Labour take Clwyd East as part of election landslide

 

* Labour's Becky Gittins will be the MP for Clwyd East, which includes Llangollen.

General election news from the BBC ...

Labour wins the UK general election - Keir Starmer will be the new prime minister

·        "Change begins now," Starmer says, as Labour is forecast to win a landslide with 410 seats, and the Conservatives on 144

·        Rishi Sunak says Britain has delivered a "sobering verdict"

·        High-profile Conservatives have lost their seats, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Penny Mordaunt

·        Reform UK leader Nigel Farage becomes an MP for the first time, and the party's Richard Tice and Lee Anderson also win

·        Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wins Islington North as an independent, and Labour's Jon Ashworth loses to an independent

·        Green Party's Carla Denyer wins Bristol Central from Labour, while Scottish First Minister John Swinney says it's been a "very, very difficult and damaging" night for the SNP

·         

Results for local seat of Clwyd East (from BBC)

Counting complete

Change compared with 2019

1. Labour,Becky Gittins

   • Votes 18,484
   • Share 38.7%
   • Share change +0.8

2. Conservative,James Davies

   • Votes 13,862
   • Share 29.0%
   • Share change -18.9

3. Reform UK,Kirsty Walmsley

   • Votes 7,626
   • Share 15.9%
   • Share change +11.8

4. Plaid Cymru,Paul Penlington

   • Votes 3,733
   • Share 7.8%
   • Share change +3.1

5. Liberal Democrat,Alec Dauncey

   • Votes 1,859
   • Share 3.9%
   • Share change -1.4

6. Green,Lee Lavery

   • Votes 1,659
   • Share 3.5%
   • Share change +3.5

7. Independent,Rob Roberts

   • Votes 599
   • Share 1.3%
   • Share change +1.3

Eisteddfod audience enjoys Wales Welcomes the World concert

* Celebration of Nations flag bearers on stage.

* Royal harpist Alis Huws.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod brought a feast of the finest music and dance to the Pavilion stage on Wednesday evening.

The array of fabulous entertainers featured in the Wales Welcomes the World concert included former Royal harpist Alis Huws, Britain’s Got Talent finalists Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, multi-award winning folk band Calan and world-renowned conductor Anthony Gabriele.

The whole glittering affair began with the traditional Celebration of Nations in which the flags of the 30 countries competing in this year’s festival were proudly paraded through the audience and up onto the stage to be greeted by rapturous applause.

There was also a presentation to the winners of the prestigious Young Choir of the World title who had won through to the final during competition rounds earlier in the day.

The Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir from Oakland, California, were presented with a trophy presented to the Eisteddfod by one of its former chairmen, Dr Rhys Davies, and his wife in memory of his son Owen who died aged 33 in 2016.

During the first rapturous appearance of Alis Huws, who performed to a global audience of millions during the coronation of King Charles III, a special message recorded by much-loved former Eisteddfod president Terry Waites was read out in which he shared his belief that harmony, as in music, is the key to world peace.

The consequences of conflict which results from disharmony was poignantly illustrated in a beautiful sequence from festival competitors Prolisok dancers from the Ukraine who recreated a pastoral scene from their homeland which is brutally disrupted by war. Even more moving

was when the faces of some the dancers’ close friends killed in the fighting were projected onto the screen at the back of the stage, prompting a standing ovation.

Folk band Calan, which comprises four of Wales’s most talented virtuoso musicians, provided a lively and rousing display of their traditional Welsh music which enthralled the large audience. Later they thrilled even further during a scintillating collaboration with Llangollen International Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Gabriele.

John Boys’ Male Chorus, who were named Choir of the World at the 2019 Eisteddfod, delighted with a diverse selection of numbers ranging from the Welsh favourite Calon Lân to There Ain’t Nothing Like a Dame from the musical South Pacific.

They came back to join in the grand finale when all the evening’s artistes gathered on stage to present a hauntingly melodic piece of music specially arranged by the Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford which led smoothly into the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

* Folk band Calan.

* Prolisok Ukrainian dancers.

* Johns’ Boys Male Chorus.

* Young Choir of the World winners Piedmont East Bay choir from California.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury delivers Eisteddfod Peace Message

* Dr Rowan  Williams meets members of the dance group from Mother Touch Group of Schools in Zimbabwe outside the Pavilion where they had been performing.

* Dr Williams, right, and Eisteddfod chairman Professor Chris Adams are shown some of the images of past festivals from the Eisteddfod’s extensive archives by volunteer Issy Richards.

*Dr Williams meets members of the Canon’s Choir from North London Collegiate School after their performance on the Globe outside stage at the Eisteddfod.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams delivered the  Peace Lecture on the second day of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

Dr Williams, who is also a former Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth, is chair of Academi Heddwch Cymru, Wales’s national peace institute. 

With the themes of peace and reconciliation at its core, Llangollen Eisteddfod works with Academi Heddwch Cymru in delivering its Peace Lecture and the Young Peacemakers Awards ceremony, during which young people from across Wales are celebrated for their contributions to peace.

In his lecture, delivered from the world-famous Pavilion main stage which the previous evening had hosted a smash-hit concert by Sir Tom Jones, Dr Williams, who is a strong ambassador for peace and reconciliation, drew parallels with today’s troubled world and the international situation at the time of the 1923 Welsh Women’s Peace Petition.

In 1923, the horrors of WW1 having galvanised a generation against conflict, the women of Wales organised an unprecedented campaign for world peace.

A total of 390,296 women signed a memorial petition through the Welsh League of Nations Union calling for America to join and lead the new League of Nations and 2023 marked the centenary of the campaign for which Academi Heddwch has coordinated a major project of celebratration.

In his lecture Dr Williams praised the petition as a shared vision in the face of a shared problem, something which the modern world would benefit from, he stressed.   

Chairman of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Professor Chris Adams, said: “It was my proud duty to introduce Dr Williams as he delivered to us the Peace Lecture from Academi Heddiwch Cymru, of which he is chair.

“The Eisteddfod is signally honoured in the Academi’s choice of our festival as the venue for both its Peace Lecture and also its Young Peacemakers Awards.

“Dr Williams is no stranger to the task of tackling some of the great challenges of our time and I for one was looking forward immensely to hearing what he had to say to the Eisteddfod community on the subject of peace, which is so close to the heart of our festival.”

Before delivering the Peace Lecture, Dr Williams, who was Archbishop of Canterbury for a decade, was taken on guided tour of the Eisteddfod field by Professor Adams where he met a number of international performers and festival volunteers.

Volunteering inspires Corinne to brighten up her Llangollen neighbourhood

* The colourful car park inspired by Corinne's work at Plas Newydd.

A volunteering opportunity has helped inspire a gardener to brighten up her neighbourhood.

Corinne Barber of Llangollen has been taking part in volunteer gardening sessions led by staff at Plas Newydd and backed by Nature for Health.

Nature for Health is a collaborative project that works together with individuals and communities to highlight the role access to nature can have in improving health and wellbeing.

Plas Newydd has launched volunteering opportunities for keen gardeners who are also interested in preserving a piece of the town’s history.

The home of Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby contains around 10 acres of grounds from rose gardens to woodland and dell areas, complemented by a stream flowing through.

Corinne explained it had been an "inspiration" to volunteer at the historic site as one of the gardeners.

She said: “I live in a flat with no garden just a car park. I love gardening and a friend suggested I volunteer with you. I have a dog who is now old and not very able so taking him up there meant he could sit in the fresh air whilst I gardened.

“After a few months I felt inspired to try to make our car park more attractive not just for myself but the neighbours too. I painted the fences and potted loads of shrubs and plants. My sister made me a plant stand from a pallet and a neighbour painted ‘The Grapes Community Garden’ on it.

“Neighbours have all come together, some gave plants, some gave money and some gave gratitude and moral support. I have found by doing this the neighbours have come together. We have somewhere pleasant to sit and I added solar lights to give a nice ambience in the evenings.

“A few of us come together and sit outside for a chat and even people walking up and down the hill pop in for a chat to discuss the plants. I cannot believe the difference it has made to our little community and it is all because of my volunteering at Plas Newydd, it gave me the inspiration and confidence to create our own little oasis

Emlyn Jones, Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: “Volunteering to help with the garden at Plas Newydd is great opportunity for residents interested in gardening to boost their wellbeing by spending time helping in this wonderful outdoor area.

“It’s great to hear that Corianne has enjoyed this experience and used it to create a fantastic community garden area for her and her neighbours to enjoy and experience the benefit of the outdoors right on their own doorsteps.”

Eisteddfod brings 160 Railway Children to the festival

 

* The Railway Children give a cheer as they arrive at Llangollen station from Corwen.

* The Railway Children's train arrives at Llangollen.

* Town crier Austin “Chem” Cheminais was on the station to officially welcome the children to Llangollen.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod teamed up with the town’s heritage railway to turn back time by more than 60 years for scores of eager schoolchildren.

On Tuesday, the first day of this year’s Eisteddfod, 160 pupils from three schools in the Dee Valley boarded a train to transport them in style between Corwen and Llangollen railway stations to enjoy Children’s Day which is traditionally held on the first day of the core festival.

And that’s something that’s not happened since the summer of 1963 when the last ‘Eisteddfod special’ left Corwen before the line was closed as part of the infamous Beeching rail cuts the following year.

Since then dedicated railway volunteers have gradually re-opened the whole of the 10-mile-long line, with the final link being completed last summer when the new £1.25 million Corwen station was officially opened by Lord Hendy, chairman of Network Rail.

This enabled a party of youngsters plus their teachers to travel into Llangollen station on Tuesday July 2 to enjoy a fun-packed day at the Eisteddfod along with their counterparts from schools across north Wales.

The three lucky Dee Valley schools involved in the time-shifting travel experience were Ysgol Bro Dyfyrdwy in Cynwyd, Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen and Ysgol Carrog.

They were welcomed on Llangollen station by town crier Austin “Chem” Cheminais.

Ian Lebbon, chairman of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee who organised the special excursion, said: “Llangollen and Corwen Railway agreed to run the special service for pupils to attend our children day instead of travelling by coach. Not only was this good for our environment but added to the children’s excitement.

"The last children to use this exact route would have been pupils from Llangollen’s Ysgol Dinas Bran travelling from Corwen in 1963, which means it has taken over 60 years to return such a service.

"We did do our best to recreate the Eisteddfod special pre-pandemic in 2019 but that was before Corwen opened and we had to board the children at Carrog, the station further along the line.

“The first train direct from Corwen to Llangollen was a great success and we had five carriages filled with very happy children who just couldn’t wait to be taken up to the Eisteddfod field.

“I’d like to thank everyone who made this very special event so successful.”

Once on the Eisteddfod field the happy train travellers were treated to a special performance in the Pavilion featuring an interactive bilingual performance by an orchestra and storyteller plus the highlight of the annual Peace Message written by Elen Mair Robert and delivered by pupils from schools in Garth, Pentre and Froncysyllte.

One of the Railway Children was 10year-old Tomos from Ysgol Bro Dyfyrdwy in Cynwyd. He said: “I really enjoyed the train journey and am looking forward to seeing the Eisteddfod where I’ve never been before. I want to see all the things on the field and hear the Peace Message.”

And 11-year-old Jayla from Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen said: “This is my first time visiting the Eisteddfod and it was great to come in on the train. I’m looking for forward to seeing everything and I’ll be coming back on July 12 to see the concert by Jess Glynne at the Pavilion.”

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has teamed up with Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor for this year’s festival. Bryan Adams, Simple Minds and Paloma Faith are just some of the names who have already performed on the iconic stage at Llangollen Pavilion.

A spokesperson for Llangollen and Corwen Railway said: “The railway is very proud to have been involved in the International Eisteddfod again after a long absence of running trains to bring schoolchildren and other guests to this historic and prestigious event.

"Our beautiful station at Llangollen has welcomed many visitors to the town since it first opened, some 162 years ago. We hope all those who travel with us over the next few weeks thoroughly enjoy their time at the Eisteddfod and take away extra special memories of travelling to the event by train.”

The Core Eisteddfod started on Tuesday – as thousands enjoyed a Children’s Day Concert in the Pavilion and a variety of performances throughout the day, on the vibrant outside stages.

Tom Jones made his Llangollen debut on Tuesday evening as the Eisteddfod embarked on its biggest and most ambitious festival yet.

Thousands watch colourful Eisteddfod parade go through town

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s celebrated Parade of Nations took place in the town this afternoon (Wednesday).

Thousands of spectators watched the colourful cavalcade start from the Eisteddfod and process through the town centre.

They were thrilled to see competitors and performers from as far away as Burundi, Canada, China, Ghana, India, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, USA and Zimbabwe alongside dozens of groups from the UK. 

The parade was to be followed by a huge party on the Eisteddfod field, where visitors will be able to get onto the "ground for a pound". 

Later in the evening Welsh folk heroes Calan will headline the Wales Welcomes the World concert in the Pavilion, also starring Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Johns’ Boys Chorus and Royal Harpist Alis Huws, alongside the Llangollen International Orchestra.