Mega prize attracts world’s best young singers to Wales

* 2019 winner Erin Rossington.

Twenty-four of the world’s best young singers will be vying for a prestigious international prize at this summer's Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Competitors from as far afield as China, America, Spain, Latvia and Estonia will be battling for the title of Pendine International Voice of the Future at the festival.

The contest will be one of the highlights during the 75^th anniversary event which get underway on Thursday, July 7.

The popular festival had to be cancelled in 2020 for the only time since its inauguration in 1947 due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021 it took on a virtual format with performances streamed online but this year the music and dance extravaganza is back in the town where “Wales welcomes the world”.

Organisers were “blown away” by the exceptional standard of entries in the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, sponsored by the Pendine Park care group via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports arts and community activities.

The near-record 38 entrants have been whittled down to 24 singers who will have to navigate two premliminary rounds and a semi-final before the three finalists compete on the famous International Pavilion stage on Saturday, July 9.

Competitors are required to perform a contrasting programme of up to seven minutes in length for their preliminary round and up to 10 minutes for the final.

The winner will be presented with the Pendine Trophy, a solid silver salver, and a cheque for £3,000 as well as having the opportunity to perform in concerts at the Eisteddfod and other venues. Meanwhile, the runner up will receive £1,500.

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: "The ethos of the Eisteddfod chimes perfectly with the values of my wife, Gill, and I at Pendine Park in nurturing young talent.

“We firmly believe in the vital role played by music and arts in social care and as part of our enrichment programme for people with dementia.

“The Pendine Trophy, which is solid Edwardian silver bearing a Chester hallmark, was kindly donated by the late Tony Kaye of Kaye’s Jewellers. It’s a stunning and beautiful trophy.

“It’s wonderful that, after the nightmare of the past two years, this fantastic festival is back with competitors returning to Llangollen for the first time since 2019.

He added: “Llangollen Eisteddfod was founded as a beacon of hope in the aftermath of the Second World War.

“The message about the importance of peace and harmony is as relevant today as it's ever been, especially with the war that’s being waged by Russia against Ukraine.”

The festival’s executive producer, Camilla King, said: “The standard of the competitors this year is absolutely phenomenal. The choice is so difficult for the adjudicators as the singers are all so extraordinarily accomplished.

“I used to be a casting manager with English National Opera so I have had lots of experience of sitting in on vocal auditions over the years and I can categorically say we have some truly fine entrants among our 2022 competitors. A number of them genuinely are the stars of years to come.”

Soprano Erin Rossington, 25, was triumphant in 2019 and she said winning the title was a huge boost for her fledgling singing career.

Erin, originally from Llanfairtalhaiarn, near Abergele, is now in her third year of studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

She said: “Winning the Pendine Voice of the Future competition has gone a long way towards helping me to achieve my dream of becoming a professional opera singer.

“The prize money enabled me financially to take that important step of going to live in London and work my way through music school.

Entries have now closed for all the Eisteddfod competitions and organisers are delighted that the numbers are more than expected given the difficulties faced by performing artists over the last two years.

Performers are expected from up to 25 different countries, with about 30 overseas groups and 23 overseas soloists, 31 UK groups and 45 UK soloists.

Camilla King added: “When you consider all that has happened with the pandemic, the cost of living and economic crises, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, travel limitations in various parts of the world, it is remarkable to think that our competitor numbers in all categories are so high.

“We are in for some great music. In fact, we have high hopes of 2022 being one of our best ever eisteddfods with the prospect of some truly memorable performances to come.”

* For more information about the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2022 visit: https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Bus service is back to highlight wonders of Dee Valley

* The Picturesque Bus stops off at the Horseshoe Pass.

 The Dee Valley Picturesque bus service is running again this year to provide access to some of the key destinations in this beautiful and historic landscape. 

The service is a circular route running every Saturday from May until October 2022, and links Llangollen and the surrounding villages to popular local attractions including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, Horseshoe Falls, Valle Crucis Abbey, Plas Newydd Historic House and the Horseshoe Pass.

The service will enable people to visit these key locations without the need of a car and reduce the need for parking spaces, making it easier for those without their own vehicle to access these places, and helping to reduce congestion at some of the busiest sites in the Dee Valley.  

Service users can consider parking in some of the bigger car parks such as at Wenffrwd and hopping on the bus for a visit to some of the more crowded locations or for a longer linear walk. 

A great option would be to park at the main Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Queen Street car park, Cefn Mawr, take the bus to Horseshoe Falls and walk back along the canal. 

The service will also provide both visitors and local residents with the opportunity to explore the wider area. 

The bus offers hop on/ hop off facility with a 1Bws ticket price allowing unlimited travel on the service through the day making it ideal for getting off to visit a site and then back on the bus later.

The service has been made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, and delivered in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Our Picturesque Landscape project, a landscape partnership scheme which is working to conserve and improve access to the inspiring landscapes of the Dee Valley and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

* For the full timetable and ticket prices for the Picturesque Bus service please see Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB website, Denbighshire bus timetable webpage, or pick up a leaflet from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/projects/the-picturesque-bus/

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/parking-roads-and-travel/public-transport/bus-timetables/bus-timetables.aspx

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/parking-roads-and-travel/public-transport/1bws.aspx

Residents rally to preserve Pump Meadow

Residents of Llangollen are concerned about the sale by auction of meadow land at the northern edge of town. 

Pump Field is nearly five acres of beautiful meadow, nicknamed “buttercup meadow” by many due to it’s flowers in summertime. 

It is an open space used by many locals and in COVID restrictions especially it provided a perfect outdoor meeting place close to the town but away from more crowded areas. In winter it’s a popular place for families to go sledging. 

An action group named Llangollen Green Spaces has been formed to prioritise an effort to fundraise and buy the land to secure it for the community into the future. 

The group’s vision is to “safeguard green spaces in and around Llangollen for public access and community use and to improve biodiversity”. 

There will be a “Mid-May Midday” gathering on the field tomorrow (Sunday 15^th May) on the last weekend that current access arrangements apply before the land sale. 

The action group is encouraging people to show their support by bringing family and friends, with picnics, to the field from 12pm.

Their spokesperson Sarah Marshall said: “We don’t have much time to secure this field for the town, as bidding closes at 3pm on May 17^th. We have tried contacting the owner for more time and we have set up crowd-funding for a collective bid in order to try and prevent it being developed, as so much of the land around the town recently has. 

"Local people need outdoor places to exercise, play and relax, and we really don’t have many open spaces like this within walking distance. We are also applying to register the paths across the field as public rights of way. Anyone who may be able to help is welcome to make contact."

Ms Marshall said the charity Green Paw Project is working in partnership with Llangollen Green Spaces to buy Pump Field and develop it as a community asset. 

Their spokesperson Ste Chesters said: “We would love to work with the community in Llangollen to secure a future for this land that keeps it accessible and showcases a regenerative approach to land management."

* Link to the crowdfunding website is:  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/protectpumpfield

 

Work planned for week ahead on 2020 project

Work planned for week starting May 9 on the town's 2022 project is:

• Install guardrails during the day along Market Street and Mill Street
• From Monday to Friday there will be night time (6pm to midnight) closures for the surfacing and bridge jointing works

Deadline for taking part in Llangollen Round Challenge is at hand

The deadline for taking part in the 4th Llangollen Round Challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK is midnight on Sunday May 8, say organisers.

Around 500 people from across the UK are expected to take part in the sponsored 35-mile hike which is being held over two days on May 28 and 29.

A spokesperson for the challenge said: "We are fast approaching the entry limit for the 2022 Llangollen Round Challenge, so sadly booking must close at midnight on Sunday.  

"Make sure you let any friends know not to leave it too late."

The spokesperson added: "We'll promise you magnificent scenery along the way and support in completing the course.

"The route will be waymarked and marshalled, with five checkpoints carrying water and light refreshments. Back at base there will be more food, certificates and medals for everyone.

"In line with last year we expect around 500 entrants."  

* For more information about how to take part in the challenge, call Judy on 07905 330788, or visit the Llangollen Round Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/llangollenround2022

Collen Players keep the audience buzzing with their latest show

* The whole cast say goodnight from the stage. All pictures by

Jeanette Robinson.

* Chairman Lee Taylor opens the show.

* Alison Jarvis presents her two numbers.

* Mike Connolly sings his powerful songs.

* Owen Roberts at the keyboard.

* Colin Bourdiec channels George Formby.

* Phil Robinson has the audience singing along.

* Louise Cielecki thrills with two show numbers.

* Colin Bourdiec returns with a music hall medley. 

* Father Lee closes the show.

The Collen Players, joined by a special guest star, presented their latest old time music hall and variety show at the Community Hall last night (Friday).

It was the usual blend of top-class music, cheeky banter and sing-along song which audiences have come to love from the group over the past few years.

Peerless accompaniment came from Owen Roberts at the keyboard.

Following some quick-paced introductory patter from the chairman - as usual Father Lee Taylor - first up on the stage, which was dressed to evoke a gaslit Victorian music hall from the naughty 1890s, came the sweet-toned songstress Alison Jarvis who offered the appreciative crowd All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor and You Made Me Love You.

It was then the turn of Players regular Mike Connolly to present a pleasingly powerful When I Leave the World Behind followed by a stirring We'll Keep a Welcome (in the Hillside).

Then it was time for the evening's special guest, the highly talented Colin Bourdiec to deliver a brilliantly entertaining tribute to the late great music hall legend and variety icon George Formby, complete with the favourite When I'm Cleaning Windows.

After more warm-up material from the chairman to keep the audience buzzing, another Players regular Phil Robinson offered a pleasing When I Was 17 then You Are my Sunshine, his latter choice seeing the crowd keeping up the sing-along rhythm set by earlier acts.

Louise Cielecki, a former top performer with the Llangollen Young 'Uns now embarked on a successful professional stage career, first amused with Little Girls from the smash-hit show Annie then brought a tear to the eye with I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.  

Colin Bourdiec closed the show in style with a medley of period hits from the likes of Sir Harry Lauder and Bud Flannigan - a definite crowd pleaser of an act.

As has become traditional, the whole company assembled on stage to say a musical goodnight with two rousing choruses of Down at the Old Bull and Bush "Da, da, da, da, da". 

Election results reveal Llangollen's two new county councillors

* The new County Cllr Karen Edwards.

* The new County Cllr Keddie.

Following yesterday's election Llangollen's two new county councillors are Karen Edwards and Paul Keddie, who both stood as Independent candidates.

Cllr Edwards, who is a former Llangollen town councillor, was elected with 626 votes and Cllr Keddie, who has also retained his seat on the town council, with 623.

Both will serve for five years until the next election.

Cllr Edwards said: "I would like to send my heartfelt thanks to everyone who voted for me. I will do my best to represent all the electorate in a fair and equal measure. Now the hard work begins."

Cllr Keddie said: "I’m incredibly honoured to have been elected alongside Cllr Karen Edwards.  We will be a strong Independent Voice for Llangollen and the surrounding villages.  I would like to wish the unsuccessful candidates well and will do my best to follow through with their goals, everyone had good plans.

"I will always put you, my friends and neighbours first.  I’d also like to thank formers councillors Melvyn Mile and Graham Timms for their staunch work for us over the years. 

"I will support everybody - not just the people who voted for me."

Sarah Marshall said: "Firstly I want to congratulate Karen Edwards and Paul Keddie on their success.

"It is really encouraging that the Green Party had their best result yet in Llangollen elections for County Council, and also have won two seats in Denbighshire. 

"This puts Climate and Environment issues firmly on the agenda for local politicians."

Stuart Davies, who was bidding for a return to the county council and served until the election as a town councillor, failed to be elected after recording 445 votes yesterday.

He contacted llanblogger to say: "My team and I fought a good fight but didn't make it. I will now gracefully retire from politics to make way for younger people and wish the area's two new county councillors the best of luck."  

The remaining three candidates contesting the two local seats received the following number of votes:

Dawn Butters, Welsh Conservative - 130

Roger Jarvis, Welsh Conservative - 106

Sarah Marshall, Wales Green Party - 543

Full results

As only six candidates came forward for the 11 vacant seats on Llangollen Town Council no election was necessary yesterday.

The remaining five seats will therefore have to be filled by co-option following the election.

New town councillors are:

* Felton Scott Lee

* Gittins Craig, 7 Oak Street, Llangollen, LL20 8NR, Independent

* Haddy Jon Henllys, Berwyn, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8AL Independent

* Keddie Paul, Ty Cae`r Onnen, 48 Regent Street, Llangollen, LL20 8HS, Independent

* Morris Aled Huw, Independent

* Rush Jen 43 Tyn Y Celyn Drive, Llangollen, LL20 7PN