Latest news with #Dafydd
North Wales Chronicle
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Dafydd Iwan marks end of 60 years of performing at Eisteddfod
Dafydd and his talented band took to the stage in Wrexham on Sunday afternoon (July 3) with several thousand people expecting him to sing some of his favourite songs. And they were not disappointed. He said: "The line has to be drawn somewhere, and I'm looking forward to enjoying several more 'Steddfods' from the back seats!" But Dafydd emphasised that he will not stop singing completely. He added: "I know it's a bit of a joke that I want to stop singing. I've been trying to retire for years. But I want to stop singing with the band. "Don't get me wrong, I enjoy singing with the band. I'm having amazing fun singing with them behind me but I felt it was appropriate now to stop the big nights but it's starting to get boring, the late nights and all the arrangements to get everyone together so after August singing by myself to the accompaniment of the guitar, some kind of conversation and song, would do." (Image: Aled Llywelyn) Dafydd was determined to make sure that the last performance on the main stage was a memorable one. He said: "I have enjoyed performing on Llwyfan y Maes and I have very happy memories when a huge crowd came to the Maes in Tregaron. It was the first Eisteddfod was after the coronavirus pandemic and the first after Wales fought through to the World Cup finals. There were a large number of young people in the audience and they knew the words to my songs. "It was a very special occasion that remains alive in the memory." When reminiscing about past Eisteddfods, Dafydd said the first one he performed was the Newtown National Eisteddfod in 1965. He said: "That was a memorable Eisteddfod. For some reason I was staying at a school in Machynlleth. Canvas beds had been placed in classrooms and people were sleeping in the rooms. Among those there were Waldo Williams and Eirwyn Pontshân. "The ones in Newtown were informal and unofficial performances. Singing by myself to the accompaniment of a guitar only around the Maes yr Eisteddfod. It was something quite similar for a few years. "The pattern in the Pavilion at that time was a classical concert after the competition was over for the day. I saw an opportunity, with others, to organise something more experimental and use the Pavilion to host joyful evenings and folk singing gatherings after the concert. "At the Ammanford Eisteddfod in 1970, something a little different was organised. Painting the World Green was the title of a show of songs with a sort of story in them and that late in the Pavilion. "There were certainly no problems with the Pavilion being cold but as it was new the place was full and we had a lot of fun." At the beginning of the 1970s Cymdeithas yr Iaith organized musical evenings for young people and Dafydd took part in a number of these. One of the most famous of these nights was Tabodau Tan in the Corwen Pavilion during the Ruthin National Eisteddfod in 1973.
Rhyl Journal
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Gamlins Law directors climbed North Africa's highest peak
Ron Davison, managing director of Gamlins Law, and fellow director Dafydd Roberts, scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in aid of the firm's nominated charity partner St Kentigern Hospice. Combined with Ron's running of the London Marathon in April, it means the pair have now raised almost £2,000 for St Asaph-based St Kentigern. Dafydd Roberts and Ron Davison at the top of Mount Toubkal. Ron and Dafydd were part of a 10-strong group that took on the climb to the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak. Last year, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania raising more than £3,500 for Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector. Dafydd said: "The whole trip was a great experience from spending time with the local Berber community through to the final ascent itself which saw us reach the summit an hour or so after sunrise. "We encountered lots of different weather during the trip from really warm to ice and snow as we approached the summit to torrential rain and hailstones when we were coming down the mountain. Coping with the high altitude also provided a challenge. "Experiencing life with the Berber community, with their villages set in the mountainside, was also something we won't forget, including an evening eating with our guide's family in their home. "It was also humbling to see how the communities are continuing to rebuild after a devastating earthquake caused so much destruction a couple of years ago. "Either side of the climb, we were fortunate to spend time in Marrakesh, including a trip into the Sahara Desert. On our final night we even bumped into the chef Tom Kerridge who was in Marrakesh on holiday!" Dafydd added: "We are delighted to raise further vital funds towards the work of St Kentigern Hospice. The team at the hospice made a video for us wishing us good luck and that certainly helped to spur us on. "We've got further climbs planned in the UK for later this year and are already plotting another trip abroad, possibly to the Alps or Himalayas next year."
Leader Live
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Gamlins Law directors climbed North Africa's highest peak
Ron Davison, managing director of Gamlins Law, and fellow director Dafydd Roberts, scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in aid of the firm's nominated charity partner St Kentigern Hospice. Combined with Ron's running of the London Marathon in April, it means the pair have now raised almost £2,000 for St Asaph-based St Kentigern. Dafydd Roberts and Ron Davison at the top of Mount Toubkal. Ron and Dafydd were part of a 10-strong group that took on the climb to the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak. Last year, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania raising more than £3,500 for Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector. Dafydd said: "The whole trip was a great experience from spending time with the local Berber community through to the final ascent itself which saw us reach the summit an hour or so after sunrise. Read more: North Wales trio to embark on cycle to Thailand for charity "We encountered lots of different weather during the trip from really warm to ice and snow as we approached the summit to torrential rain and hailstones when we were coming down the mountain. Coping with the high altitude also provided a challenge. "Experiencing life with the Berber community, with their villages set in the mountainside, was also something we won't forget, including an evening eating with our guide's family in their home. "It was also humbling to see how the communities are continuing to rebuild after a devastating earthquake caused so much destruction a couple of years ago. Read more: Mountain rescue husband and wife recognised in the King's Honours List "Either side of the climb, we were fortunate to spend time in Marrakesh, including a trip into the Sahara Desert. On our final night we even bumped into the chef Tom Kerridge who was in Marrakesh on holiday!" Dafydd added: "We are delighted to raise further vital funds towards the work of St Kentigern Hospice. The team at the hospice made a video for us wishing us good luck and that certainly helped to spur us on. "We've got further climbs planned in the UK for later this year and are already plotting another trip abroad, possibly to the Alps or Himalayas next year."
Business News Wales
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
North Wales Growers Offered Chance to Contribute to School Meals
Food producers and independent businesses could benefit from a partnership with Conwy schools. Conwy council's Catering department has piloted a Welsh Government Foundational Economy and Business Wales initiative encouraging more local authorities to use Welsh suppliers when designing primary school menus. Following a pilot study which focused on green vegetables including broccoli, the organisations are calling for growers in the region to meet the demand and explore pathways to supplying fresh produce for schools. Consultant Dafydd Aled Williams, former Health and Wellbeing Manager for Conwy, says partnerships have been formed in light of Welsh Government's Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) initiative, with local authorities focused on health, sustainability and supporting families facing cost-of-living challenges. 'There has been a lot of research and work behind the scenes over the last year to introduce more Welsh produce onto schools' menus,' said Dafydd. 'Taking broccoli as an example, there was a test period where pupils were given fresh broccoli for a period of three weeks and much preferred it to frozen. 'The task then is to see how financially viable it would be to introduce fresh locally grown broccoli, which on evaluation would be on a long-term basis, but at present there is nobody in the region producing the quantities needed to supply schools. 'We can see the project unfolding over the next three years initially, identifying potential local commercial vegetable growers to work with the current fruit and veg wholesaler to explore budgets and costs. 'This demonstrates that there are commercial opportunities in growing other foodstuffs including leeks, onions and also salad vegetables such as cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce, which would have a positive knock-on effect for the local economy, for the environment and ultimately the healthy eating habits of future generations of children.' He added: 'Conwy Council has worked incredibly hard to use independent businesses and local produce where possible and other local authorities have done the same, so hopefully if everyone keeps moving in that direction it will be of long-term benefit to businesses and schools in North Wales and beyond.' Earlier this year, Business Wales held virtual events on Social Value in the Public Sector and Welsh public sector supply chains, in addition to procurement, frameworks and tendering processes. Menter Môn's Food Project Manager David Wylie says there is an exciting journey ahead and 'opportunities' for growers in North Wales. 'We have interested parties and are working hard to encourage more independent producers and businesses to capitalise on what will be huge demand,' he added. 'We want them to play a major role in public sector supply chains and appear on the menus of schools in Conwy and other local authorities keen to use more local food and drink. 'This in turn will boost the economy, employment, and give these small businesses a new revenue stream.' Examples of recent projects include the Larder Cymru Welsh Food for Schools scheme, backed by the Welsh Government Foundational Economy Team, which promotes Welsh produce and producers from across Wales and highlights how, by buying from them, schools will shorten their supply chains, encouraging sustainability, lowering carbon emissions. For more information, email david@ or visit Homepage | Business Wales.
Business News Wales
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Gamlins Law Directors Complete Mount Toubkal Charity Challenge
Gamlins Law's Dafydd Roberts and Ron Davison Two directors at North Wales' largest law firm have raised funds for charity after successfully climbing North Africa's highest peak. Ron Davison, Managing Director of Gamlins Law, and fellow director Dafydd Roberts scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in aid of the firm's nominated charity partner St Kentigern Hospice. Combined with Ron's running of the London Marathon in April, it means the pair have now raised almost £2,000 for St Asaph-based St Kentigern. Ron and Dafydd were part of a 10-strong group that took on the climb to the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak. Last year, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania raising more than £3,500 for Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector. Dafydd said: 'The whole trip was a great experience from spending time with the local Berber community through to the final ascent itself which saw us reach the summit an hour or so after sunrise. 'We encountered lots of different weather during the trip from really warm to ice and snow as we approached the summit to torrential rain and hailstones when we were coming down the mountain. Coping with the high altitude also provided a challenge. 'Experiencing life with the Berber community, with their villages set in the mountainside, was also something we won't forget, including an evening eating with our guide's family in their home. 'It was also humbling to see how the communities are continuing to rebuild after a devastating earthquake caused so much destruction a couple of years ago. 'Either side of the climb, we were fortunate to spend time in Marrakesh including a trip into the Sahara Desert.' Snowy conditions on Mount Toubkal Dafydd added: 'We are delighted to raise further vital funds towards the work of St Kentigern Hospice. The team at the hospice made a video for us wishing us good luck and that certainly helped to spur us on. 'We've got further climbs planned in the UK for later this year and are already plotting another trip abroad, possibly to the Alps or Himalayas next year.' The hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care to patients with life limiting illness, and support to their families across its catchment area of Denbighshire, West Flintshire, and East Conwy. Clinical services are delivered free of charge to patients and their families. The hospice, which includes a 12-bed inpatient unit, employs 95 staff, supported by a large team of volunteers. It costs over £4.4 million a year to run. Gamlins Law, which employs over 85 people, has its head office at Morfa Hall in Rhyl and further offices in Mold, Ruthin, Denbigh, Abergele and Holywell.
