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."

Canal man Phil reaches Llan in time for eisteddfod

* Phil Thane at the helm of his boat Seren as it passes over the aqueduct.

* Looking out across the valley as Seren noses over the aqueduct.

* A panoramic view of the valley.

* Phil arrives in Llangollen at the end of his long canal voyage.

A former local town councillor has this afternoon (Friday) arrived safely in Llangollen after a mammoth 25-day trip along the canal network to reach the town in time for the International Eisteddfod.

Phil Thane moved down to Potton in Bedfordshire just over two years ago and has since rebuilt an elderly cabin cruiser named Seren.

Almost a month ago he set off aboard her to reach Llangollen and now, over 300 miles and 230 locks later, he has just berthed in the local marina.  

He intends to enjoy daily visits to the eisteddfod before casting off for home in about a week's time - again travelling all those miles and passing through the same locks in the opposite direction.

"It was a very pleasant trip and only rained for most of time," he joked.

"I'm glad to be visiting Llangollen again, a place of which I have many happy memories." 

Phil, who is a technical author by trade, has been writing a blog on his solo voyage for the Waterways World magazine. 

Councillor calls for county to declare climate emergency

* Llangollen county councillor Graham Timms

 is amongst the signatories to the climate change motion. 

Llangollen's Graham Timms is amongst a group of county councillors calling on Denbighshire to declare a climate and ecological emergency. 

He said: "I was approached by Llangollen Friends of the Earth to see if I would be prepared to put a motion calling for a climate and ecological emergency to DCC and agreed. 

"However, I did not want the motion to appear to be a Labour Party motion as I thought that it would gain much more support if it was sponsored by individuals from other groups too.

"This issue is far too serious to be claimed by one political party. I sent FoE names from all political parties who I thought might be sympathetic to the motion and as a result it has been put forward for the council meeting next Tuesday with three names, Joe Welch, the independent councillor for Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, Mabon ap Gwynfor from Llandrillo and myself."

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. 

"If this motion is passed it will extend our commitment to the whole of the county council. 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 6 months with a plan on how we can become carbon neutral by 2030 at the latest. 

"I've had lots of emails from concerned Llangollen residents urging me to press DCC to declare a climate emergency. 

"As a former science teacher I have been teaching young people about the dangers of carbon dioxide emissions and the greenhouse effect. I recently met with the school council at Ysgol Dinas Bran and they were also passionate about the need to take action locally to prevent serious environmental damage. It is time now that we take this issue very seriously and look carefully at how we can all work together to avoid the crisis that scientists predict." 

The motion calls for Denbighshire 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.

The Welsh Labour Government declared a Climate Emergency earlier this month, setting a date of 2030 when they would aim to become carbon neutral in the public sector. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-48093720

Dedicated birdwatcher John wins AONB award

* At the awards presentation. Front row, Ann Williams, AONB Senior Countryside Warden, Rhun Jones, John Lawton Roberts and his wife, Vice Chair AONB Partnership Cllr Paul Cunningham, Chair of AONB Joint Committee Cllr Tony Thomas.

An avid birdwatcher from Llangollen has been presented with an award.  

Every year the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) presents two awards to honour those contributing to the landscape and communities in the area.

This year John Lawton Roberts was presented with the AONB Volunteer Award.  

Corwen Community Garden was given the AONB Award.

Mr Roberts has devoted much of his life to recording, watching and reporting on birds in North East Wales and has helped paint a detailed picture of the changes to bird populations in the area spanning a period of more than 40 years.

He has had various scientific papers published and charted the changes to the avian interest at Ruabon Moor and Creigiau Eglwyseg, with his work contributing to the success of a number of projects including the Welsh Black Grouse Recovery Programme.

Corwen Community Garden is located within the community orchard near the centre of town, and is a resource for all members of the community.

The group meets every Wednesday, providing a social opportunity and making a contribution to the health and wellbeing of participants.

The site was developed in spring 2016 with Welsh Government funding secured by Age Concern and once the funding came to an end, a small group of volunteers carried on the work.  In the past two years they have transformed the field into a beautiful and productive garden.

Chair of the AONB Joint Committee, Councillor Tony Thomas, said: “I would like to congratulate John and the volunteers from Corwen Community Garden on their awards.

“The Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB benefits from all those who give their time and effort to help improve the landscape and communities. Both John and the members of Corwen Community Garden have gone above and beyond in their efforts.”

Festival Praise at Methodist Church

Singing festival at Capel Seion on Sunday

A good sing or simply experience a great Welsh tradition ably led by excellent conductor and accompanist.

CYMANFA GANU/SINGING FESTIVAL

CAPEL SEION CHAPEL

CASTLE STREET, LLANGOLLEN

MEHAFIN 30 JUNE, 2019

8 P M

ARWEINYDD/CONDUCTOR:  TRYSTAN LEWIS

ORGANYDD/ ORGANIST: EIRWEN JONES

CYFLWYNYDD/PRESENTER PARCH/REV. JOHN WILLIAMS