Call goes out for Pavarotti memories

* Luciano Pavarotti’s triumphant return to Llangollen in 1995.

An appeal has been launched to commemorate the double anniversaries of the late great opera singer Luciano Pavarotti’s visits to Wales’s top international cultural festival.

 

This year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July will stage an exhibition to commemorate both the 60^th anniversary of Pavarotti’s first visit to the event and also the 20^th anniversary of his triumphant appearance in 1995.

 

The world’s best known tenor burst onto the world stage at the 1955 International Eisteddfod as a slim 19-year-old trainee teacher, part of the Chorus Rossini from Modena in northern Italy which that year won the male choral competition.

 

That is now the coveted Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy, one of the most glittering prizes in the choral world.

* Pavarotti’s first appearance at Llangollen, as part
of Chorus Rossini from Modena in 1955. 

This year it will be decided on Saturday, July 11, the centrepiece of the 69^th Eisteddfod which runs from Tuesday, July 7, to Sunday, July 12, and which this year will feature a special exhibition dedicated to Pavarotti’s two visits to Llangollen.

 

He returned in 1995, 40 years after his first visit and Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “He has been one of the towering giants of music in our time and it all began here at Llangollen.

 

“We have a special link with Pavarotti who graciously agreed to give his name to the Choir of the World Trophy and who never forgot his first visit here and attributed his decision to make music his life to that 1955 success.”

 

Pavarotti, who died in 2007, had joined his local choir because his father, Fernando, a baker, was a stalwart member and the moment the Modena choir won the competition and the visit to Llangollen left an indelible impression on him and he often spoke of it.

 

The experience also helped shape his destiny and he once famously said that if he could win the first prize with a small choir from Modena, he could do anything.

 

He and his father stayed at the home of Alice and William Griffiths, at Beech House, Froncysyllte, for the week of the Eisteddfod and 40 years later Pavarotti would still enquire earnestly about the lady in whose home he had been a guest.

 

He once said of his time boarding with the Griffiths family in Fron: “I remember well the house I stayed in. All the way from Italy, I was exercising my English. But when we are brought to the house in Llangollen and meet the family, I understand not a word.

 

“I did not know there was such a language as Welsh. Even now I think how lucky they don’t write operas in such a language for me to sing. I would be out of work. It is impossible for us Italians to learn.”

 

Pavarotti said many times that he wanted to go back to Llangollen one day and that desire was fulfilled in 1995 when he made a triumphant return to headline at that year’s eisteddfod, marking the 40^th anniversary of his first visit to north Wales.

 

He accepted an invitation to be President of the Day, on condition that his father could share the Day Presidency with him, so for the first and only time, the Eisteddfod had two joint Presidents of the Day.

 

Eisteddfod Chairman Gethin Davies was an usher back in 1955 and admits he doesn’t recall the young Pavarotti. He said: “I kept a diary in those days and was looking through it recently and it just said, ‘Male Voice Choir today and a choir from Italy won’. I think I was more interested in my current girlfriend.

* Llangollen Eisteddfod
Chairman Gethin Davies.

“But being an usher was wonderful for a teenager and I used to volunteer to be there all day and I saw people like violinist Yehudi Menuhin and the great Bulgarian bass Boris Christoff.

 

“I was chairman by the time Pavarotti came back in 1995 and I remember he came on waving his handkerchief and he was great and sang some marvellous stuff, including one of his own composition.

 

“I watched it recently as they still show the performance on Sky Arts occasionally and he was quite magnificent.

 

“He was a very genial man but just like all the greats there was an inner steel to him as well.

 

“I do recall that the day he was Day President on the Friday it was the only time I have seen the marquee packed for the Day President’s speech as people usually use the opportunity to slip out.”

 

That Friday Pavarotti fought his way to the stage through adoring crowds to tell a packed house: "Forty years ago, my God it seems to be just yesterday for me. I have done so many things. 

 

“I always say that to the journalists when they ask me what is a day more memorable in my life, and I always say that it is when I won this competition because it was with all my friends. With me at that time there was a person that I would like to have the privilege to introduce: my Father.”

 

To tumultuous applause, Fernando Pavarotti walked on stage to join his son, and Pavarotti Jnr declared: "He is stronger than me he has a voice more brilliant than mine - at least that’s what he thinks.”

 

His father, who spoke no English, then came on stage and charmed the audience by putting his hands together and bowing to them with a beaming smile on his face.

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “We would very much like to stage an exhibition to commemorate the link with Pavarotti and we have been in touch with the Pavarotti Foundation in Italy to see if they can play some part.

 

“We would also like to hear from people who may have memorabilia or their memories of Pavarotti’s visits to the Eisteddfod and who would be happy to loan them to us for the exhibition.”

 

For more information on this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk or go to the Facebook page www.facebook.com/Llangollen

 

If you have memorabilia or memories of Pavarotti at the Eisteddfod please contact Alistair Syme at Ceidiog Communication on 01824 703073 or at alistair@ceidiog.com

Tourism forum invite goes out

Tourism businesses in Llangollen are being invited to send representatives to a meeting of the Denbighshire Tourism Forum in February when the priorities for the second year of the county's Destination Management Plan will be discussed.

Organisers say there will also be an opportunity for businesses to network, share ideas and receive an update on tourism-related activity in Denbighshire.

The  forum will take place at the Oriel House Hotel, St Asaph on Wednesday, February 25 at 11am, with registration starting at 10.30am.

People interested in attending should register by e-mailing: dcc_tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk or by telephone: 01824 706223. 

Expert backs county's dog fouling campaign

A campaign by Denbighshire County Council to tackle dog fouling in the county has been backed by a prominent vet and specialist in parasitology.

Ian Wright from Lancashire has specialist qualifications in parasitology and has published a number of research papers. He is head of the European Scientific Council for Companion Animal Parasites, UK and Ireland.

Toxocara is a parasite found in a number of animals, including dogs and it can be passed to humans through infected dog mess.

People could potentially suffer a number of effects. The most well-known and recognisable effect is retinal scarring which can lead to damaged vision, but it can also lead to a variety of health issues such as abdominal pain, lethargy and dermatisis.  Infection has also been associated with an increased risk of epilepsy and asthma.

Ian said: "It is vitally important that we drive home the messages about Toxocariasis and the impact it can have on people's health and well-being.

"Whilst the number of cases is low, with only two people per million in the UK diagnosed with health problems, around 2% of the UK population have been exposed to infection, so this is likely to be a significantly under-estimated problem.

"Toxocariasis is easily preventable through regular de-worming of dogs (at least four times a year), picking up dog mess and good hand hygiene before eating and after playing in park and gardens and stroking dogs. The more dogs (and cats) that are unwormed, the greater the risk posed to the public.

"Also picking up dog mess and leaving it lying around in a bag does not help the situation, it needs bagging and binning properly. So I would urge Denbighshire residents to clean up after their dogs and help reduce the risk of health problems.

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager in Denbighshire, said: "The Council is delighted that Ian Wright is lending his support to the campaign.  We have done a lot of work around educating the public about cleaning up after their animals, but some people continue to allow their dogs to foul in public without thinking of the health consequences.

"The health risks are clear, but also the anti-social element is unacceptable.  Denbighshire residents tell us that dog fouling is one of their greatest concerns. We have listened to their concerns and we are trying to change behaviours and encourage people to clean up after their animals".

The Council already had promoted awareness of the problems that dog fouling can create for local sports clubs, with support from former Wales rugby player Rupert Moon, as well as a number of rugby and football clubs around the county.

People can report dog fouling by visiting the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/dogfouling or by contacting the Council, on 01824 706101. 

AM asks police about Trevaline Evans case

An Assembly Member is writing to North Wales Police asking if they plan to re-open the case of Llangollen woman Trevaline Evans who has been missing for almost 25 years.

Ken Skates, the member for Clwyd South who has his constituency office in Llangollen, says he hopes police might still be able to solve the mystery. 

And he believes the public might still be able to help establish what happened to 52-year-old Mrs Evans who disappeared on June 16, 1990.

After leaving a note in her antiques shop in Church Street saying she would be back in two minutes, she was never seen again and her body has never been found.

Mr Skates (pictured right) said: “Mrs Evans’ husband Richard passed away recently, aged 83, without ever knowing what had happened to his wife. It’s a tragic situation.

“North Wales Police have said the case remains open but the investigation is currently inactive.

 

"I’m sure Mrs Evans’ surviving family will never lose hope that they might find out what happened to her, and I would urge anyone who has information which could help to contact police.

“Twenty-five years is incredibly long time, and this is a most unusual case, but of course it’s possible that someone still alive today knows what happened.”

Mr Skates said he would write to North Wales Police to ask whether detectives planned to revisit the case.

Schools invited to design St David's Day flag

Schools across Denbighshire have been invited to join a creative competition to design a flag to commemorate St David's Day.

The competition, being arranged by Denbighshire County Council, invites infant school pupils to get creative and design an A4 sized design (painting, drawing, colouring etc) that would be transformed into a specially created flag to commemorate this special day.

The winning pupil will see his/her design being raised on a flagpole at County Hall, Ruthin, during a special ceremony on Friday 27th February 2015.  The flag will be flown for a few days and once lowered, will be given to the pupil as a memento of their winning design.

Junior school pupils are invited to write a poem about St David's Day.  The winning entry will be read out at the special ceremony at County Hall, and a framed copy presented to the winner at the ceremony.  

The Chairman of Denbighshire, Councillor Brian Blakeley, said: "We want to mark this very important day in the national calendar by engaging with schools and getting pupils to get creative with their thoughts and ideas.

"We have run similar competitions in the past and have been delighted with the response.  We have a lot of creative talent in our schools and we want to nurture that talent further.

"We look forward to receiving the designs and making our winning choices."

Legion branch changes its meeting place and time

* Llangollen's RBL members play a prominent role in the annual Remembrance ceremonies.

LLANGOLLEN’S Royal British Legion branch has changed the venue and time of its monthly meetings in a bid to reinforce its flagging membership.

Early last year, the 92-year-old branch of the national ex-service organisation faced closure due to a drop in support.

But the crisis was headed off when one of its members, John Lawton, agreed to take on the three key positions of chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Now the branch has opted for another major change of strategy to help boost membership.

John Lawton said: “Five members of the branch have been keeping it open for two years, meeting in The Hand Hotel at lunchtime on the first Tuesday of the month.

“One of the reasons given for non-attendance by members was that lunchtime is not convenient as people are working.

“Accordingly, from February 5, meetings will be held at Llangollen RAFA Club on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm.

“It remains to be seen if the promises of attendance are kept.”

The branch, which was founded in 1923 as a gathering point for men who had served in World War One, thrived for years but has recently suffered from falling attendances at meetings.

Crisis point came early last year when the man who had served as both chairman and secretary, Bob Davidson, had to stand down because of ill health.

 

Seeing that there was a real possibility that the branch might fold, treasurer Mr Lawson decided it was time to step into the breach by taking on the three top positions in the branch.

Mr Lawton has previously been secretary of the Historic Warships in Birkenhead, a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadet Corps and treasurer of Llangollen Royal Naval Association.

Air Ambulance picks up £1,200 from big-hearted Llan

The Wales Air Ambulance has benefitted from two cash donations from the big-hearted people of Llangollen amounting to over £1,200.

Members of the organising committee went along to the ambulance's headquarters at Welshpool Airport to hand over a cheque for £1,000, which was the result of funds raised at Llangollen Christmas Festival on November 29.

The second cheque presented was for £209.11 from a quiz evening staged at the Sarah Ponsonby just before Christmas organised by Austin Cheminais, Llangollen's resident town crier and part-time Santa.

*Members of the Christmas Festival committee hand over

the £1,000 cheque to the Wales Air Ambulance.

* Town crier Austin Cheminais, dressed as Santa, presents the £209.11 proceeds from the quiz.