Tasty treats transport Pavarotti’s widow back in time

* Moli Jones, from the Wild Pheasant Hotel, serves up white chocolate and strawberry tarts to Luciano Pavarotti's widow Nicoletta Mantovani, joined by concert sponsors Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill Kreft, who arranged the tasty treats. This was a favourite of Pavarotti on his visit in 1995. Pictures by Rick Matthews

The widow of opera maestro Luciano Pavarotti was taken back time by a tasty treat which brought back memories of her first visit to Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Nicoletta Mantovani was served with a delicious white chocolate and strawberry dessert at a reception ahead of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition on the final night of the festival where she was celebrating an emotional double anniversary.

It is 70 years since a young Luciano first performed at Llangollen eisteddfod with his dad’s choir, Chorus Rossini, in 1955, and 30 years since he returned as a global superstar in 1995 when he sang in a sell-out concert.

Nicoletta recalled how her late husband enjoyed the delicious menu famously served to him by ‘Dai Chef’ when he stayed at the Bryn Howell hotel, Llangollen, in 1995.

According to Dai his specially created white chocolate and strawberry tarts were one of the opera great’s favourite treats while he was there.

Nicoletta, who is now re-married to financier Alberto Tinarelli, had the opportunity to sample a modern day recreation of those tarts when she made a special journey to North Wales to celebrate the anniversary of Pavarotti’s appearances at the Llangollen festival.

* The tarts served up at the reception.

The thoughtful gesture was organised by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, the arts loving owners of the Pendine Park care organisation who sponsored the competition via the Pendine Arts and Communities Trust (PACT).

The tasty treats were served during a reception before the competition and the concert that followed, starring Sir Bryn Terfel and Cornish “buoy band” Fishermen’s Friends, which was also supported by PACT.

The Krefts also accompanied Nicoletta and Alberto on a train journey from Corwen to Llangollen when they arrived in the town where “Wales welcomes the world”.

The canapé style tarts were made by Keith Tapping the acclaimed executive chef of Llangollen’s Wild Pheasant Hotel which provided the catering for the reception held to welcome Nicoletta and other guests.

As part of the spread they served the canape-style white chocolate and strawberry tarts as a nod to Luciano’s 1995 visit and, on tasting them, Nicoletta said it was like travelling back in time.

She said: “They are beautiful, such sweet, delicious flavour. But it is not just the tarts that are beautiful, it is the memories they bring with them.

“So many memories can be triggered by our senses of taste and smell that when I tasted these it was like being back in 1995.

“It was such a generous thought to recreate this dish which Luciano loved. Llangollen and the International Eisteddfod always held a special place in his heart and I am so delighted to be back here experiencing the festival again 30 years later.”

Serving the tarts to Nicoletta and other guests was Wild Pheasant general assistant Moli Jones who said she was thrilled to be working on such a prestigious occasion.

Moli, 17, originally from Bala, but who now lives in Llangollen, said: “This is a great occasion, with so many well-known guests.

“It’s been a pleasure serving our menu to them. I have always been proud of the community ethos generated by the Llangollen eisteddfod. I have been here so many times and I have friends and neighbours who have volunteered here in the past. It is such a fantastic event to be a part of and always creates magical memories for anyone who comes here.”

Becky Shields, general manager of the Wild Pheasant Hotel, which is part of the Everbright group, said: “It has been our privilege to cater for such a special occasion as this and at what is the biggest cultural festival in Europe.”

The occasion also brought back memories for Mario and Gill Kreft who  witnessed Pavarotti’s visit to the eisteddfod in 1995.

The couple were among those watching his sell-out concert on a giant screen outside on the Eisteddfod field.

After the competition, Nicoletta presented the winning trophy of a silver salver and a £3,000 prize to tenor Andrew Henley who triumphed in the competition.

Among other guests at the pre-concert reception was the long-serving former president of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Sir Terry Waite.

Ken Skates MS pays tribute to Llangollen Eisteddfod

* From left, Eisteddfod Board Member David Hennigan, Ken Skates MS and Chairman of the Board John Gambles all regularly meet to plan the Eisteddfod.  

Ken Skates MS, Senedd Member for Clwyd South which includes Llangollen, has paid tribute to the organisers of the Llangollen Eisteddfod after another successful festival came to an end.

The Eisteddfod, run mainly by over 500 volunteers, has just completed its 78th year and is now busy preparing for Llangollen 2026 – which will take place on July 7–12 next year. 

This year, the festival brought tens of thousands of visitors to North Wales and saw over 4,000 competitors take part in competitions from across the world.

It also welcomed artists such as Sir Bryn Terfel, KT Tunstall, Lucie Jones, and Il Divo to North-East Wales.

The festival also co-promoted seven concerts featuring the likes of Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, James and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, in partnership with Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

It also welcomed Luciano Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, who presented the Choir of the World award and unveiled a 120-foot chalk tribute to mark the 70th anniversary of the Maestro’s career-defining international debut in Llangollen. 

Mr Skates, a Vice-President of the Llangollen Eisteddfod and long-term supporter of the festival, said: “It was great to visit the Eisteddfod yet again and meet their wonderful volunteers.

"Our festival is a shining light across the world, and the fact that over 500 volunteers – mainly from Llangollen and Wrexham – make this happen is incredible.

"This year, Eisteddfod organisers pulled off another major success. Llangollen, where my office is based, is bursting with colour, song and vibrancy, and Llangollen’s slogan – ‘Where Wales Welcomes the World’ – is as relevant now as it was in 1947.

"The Pavarotti mural is the talk of the Senedd and illustrates the iconic status of the Llangollen Eisteddfod through its connection with the Maestro.” 

Last week, Jo Stevens MP – the Secretary of State for Wales – visited the festival, as well as Llangollen MP Becky Gittins.

Mr Skates has been a huge supporter of the festival, which he first attended as a child. He regularly meets with organisers throughout the year to help plan for the festival. He is also planning to visit Wrexham, which will host the National Eisteddfod from August 2–7. 

He added: "This year, we have two Eisteddfodau for the price of one – and the end of one Eisteddfod marks the build-up to another. I am looking forward to visiting the National Eisteddfod in August.

"I know volunteers in Wrexham have been working just as hard as those in Llangollen. In fact, many volunteers from Llangollen are planning to travel just up the road to celebrate Welsh language, arts and heritage. What a summer it is in North Wales. The positive impact on our economy is huge. The Welsh Government is proud to support both festivals.” 

Council aims to boost its Care and Support Team

* A Care and Support Team member on the road.

Denbighshire County Council is expanding its Care and Support Team in Adult Social Care by recruiting nine new staff who will work across the county.

This forms part of Denbighshire’s aim to ensure a sustainable Social Care Service for the future and aims to help offset some of the financial pressures the council faces.

Following a successful first recruitment campaign earlier this year where seven Reablement Support Workers were recruited, the council is now looking for further staff to join them.

The new team members will support people who need a hand to regain the skills to do everyday activities like washing, cooking meals, dressing and moving about the home and going out.

There are a number of reasons why people may need this support, such as following a period of illness or a hospital stay. This support can last for as little as one or two weeks but can be offered for up to six weeks if it is needed. In addition to this the team can also offer longer term domiciliary support when this is needed.

Darylanne, an existing Senior Care and Support Worker, said: “Our teams support those who need a helping hand after a period away from the home in the hospital, or maybe after an illness.

"Members of the team have access to a work vehicle as standard while working and therefore do not have to use their personal vehicle as they travel from location to location. Comprehensive training is provided and there is a lot of support for staff to support them in their role.”

Ann Lloyd, Head of Service for Adult Social Care & Homelessness Service, said: “After the success of the expansion earlier in the year, we are now looking to add 9 more workers to our team.

"Our teams care for people up and down the County every day in their own homes, meaning residents can live comfortably in their own homes for longer.

"This expansion helps us achieve our wider social care aims and will bring more care to residents in their own homes.”

Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: “Our teams are there for our residents who have just arrived home from hospital or treatment and need a support package whilst they adjust back into day-to-day life.

"This support helps make that transition a little easier, with our team on hand to help residents relearn the skills needed, right in the comfort of their own home.

"Our team do an amazing job throughout the whole County, and I am looking forward to welcoming more Care and Support Workers into our team.”

* To find out more about these job opportunities and working in Social Care, visit the council's website here.

Ambassadors for Manchester back on Eisteddfod stage

* Lee Woods, John O'Grady, Adam Kelly, Jonny Helm, Mark Brandreth and David Hennigan on stage at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in July 2025.

* Some of the Manchester lads on Llangollen Bridge in 1985.

This year, the world-renowned Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod celebrated the seventieth anniversary of iconic tenor, Luciano Pavarotti making his international debut at the festival. It was a debut that defined his career. 

So much so, last week, the festival working with Decca Classics, commissioned a giant 120-foot chalk mural in the hills of Llangollen to mark the occasion. It was also 30 years since 'The Maestro' made his triumphant return to the festival. 

They welcomed Pavarotti's widow Nicoletta Mantovani to the festival this year to present its Pavarotti Trophy to their Choir of the World.

This week, Decca has announced its intention to launch a year-long celebration of the career of Luciano Pavarotti. In honour of the legendary tenor, the organisation will release “The Lost Concert,” an album that features Pavarotti’s 1995 performance at Llangollen.

* The Pavarotti Mural commissioned by Decca Classics and the Llangollen Eisteddfod to commemorate the 70 anniversary of Luciano Pavarotti iconic international debut in 1955. Just one of the Llangollen Eisteddfod's anniversaries.

In a festival of anniversaries, the festival also marked the fortieth anniversary of the Manchester Boys' Choir, winning the Eisteddfod's Children's Choir competition. 

It was a win that propelled them around the world - in some of the world's biggest concert halls in places like Australia, Finland, Russia, Canada, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada. 

They were described as 'Ambassadors for Manchester' by the Manchester Evening News, performed in the Royal Variety Performance, had a record in the charts and performed in front of the late Queen Elizabeth on multiple occasions.

Now, members of the choir have made a return to Llangollen, after receiving a special invite from the festival to mark the fortieth anniversary of their historic win. 

Last week, Manchester 'Boys', Lee Woods, John O'Grady, Adam Kelly, Jonny Helm, Mark Brandreth and David Hennigan presented the Eisteddfod Open Children's Choir Trophy to The Musical Originals Singers from Jersey, the very same trophy they won in 1985.

One member of the Choir, David Hennigan, formerly of Levenshulme loved the town that much that he now lives there and is a Director of the Festival. 

Last week, BBC Wales news reporter and Eisteddfod stage presenter Iwan Griffiths told the 4,000 strong audience: "In July 1985, forty years ago today, the then little-known Manchester Boys' Choir made their first visit to our Eisteddfod. It was the year they first won the Children's Choir competition, repeating the success in 1989. 

"The Manchester Boys Choir travelled the world, winning competition after competition and performed in the some of the World's biggest concert halls. It all started for this celebrated choir in Llangollen - they became one of the foremost Children's Choirs in the World and a favourite of Llangollen audiences. So today, we are bringing some of their members back on stage."

Lee Woods, sang all over the World with the choir and even starred in a feature film alongside Michael Williams (late husband of Judi Dench) Lee presented the award on behalf of the choir. 

He said: "We have all got such fond memories of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. To be invited to hand over the trophy we won in 1985 was a great accolade and a tribute to the hundreds of lads who enjoyed such amazing opportunities through the Manchester City Council-funded choir. Like Luciano Pavarotti, it all started for us in Llangollen. This win opened the world to hundreds of young lads from Manchester and dozens of them now have work as musical professionals across the world. We'd like to thank the festival for welcoming us back with open arms."

With over 4000 competitors coming from across the world for this year's Llangollen Eisteddfod, the festival is synonymous with musical excellence. The Manchester Boys' Choir are still fondly remembered in Llangollen and the lads received a huge reception on its iconic stage. The lads even joined together for a performance on its field before taking to the festival's huge stage.

David Hennigan, a Board Director at the Llangollen Eisteddfod and a former Manchester City councillor said: "We are so proud of our time in the choir. Lads from Manchester and the surrounding towns took the world by storm. In 1985, I fell in love with Llangollen and the Eisteddfod. 

"I always said I wanted to live here and joined the festival's Board in 2023. As a festival, we wanted to recognise the amazing achievements of the Manchester Boys Choir. I was so pleased to bring the boys back on stage to recognise not only what they achieved in 1985 but also pay tribute to our Ambassadors for Manchester."

Nissan X-Trail is a novel way of doing an EV

Nissan X-Trail e-4ORCE drive by Steve Rogers

What about this for a smart way of driving on electric?

There’s a petrol engine but it does not drive the wheels. Starting to think I’m talking nonsense? Don’t blame you.

The e-4ORCE is Nissan’s novel name for electric four wheel drive but the engine’s job is to charge the batteries that send power to two electric motors, one on each axle, that drive the wheels.

This is where you say ‘why not just buy an electric car’? Not everyone is comfortable going down the all electric road, so called range anxiety is still a concern, but the X-Trail is different because it does not need to be charged so no worries about finding a charging point during a long journey, just fill up with petrol.

And it has given X-Trail a new lease of life. It arrived 23 years ago as a trailblazing off roader that wasn’t afraid to wade up to its wheel arches in water or mud. Then Nissan pulled a master stroke producing a small SUV that drove like a family hatchback. It was called Qashqai and X-Trail has played second fiddle ever since.

Both cars share the same electric technology but this time X-Trail gets one over its sibling with all wheel drive. Qash only gets e-power on the front wheel drive model.

The next surprise is the engine. Who would have thought a three-cylinder 1.5 litre petrol would be enough for a big 4x4? That is where the electric motors come in providing instant power the second the throttle is pushed to the floor accelerating X-Trail to sixty in seven seconds, quicker than the new Honda C-RV plug-in hybrid.

Quicker it might be but X-Trail lags behind on economy, recording 41.6mpg at the end of a week’s driving when some rivals are hitting the 50mpg mark.

Regenerative braking is common on the new generation of hybrids and the Nissan goes a step further with e-pedal. This system brings the car to a virtual stop without touching the brake pedal harnessing power for the batteries and saving on brake wear although not quite as efficient as a Volvo which brakes the car to a dead stop.

With a new chassis the Nissan is surprisingly nimble given its size with a lot less body roll than the previous model while the suspension manages to stifle the worst of our road surfaces.

The big fella has been given a total makeover to bring it in line with Nissan’s more modern face while the cabin is a lot plusher. A digital driver’s binnacle provides a mound of information accessed through steering wheel buttons, a brilliant class leading head-up display on the windscreen, and there is even more reading in the central 12.3in touchscreen, but credit to Nissan for sticking with traditional switches for climate control.

X-Trail is a car for a growing family so there will be no concerns about back seat legroom although it can’t quite match the CR-V. An extra £1,000 will buy two extra seats but these are only suitable for young children. Leg and headroom is too tight for adults and getting into them is not easy. You will also gain extra boot space without them.

The top of the range Tekna+ driven here is packed with equipment, so expect smart phone connections, heated front and rear seats, heated windscreen, 360 degree all round camera among a long spec list. You won't even have to unlock or lock the doors, the hands free i-key does it for you.

There are more than enough driver safety aids to keep you safe. I am a big fan of cross traffic alert which is so useful when reversing out of side parking slots, and it will emergency brake to help avoid a frontal shunt.

In many ways this X-Trail has come of age, impressively efficient and with lots of skills in its locker.

Fast facts

X-Trail Tekna+ 4WD

£48,375

1.5 litre turbo; 211bhp

0-62mph 7secs; 111mph

42.8mpg combined

144g/km. 1st road tax £620

Boot: 585-1298 litres

Towing capacity 1650kg

Insurance group 31

Amateur stage performer tells of her frightening brush with Covid

* Naomi Riley says people still need to be aware of Covid.

A Llangollen amateur stage performer has told of her frightening brush with Covid which led to her being rushed to hospital and treated for a suspected heart attack. 

Naomi Riley, who has appeared in productions for Llangollen Operatic Society and the Twenty Club, reveals what she went through in a post on Facebook, which has already attracted over 30 sympathetic comments since going up in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday). 

And she says she took to social media to let people know that the virus at the centre of the pandemic is something that people still need to be aware of.   

She writes: “I'd like to have a little catch up about Covid, mainly because it's been a little too close to home this last week, and it's playing on my mind. 

“So, Mark [husband] and I have had it. It started  last Sunday morning /afternoon respectively with both of us presenting with just a sore throat, nothing major. 

“By Monday afternoon, I can only describe it as all my pipework felt sore from up into my sinuses to down into my chest. 

“By Tuesday, we were feeling a little bit out of it as our temperatures started to spike. Rounds of meds every four hours began. 

* Naomi in Llangollen Operatic's production of Bad Girls in 2024.

“By Wednesday morning, Mark's temp was above 39, with mine not far behind. We were aching all over and my chest felt tight and heavy. 

“Thurs afternoon, I was barely mobile, we both had streaming colds.

“Thurs evening I was taken to A&E after collapsing with crushing chest pains and was treated for a suspected heart attack! 

“I'd honestly thought at first it was just trapped wind, but it just got worse and more intense, radiating through my chest from front to back, up into my neck... then I collapsed.

“Mark was a hero and got me to hospital despite being ill himself. 

“I was triaged in no time. Oxygen levels were fine, blood pressure, fine, ECG, bloods.... no idea. My chest was still heavy, and breathing felt like hard work, honestly, but I clearly wasn't dying so took a seat, all masked up, and waited. 

“Over the next few hours of waiting to see a Dr the pain in my chest slowly eased to nothing. Eventually, another ECG was taken and more blood pressure tests - my blood pressure appeared to be dropping - and suddenly I'm being moved to resus, no longer allowed to walk. 

“Was a scarily surreal few hours once I was plumbed in and all the tests were being done.

"The blood tests confirmed I had Covid. 

“And then all the other tests fortunately determined that no permanent damage was done to my heart - however... what the hell??? 

“At no point in my life has flu or even Covid the first time round ever caused me to suffer anything like a heart attack. 

“It may be mutated; weakened from the original strain, but please, just be mindful. The symptoms started out as nothing, but became something very nasty, very quickly for me. And Mark's gone through the ringer despite being up to date with all his jabs due to being in a high risk category. 

“We're finally coming out the other side of it now. 

“Please take care folks, and stay well xx”

Later, Naomi said the purpose of her post was: “Not to scare so much as remind people that it's not something to get blasé about and to still be aware of, that these were the symptoms and how it progressed as we experienced it.

“I know, I'd had it in the back of my mind that it's just like the flu nowadays, and though in some respects that's true, in a way that was quite terrifying for me, that wasn't true at all.” 

Regular men’s events in Llangollen

Men’s events in Llangollen include: 

Probus

Meets every week at the Hand Hotel, from 11am -12noon on Tuesday. For men in retirement to enjoy coffee and biscuits (with about eight others), and in a very informal environment. They share town information, personal stories, the week’s news and solve country and world issues.

 

Prostate Support Group

Meets at the Hand Hotel, on the third Wednesday of every month at 2pm. For men with prostate cancer, of whatever stage, to share experiences and offer support to each other with practical advice and update to latest medical techniques. Open welcome. For more information contact David Davies on 07485 630834.