News
AUGUST 2006
GERALDINE McCAUGHREAN AT TY NEWYDD
Geraldine McCraughrean visited Ty Newydd recently as the guest speaker during the Writing for Children & Young Adults course. She has published over 130 books and was chosen in 2005 to write Peter Pan in Scarlet, the official sequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. Course participants were given a sneak preview of the book, commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital, which will be launched on October 5th this year. For more information visit www.geraldine-mccaughrean.co.uk or www.peterpaninscarlet.com
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Ty Newydd would like to congratulate Gwen Pritchard Jones who won the prestigous Daniel Owen Prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Swansea. Gwen, who is a former course particpant at Ty Newydd, won the Prize worth £5,000 for a novel set in the seventeenth century.
JULY 2006
A NEW NATIONAL POET FOR WALES
It was announceed in July that the new national Poet for Wales is the Professor Gwyn Thomas. In an unique meeting, Gwyneth Lewis the former National Poet handed over the reigns to Gwyn Thomas in an unique meeting at LLanystumdwy village hall. The venue was changed at the last minute from Lloyd George Museum to the Hall due to the number of people who had turnued out to listen to the two poets reading.
Prof. Gwyn Thomas, the new National Poet for Wales
JUNE 2006
MONIZA ALVI WORKSHOP
As part of Gwyl Cricieth Festival a Poetry Workshop with Moniza Alvi was arranged at the Marine Hotel, Cricieth on June 21st. Moniza also appeared as a guest speaker during the Extended Poetry course being held at Ty Newydd at the time
MAY 2006
TY NEWYDD OFFICIAL OPENING
May 6th, saw the Official Opening of Ty Newydd in the company of many guests from far and wide who were entertained by guest speakers, poets, writers, musicians and schoolchildren. Music was provided by New Folks and the Mavron Quartet. The evening's entertainment, in the marquee erected in the garden, was provided by Bob Delyn a'r Ebillion who played into the early hours.
The guest speakers: Dafydd Wigley, Jan Morris, Sally Baker, Gillian Clarke, Peter Finch, Dai Smith and Bethan Gwanas.
The Mavron Quartet in the conservatory and Bob Delyn a'r Ebillion in the Marquee.
Following a buffet Cynan Jones, Vice Chair of Taliesin Trust introduced literary snippets by the pupils of Ysgol Llanystumdwy, Menna Elfyn, Paul Henry, Arwel ‘Rocet’ Jones, Jim Perrin, Annes Glyn, Christine Evans and Twm Morys. At the end of the session Frances Jones, Chair of Taliesin Trust, presented Sally Baker, Executive Director of Ty Newydd with an unique gift to thank her for her long and committed work at Ty Newydd. This was a piece of glass artwork by local artist Bill Swann which included lines of poetry by Twm Morys and Gillian Clarke.
APRIL 2006
ANDREW MOTION AT GALERI, CAERNARFON
On Thursday evening, 13th April, the auditorium at Galeri, Caernarfon had the pleasure of the company of Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion. Chaired by Dr Jason Walford Davies the session involved a 45 minute reading of poetry and prose followed by a question and answer session of some 35 minutes.
MARCH 2006
OPEN DAY
Ona sunny day in early March tje doors to Ty Newydd were opened for the fist time following the closure for renovation and refurbishment works. A word of welcome was offered by Sally Baker the Executive Director follwoed by a breief word by poet Twm Morys who introduced the pupils of Ysgol Llanystumdwy. The children performed a song about the new rrof on Ty Newydd that they wrote in twm's company. It was an excellent opportunity for Ty Newydd to make new friends as well as welcoming back many old aquaintances.
The puplis of Ysgol Llanystumdwy in their construction gear.
NEW APPOINTMENTS AT TY NEWYDD
Two couples have been appointed to be responsible for the running of the residential creative writing courses at Ty Newydd, the National Writers Centre for Wales, when it re-opens in March. Meirion MacIntyre Huws and his partner, Moira Mai, will take charge of the courses in Welsh, and Eira and Gwylan Roche will be the wardens for the courses in English.
Ty Newydd, the last home of Lloyd George, which was established in 1990 as a writers' centre, has been closed for a year for extensive renovation and refurbishment. Its historic fabric has been repaired and it will now have greatly improved facilities and access for disabled people. The work has been funded by grants from the Arts Council of Wales Lottery Fund, WEFO (ERDF Objective 1), Gwynedd Council (LRF), Heritage Lottery Fund, WDA and money raised by Ty Newydd through an appeal.
Meirion MacIntyre Huws is no stranger to Ty Newydd. He is a poet who has won the chair at the National Eisteddfod and has been involved with the work at Ty Newydd for many years. He has tutored courses and taken part in many of the events, festivals and projects organised by the centre. His partner Moira will be working alongside him and their jobs will include catering and looking after the safety, welfare and comfort of both tutors and course participants of the Welsh courses. As well as helping to develop the programme of writing courses Meirion MacIntyre Huws will also have special responsibility for establishing a Heritage programme at Ty Newydd, which will give wider access to the historic building and gardens for the general public.
Eira and Gwylan Roche also know Ty Newydd well. People attending courses in the summer of 2004 had the chance to savour Eira's delicious recipes because she worked at the centre for a while as a relief centre warden. Eira, who has a real commitment to cooking with local food produce, will now have overall responsibility for the catering at Ty Newydd. With her partner Gwylan she will ensure the smooth running of the courses on the English programme.
Sally Baker, Executive Director of Ty Newydd said: 'This is such an exciting and important time for the Writers Centre and we are thrilled that we have been able to appoint such talented people to help us take Ty Newydd into a new era. We are all looking forward to working together and ensuring the continued success of the centre.'
The programmes of courses for 2006 in English and Welsh are now available from Ty Newydd. Phone 01766 522811