Llanidloes music teacher made honorary president for Urdd
A Llanidloes-born music teacher has been honoured for her contribution to Wales' largest youth organisation, the Urdd.
Menna Bennett Joynson was one of four volunteers who were made an honorary president of Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Mor 2025 at a special ceremony on Monday (May 26).
Menna was born in Llanidloes before her family moved to Llanuwchllyn and then to Aberystwyth. She grew up in a musical and cultured household and was familiar with singing and participating in Eisteddfodau from an early age.
At Eisteddfod yr Urdd, she has had considerable success in the field of 'cerdd dant', while she also coached pupils to sing and compete in her role as a music teacher at Ysgol Rhydfelen.
In 1976, she moved to Swansea with her husband and raised three children locally. Menna established 'Adran Sgeti' in 1978 which later developed into 'Aelwyd yr Urdd Sgeti'. Over the years, they went on to have considerable success at Eisteddfod yr Urdd.
Menna was appointed music teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr and a peripatetic harp teacher in the area.
She spoke of her gratitude to the Urdd, adding that all the experiences she and her pupils have had have greatly enriched her life.
"The Urdd has fulfilled so much for me," Menna told S4C. "I owe a big debt to the Urdd."
Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts, Urdd Gobaith Cymru said: 'The four who are being honoured this year have given over 160 years of support to the movement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pembrokeshire Herald
28 minutes ago
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Top Welsh tenor shares heartfelt thanks after receiving intense cancer treatment
MON MAM CYMRU will welcome an extended Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd as the festival returns to the Island next year. It was announced today (Friday 30th May) at the Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr, Parc Margam a'r Fro, that Urdd Gobaith Cymru intends to extend the festival to seven days in 2026. This comes in response to an increase in the number of individuals that register to compete as well as the demand for more competitions. Llio Maddocks, Director of Arts at Urdd Gobaith Cymru said, 'The Eisteddfod yr Urdd is an ever-evolving festival, and we listen to our members. We've seen more registrations to compete than ever before and a demand for additional stage competitions, and we're so pleased to see the positive impact the festival is having by increasing opportunities to engage with the Welsh language outside the classroom.' 'In response to this demand and to ensure we continue to be an inclusive organisation to each and every child and young person in Wales, we'll be expanding the Eisteddfod to a seven day festival.' Since 1929, Eisteddfod yr Urdd has provided invaluable opportunities for children and young people in Wales to showcase their talents, develop new skills and socialise with others from every part of Wales. Today, it's one of the biggest youth festivals in Europe, and Eisteddfod yr Urdd welcomes around 100,000 visitors every year. The festival was last held in Anglesey back in 2004. The Leader of Anglesey County Council, Councillor Gary Pritchard, welcomed the announcement at the Eisteddfod. He said, 'Welcoming this unique festival – that will now last seven days when it comes to the site in Mona – will be a significant boost to the Welsh language, our young people and the economy.' 'As a County Council and Island, we are truly looking forward to welcoming Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd in a year's time. There is nowhere better than Anglesey to stage this Welsh event for the young people of Wales, and following today's announcement, we will have a full week of competing.' 'I'd like to thank Urdd Ynys Môn's Executive Committee and all volunteers for working tirelessly to ensure that Anglesey will, once again, be an exemplary home for this special festival in 2026.' He added, 'I look forward to seeing children, young people and families from all across the country visiting Anglesey.' The competing will begin on the Saturday before Whitsun and will last until the Friday of that week, with Gŵyl Triban moving to the first weekend, and the broadcasting partnership will continue with S4C. The Chair of Urdd Ynys Môn's Executive Committee, Manon Wyn Williams, said, 'The increase in the annual number of individuals competing in the Eisteddfod yr Urdd is extremely encouraging, and means that more children and young people take advantage of valuable opportunities through the association'. 'This is all thanks to tireless efforts of the Urdd's coaches, teachers, volunteers, and hard-working staff across Wales. As a result, extending the Eisteddfod to seven days is an exciting and important development. It's a privilege that we on Anglesey are welcoming this experimental Eisteddfod, and it's an opportunity to look at the festival's structure with a fresh pair of eyes, working with children and young people in Wales as we do this. We are all extremely excited to welcome everyone to the Island in a years' time!' Anglesey County Council's Chief Executive, Dylan J Williams, added, 'There is significant local enthusiasm, and people are eager to welcome this unique youth festival to the Island. It's a great opportunity for us to show Anglesey at its best. We will continue to work with the Urdd and local committee, with the aim of welcoming the Eisteddfod, and people from across Wales, here in 2026.' Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd will be held during the last week of May, as usual, corresponding with the half term school holiday. The festival is held either in the South or the North of Wales, alternating each year.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Gary Lineker attends son's wedding days after quitting job - and Wayne was there
Gary Lineker was seen looking suave and happy at his son's wedding over the weekend. The presenter, 64, enjoyed his son's milestone moment after a tumultuous couple of weeks after he was let go from the BBC over comments he made about Palestine. His son George, 33, took to Instagram on Monday to share some special moments from the huge family celebration - which also included Gary's estranged brother Wayne. George posted a sweet snap of himself and his famous dad beaming alongside one another as they posed after Harry and his new wife said their 'I do's'. The England star turned pundit was due to present coverage for the Beeb until the end of this season before bowing out. However, Gary will now be exiting earlier than initially intended after sharing a pro-Palestine video about the Gaza conflict on social media. The clip in question, which shows Canadian-Palestinian lawyer Diana Buddu criticising Israel's actions in Gaza, includes a controversial cartoon rat emoji, a symbol associated with antisemitic tropes. Following an outcry, Gary released a statement on Monday (May 19), apologising for the offence caused and emphasising that he would "never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic". The 64-year-old also revealed he would be stepping back from his high-profile presenting position after two eventful decades, leaving longtime viewers to wonder what's next for the legendary striker. In his statement, Leicester-born Gary told fans: "I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I'd never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic - it goes against everything I stand for. However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action." BBC Director-General Tim Davie has also issued the following statement: "Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season. Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. "His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond. We want to thank him for the contribution he has made."
Leader Live
11 hours ago
- Leader Live
Chef Jamie Oliver says dyslexia documentary was ‘most painful' thing he has done
The 50-year old celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the Government can do more to fix the education system. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Oliver said: 'I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff. 'I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. 'Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful,' 'I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this — I've just done it to you — the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering.' According to the NHS dyslexia is described as a 'common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling'. Having left school with two GCSEs, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen 'saved' him. He said: 'I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help. 'There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then.' He also described feeling 'stupid, worthless and thick' and developing 'a hatred of words and a total resentment for education' while other students called him a 'stupid dunce', leaving him with a 'deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind'. 'I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. 'The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit.' The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals. He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the Government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks. He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity. Oliver added: 'We also need more training for teachers. In a two to three-year training course only about half a day is given to neurodiversity. 'I've only got love for teachers, we need to appreciate them more. 'But they want to be trained, they want to have the tools to notice, understand and react.' Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution can be watched on Channel 4 on June 9 at 9pm.
