Eisteddfod on course to break even, says chairman

* Colourful Indian dancers at this year's festival. 

This year’s smash-hit Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is well on course to break even financially.

Three near sell-out evening concerts sent ticket sales soaring significantly over last year and higher visitor attendances than in 2015 have added to the bright financial outlook.

Dr Rhys Davies, who has just completed his first successful year as Eisteddfod Chairman, said: “In contrast to recent years when the picture hasn’t looked too good financially, we know we’re definitely on course to break even this time.

“What’s helped most are three concerts which enjoyed almost full houses – Tuesday’s Carmen starring opera headliners Kate Aldrich and Noah Stewart, Thursday’s featuring Bryn Terfel and Joseph Calleja, and the Sunday show with Jools Holland.

“Everyone in the team is also reporting that visitor footfall is up on last year, which helps put us in a very healthy financial position.”

Outlining some highlights from the week-long festival, Dr Davies said: “The Carmen evening concert was absolutely splendid and Kate, who stepped into the role almost at the last minute when Kathleen Jenkins had to drop out due to a virus, absolutely embodied the title role. She was sexy and vibrant and sang magnificently.

“We were extremely lucky to get such a world-class opera singer and the audience adored her as could be seen from the standing ovation at the end.

“The performances by Bryn Terfel and Joseph Calleja on Thursday night were also truly memorable and it was a pleasure to see one of my personal favourites, Jools Holland, returning to the Eisteddfod stage for a brilliant Sunday concert.

“The standard of the competitions was once again extremely high and it was good to see that the number of overseas people taking part – this year from 22 countries – continues to rise.”

He added: “I feel our decision to move the traditional Eisteddfod parade from Tuesday to Friday to allow more overseas competitors to take part was justified by the fact that over 1,000 took part, watched by an enormous crowd which must have been one of the largest in years.

“This year’s festival was generally much bigger and more colourful than ever and had a better vibe about it.

“But we can’t afford to rest on our laurels and we have to continue building on our story of success.”  

    

Eisteddfod Music Director Eilir Owen Griffiths was also delighted with the way the festival had gone.

He said: “It’s been an interesting year with some drastic changes to the structure of the festival.

“Having the parade on the Friday was a massive success. The crowds were out in force and in excess of 1,000 competitors took part.

“Apart from some rain at the weekend, the weather also stayed with us.

“Children’s Day was absolutely wonderful as was the Inclusion project supported by the ScottishPower Foundation.

“The evening concerts had an amazing opening with Carmen and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra was truly brilliant.

“To think that the stars and production team had only three days of rehearsals is something I’ll remember for a long time.

“Kerry Ellis did a marvellous job with the Wednesday evening concert and having two operatic greats in Bryn Terfel and Joseph Calleja on the Thursday night was just magic.”

“Having the orchestra perform the anthem, Fanfare for Peace, I wrote especially for this year’s 70^th Eisteddfod at the Gala Concert was fantastic for me.”

He added: “Our competitions have been excellent, with some spectacular dance groups and some phenomenal performances by the choirs.

“The event is an awful lot of hard work but I consider myself a very lucky man to have the opportunity of working so closely with so many outstanding volunteers, staff, competitors and guest artists.”    

New national poet heading or Llan

* Ifor ap Glyn, the new National Poet of Wales.

Ifor ap Glyn, the new National Poet of Wales, will visit Llangollen Library next week to give a talk as part of the Llangollen Fringe Festival.

In his talk titled “‘Poetry is what gets lost in translation’ Right? Wrong!”,  he will explore the role of the poet in today's Wales and the importance (and occasional perils) of translation.

The presentation in English will include the reading of some poems with translation.

Ifor ap Glyn was born in London. He has twice won the crown at the National Eisteddfod and recently succeeded Gillian Clarke as National Poet of Wales.

He has just published his first novel, about growing up in London 'Tra Bo Dau' (While there are two). He lives in Caernarfon and works as a television producer and presenter.

The evening will be on Monday July 18^th at 7.30pm in Llangollen Library, Castle Street, Llangollen LL20 8NU.

Tickets are £5 and available from Llangollen Library on 01978 869600. The event is supported by Literature Wales.

Councils join forces on trader approval scheme

Six of North Wales’ Trading Standards services have come together in an effort to work collaboratively to deliver the Buy With Confidence (BWC) scheme.

The project is eager to attract more of the region’s businesses in particular those in the home maintenance and gardening sectors, domestic cleaners and general skilled tradesmen.

This nationally recognised trader approval programme was originally  designed to ensure businesses operate in a legal, honest and fair way, and tackle the issue of  ‘rogue traders’. It also provides consumers with a list of local businesses which have given their commitment to trading fairly.

Kevin Jones, Chair of the North Wales Heads of Trading Standards Group, said “This important scheme enables Trading Standards in North Wales to showcase reliable businesses we are proud to recommend, which allows consumers to make educated choices and avoid getting ripped off. “

The scheme is open to any manner of businesses wishing to apply to advertise themselves as “Trading Standards  Approved”, and must take part in a series of detailed checks by Trading Standards which will then be continually  monitored for their quality of service.

Membership of the scheme is not given lightly , and in order to become a BWC member a business must first apply or be recommended to join the scheme and pass a set of tailored background checks.

Amongst other checks, each applicant will have their complaints history reviewed and will receive a visit from Trading Standards. Good references are required from previous customers and applicants must agree to abide by the scheme’s code of conduct, which requires them to follow the letter and spirit of the law.

If you are confident of your business and want to apply to advertise yourselves as approved traders by Trading Standards please visit the BWC webpage at, buywithconfidence.gov.uk, or follow the Facebook page,  tinyurl.com/northwalesBWC.

Community encouraged to help tackle mobile not-spots

Assembly Member Ken Skates is encouraging community groups to apply for help to tackle mobile phone ‘not-spots’ in Clwyd South.

The Welsh Labour AM has been pushing the UK’s major mobile operators for a commitment to improving coverage in his constituency, and is backing a new Vodafone scheme to give indoor mobile coverage to up to 100 rural hubs.

Mr Skates (pictured) said: “I am continuing to campaign for better mobile phone coverage in Wrexham and the Dee Valley and have repeatedly raised concerns with companies about signal loss in our communities. I’ve also lobbied the UK Government, who are responsible for enforcing operators' obligations.”

The Vodafone programme will see pubs, village halls and shops in areas with weak and unreliable signals get better connected to their communities.

The company’s senior government affairs advisor, Graham Dunn, said: “The Community Indoor Sure Signal (CISS) programme is designed to provide reliable indoor 3G voice and data coverage and will be open to 100 rural community hubs. The scheme compliments our expected investment of £2bn over the next three years on improving our network and services across the UK.

“Following a successful pilot, we’re now calling for applications from rural community centres such as independent or community-run pubs and shops, village halls, Scout huts and doctors’ surgeries that do not currently have reliable mobile coverage.”

Mr Skates added: “We have some way to go in improving mobile reception in Clwyd South, and I will continue to press the UK Government to act. I’m also in the process of arranging meetings with operators to see what more can be done, and continue to campaign for improved broadband for our rural communities.

“In the meantime, I would certainly urge community groups to find out more about this Vodafone scheme and get their applications in.”

Successful applicants, who must be the broadband bill payer, will need an unlimited broadband package with download speeds of at least 4Mbps and upload speeds of 2Mbps and a domestic plug-in power point. The CISS unit plugs into a standard broadband router to provide mobile coverage throughout a building.

It's all aboard for the Orange Blossom Special

* Sara Roberts, the longest serving director of Llangollen Fringe Festival, on the footplate at Llangollen Steam Railway.

Following last year’s hugely successful Rock and Roll Train, Llangollen Fringe presents  The Orange Blossom Special, a country and western music themed steam train, on Sunday July 17 at 5.45pm (£20).

There's music on the platform before departure and on return to Llangollen from Darren Eedens and a band and also on the train each way and on the station platform at Carrog.

All travellers receive a complimentary glass of wine.

  

Last year saw the first appearance of a newly renovated coach incorporating a dance floor and bar. It is hoped that the same carriage will form part of the train this year.

Wales still has international outlook despite Brexit says Economy Secretary

* Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, at the Eisteddfod. 

DESPITE Britain’s exit from Europe, Wales is a still a welcoming and internationalist country.

That was the message from the Welsh Government’s new Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM, when he visited the 70^th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod yesterday (Thursday).

Mr Skates, who represents the Clwyd South constituency in which the Eisteddfod is based, is a long-time visitor to the festival and serves as one of its Vice Presidents.

After around two years as Wales’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, he took on his new much wider ministerial responsibilities following the recent Welsh Assembly elections.

After touring the Eisteddfod site, he said: “As someone who is from the area, I’ve been a regular visitor to the Eisteddfod at Llangollen for so many years I can hardly remember how long but it’s got to be at least 20.

“In terms of my new portfolio the Eisteddfod has clear economic benefits for the region and especially the Dee Valley as well as significant cultural benefits.

“This year’s festival is particularly important given the need for us to convey the clear message that, in spite of Brexit, Wales is still a welcoming and truly internationalist country.”

Talking about his latest Eisteddfod visit, he added: “After walking around the field I’ve been impressed with the subtle changes which have been made and considerably improved the visitor experience.

“For example, I have noted the repositioning of certain marquees and better branding, which all contribute to the overall vibrancy of the Eisteddfod field.

“It’s a pleasure to be here again.”

Mr Skates then praised the quality of this years’ festival programme, which has included hugely successful evening concert appearances by opera stars Bryn Terfel, Noah Stewart and Kate Aldrich, along with popular music headliners Jules Holland and Collabro plus a host of world-class music and cultural competitions. 

He said: “This year’s line-up of performers and competitors is second to none.”

Eisteddfod Chairman Rhys Davies said: “It’s always a pleasure to have Ken Skates here at Llangollen.

“He has always been a staunch supporter of the festival and of our aims to be  a truly international event where Wales welcomes the world.”

Bryn harmonises with kids at music workshop

* Bryn Terfel and Pendine Park owner Mario Kreft

with children from Mario’s old primary school in Trefnant.

Opera superstar Bryn Terfel harmonised with youngsters having fun with music at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Taking a break from rehearsals for the 70^th Gala Classical Concert, Bryn paid a whistle-stop visit to the tent where the award-winning Pendine Park care organisation was hosting a morning of musical workshops as part of the festival’s Children’s Day activities.

Youngsters from a host of visiting schools joined 15 residents from the Pendine Park care home in Wrexham in warm-up movement exercises and a sing-along, clapping and swaying in time to the music and beating out the rhythm using maracas and tambourines.

Leading the sessions were Jenny Pearson, a freelance singer and tutor, and pianist Annette Bryn Parri, who have both worked with the Welsh National Opera. 

The workshops were 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.

Midway through one of the sessions Bryn and his girlfriend, former Royal harpist Hannah Stone, slipped quietly into the back of the tent.

But, along with Pendine proprietor Mario Kreft, Bryn quickly entered into the spirit of things by joining in the exercises and at one stage added his rich bass-baritone to the singing of the Banana Song.

Mario was also thrilled to see pupils from his old school, Ysgol Trefnant in Denbigh, being ushered into the tent to join the session.

Later, Bryn said: “Usually when I come to the Eisteddfod I don’t have much time to see what’s happening around the field but as my concert rehearsal doesn’t start until a little later I thought I’d pop into the tent and see what was going on.

“I’m glad that I did because workshops like this are such an important corner of musical therapy.

“My mother worked at a special school in Caernarfon, so this sort of environment has always been part of my life.”

Among those enjoying the session was one of the Pendine Park residents, 72-year-old Christine Jones, who clapped and sang along enthusiastically with the music.

She said: “I’ve been to these workshops in previous years and I really look forward to them.

“They’re so much fun and I love being here with the children as I have a grandson and a grand-daughter of my own.”

Also loving every minute of the session was fellow Pendine Park resident, 91-year-old Bill Evans, a veteran of the World War Two Normandy campaign.

He said: “I love watching the kids having fun and singing along with them.

“I used to live just up the road in Trevor so I came to the Eisteddfod quite often, including the time when Prince Charles and Princess Diana came.”

At the other end of the age range, eight-year-old Megan Grace from Ysgol Trefnant, was also lapping up every minute of it.

Megan, from Denbigh, said: “I’ve been joining in with the singing and the movements and having lots of fun.

“I’ve never been to the Eisteddfod before so I’m looking forward to going around the field to see the other things happening later.”

Visiting from Meadows Primary School in Oswestry was nine-year-old Lewis Jennings who said: “I came here last year and it was really good, so I wanted to come back again.

“It’s great to join in the singing and exercises with the other children and I’m really enjoying it.”

Sarah Edwards, Pendine Park’s artist in residence who helped organise the workshops, said: “There’s always a huge amount of interest both from the schools and the residents who tell me how much they enjoy them.

“There’s a full programme of activities going on in the Pendine tent throughout the week as part of our enrichment programme, including our pop-up health and beauty salon and pop-up pub serving Pendine Punch and mocktails.

“We’ll also have a recital by harpist Nia Davies Williams.

“It’s lovely to see the way the children and older people interact.”

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

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

“We love to be involved with the Eisteddfod because of its ethos of peace and understanding and these sessions are an extension of that.”