the new sessions or telephone 01978 316800.

Youngsters take up the global beat at music workshop

* Children harmonise with adults at the music workshop.

Youngsters from a host of schools teamed up with care home residents to sing to a global beat at the 2019 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The award-winning Pendine Park care organisation was hosting a morning of musical workshops as part of the annual  festival’s Children’s Day activities.

The schoolchildren and the  residents, some with dementia, from Pendine Park care homes in Wrexham belted out  tunes from various parts of the world to fit in with the festival’s international theme.

Old and young joined melodic forces to clap and sway in time to the music and beat out some hot rhythms using maracas and tambourines.

Leading the sessions were Jenny Pearson, a freelance singer and tutor who has worked with the Welsh National Opera, along with Pendine Wrexham’s artist-in-residence Sarah Edwards and Nia Davies-Williams, the musician in residence at  Pendine’s Bryn Seiont Newydd home in Caernarfon.

The workshops were part of Pendine’s pioneering enrichment programme, which enhances the experience of residents and also plays a key role in personal training and staff development.

Around 20 Pendine staff were on hand to make sure that the morning ran smoothly.

Loving every second of the sessions was 85-year-old Heather Davies, a resident of Pendine’s Hillbury care home in Wrexham.

Herself a grandmother of four, she said: “It’s not the first time I’ve come along to one of these music sessions at the eisteddfod and I just love watching and meeting the children who have such a good time.

“I’ve been singlng along with them and having a really good time.”

One of the school groups she harmonising with was a 46-strong contingent from St Paul’s in Isycoed, Wrexham.

Teacher Sandra Francis said: “We’ve been here a few times before and the children we bring always have lots of fun. They also like meeting the elderly people who are here. It’s definitely something different.”

This was certainly the case with six-year-old Harry Jones who said: “I like to do the singing and clapping best. I also enjoy walking around the eisteddfod and looking at things in the shops.”

Another Hillbury resident lapping up the occasion was 90-year-old Gwendoline Davies-Barratt.

“I’ve got eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren so I love being around children and seeing them enjoying the music, so today has been fantastic. It’s so good when old and young people can get together like this - and I’ve been singing and clapping along with them,” she said.

Jenny Pearson, who arranged the sessions, explained: “Any sort of inter-generational activity like this is just great and it’s been amazing to work with the residents and so many children.

“Throughout the morning we must have had hundreds of young people from lots of different schools coming through our tent.

“It’s good for older and younger people to enjoy themselves together and both groups have been really getting into the music.

“Because of the international flavour of the eisteddfod we’ve chosen some songs about animals from different parts of the world for today’s programme. We have one about a dog from the USA and another about a donkey with a calypso beat from the West Indies.”

Also enjoying he musical action was a group from Eyton Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Wrexham led by teacher Samantha Jesson who said: “We make a beeline for the Pendine tent ever year because the children enjoy the music and singing so much.

“It’s something a bit out of the ordinary for them and it’s very good for them to meet and speak to the residents who come along.”

Among the Eyton youngsters getting into the groove with the music was seven-year-old Betsan Mae Edwards who was sporting a smart Mickey Mouse hat specially for the occasion.

She said: “I like coming in here and singing along very much as I really love music.

“We’ve also been in the Pavilion to hear the Peace Message, which was nice, and now we’re going to look around the shops. It’s great.”

It was the same story with her friend Amelia Rose Jones, also seven, who said: “I like joining in the songs and waving a flag. I’ve also been tapping to the songs on my knees. I’ve been here before and I’d like to come again.”   

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft said: “A key element in what we do at Pendine Park is bringing together older people with dementia and the children.

“The workshops are about raising awareness that old age in nothing to be frightened of and understanding how the arts and music can help change people’s lives for the better.

“The workshops have been a regular feature of our support for the Llangollen Eisteddfod over the past six years.  

 “The Eisteddfod is a national treasure and we love to support it because of its message of peace and bringing the people of the world together and these sessions are an extension of that.”

Children's Day at the eisteddfod

* Denbighshire schools take to the Pavilion stage.

Llangollen Eisteddfod hosted the annual Children’s Day today (Tuesday). 

Theme of this year’s event was Earth’s Little Heroes in celebration of the festival’s continued efforts to reduce plastic waste. 

Performances on the day included local schools from Denbighshire - Ysgol y Gwernant, Ysgol Bryn Collen, Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Caer Drewyn and Ysgol Carrog - exploring the World Warriors theme together with  Kakatsitsi, Master Drummers from Ghana. 

Rhosynedre Community Primary School and Ysgol Min Y Ddol delivered the traditional Peace Message. 

Children took to the stage in the Pavilion for a day full of fun activities and educational workshops. 

Special guests also included the Holloway Children’s Choir visiting from China. 

A5 re-opens after crash

The Leader has given the following update which says the road is now open again ...

THE A5 has reopened in both directions after a one-vehicle RTC earlier.

North Wales Police were urging motorists to avoid an area of the A5 by Llangollen after it was closed in both directions near the golf club as a result of the incident.

PC Thomas Hough has tweeted to say the person involved has suatained “no injuries, just some shock, all been checked over by ambulance.”

The Daily Post is reporting this afternoon that a serious crash has shut the A5 at Fron.

See: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-a5-crash-shuts-road-16520155

Councillor welcomes go-ahead for climate change package

* Llangollen councillor Graham Timms was one of the proposers of the climate change motion. 

The Llangollen councillor who was one of its proposers has welcomed Denbighshire County Council’s approval this morning of a motion declaring a climate and ecological emergency. 

Along with Joe Welch, the independent councillor for Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, and Mabon ap Gwynfor, the Plaid Cymru member from Llandrillo, Welsh Labour councillor Graham Timms put forward a motion to today’s full council meeting calling for the county council to:

● Immediately declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency

● Commit to making the authority net carbon zero by 2030 at the latest

● Set up a task and finish group to draw up a clear plan within 6 months to achieve the above, including ways to enhance biodiversity in Denbighshire

● Call on the Welsh Government and UK Government to provide assistance and resources to enable us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance biodiversity

● Work with partners across the public, private and third sector to help solve this climate and ecological emergency.

Cllr Timms said: “The motion on climate change went through unopposed. 

“I am delighted that the council was unanimous in voting for this motion.

“It is vital that we all act together to make Denbighshire County Council carbon neutral by 2030.

“The challenges we have set are ambitious, but future generations depend on us to play our part in reducing the destruction of the environment and the ecological impacts caused by global warming. 

“Llangollen Friends of the Earth helped and supported us in bringing this motion to the council and we recognise their importance in pricking our collective consciences.”

He added: "The scientific community tells us that unless we move very quickly to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions there will be catastrophic consequences, causing climate change and an ecological disaster for the whole earth. 

"Whilst this issue needs to be tackled internationally by governments across the world, I believe that we should set an example locally by committing ourselves to becoming carbon neutral in the next 10 years within Denbighshire County Council. 

"Llangollen recently became the first town in Denbighshire to gain 'plastic free' status from Surfers against Sewage, showing that our residents and businesses already have a commitment to the environment. 

"We are proposing the setting up of a task and finish group to examine the extent of the work that needs to be done to achieve our aim. It will report back to the council within six months with a plan on how we can become carbon neutral by 2030 at the latest.” 

Railway Children arrive at the eisteddfod by special train

* Children from Ysgol Carrog board the Eisteddfod Special at their local station.

IT was all aboard the Llangollen Eisteddfod special for around 30 excited schoolchildren from the Dee Valley this morning (Tuesday).

In conjunction with the eisteddfod, which opened today, Llangollen heritage railway laid on a vintage 1960 diesel train from Carrog station to Llangollen to take the pupils from Ysgol Carrog to the festival’s children’s day where they were among the hundreds to hear the traditional Peace Message in the Pavilion.

Later in the day the Railway Children boarded a steam train for the return trip home.

Ian Lebbon, from the eisteddfod, said: “By laying on this one-off train service we were reviving a tradition going back to the earliest days of the festival when youngsters were brought in by train for the children’s day events.

“This last happened back in 1962 prior to the Ruabon to Barmouth line being closed.

“Llangollen Railway was kind enough to put on a vintage diesel engine to haul the outgoing service and then a marvellous steam locomotive for the return to Carrog.”

He added: “In 1947 when the eisteddfod began lots of competitors and visitors came to the festival by regular train services and in 1949 the first German competitors to come after World War Two, the Lubeck Choir, also travelled to Llangollen by train.

“On a royal visit in the early 1950s the Queen also arrived to tour the eisteddfod by train, so it’s nice to see the link between the railway and the festival being celebrated with this special children’s train service.”

... and leave the train at Llangollen Station ready for their day at the eisteddfod. 

Jules Holland wows eisteddfod's opening concert audience

* Jules Holland on stage last night.

Longstanding friend of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Jools Holland wowed a capacity Pavilion crowd with an energetic performance at the opening evening concert last night.

Warm-up entertainment was delivered by platinum-selling Irish singer songwriter Jack Lukeman before Holland burst on stage for a high-energy performance accompanied by his legendary Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

He launched straight into a mesmerising performance before being joined on the piano by his younger brother, Christopher Holland, which immediately got the audience clapping. 

Guest stars included soulful singers Louise Marshall, Mabel Ray and sca exponents Pauline Black and Arthur Gaps. 

Renowned R&B soul diva Ruby Turner rounded off the guest list, captivating the crowd with her powerful vocals as she belted out some sensational soul numbers.

Holland and Co kept the boogie-woogie, soul and blues rolling before bringing the crowd to its feet with his show-stopping Enjoy  Yourself.

* Tickets for this year’s festival can be purchased online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office on 01978 862001.

Eisteddfod children's day focuses on environment

* Last year's Children's Day at the eisteddfod.

Llangollen Eisteddfod will be hosting the annual Children’s Day today (Tuesday). 

The theme to this year’s event is ‘Earth’s Little Heroes’ in celebration of the festival’s continued efforts to reduce plastic waste. 

Children’s Day will focus on the environment and promoting a positive approach to recycling alongside campaign group, Friends of the Earth.  To ensure the festival plays its part in caring for the planet, Eisteddfod is also teaming up with hydration partners, Aqua Optima.   

Specialists in water filtration Aqua Optima are providing over 200 reusable water bottles to help hydrate participants on Children’s day. Refillable water bottles are a simple and effective way to maintain hydration as well as reducing plastic waste.

The children will be encouraged to make sure they are drinking water throughout the day with their gifted water bottles from Aqua Optima. Following the exciting events of the day, each child will be able to take their new bottles home to continue the message of ‘Earth’s Little Heroes’.

Events on the day include an exciting mix of activities and performances promoting environmentally friendly actions. The campaign group, Friends of the Earth will be leading talks on climate change, bee friendly initiatives and recycling from their stand at Children’s Day. Alongside these informative talks, children will be encouraged to participate in a number of fun-filled activities. Interactive workshops will also run through the day with The Junkman, using instruments made from recycled objects.

Performances on the day include local schools from Denbighshire - Ysgol y Gwernant, Ysgol Bryn Collen, Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Caerdrewyn and Ysgol Carrog - exploring the ‘World Warriors’ theme together with Kakatsitsi, Master Drummers from Ghana. 

Wrexham schools Rhosymedre Community Primary and Ysgol Min y Ddol will deliver a poignant Peace Message, a core manifesto of the festival, at the matinee performance following ‘World Warriors’.

Eisteddfod Chairman, Dr Rhys Davies, said “It is vital to encourage and educate future generations on the importance of taking care of our planet. As Llangollen Eisteddfod is an international event we are eager to promote an eco-friendly message that will stay with visitors and participants long after the end of the festival on 7^th July.”

The Eisteddfod has been taking positive steps in recent years to become plastic free. This year promises the most eco-friendly yet with refill water stations clearly marked and more recycling points distributed throughout the site. 

* Tickets for this year’s festival can be purchased online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office on 01978 862001.

Town Council hosts event to welcome 2019 eisteddfod

* Singers from the Kenyalang schools in Sarawak, Malaysia take the stage.

* Eisteddfod president Terry Waite 

addresses the audience.

Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, opens the event.

* Above and below, members of the North Wales Opera Studio perform. 

* Llangollen-based New Dance encourage the audience to take to the floor.

Llangollen Town Council hosted a special event at the Town Hall this afternoon (Monday) to officially welcome the 2019 International Musical Eisteddfod.

It included a variety of entertainment and the chance for people to meet and greet those connected with the festival now in its 73^rd year.

Town mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, opened the afternoon’s programme by referring to the strong links which exist between the council and the eisteddfod.

The first musical interlude came from the North Wales Opera Studio whose singers provided a varied programme including traditional light opera numbers and a selection from the musical West Side Story.

Also singing - fresh from their flight from the Far East - were youngsters from the Kenyalang schools in Sarawak, Malaysia, who will be competing at the eisteddfod later this week.

A short film was shown featuring highlights from the eisteddfod over the years before festival president Terry Waite told the audience that they were the “inheritors of a remarkable tradition” in hosting the annual international occasion.

He said that in times when many arts events were facing financial problems people should rally round to ensure that the eisteddfod not only continues but also flourishes.

“This means the eisteddfod going on to bring harmony to a world that is so tragically divided,” he added.

The Llangollen-based New Dance troupe, which meets at the Town Hall every Monday from 7-9pm, then encouraged members of the audience to join them in a dance routine.

The event, organised by Town Council facilitator Charlie Jones, also received strong support from Llangollen Museum and the ECTARC language school.

Wool project finds permanent new home

* The fleece which Gwlangollen works with.

A new project which aims to knit together wool producers and users has found a permanent new home in Llangollen.

llanblogger recently featured the work of Gwlangollen which, through the use of traditional craft skills, processes suitable fleece to produce unique, handmade soft furnishings and gifts to be sold locally.

The project has achieved this by bringing together fleece producers who are interested in developing the necessary skills to process some of their own fleece, competent crafters who can pass on their skills to others, and volunteers who enjoy learning and making together.

However, at the time of the article Gwlangollen was desperately in need of  an affordable workshop with a small area of outside space somewhere in Llangollen where it could contribute to the visitor experience of the town.

Since then the project has been offered space to create a working wool museum in the Lock-Up Heritage Centre, near the traffic lights.

Project spokeswoman Gill Britten said: "A massive thank you to Sue Hargreaves and the Armoury Conservation Trust. 

"We are hoping our museum will be ready by September this year. Our outreach work and close links with the Pentredwr Community will not change."

Gill added: "Llangollen was born on the back of wool trade. One of our aims is to reflect its history, and the skills used, when it was still a cottage industry. 

"Most families were involved at some level with the production of woollen fabric, either for their own use, or for sale. It was a whole community activity.

"If you have an old spinning wheel, or weaving loom of any size, taking up valuable storage space, we would love to include your items in our display. 

"Likewise with any of the smaller items involved with these crafts, such as drop spindles, bobbins, lucets, beaters, shuttles and combs. Items can be gifted or on a short or long term loan. Obviously your contributions will all be appropriately recognised.

"If anyone has any leftover, undyed, knitting yarn (wool not acrylic), a woollen blanket, some tweed fabric, flannel, or a sheepskin, we will gladly display it or up-cycle, according to your wishes. At one time, all these items were created and sold in Llangollen.

"If you would like to contribute to the exhibition please contact me. I will willingly collect your items and help free up your storage space.

"Lastly, I’d like to thank all those who sent good luck messages and other helpful suggestions following my last post. I really appreciate your support."

* Gill Britten can be contacted on 07871 774651.

Explorer Bruce Parry heads for Fringe date

Explorer, film maker and environmentalist Bruce Parry is heading to Llangollen Fringe Festival.

Parry (pictured) is a documentary filmmaker, best known for his BBC series Tribe which saw him living with indigenous peoples around the world, and thereafter his work about globalisation and climate change.

More recently he switched from television to the big screen with his directorial debut, ’Tawai, a voice from the forest’ - his attempt to dive deeper into the heart of what he had learned on his many years travelling the world.

The Fringe will be hosting a screening of that film on Sunday July 21 at the Town Hall, followed by an interview and Q&A with Parry.

Tawai is a word the nomadic hunter-gatherers of Borneo use to describe the connection they feel to their forest home.

In this dreamy, philosophical and sociological look at life, Parry embarks on an immersive odyssey to explore the different ways that humans relate to nature and how this influences the way we create our societies.

From the forests of the Amazon and Borneo to the River Ganges and Isle of Skye, Tawai is a quest for re-connection, providing a powerful voice from the heart of the forest itself.

* Tickets are on sale now at £15. Festival tickets and dates and times for all concerts and events are available from www.llangollenfringe.co.uk or by calling the Fringe box office: 0800 1455779.

New Dot unveils summer film programme

New Dot Cinema's summer programme has just been announced. 

It includes First Man, the dramatic biopic about Neil Armstrong and the race to put a man on the Moon. 

The rest of the programme includes a beautiful French animation, a dreamy Italian tale, a French novelist who broke all the rules and a Russian ballet dancer's dramatic dash for freedom.

New Dot has made some changes for this programme to tickets and screening times. 

From now on, tickets will be priced at £6 across the board. No more two-tier pricing. 

Also, it is moving its screening time up half an hour. From now on the doors will open at 7pm and the film will start at 7.30pm. 

* Tickets and more information about any of the films can be found on our website: Newdotcinema.org

Hong Kong family return as eisteddfod volunteers

* Bill Kong, right, with his wife Selena and their son Daniel.

A businessman from Hong Kong is making his magnificent seventh trip to Llangollen International Eisteddfod to work as a volunteer.

And this time Bill Kong will be bringing with him the male voice choir he has been a member for many years and which will mark its 40^th anniversary by performing at the festival.

Wine expert Bill, 58, recalls being mesmerised by the intoxicating magic of the eisteddfod on his first visit as an audience member in 2013.

He was so taken with the atmosphere that he was determined to travel back to Llangollen to join the small army of dedicated volunteers who help make the iconic cultural event such a big hit and has been coming back ever since.

Bill’s links with Britain go back over 40 years to when he attended a prep school near Bewdley in Worcestershire then a public school near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire.

Later he went on to Manchester College, Oxford to study for a degree in social administration before returning to Hong Kong in 1984.

Bill joined the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir - HKWMVC - there a couple of years later after being introduced to it by a friend.

He performed with the choir in the London Welsh Festival of Male Voice Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in 2004 at the invitation of the London Welsh and sang with it in the chorus of the Hong Kong Art Festival’s production of Tosca in in 1999, which is where he met his wife Selena.

When he’s not drinking in the joys of music Bill works as a consultant in the wine business in Hong Kong and has been a wine importer, educator, consultant to importers and a wine judge.

Bill said: “Selena and myself, along with our son Daniel who is now 14, will be arriving in Llangollen from Hong Kong once again.

“Apart from volunteering to welcome visitors from across the world, this year we will help as the field hosts to my own choir.

“Our HKWMVC will be bringing 36 choristers to take part in seven performances at the eisteddfod and three outside performances including Bala, Gresford and Wrexham.

“This year also happens to be HKWMVC’s 40th anniversary year and beside our multinational choristers we will be joined by our better halves, families and friends from Hong Kong.

“We will have close to 100 people attending this year’s eisteddfod and most will be in Llangollen, and at the eisteddfod, for the first time.

“Amongst our party will be a number of our choir’s founding members and our life president, Berwyn Evans.”

Bill added: “I am truly honoured to have been an ambassador for Hong Kong to the eisteddfod.

“I can’t believe this is my seventh year here with my family and we feel Llangollen is our second home.

“I must thank everyone at the eisteddfod and in the town of Llangollen for having given my family a most wonderful experience and the kind of hospitality that we can never forget.

“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on the field.”

Popular engine steams off for major overhaul

Seen passing Berwyn hauling the 15.10 from Llangollen in glorious sunshine on Thursday, the BR Standard Tank 80072 is undertaking its final steaming at Llangollen Railway this weekend.

As of end of play on Sunday June 30, the engine will be withdrawn from service for its 10-year overhaul. 

A railway spokesman said: "If you want a ride behind 80072 be sure to visit Llangollen Railway on Saturday or Sunday to see and hear this popular engine in action for the last time after ten eventful years."