Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Reflections on a ground-breaking trip to honour links between Llanelli and a city in The Netherlands were the order of the day at Plas Llanelly House. There was a full house for an afternoon which mixed music and memories for the team from Loud Applause Rising Stars. ‘Rising Stars’ is the charitable wing of Loud Applause Productions and works to help mentor up-and-coming singers and musicians and give them experience of the concert stage. The team from Rising Stars were invited to attend World War Two commemoration events in s’Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) in The Netherlands. And the success of the trip was outlined in a photo presentation by Loud Applause Rising Stars Trustee Mrs Susan Roberts. Loud Applause Rising Stars took two of their young singers, Thomas Bytheway and Callum Rhys Williams, to s’Hertogenbosch. They were accompanied by Rising Stars Ambassador Mark Llewelyn Evans and accompanied by Andrew Pike, musical advisor – and a team of Rising Stars supporters. Mrs Roberts said ...

Two members of the West Wales Loud Applause Productions 'Rising Stars' team joined Carmarthen baritone Mark Llewellyn Evans on a special trip to mark an emotional and enduring link between The Netherlands and Wales. The trio journeyed to s’Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands for events commemorating the liberation of the town in World War Two. The two ‘Rising Stars’ were Thomas Bytheway and Callum Rhys Williams, who are both part of the charitable wing of Loud Applause Productions, a group dedicated to mentoring and training young singers and musicians across South Wales. Mark Llewellyn Evans is an Ambassador for ‘Rising Stars’ so he took the lead role in the Welsh contribution to the commemorative events. The Welsh link with s’Hertogenbosch was formed back in October, 1944, when the 53rd Welsh Division spent five days in brutal fighting to liberate the town from the Nazis. The chief executive of s’Hertogenbosch City Council Jan de Wit said: “It was wonderful to...

Two members of the Loud Applause Productions 'Rising Stars' team are on their way to The Netherlands to sing at a prestigious event. Thomas Bytheway (above) and Callum Rhys Williams (top) will join Loud Applause Ambassador Mark Llewellyn Evans at special events in the famous town of s'Hertogenbosch. The town has great links with Wales from World War Two and always includes Welsh artistes in concerts designed to mark the wartime liberation of the town. On the 22nd October 1944, the 53rd Welsh Division returned southwards from Nijmegen to capture the town of s'Hertogenbosch. For the next five days it was involved in some brutal fighting advancing to and then capturing the town. The 53rd Division finally liberated s'Hertogenbosch on the 27th October. Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) were honoured to receive an invite to perform in the town on the 26th and 27th October. They will join events under the baton of the conductor of the s'Hertogenbosch m...

There was a special presentation made at Cor Meibion Llanelli's rehearsals at Furnace Community Hall last night. Lieutenant Colonel David Mathias was presented with a bottle of malt whisky for his work in organising the choir's recent successful tour of The Netherlands. In return, Lt Col Mathias presented choir members with DVDs of their concert performance in the World War two Liberation Day concert staged at s'Hertogenbosch. Left to right, choir conductor Eifion Thomas, Lt Col David Mathias, choir chairman Mel Harries.

Côr Meibion Llanelli with Gemengd Koor s’Hertogenbosch (s’Hertogenbosch Mixed Choir) and soloist Llio Evans at the ‘Jheronimus Bosch Art Center’ and other venues. Côr Meibion Llanelli, the Llanelli Male Voice Choir, took part in special concerts and services to mark the World War Two liberation of the city of s’Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands. The programme took in open air services at concerts at venues in Rosmalen and the city centre of s’Hertogenbosch. The highlight was the main veterans’ concert at the prestigious Jheronimus Bosch Art Center in s’Hertogenbosch. Surrounded by some of the famous artist’s unusual works of art, Côr Meibion Llanelli put the accent firmly on capturing the emotion of the liberation commemorations. The real tear-jerkers proved to be Gwahoddiad, Nearer My God to Thee and Myfanwy, the last a special request for one of the guests of honour, World War Two veteran Emrys Davies of Tonyrefail. Mansions of the Lord, Pie Jesu, Sosban Fach, Anthem and When I Survey...

On the way to s'Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands with Cor Meibion Llanelli. We are attending Liberation Day events.