Challenge organisers send out another urgent appeal for cakes

* Entrants fuelled by cake on a previous Llangollen Round Challenge.

With this year's Llangollen Round Challenge happening in just a week's time organisers have put out another urgent plea for people to bake cakes to keep hungry entrants fed.

More than 750 walkers will be taking part in the largest-ever Challenge on next Saturday and Sunday May 31/June 1, all raising funds for Cancer Research UK. 

Judy Smith on behalf of the organising team said: "We're doing well with 750-plus entrants and £80,000 so far raised. But we need those cakes ...

"Can I remind/appeal to you that cakes for the Challenge can be delivered to our campervan in East Street car park between 10am and 7pm on Wednesday 28.  Just look out for the flag.  

"If that should be inconvenient, please ring 07905 330788 and we can collect. Any cake donated will offset our need to spend and so contribute to what we hope will be a big sum to hand over to Cancer Research UK. Thank you in advance!"

Bad luck forces Clair to call off her 630-mile charity trek

                                 * Clair on the South-West Coastal Path.

The woman who was tackling a 630-mile hike around the South-West Coastal Path to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer has been forced to call a temporary halt to her journey.

Clair Abbott said she had no choice but to break off her challenge after completing 120 miles through Somerset and North Devon when her faithful springer dog Brodie who was accompanying her broke his leg and needed immediate veterinary attention.   

But she has vowed to resume her trek and stride out through Cornwall at some time in the future.

And she has said a big thank you to the 84 people who sponsored her and enabled to raise £2,752 or 91 per cent of her online fundraising target.

* Brodie the dog with his side and leg shaved for surgery. 

Clair, from Cynwyd, Corwen, started her challenge last month and was determined to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, which will go towards vital research into early diagnosis and treatment, as well as providing support for those affected by the disease, which claimed the lives of her husband Richard last year and also that of her mother. 

Despite having to endure heavy rain and blisters on her feet, she made it through two counties and got as far as Morwenstow in North Cornwall when disaster struck.

She said: “The plan was to carry on with the hike in Cornwall, from Bude. Unfortunately, I seemed to be under a bad luck cloud as Brodie broke his front right leg.

“He needs complete crate rest for six to seven weeks with x-rays and further preventative surgery on his other leg which has the same condition.

“Springers can have a predisposition to a condition known as humeral intracondylar fissure. A CT scan showed a fissure in his other leg.”

Clair added: “The path with always be there. I intend to keep fit while Brodie rests and hopefully I’ll get the chance to do the Cornwall section at some time in the future.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported me.”     

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer in the UK, with more than half of people with the disease dying within just three months of diagnosis. Survival rates for pancreatic cancer have barely improved in 50 years – in stark contrast to the welcome progress made in outcomes for many other types of cancer. 

Sue Collins, Director of Fundraising at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “The funds raised by Clair will help us offer support to patients and families, invest in vital research to help us see the breakthroughs we urgently need, and be a voice for everyone affected by the deadliest common cancer.”

* For more information or to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, please visit www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/fundraise 

Abseilers fix Eisteddfod banner in place at the station

* Abseiler Josh hangs over the river to fix the banner in place on the railway staircase.

An expert abseiler helped the Eisteddfod put up its striking advertising banner on a vantage point high above Llangollen station this morning (Friday).

The specialist climbing service was provided by Glyndyfrdwy-based R3 Safety & Rescue, courtesy of its managing director Paul O’Sullivan.

The man doing the abseiling down the staircase while hanging over the river below was Josh assisted by his colleague Paddy who made sure things were safe from above. 

The banner, which will stay in its vantage point in clear view of the town bridge for the duration of the festival, is based on the Eisteddfod’s new, more modern branding design.

Eisteddfod board member Ian Lebbon, who was there to watch the intricate operation, said: “It’s good to have our eye-catching banner going up where everyone will be able to see it.

“It’s also great that the guys from R3 Safety & Rescue, who have done this job for us for a number of years now, were back to help us out again, free of charge, this year.”

* Watch the short video that goes with this at: 

https://youtu.be/AJJm1s_gFNg?si=Kgpkunl5Ke_NPoYs

Other Eisteddfod events

* To mark 78 years of the Eisteddfod 78 pairs of free tickets to this year's festival will be hidden at various locations around the Llangollen Pavilion grounds during a treasure hunt next Monday.

The Treasure Hunt will run from 10am until 2pm on Monday.

* 78 special envelopes will be hidden around the grounds. Each envelope contains a unique code linked to a specific headlining concert or the Family Fun Day.

* Lucky finders must bring the envelope and code to the main entrance of the Pavilion to redeem their pair of tickets.

* There's a limit of one pair of tickets per person. Tickets must be redeemed before the Pavilion closes at 2 pm on Monday May 26.

* All under-16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.

On Thursday May 29 the Eisteddfod is hosting public meeting for all local people ahead of this year’s TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion and Llangollen International Eisteddfod events.

The meeting starts at 7pm at Llangollen Pavilion when representatives from both the volunteer team behind the festival and co-promoters Cuffe & Taylor will be on hand to answer and address all questions covering subjects such as traffic management, noise alleviation measures and access to the site. 

* R3 Safety & Rescue's Josh and Paddy put their climbing equipment in place from inside the staircase.

* Josh hangs precariously - but perfectly safely - over the river.

* The Eisteddfod's Ian Lebbon, left, congratulates Josh and Paddy from R3 Safety & Rescue on a job well done. Also on hand, right, is the railway's interpretations officer Alex Elbourne. 

Community groups to showcase cultural identity at Eisteddfod

                                                * Caminhos from the Cardiff area.

On Wednesday, 9 July, on the Globe Stage between 12noon and 4pm, six dynamic community groups from across Wales will come together at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod to showcase their cultural vibrancy through a unique project called Community Rhythms and Roots Wales. 

Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, these groups will bring their multicultural and multilingual heritage to life in a celebration of Wales’ diverse communities. 

This initiative echoes the Eisteddfod’s long-standing tradition of uniting people through the power of the arts, building bridges in the spirit of peace and friendship.

Under the banner of Community Rhythms and Roots, the groups represent a rich mosaic of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, each offering a performance that blends music, dance, and poetry. These performances will tell the stories of their communities and their roots, providing a compelling and joyous reflection of Wales' multicultural landscape.

* Samarpan from Newport and Cardiff.

The project is further supported by three key partners - Literature Across Frontiers, the National Dance Company of Wales, and Community Music Wales— who will provide expertise and mentorship in storytelling and performance. 

Specialist community consultants Lyndy Cooke and Richie Turner along with project directors Garffild and Sian Eirian Lewis, will guide the groups through the creative process, ensuring their performances resonate on an international stage.

Each group will receive financial support to bring their performances to life at Llangollen in July.

Garffild Lewis, Project Director for Community Rhythms and Roots, said: “This project celebrates the strength found in diversity, bringing together Wales’ rich cultural communities. 

"We’re excited to showcase these performances at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, where music, dance, and storytelling will unite us all in a spirit of peace and creativity, continuing the Eisteddfod’s tradition of fostering global connections.”

Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales, expressed the significance of this initiative: "We are proud to support Community Rhythms and Roots at Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2025. 

The work is the result of a successful application to our 'Connect and Flourish’ fund - a National Lottery funded programme that encourages collaboration between organisations, communities, individuals and creative workers.

* Smaller Oasis One World Choir from the Cardiff area.

"Literature Across Frontiers, National Dance Company Wales and Community Music Wales are working together on this inspiring project to celebrate a rich texture of voices that reflect creativity, inclusion and cultural diversity and the work will mirror the values of the International Eisteddfod. We are really looking forward to seeing the work amidst the colour and excitement of Llangollen."

John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, also commented: “This is a brilliant project, so close to our heart. We’re also thrilled that the six groups will play a central role in our Parade of Nations after their performance on our field. 

"This year, we’re welcoming over 4,000 competitors from 35 different countries to Llangollen, continuing the Eisteddfod’s tradition of uniting the world through music and culture - just as we’ve done since 1947.”

Meet the Communities:

•     Balkan Roots (Cardiff & Newport): This vibrant group celebrates the diverse cultures of the ex-Yugoslav states, bringing together music, dance, and song to share the rich Balkan heritage.

•     EYST Wales (Wrexham): Young performers from ethnic minority backgrounds will present a powerful dance and music performance, showcasing global diversity through national flags and traditional dances from Poland, Portugal, South Africa, and more.

•     Caminhos (Cardiff & Surrounding Areas): A performance that blends chant, movement, and spoken word to tell the story of a community at peace, later torn apart by external forces. Its aim: to promote global harmony.

•     TGP Teulu Dawns Cymru (Cardiff): This group of teenage asylum seekers will explore identity, heritage, and connection through Afrobeats, blending rhythmic dance and original music to express their shared experiences.

•     Samarpan (Newport & Cardiff): "Nritya – A Dance for Unity & Peace" brings the profound traditions of Indian classical dance to life, celebrating cultural interconnectedness and global unity through the power of performance.

•     Oasis (Cardiff & Surrounding Areas): Combining the talents of the Oasis Gambas Band and the One World Choir, this performance uses original bilingual songs, spoken word, and dance to spread messages of joy, peace, resilience, and solidarity.

Llangollen Operatic go into the woods with their next show

* Cinderella. All pictures by Barrie Potter.

In just under three weeks performers from the Llangollen Operatic Society will take to the Town Hall stage to perform Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical Into the Woods.

The show is a mash-up of fairytale favourites with a twist. It’s the story of a Baker and his wife who try to lift a witch’s curse by journeying into the Woods on a mission to find four ‘very specific’ items.

On their journey they meet an array of familiar characters, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (of beanstalk fame), and Rapunzel. And, as Act One ends, it seems that all our heroes have their ‘happy-ever-after’ fairytale ending.

But Act Two takes a darker turn and the characters face the unintended consequences of their actions. There is death, destruction, and deceit but also a chance to grow and heal. So, whilst it is in many ways a fairytale, it is also, perhaps, not necessarily one for the younger audience.

It's a challenging show to perform and stage and the cast and crew have worked solidly for the past five months to bring this classic to the Llangollen audience. It promises to be a delight to watch both for stalwart Sondheim fans and those who are new to the show.

With a five-performance run, you can catch the show at Llangollen Town Hall from June 11 -14, with performances on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings as well as a matinee on Saturday afternoon.

* Tickets are available online at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety as well as local outlets in Llangollen: The Tourist Information Centre, The Oggie Shop, and Solitaire Jewellers.

You can also catch a sneak peak of the cast performing one or two of the songs from the show at the Llangollen Summer Fete at Plas Newydd on Saturday June 7.

* Red Riding Hood.

* The Mysterious Man.

* The Witch.

* Granny and the Wolf. 

78 pairs of tickets up for grabs in Eisteddfod treasure hunt

* Tom Jones headlines at last year's Eisteddfod. Picture: Desh Kapur Cuffe & Taylor.

Music fans can get their hands on the hottest tickets in town ready for another season of live music with TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion and Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Last summer more than 50,000 music lovers flocked to the town for a month of spectacular shows, and the excitement returns next month as global stars including Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, James, The Script, Olly Murs, The Human League and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell all head to Live at Llangollen Pavilion from June 26 to July 5.

 

The stellar line-up continues with the Llangollen International Eisteddfod from July 8, featuring headline shows from Sir Karl Jenkins, KT Tunstall, Il Divo, Beyond Time: The Music of Hans Zimmer, Choir of the World with special guest Lucie Jones, and Bryn Terfel joined by Fisherman’s Friends and Eve Goodman. The festival also offers a full daily programme of competitions and field entertainment.

To kick off the celebrations organisers are bringing back the hugely popular treasure hunt giving people another chance to bag themselves free tickets on Monday May 26.

To mark 78 years of the international festival 78 pairs of tickets will be hidden at various locations around the Llangollen Pavilion grounds.

Artistic Director of Llangollen International Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: "Last year’s treasure hunt was such a hit.

"It really helped build a buzz in the town ahead of a truly incredible summer so we knew we had to bring it back. It’s a fun way to kick things off and gives fans the chance to bag tickets to some of our biggest shows.

"With world-class artists and the unique magic of the Eisteddfod, this year is going to be something special. Let the hunt begin!"

The Treasure Hunt will run from 10am until 2pm on Monday.

* 78 special envelopes will be hidden around the grounds. Each envelope contains a unique code linked to a specific headlining concert or the Family Fun Day.

· Lucky finders must bring the envelope and code to the main entrance of the Pavilion to redeem their pair of tickets.

· There's a limit of one pair of tickets per person. Tickets must be redeemed before the Pavilion closes at 2 pm on Monday May 26.

· All under-16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.

This year, as Llangollen International Eisteddfod marks the ‘Year of Croeso – Only in Wales,’ more than 4,000 competitors from 35 countries will head to Llangollen from July 8 to 13 for a vibrant week of competitions and performances. 

For the first time, TK Maxx will join Live at Llangollen Pavilion as presenting partner, as part of an extended agreement with Cuffe & Taylor shows across the country including Lytham Festival, Live at Lincoln Castle, Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Live at The Piece Hall, Derby Summer Sessions, Depot Live, Plymouth Summer Sessions, Bedford Summer Sessions, Southampton Summer Sessions and Powderham.

* For more information and to purchase tickets go to llangollen.net and ticketmaster.co.uk 

What's on:

Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2025 

June 26 – Texas with support from Rianne Downey  

June 27 – Rag’n'Bone Man with support from Elles Bailey and Kerr Mercer  

June 28 - UB40 Ft Ali Campbell with very special guest Bitty McLean and Reggae Roast 

June 29 – James with support from The K’s and Tom A. Smith  

July 3 – The Script with very special guest Tom Walker

July 4 – Olly Murs with very special guest Lemar and Absnt Mind 

July 5 – The Human League with support from The Christians and Altered Images  

Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2025

July 8 – Beyond Time: The Music of Hans Zimmer in concert

July 9 – Uniting Nations: One World featuring Sir Karl Jenkins

July 10 – KT Tunstall with The Absolute Orchestra

July 11 – Il Divo with special guest Laura Wright

July 12 – Choir Of The World with special guest Lucie Jones

July 13 – Bryn Terfel: Sea Songs with special guests the Fisherman’s Friends and Eve Goodman

Small army of Evel Knievels arrive at Llangollen station

 

* The Evel Knievels arrive on Llangollen station.

Llangollen Railway welcomed an army of Evel Knievels to the Dee Valley as they toured Wales to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the stunt bike legend's mighty jump at Wembley Stadium.

They also aim to raise funds for the NSPCC. The group have already collected an incredible £30,000 for the children’s charity this year.

The Evel Express left Corwen station at 11.05 am this morning (Thursday) and arrived at Llangollen just before noon.

Around 60 of the Ride Cymru Knievels travelled aboard the railway's Class 109 Wickham railcar. 

They were all wearing Evel’s distinctive jumpsuit, cape and boot and were accompanied by some of his family, including Kelly his eldest son. 

The Knievel posse are due to return from Llangollen to Corwen, where they have been staying, at 3.15pm today.

 

Railway press officer Terry Pickthall said: “We were really looking forward to the Ride Cymru Knievel’s visit and helping them to raise funds for the NSPCC." 

Tomorrow (Friday) the 14^th annual Ride Cymru Knievels event will be starting from Pontcysyllte Aqueduct with the Telford Inn as its morning HQ. 

The Knievel family will be attending and organisers say supporters are welcome from 8am with the ride beginning at 9.15am. 

The event is also in aid of the NSPCC. 

For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/ridecymru/?locale=en_GB