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THE PONTYPRIDD & LLANTRISANT OBSERVER AND WAYNE NOWACZYK

In a  recent broadcast email and a posting on the Llantrisant Folk Club website under the banner 'Llantrisant Folk Club Supports Folk Against Fascism,' I made a public appeal to the Pontypridd & Llantrisant Observer and its editor Wayne Nowaczyk over coverage of club activities.

It was never my intention to infer any link between fascism and the newspaper or its editor since I know that to be untrue and, consequently, I unreservedly apologise for ill-judged comments which were made without the knowledge or approval of the Club committee.

Furthermore, I concede that I made these comments were made without giving the editor the opportunity to consider the issues and apologise for that discourtesy.

As a result, I unreservedly withdraw and apologise for accusing the Observer of making "another ridiculous and totally ignorant decision, spurred on by greedy advertising executives," and that "the weekly paper will block any news and artist events originated by Llantrisant Folk Club.....unless the Club pays for expensive advertisements" which I now accept was a misunderstanding of Trinity Mirror's policy on public promotions.

I also apologise for publicly inferring the editor and his staff are condoning "hard-nosed executives' imposition of unthinking money-making on our communities" or questioning their commitment to responsible reporting and intelligent, campaigning journalism.

Unfortunately, I ended the piece saying "I have stopped taking the Observer and urging our 100-plus members to do likewise.... to make a tidy hole in the paper's profits."  I wholeheartedly accept these were totally inappropriate and unfair comments in the circumstances.

Mick Tems
President
Llantrisant Folk Club

On Top Of The World! Club celebrates 30th birthday by assault on Snowdon

Happy 30th birthday to us! Llantrisant  Folk Club celebrated its 30th anniversary by ascending Snowdon (in Welsh, Yr Wyddfa, the highest mountain in Wales and England) on the Snowdon Mountain Railway train and then walking down from the summit. Twelve intrepid walkers started down the Snowdon Ranger track to the Snowdon Ranger station on the Welsh Highland Railway, and many more caught the train down on the mountain railway. It was a perfect summer's day, and you could see for miles. From Snowdon summit, six kingdoms could be seen; Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, Mann and the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Club stayed at The Bunkhouse in The Glan Aber Hotel in Betws-y-Coed, about a half-hour's drive to Llanberis station on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, and ran a folk club-cum-session on the Friday and Saturday nights. Neil and Meg Browning and their daughter Kate, from North Wales family band Never Mind The Bocs, dropped in and played some beautiful Welsh songs and tunes - and NMTB have been hastily booked for this Wednesday, following Keith Kendrick's illness. 

And... a very special Diolch yn Fawr to treasurer, compere and organiser Pattie Smith for booking the hotel and trains, being so efficient and making the Club's birthday go with a resounding bang. 

Our trip to Snowdon in pictures 

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Page last updated 18 July 2010

Copyright © 1999 Mari Arts