Our Centenary Programme  

 Big thanks to all who have been involved with the planning of 7 Centenary Events during 2023. 

A Programme of Events is now freely available - thanks to funding from the Ceiriog Uchaf Community Council and private donations. There are copies all along the Valley.

The events planned include:

Saturday 15th July  The Opening Ceremony at the Memorial Institute where there is an informative exhibition of all details of the proposed flooding and how it was stopped. 

Sunday 17th September: Service at St Garmon's Church Llanarmon. In a church that was to lose its people to the reservoirs, seasonal songs and traditional instruments will celebrate the continuing life of the community.

Saturday 23rd and 30th September: Guided 'Reservoir' Walks 

Saturday 7th October: Beirdd Dyffryn Ceiriog. Llanarmon Village HallA concert featuring songs by our famous poets that will transport you back to their very different times.

Thursday 19th October: Water. So what is the water situation today? Llanarmon Village Hall. Find out from a talk by Craig Williams from Hafren Dyfrdwy

 Saturday and Sunday 4th and 5th November: Art Exhibition. Oliver Jones Hall, Dolywern. Work produced by artists and writers in response to the Ceiriog Reservoirs Centenary on the theme of water in all its aspect

Centenary News

Ceiriog Valley Centenary Commemorations 2023 marks the centenary of the defeat in the UK parliament of plans by Warrington Corporation to flood the upper Ceiriog valley. The plans were to supply water for Warrington’s industries, particularly their brewers wanting more water to make beer. Something the Welsh said was taking the W out of Wales (ales). If they had gone ahead, it would have destroyed the villages of Llanarmon, Tregeiriog, and Pandy, together with many settlements, farms the local church and chapels. It would have destroyed the nature of our beautiful valley. Ceiriog Ucha Community Council has set up a steering committee, including representatives of the other Councils in the Valley, the church at Llanarmon, the school federation and Ceiriog Institute, so that this event can be commemorated and give thanks that the Ceiriog valley did not suffer the same fate as Tryweryn. The first meeting took place in early December 2022 with lots of ideas and enthusiasm – Cultural events including art and music; historical exhibitions and talk; activities for the school children; and outdoor (weather permitting) commemoration church service; guided walk(s) taking in sites that may have been lost; and a final event in the summer to draw everything to a close. In addition to bringing the whole valley together, we think this is an opportunity to raise the profile of the valley, maybe involving celebrities and national media. Cllr. Jane Claybrook is organising an initial cultural event to be held at the Llanarmon DC Centenary Hall in May - more details to follow. The committee feel that it is important to gain feedback and involvement from the local community. If you have any ideas or comments about events you would to see, or want to be involved, please let your local Community Council know, so that these can be fed in to our meetings 

Please contact Dave Berriman if you can help or want to come along to planning meetings. davetremyglog@gmail.com

 Steering Group Meeting 30th January 2023