Bell-ringers at St Collen's Church are aiming to ring a quarter peal tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to celebrate the start of the 2023 Llangollen Eisteddfod.
It will take place at 11.30am, just before the song and dance performances in Centenary Square.
* Polina Horelova, Volodymyr Horelova, Ken Skates MS, Jane Townend and Vitalii Matashko.
Clwyd South MS Ken Skates has promised to open "every possible door" to refugees settling in North Wales at the start of a huge week for Wrexham-based charity UareUK - United to Assist Refugees UK.
The charity has a hub which supports refugees from Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other countries based in Wrexham.
Mr Skates met with the founder of the charity Jane Townsend and refugees Polina Horelova, Volodymyr Horelova and Vitalii Matashko at the start of Llangollen Eisteddfod week to offer help and advice to the inspirational charity.
On Wednesday, refugees from their hub will be performing as part of a mass choir at the White Flower peace concert at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Mum-of-four Polina and her family are from Mariupol. She is conducting the traditional Ukrainian folk piece River Song.
Members of the hub will also take part in the Eisteddfod’s Parade of Nations in Llangollen on Thursday from 4.30pm and will be hosting a stall on the maes throughout Eisteddfod week to raise money and awareness of the vital work they do.
Estate agents Wingetts, based in Castle Street, will also be accepting donations for the hub.
Jane Townsend said: “We are incredibly excited and have a busy week in Llangollen.
"We were pleased to meet Ken Skates, who was hugely supportive of the work we are doing for so many displaced communities.
"He will be helping us moving forward and will open doors for us to continue doing our critical work.
"This week is a huge week for us – we will be based on the maes at the isteddfod and can’t wait for the parade of nations.
"The Llangollen Eisteddfod is a peace festival and the fact that Polina is conducting one of the songs of the mass choir is amazing. We will be using the event to continue to raise awareness of the consequences of the war and the work we do from North Wales and the borders.”
Ken Skates said: “Jane leads an amazing organisation that makes such a positive difference to so many lives. We are so proud that they are based in North Wales.
"It was emotional hearing their experiences and, as a
member of the Senedd, I will continue issues at the highest level, open every
possible door and see how we can do more to help.
“We are proud in North Wales to host some amazing people who are going through horrific circumstances. I am looking forward to visiting them again during Eisteddfod week
"UareUK play a major part in sending a clear message that refugees are welcome in Wales. I will do everything possible to raise awareness of the brilliant work they do.”
Whilst Polina is preparing with New Sinfonia and the mass choir performing at the Eisteddfod, her husband Volodymyr continues to make regular trips back to Ukraine with aid.
UareUK are asking specifically for protein bars, wooden cutlery, paper plates, power banks, water purification tablets and unlocked phones as many people lost theirs in the floods and have no means of contact.
The emptying of Kakhovka reservoir has left tens of thousands of people in southern Ukraine without access to piped water, mainly in the Dnipro region. This is where Vitalii Matashko, currently based in Llangollen, is from.
Vitalii, whose family currently live in Llangollen can often been seen around town wearing a donated Cefn Druids tracksuit top.
He said: “We have been amazed by and are extremely grateful to the Llangollen community for hosting us. The flooding where I am from is devastating and we have sent back as much aid as we can, all donated by the people of North Wales.
"Please try and make a small donation, especially during Eisteddfod week – it will make more of a positive difference than you know.”
* People can still get tickets for the White Flower concert on Wednesday, 5th July at https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/events/wednesday-evening/
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The aim of the project is to help reduce isolation and improve mental health and well-being.
The team welcomes applications from anyone over the age of 18 who feels that they have some spare time to spend with others.
It says it will look to match volunteers to citizens based on shared interests and hobbies.
Volunteers don’t have to be qualified professionals and can just be a caring person with or without experience who would like to support others.
A package of training will be provided and the volunteer coordinator will be there to support potential volunteers throughout the volunteering experience.
Volunteers can support citizens by attending social groups, going for walks, catching up over a cup of tea or even a phone call. Many of the citizens have experienced significant isolation and so the team is open to creative ideas to help to increase socialisation and well-being.
Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care said: “This is a transformative project that we should all be proud of in Denbighshire, and it is the volunteers who are vital in ensuring its success.
"If you feel you are able to support the well-being of others in the community, then please get in touch as it is incredibly rewarding for all involved. The impact that a cup of tea and a chat, or even a simple phone call can have on a person’s well-being is truly remarkable.”
A Denbighshire citizen, who has been helped through the service, said: “I just love it. It’s been a massive positive step in my life coming here to this group."
* For more information and to register your interest please go to: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/jobs-and-employees/volunteering/volunteering-with-edge-of-care.aspx
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As part of the Llangollen Fringe Festival, local storytellers Fiona Collins and June Peters are launching their new book at the Courtyard off Castle Street tonight, Tuesday July 11, at 2pm.
Folk Tales of the Ever After is a collection of traditional tales from a range of cultures which is, by turns, funny, challenging and touching.
From a man in Baghdad who tries to outrun Death, to Sir Lancelot’s ride on the hangman’s cart and an ancient Sumerian ball game that leads to a trip to the underworld, the two storytellers invite you to "share stories from their repertoire, and insights into their working practice, as a journey through the mysteries of death, dying, bereavement, loss, grief and the ever after."
The launch is hosted by Courtyard Books and copies of the book will be signed by the authors.
* Mike Adams, right, is presented with his chairman's badge by long-time branch member Tug Wilson of Chirk.
At a meeting on Friday members of Llangollen Royal British Legion appointed Mike Adams as their new branch chairman.
He replaces Phil Stroud who died recently after serving as chairman for a number of years.
As it approaches its centenary on February 24 2024 the branch says it is actively looking for new members.
Secretary Mike Claybrook said: "Our meetings are quarterly at Llangollen RAFA Club and the next one is on Friday September 1 at 7.15pm."
Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:
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Thousands of singers and dancers from five continents are heading to the place where King Charles once got down to the bhangra beat.
This year’s Llangollen International Musical
Eisteddfod, starting on Tuesday (July 4) will be the first full length festival
since before the Covid pandemic.
The
event was established in 1947 in the aftermath of the Second World War as a way
of bringing the nations of the world closer together in a colourful,
multi-cultural melting pot.
Ever
since then the picturesque town in the Dee Valley has been known as the little
town where Wales meets the world.
The popular festival helped launch the careers of
opera superstars Luciano Pavarotti and Sir Bryn Terfel.
In 2015 King Charles – then Prince of Wales – paid
a visit when he was accompanied by Queen Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, and he was
captured on camera dancing to a bhangra beat with the Sheerer Punjab Bhangra
Dance group from Nottingham.
* International dancers perform in Centenary Square.
The Eisteddfod’s royal connection stretches all the way back to 1953 when it was one of the first of the then newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth’s official engagements after she succeeded her father, George VI.
Seventy years later an extension has once again
been added to the famous international pavilion to increase capacity to 4,000
seats in the canvas-covered auditorium.
Also back will be the spectacular floral display at
the front of the pavilion stage, lovingly created by a band of dedicated volunteer
flower growers and arrangers.
Each day features a full
programme of competitions in the famous pavilion and a line-up of stalls and
exhibitions on the field along with the competitors from around the world, many
in colourful dress while three open-air stages run a stream of live
performances.
Entertainment on the outside
site includes workshops, talks, international showcases, outdoor theatre
performances, circus skills, sound bath sessions, yoga, belly dancing,
beginner’s Welsh and salsa.
The Globe Stage will feature
music acts spanning folk, jazz, world and indie.
There will also be
an international flavour to the cuisine available in the new Globe Food Court.
Visitors will be
able to “go around the world in 80 minutes” with stalls serving food from
different countries including India, Greece, Jamaica, Mexico, Germany and
Italy.
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Other highlights
include a concert starring Alfie Boe and musical theatre supergroup Welsh of
the West End on the first night of the Eisteddfod on Tuesday, July 4.
Wednesday will see The White Flower: Into The
Light, a concert of remembrance for the fallen of Sarajevo and Ukraine,
featuring the NEW Sinfonia orchestra with soloists from Bosnia, Wales and
Ukraine, with the centrepiece formed by Karl Jenkin’s much loved work, The
Armed Man.
The popular procession of international
participants and celebration of peace takes place on Thursday, followed by
Flight, a new mixed-media dance, music and theatre work by visionary artists
Propellor Ensemble, inspired by migratory patterns in nature and humanity.
On the Friday
night Guy Barker’s Big
Band will take the stage with Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize.
Saturday features the blue riband
event, the Choir of the World competition for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, and
also Dance Champions and the Pendine International Voice of the Future 2023.
There is a new look to the final
day of the Eisteddfod on Sunday with an all new live final which
sees rising vocal stars battle it out to claim the title Voice of Musical
Theatre, and Cân i Llan, a new song-writing competition for unsigned acts aged
14-22, providing a platform for emerging voices in contemporary popular music.
The Eisteddfod’s Executive Producer, Camilla King, said:
“Entertainment on the outside site spans across three main stages with further
daily pop-ups and includes workshops in the Amphitheatre with Small World
Theatre Company inviting visitors to create their own white flower sculpture
and Propellor Ensemble building a giant instrument from recycled materials.
“There will also be daily Lego building, arts and crafts,
floral sessions from the Eisteddfod’s famed arrangers, circus skills with
Jester Jack, Xplore Science, yoga, sound bathing, belly dancing and the chance
to learn new skills from the wide ranging visiting competitors.
“Talks on the Dome Stage feature Calan’s Bethan Rhiannon
‘From clog dancing to comedy’, poet Mererid Hopwood leading a panel for the
annual Peace Lecture, reflecting on the incredible Women of Wales Peace
Petition.
“International showcases take the Globe Stage from acts
including the Tibetan Tashi Lhunpo Monks, SOAS Min’yo Japanese folk music,
Bosnian and Ukrainian performers, and music from Filkin’s Drift, Seprona,
Kilbride Brothers, The Billy Thompson Trio, The Bartells, Chester Big Band and
Lilly Boughey amongst many others.”
* For
tickets or for more on Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and its
competitions and concerts as well as how to get to it and where to stay go to www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk or check out www.facebook.com/llangollen
DAYTIME COMPETITIONS
Wednesday
9.45 – 10.35 & 10.50 – 11.40 – Primary school
concerts
12.50 – 1.45 – COMPETITION - Children’s Folk Choir
1.45 – 2.55 – COMPETITION – Junior Children’s Choir
3.10 – 3.45 – COMPETITION – Senior Children’s Choir
4.15 – Children’s Choir of the World Award
Thursday
9-11.15 – COMPETITION – Traditional Folk Dance
Group
11.15 – 12.30 – COMPETITION – Children’s Folk Dance
Group
12.40 – 1.45 – COMPETITION – Young Musician
2-3.45 – COMPETITION – Stylised Folk Dance Group
3.45 – 4.15 – COMPETITION – Junior Singer FINAL
4.25 – 5.15 – COMPETITION – Youth Singer FINAL
Friday
9.30-9.50 – COMPETITION – Senior
Classical/Contemporary Dance
10-11.30 – COMPETITION – International Musician of
the Future PRELIM
1.15 – 2 – COMPETITION – International Voice of the
Future SEMI FINAL
2.10 – 3 – COMPETITION – International Musician of
the Future FINAL
Saturday
9-10.30 – COMPETITION – Mixed Choirs
10.30 – 11.45 – COMPETITION – Female Choirs
12.40 – 3.45 – COMPETITION – Open Choirs
3.55 – 5.45 – COMPETITION – A Cappella Group
Sunday
10.15 – 12.15 – COMPETITION – Voice of Musical
Theatre
PARKING
The
Eisteddfod car park is located in the field above the Pavilion and can be
accessed from the A542 (Abbey Road) by turning off at either Tower Road or
Wharf Hill. It is well sign posted. Parking at the Eisteddfod car park is
charged at £5 per day, and can either be booked in advance alongside your
tickets, or purchased on the day.
Disabled
parking is strictly blue badge only, also charged at £5. There are a limited
number of spaces and they cannot be reserved or guaranteed. They are accessible
from the Abbey Road entrance and this area can also be used for drop offs –
with the car then being moved to the main event car park.
TICKETING
POLICY FOR CUSTOMERS REQUIRING ASSISTANCE
There are spaces in the main pavilion which are allocated
specifically for wheelchair users. These areas are shown on the pavilion
seating guide on our online ticket system but are only available for purchase
directly from the Box Office in person or by calling 01978 862001.
This is to ensure the spaces are available for those that need them and
provides an opportunity for customers to discuss their individual requirements.
Wheelchair users and other customers who require a companion or
carer to assist their visit are entitled to a free ticket for the companion or
carer on production of appropriate identification.
It is advisable to book your tickets in advance to ensure that
the seats that you require are available.
FACILITIES
Limited dedicated disabled parking spaces are available near to
the main “Penddol” entrance.
The pedestrian access to the “Town End” entrance is by way of a
steep slope and is not recommended for wheelchair users.
There are solid walkways around the main site suitable for wheelchair users. Temporary pathways are also laid across parts of the grassed areas. The site is open to the elements and is therefore affected by adverse weather conditions. Please take this into account when planning your visit.
