Nepalese group's amazing trip to Llangollen is remembered

* The Nepalese group is welcomed to the eisteddfod four years ago today. 
Todd Lockhead is in the centre rear of the picture wearing Nepalese costume.

The man who led a group of young Nepalese choristers on a visit to the eisteddfod back in 2015 despite their country being hit by a devastating earthquake has been back to thank some of those who made the trip possible.

New Zealander Todd Lochhead first saw the Rising Culture group perform when he was working as a teacher at the Rising English School where they were based in Bhaktapur, which is about 10 miles from the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu and around 100 miles from Mount Everest.

Four years ago he came up with a plan to bring them bring them the 5,000 miles to the UK to compete at Llangollen and a major fundraising campaign was launched.

The scheme suffered a huge setback when the region was shattered by two massive earthquakes within weeks which claimed thousands of lives and caused widespread destruction.

But, thanks to their sheer determination, a token contingent of five choir members - four boys aged 12 to their early twenties and a 12-year-old girl - were able to make their way to Llangollen in time to take centre stage on the festival’s penultimate day.

Exactly four years ago today, a reception committee including then-eisteddfod chairman Gethin Davies and musical director Eilir Owen Griffiths, along with scores of volunteers and visitors, waited at the main entrance to give a warm Welsh reception to the group at the end of their gruelling 28-hour journey to Llangollen.

Before they arrived at the gate they were serenaded by members of the Ar-Ol-Tri Male Voice Choir from Cardigan who gave them a rousing chorus of the hymn Calon Lan.

Later in the day the Nepalese, three of whom lost their homes in the first earthquake, had an equally rapturous reception when they took to the eisteddfod’s main stage to perform part of their centuries-old mask dance.

There was standing ovation from the audience which, according to eisteddfod chairman of the day Gethin Davies, was the first he had ever seen for a daytime performance.

The group repeated their dance during the evening performance featuring Choir of the World and Gareth Malone.

When they came off stage, the group were invited over to the Lions Club International stand on the field to receive a donation of £1,000 from Wrexham Lions Club which had been raising the money from a variety of events over the past four months.

This year Todd made a sentimental return trip to the eisteddfod where he called in at the stand of the Rotary organisation whose members had helped make the 2015 trip possible.

Rotarian Lizzie Clifford said: “We had a very emotional experience at Llangollen whilst volunteering on the Rotary stand.

“We met a man called Todd Lockhead who came to thank us for helping him to bring a choir from Nepal to the eisteddfod shortly after the terrible earthquake in 2015.

“There was meant to be 30 members of the group but only five members made it.

“He said Rotary had helped to fund their journey as they were left with nothing. He presented us with bags made by them including other gifts they had made.

“Todd told us he had spoken with the father of the choir members and had an update on their current situation.

“They are now thriving with one girl becoming a doctor and another opening a coffee shop.

“They said the hope and kindness they experienced at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod lifted them at a time when their lives were devastated. They will never forget this experience.

“So if ever there was a reason to keep going, working together to connect with others all around the world, this is it. It enriches the lives of everyone who experiences it.”

https://westminsterstone.com/llangollen-eisteddfod-2019/

Humanitarian receives Rotary International Peace Prize

* Humanitarian Subash Chellaiah receives the Rotary International Peace Award on the Pavilion stage.  

Lincoln-based humanitarian Subash Chellaiah has been internationally recognised at the eisteddfod for helping to establish peace between different faiths.

He was awarded the Rotary International Peace Award, which is sponsored by Westminster Stone, at the festival yesterday.

The award recognises Chellaiah’s two decades of humanitarian and interfaith relations community work which includes tsunami rehabilitation, community restoration in North East India, and the establishment of schools in rural India. 

His efforts have, in recent years, extended to Lincoln where he has developed the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy at the city's university.

The presentation of the prestigious award celebrates the fourth year of the partnership between the eisteddfod and Rotary International, one of the largest humanitarian organisations in the world. 

The award recognises individuals responsible for the furtherance of peace through their work.

Subash Chellaiah said of his award: “I feel honoured and extremely happy that what I stand for and want to achieve in the world has been recognised. I admire my parents for their sacrifice to offer me a good education, which has enabled me to pursue a PhD in Peace and Reconciliation.

“I feel the recognition of this award will help me in my ambition to impart my dream and aspirations for the world for unity, sustainable peace and stability.”

As peace initiatives take many different forms the judging panel took into consideration the public benefit of the project, the profile and longevity of the individual and the impact of their work. Chellaiah stood out from a strong line-up of worthy candidates.

Dr Waheed Arian, who won the inspirational Rotary Prize last year, joined the judges on the adjudicating panel which also included Richard Hazlehurst of Bradford Peace Centre and Rotary Peace Project founder Jean Best who was recognised as a peace honoree at the United Nations in 2018.

https://westminsterstone.com/llangollen-eisteddfod-2019/

Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies said: “Following on from the inspiring work and astounding success of the last three year’s celebrations we’re delighted to recognise Subash Chellaiah’s hard work promoting peace here in the UK and across the world.

“The initial idea of creating the Rotary International Peace Prize was born at the Llangollen Eisteddfod five years ago and with the festival’s initiative of spreading peace, friendship and goodwill across all nations is more important than ever. It’s with great pride that we’re able to highlight peace advocates in this international celebration."

https://westminsterstone.com/llangollen-eisteddfod-2019/

Sun shines down on the big parade

Thousands stood in the hot sun to see the eisteddfod's traditional Parade of Nations, with contingents from across the globe, make its way through the centre of town this afternoon.

llanblogger was on hand to record the spectacular scenes.

* Town crier Chem Cheminais leads the parade.

* Deputy Mayor Cllr IssyRichards, Llangollen

 Vicar Fr Lee Taylor and Mayor Cllr Jon Haddy.

* Llangollen Silver band sets the pace.

* A vintage car with eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies and president Terry Waite aboard.

* A contingent from the USA.

... Africa.

... China.

... Indonesia.

* Indian dancers form a human pyramid.

 ... Lithuania.

* The Karambasamba Band set a hot pace in Bridge Street. 

* Crowds pack Castle Street waiting for the big parade.

Cor DAW to the fore in Centenary Square

Providing the afternoon entertainment in Centenary Square this afternoon was the lively Cor DAW choir of ladies who sang and danced their way through a selection of well-known numbers to delight a large crowd.

Gales uncorks a new daytime eatery

* The inside of the new Wine Shop in an old building on Bridge Street.

llanblogger review

A smart, new daytime eatery has just been uncorked in the heart of Llangollen by the oldest winebar in Wales.

Gales, which has been in business in the town for the past 40-odd years, has opened a new venture called the Wine Shop, located at 16 Bridge Street, which is open during the day until the main winebar takes over in the evening.

They’ve spent months doing up what was previously the first bit of their wine accessory shop adjacent to the winebar and fitted it out in the most modern style of decor, which contrasts perfectly with the the oak beamy and Victorian shop-windowy orginal building a good deal of which thankfully remains.

It’s now all white walls, narrow tables and sit-up benches within shallow alcoves done in toning greys and yellows, giving a pleasantly light and airy feel to the place.

There’s even a couple of Parisian-style bistro tables on the pavement outside.

And all this is perfect for the sort of middle-of-the-day food and drink they’re offering from a menu based on deli board items.

There’s also a pretty short but well-thought-out selection of wines on offer which benefits from the Gale family’s decades of fine wine familiarity.

You can pick ‘n’ mix your own from the quite extensive menu but my wife and I went for a sharing platter of six items, which is the optimum number they recommend to split between two people.

We opted for three tasty continental meats, including prosciutto, salami and chorizo, along with three cheeses - a couple of tangy blues and a runny brie. You’ll need bread, which was tomatoy and came with some nice mini-crackers on the side.

Not over-facing but perfectly adequate, I reckon.

I chose a nice big glass of fruity sauvingon blanc to accompany my lunch while my wife, with a pressing appointment later, ordered a small cafetiere of Gales’ good coffee.

The whole thing came in at a respectable £25.70 and that’s not bad for a nice treat on a busy and very sunny eisteddfod afternoon.

Entertainment in Centenary Square this afternoon

Seattle choir thrills care home residents

* The Colombian Children’s Choir of Seattle’s sing at Bryn Bella.

* Resident Mirrie Hodson joins in with the music.

A couple of hours after thrilling the audience at an international festival youngsters from two American award-winning choirs wowed a group of care home residents with a “spellbinding” performance. 

The junior and youth sections of the Colombian Children's Choirs from Seattle visited the Pendine Park Care Organisation in Wrexham as part of a reciprocal agreement with Llangollen's International Musical Eisteddfod

Among the events supported at Llangollen by the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) this year were inter-generational dementia music workshops attended by 1,100 children, the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, and the concert by renowned tenor Rolando Villazón, who was making his first UK appearance of the year.

PACT was set up by Pendine Park proprietors Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, proprietors of the Pendine Park which supports numerous arts and community-based activities across Wales.

It has now become a tradition for one of the choirs competing at Llangollen to visit the park, but this was the first time for a youth choir to do so.

 The Colombian Children's Choirs were established 35 years ago by Steve Stevens, who is still the artistic director as well as being involved with other choirs in Seattle.

 "I first came to Llangollen in 1979 and have been here about six times in total, four or five times with the Colombian Choirs," he said.

 "We always have a wonderful tour and I look forward to coming," he said.

 The choristers range in age from 11 to 18, and this year's party comprises 47 members.

 Though it was their first visit to Pendine Park the youngsters often perform in similar care homes in the Seattle area.

 "We do enjoy doing this kind of thing and it's nice knowing our singing is appreciated," said 15-year-old Camille Brennan, who has been singing for 10 years.

Addison Hollomon, 17, a chorister for four years, last visited North Wales four years ago, and was equally happy appearing before the relatively small audience of about 25 Pendine residents.

 "We do this quite a lot at home and the feedback is always good," she said.

The choir's tour co-ordinator, Lars Myren, 28, who will shortly take over as president of the choir's Board of Trustees, feels a particularly close link with the International Eisteddfod.

"I first came here 16 years ago when the youth choir came second, so I have very happy memories," he said.

Among the residents who appreciated the crystal-clear unaccompanied voices of the youngsters was 75-year-old Christine Jones, who has been at Pendine for 18 years.

"I loved it, and although I have heard lots of choirs I haven't heard anything as good as that before," she said.

"I enjoy singing, but only to myself," she added.

Tony Ithel, 61, who is originally from Ellesmere Port and has been at Pendine for a couple of years, has visited the International Eisteddfod in the past and found the Colombian choirs spellbinding.

"It was really lovely," he said.

Sarah Edwards, Pendine's artist-in-residence, said music played a part in the organisation's as it had been proved to be therapeutic as well as enjoyable.

"We have always got something musical going on including the 11-year project with the Halle Orchestra and Live Music Now, through which professional artistes come in to perform," she said.

“This is the first time for a youth choir to come from Llangollen and it was clear how much they were appreciated.

“The arts in general and music in particular provide the golden thread that runs through everything we do at Pendine Park to enrich the lives of residents and staff across the generations.”