Arts-loving care home residents have been celebrating the arrival of the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham by making bardic crowns.
The unusual arts workshop at the Pendine Park care organisation was run by Wrexham University Civic Mission- Eisteddfod in a Box Project in collaboration with North East Wales Archives (NEWA).
They were invited to Pendine’s Hillbury House care home by manager Cindy Clutton and Sarah Edwards, their Consultant Artist in Residence.
Civic Mission Project Manager Shari said: “We’ve all had such a fantastic time. This is such a wonderful home and so welcoming. All the residents have been so enthusiastic and they have come up with some great designs, you can tell how much they enjoy arts and crafts.”
Helping them lead the workshop was Jason Bennion, Pendine creative arts consultant, a top illustrator who runs regular arts workshops at Hillbury House.
He said: “This has been a great project which everyone has really enjoyed and it has got us all in the mood for the forthcoming National Eisteddfod 2025.”
The Eisteddfod is Europe’s largest cultural event and this year is the sixth time it has been held in Wrexham.
It’s being staged at the ‘Maes’ (festival site) in Isycoed, about five miles from Wrexham city centre.
Pendine has long supported arts projects and art as therapy, within its care homes and via Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT).
The trust was set up by Pendine Park owners, Mario Kreft MBE and his wife Gill, to support cultural pursuits and community activities.
PACT will be sponsoring an under 25 choir competition at this year’s Eisteddfod and organising a Dementia music workshop in the Encore tent involving residents of Hillbury House and its sister care home Gwern Alyn.
Mario said: “We are delighted to be supporting the return of the National Eisteddfod to Wrexham because it such a powerhouse of our heritage, culture and the Welsh language which are dear to our hearts at Pendine.
“The arts provide a golden thread through everything we do and this year is a really special one for us because 2025 marks our 40th anniversary.
“This wonderful, joyful project has provided the crowning glory to our celebrations.”
Shari Llewellyn said the Eisteddfod-in-a-Box sessions were specially planned to deliver workshops for community groups across the region centred around the historical and cultural impact of the National Eisteddfod and the importance of its various competitions and ceremonies.
The crown-making activity was designed to reflect the traditional Crowning of the Bard ceremony.
A specially-designed crown is commissioned and made each year to be awarded to the winning entrant in the Eisteddfod competition for poetry.
She said: “Each crown is unique, different to any other previous crown that has been presented so we thought it a good idea for residents to reflect this by making a crown unique to themselves.”
The residents made themselves a crown each, designed with artworks based on people or activities which had special meaning in their lives.
Resident Gwen Davies-Barrett said she drew a large sunshine as the centrepiece of her crown to reflect her love of sunny days and sunny smiles.
Friend and fellow resident Irene Bishop featured a horse design on her crown, as a nod to her grandchildrens’ love of ponies.
William Marlow adorned his crown with a musical score showing his lifelong passion for choir singing. He add an aeroplane motif flying through the musical notes to reflect his time working at Aerospace.
Sonia John, of the Civic Mission Eisteddfod-in-a-Box team delighted in helping resident Jean Moth draw a decorative moth decorated with names of beloved family members.
Sonia said it was an honour getting to know Jean and hearing about her family.
She said: “We have been working with schools and also nursing homes across Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire. It has been hugely rewarding for us engaging with people living with dementia, chatting about their lives while also encouraging them to share in some of the excitement which is building in the run up to the Eisteddfod week.”
Also collaborating with the team was Katie Gilliland of North East Wales Archives, who took along fascinating old photos and reproductions of poster designs from past Eisteddfods.
She said: “Some of the residents will of course remember having visited or even taken part in previous Eisteddfods which have been held in Wrexham or elsewhere across North Wales.
“It is a joy to hear their stories and help trigger some magic memories of happy times from past years. This is also a great way of bringing the archives out into the community and allowing them to be enjoyed by young and old alike.”
Resident Peter Cotton said: “Of course I am 91 now so I have seen a few Eisteddfods in my time, along with other celebrations.
“I played the tenor saxophone for many years so music is a great passion of mine and there is always some lovely music to be heard at the National Eisteddfod. I have very much enjoyed today’s arts session.”
Hillbury House manager Cindy Clutton said: “It is wonderful to see so many original crown designs, with each having a special meaning to the individual who made it.”
Pendine Park Consultant Artist in Residence Sarah Edwards said it was a pleasure to have arranged the visit from the Eisteddfod in a Box team.
She said: “This is an interesting interactive project which allows our residents to feel involved in creating some of the magic which makes the annual National Eisteddfod one of the most vibrant cultural festivals in Europe.”
