Women demonstrating their split ply braiding skills. Newtown Textile Museum is reopening earlier than usual this year – on Tuesday, April 23 – to host The Braid Society’s 30th Annual Exhibition which runs until May 11. The earlier opening will also provide an opportunity for people attending the annual Wonderwool Wales 2024 event at the Royal Welsh Showground on April 27 and 28 to attend the exhibition. The museum will be open on Tuesday April 23 and the following Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12 noon to 4pm during the first week. Thereafter, it will open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week from 12 noon to 4pm during the summer season. As part of the exhibition, the museum, located in Commercial Street, Newtown, will also host demonstrations of braid making on April 29 and May 11 from 12 noon to 4pm and a “Try Braiding” workshop on May 5 from 10am to 4 pm. To book a place at the workshop and for more information about the exhibition and future events at the museum, visit: https://newtowntextilemuseum.co.uk/events/ . Housed in an original handloom weaving factory, built in the 1830s, the volunteer-run museum aims to bring to life Newtown’s industrial heritage, showing how people lived and worked in the building and the processes involved in turning fleece into flannel. In addition, industries linked to wool – tanning, clog making and drapers’ shops, including the Pryce Jones family who pioneered mail order – are also featured. Newtown was the centre for handloom weaving in the 1830s and the museum is the last of 82 such buildings remaining in anything like its original condition. This handloom weaving factory comprised six back to back cottages with each having one room each on the ground and first floors that could each house up to 10 people. The two floors above, which ran the whole length of the building, housed the looms. Feedback from visitors to the museum is overwhelmingly positive. “What a brilliant museum. One of the best I’ve ever been in!”, “Thank you so much for protecting and displaying our heritage so beautifully” and “Transported back in time and now want to try weaving,” are examples from last year. Newtown Textile Museum is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.
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The Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages boasts the biggest ever entry and the addition of the British Rally Championship. Image: BRC. Former Grand Prix racer Jos Verstappen, father of three-time Formula 1 world champion Max, is heading to Mid Wales this weekend to compete for the first time in a British rally. The flying Dutchman, who turned to rallying in 2022, will sensationally be running at 14th, having chosen the Llandrindod Wells-based Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages to make his UK debut. "We are very happy to come to Wales and the British Rally Championship," Verstappen said. "Renaud [Jamoul, co-driver] has done Wales Rally GB several times but, for me, these stages will be the first. "I only started rallying two years ago but only with tarmac events. After two test sessions in the wintertime in the south of France, we have decided to do our first proper gravel rally and, as Renaud has some really good memories in Wales, this rally was looking like the best one to start with. "There is no plan in terms of performance because it will be my first time on gravel but for sure the target is to improve and be as close as possible to the top guys. The entry field will be again really competitive, so we are looking forward [to it]." One of the most popular gravel rallies in the UK, the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages returns this Saturday, April 13, as the event celebrates its 50th anniversary. Sponsored by established racewear and accessory firm Rallynuts Motorsport for an eighth consecutive year, Midland Manor Motor Club has pulled out all the stops to create a truly world-class event which celebrates the past but embraces the future. Epic stages, such as Myherin and Sweet Lamb Hafren, remain, but the mileage has been upped from 45 to 62 without an increased entry fee - making this one of the longest single-day forest rallies in years. An entry of 180 cars, including world, European, American and multiple British rally champions, will tackle the event. Competitors from a staggering nine different championships will come together as the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages excitedly welcomes the Probite British Rally Championship for the very first time, bringing the best drivers in the country to Mid Wales. Their battle will be broadcast to millions of television screens in the weeks after the event with a one-hour highlights programme aired on ITV4 and streamed on ITVX. BRC crews will be joined by those from the Protyre BTRDA Rally Series, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters, T.C.S Plant Rally Challenge and Bowler Defender Challenge, while the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship returns for the first time since 2017. Single-make series, the MG3 Challenge and Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup, complete the roster, providing spectators an impressive variety of cars to watch. European Rally champion and World Rally regular Chris Ingram will pull away from the Metropole Hotel on Saturday morning as the top seed, as he bids to win his second British championship rally in a row following success on last month's North West Stages. "We got off to the perfect start in the North West and we aim to continue like that on gravel for round two,” he said. “The Severn Valley features some of the world’s best rally stages in the heart of Wales and I just can't wait to get going. "We are already enjoying the BRC challenge so much, and gravel will probably be even more fun. It all clicks when I’m driving a trusty Polo with Alex [Kihurani] calling the notes, but anything can happen in rallying. We’ll aim to consistently drive at our pace and avoid mistakes." Ingram is the favourite to win, but the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 ace won't have it easy with competition coming from all corners. Reigning Junior World Rally champion William Creighton and local driver Osian Pryce both gave Ingram a hard time on the first round and start just behind the Englishman in their Ford Fiesta Rally2 this time around. Also Fiesta mounted, four-time British champion and current leader of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, Keith Cronin, will be out to prove his pace on gravel is just as strong as Tarmac. He starts ahead of M-Sport driver Garry Pearson, who enters the Rallynuts for the first time since he won both the BTRDA and Welsh championship titles in 2021. Victor that year, Eliot Payne, is the highest seeded of this year's BTRDA runners, just ahead of 2022 Rallynuts winner Matthew Hirst, who starts first of the Welsh championship contenders. James Williams starts at eight, ahead of the stunning new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 of Meirion Evans, while Callum Black completes the top-10 seeds in his Fiesta. The British Historic contingent is led away by the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 of George Lepley and Dale Bowen, with the likes of Nick Elliott's FIAT 131, Matt Robinson's Ford Escort MKII and Seb Perez's Porsche 911 chasing him down. Smaller-engine cars and the older historic category vehicles will be first onto the stages, with three spectacular viewing locations available to spectators. Each test is run twice, with Bonhams Cars Sarnau, just outside of Abbeycwmhir. starting proceedings at 8:39am and again at 2:11pm. Myherin is accessed from `The Arch` off Devil’s Bridge and runs at 9:53am and 3:03pm, with CiderOnline.com Hafren Sweet Lamb taking place at 10:59am and finally at 4:16pm, the last stage of the rally. There are plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with the stars as well as see the cars, with the introduction of a free of charge autograph session on Friday evening at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells from 6:30pm. Spectators are also welcome at Saturday morning's event start and the finish, both at the Metropole Hotel, where the winners will be crowned. For more information on ticket prices, locations and timings, please visit www.rallynutsrally.co.uk/spectators. Follow the event’s social media feeds for all the latest news: www.facebook.com/RallynutsStagesRally and www.twitter.com/rallynutsstages . Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear in their Ford Fiesta R5. Image: Paul Mitchell Photography. Defending Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh rally champions Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear will be aiming for a third straight win on the 50th Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages which starts and finishes in Llandrindod Wells on Saturday, April 13. The series leaders will contest the event in their Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 facing stiff competition from the likes of Perry Gardener and Jack Bowen, who return to the series in their TNT AGRI Fiesta R5, and Dan O'Brien and Mark Glennerster, who finished second on round one in their O’Brien Group Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Hirst started his title defence in style with a commanding victory on the recent Get Jerky Rally North Wales, but there is a long way between now and what the Doncaster ace hopes will be a record-breaking fourth Pirelli Welsh title. Gardener is always quick in the Welsh forests and took home third-placed Pirelli Welsh points the last time he did the Rallynuts in 2022. Jack Bowen meanwhile will be aiming to extend his lead at the top of the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior co-drivers’ standings, having navigated for Simon Rogers on the opening round. Former Welsh Junior frontrunner O'Brien had a very close battle for position with James Giddings and Aled Davies (Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9) last time out and the pair will be duelling for the top spot once again. Russ Thompson and Stephen Link scored maximum Pirelli Welsh points on last year’s Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally and return in their rapid Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9. The 2019 championship runners up will be able to use the top end speed of their car to good effect on the fast and flowing stages and will be out for a win. David Tomlin would have taken third-placed points on Rally North Wales had he not got his Axon Ford Fiesta R5 stuck in the mud for three minutes. As his regular co-driver Keith Ashley is on Rallynuts Clerk of the Course duties, the Worcester driver will be partnered this time by Ian Beamond. The 2023 Welsh Challenge champions Martyn Andrews and Steve Greenhill return in their unmissable Opie Oils Subaru Impreza STi N12 and will be challenging for a top spot, as will Daniel Moss and Sam Davies in their Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10. Rob Wilson won the Pirelli Welsh Junior, Challenge and class W13 titles in 2022 and finished runner up in the overall drivers’ standings. The Herefordshire youngster is back in his trusty Mitsubishi Evo 7, do-driven by Martin Haggett, and knows how to get the most out of the not-so-young car. The rally contains seven stages, totalling 62.31 stage miles. It starts from the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells at 8am on Saturday and has four stages -Sarnau, Tarennig, Myherin and Sweet Lamb - before service in Dolgellau. In the afternoon, there is the repeat of Sarnau, Myherin Main, which at 15.82 miles is the longest of the event, and Hafren Main, before the finish back in Llandrindod Wells at 5.35pm The rally will be live streamed on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship’s and Special Stage TV’s Facebook pages during the event. For details about the championship and how to register visit: https://wnrc.wamc.org.uk/
“Families and couples are always looking for something to do during Bank Holiday weekends and school half term holidays, especially when it’s raining, which seems likely this Easter,” said Lorna Morris who established the attraction with business partner Jo Woodall four years ago. “As an Easter treat, we have decided to give customers a 20% discount for Good Friday and Saturday, so that they can enjoy the immersive, fun experience indoors here at Beyond Breakout. “‘Shaken Not Purred’ stands as a testament to our commitment to innovation and delivering unforgettable adventures for players of all ages. We look forward to welcoming both new and returning players." Lorna and Jo have worked hard to establish the business within the interactive entertainment industry. Next week, the attraction will be open as usual from Tuesday to Sunday. For more information about Beyond Breakout Ltd and its escape room games or to book online, visit www.beyondbreakout.co.uk . Beyond Breakout’s partners Lorna Morris and Jo Woodall.
Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre opens for the season on Saturday. An award-winning Mid Wales pilgrimage centre reopens on Saturday, March 23 with a new name and a day of activities to celebrate its 10th anniversary year. Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre, the new name for Mary Jones World at Llanycil, Bala, tells the story of a local Welsh girl who inspired a global movement that changed the lives of millions. The centre shares the inspirational story of Mary Jones, whose epic 26–mile barefoot journey to buy a Welsh Bible led to the foundation of Bible Society, a global movement which is now active in over 240 countries and territories across the world. To celebrate the opening of the new season with a new name, there will be a presentation by Elin Owen, from the Diocese of Bangor’s Pererin Project at 10.30am, a short drama of the Mary Jones story at 1pm and a presentation at 3pm by Mary Thomas, author of ‘The Mary Jones Walk’. Also available throughout the day will be creative prayer stations with Coleg y Bala and children’s crafts. Pilgrim Café will be serving light lunches, homemade cakes and drinks. The visitor experience, set on the edge of the breathtaking Llyn Tegid, allows visitors to follow in the footsteps of Mary Jones with displays and interactive content in a Grade 2 listed building. Complete with a picnic area, café and children’s playground, the Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre offers a great time out for children and adults alike. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed into the centre or the graveyard. However, well-behaved dogs are welcome in the Pilgrim Café and other areas of the site. The café offers a selection of hot drinks, tasty homemade cakes and light lunches from local suppliers. Group bookings are available on request. Visitors from around the world have been welcomed over the past decade and the centre, which opened in October 2014, has listened to feedback that the name Mary Jones World doesn’t accurately represent the experience. “We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received so far and hope the public will join us in this new, exciting chapter for the centre,” said a spokesperson. The centre is open Wednesday to Sunday from March 23 to September 29 from 10am to 4pm in addition to Bank Holiday Mondays. For more information including enquiries and bookings contact Tel: 0808 1784 909 / 01678521877 or visit www.maryjones.org.uk . The Montgomery Canal. This year’s Montgomery Canal Forum, to be be held at the Royal Oak Hotel, Welshpool on Monday, April 22 at 2.30pm, will cover developments on the canal in Powys and Shropshire and plans for its future. Presentations will include the new Schoolhouse Bridge, the last highway blockage in Shropshire, rebuilt by contractors in a volunteer-led project entirely funded by donations from supporters, private companies and charitable trusts. Volunteers are restoring the canal channel in Shropshire supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and other grants, while a Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal is supporting future restoration. Presentations will also cover multi-million pound Levelling-Up projects in Powys, nurturing nature and embracing ecological stewardship in the canal restoration and Heulwen Trust, possibly the world’s first boat trip for vulnerable and less abled adults and children. The forum is open to anyone interested in the restoration and development of the Montgomery Canal with its social, economic and environmental benefits for present and future generations. There will be an opportunity to discuss any issue concerning the future of the Montgomery Canal and its contribution to the area. Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chairman Michael Limbrey said, "Major works are under way to extend the isolated section of canal in Powys and at the same time volunteers are hard at work to restore the canal to the Shropshire border at Llanymynech. “Restoration ensures a safe and accessible towpath, protects the canal’s valuable ecology and its historic canal-age structures and ensures an amenity for water sports as well as boating visitors: all topics that will be covered at the forum. “The Montgomery Canal is part of a network of waterways which extends from Newtown to London’s Docklands and deep into Yorkshire. Many miles of once neglected canal have been reopened to become attractive features enjoyed by visitors and residents in towns like Llangollen, Brecon, Stratford-on-Avon and Droitwich. “We believe that the restored Montgomery Canal will be valuable in making the borderlands of Shropshire and Powys a great place for visitors and for residents to live, work and enjoy.” Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear stormed to a fourth consecutive Get Jerky Rally North Wales win on Saturday with a breathtaking performance that saw them win each one of the event’s eight stages. The 27-year-old driver was untouchable in the world-famous forests of Dyfnant, Dyfi and Gartheiniog, taking his Ford Fiesta R5 to a sensational win and his fourth in a row at the Welshpool-based event. Blasting through the tricky conditions, which were made even more treacherous by persistent rain during the day, Hirst returned a faultless drive to win the Interclub section of the event by a staggering three minutes, getting his Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title defence underway in fine style. “When you look back at the history of this event, there are some top drivers that have won it. I’m really proud to have added my name to that list four times in a row,” said an elated Hirst. “It’s a challenging event but one that I look forward to every year. There were some really difficult conditions out there today, especially this afternoon. It was bouncing it down and rivers were running across the stages. “To be fair, we had a big moment on the last stage where it aquaplaned but we scooped it up. It may have looked easy [the winning margin] but it was anything but easy.” The nearest challenge came from Irishman Dan O`Brien who made the trip over in his Ford Fiesta WRC with Mark Glennerster on the notes. O’Brien found himself down in fifth overall after the opening Gartheiniog test but soon found the pace required to work his way up the leaderboard, eventually scooping second overall on a rare gravel outing. Rounding out the podium were Mitsubishi EvoIX driver James Giddings and co-driver Aled Davies. Initially, the crew managed to haul their older specification Mitsubishi up to second behind Hirst but lost a chunk of time in the Big Ray stage and had to settle for third. The race for the National section top spot was an altogether different affair as contenders in the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship battled it out throughout the day in a close-run affair. George Lepley’s Mitsubishi Galant VR4 took the early advantage before being sidelined, which sparked a fascinating battle for victory. In the end, it was Nick Elliot and Dave Price who finally stood on the top step of the podium taking their FIAT 131 Abarth to a long-awaited victory, their first since 2021. “That's the first one in the Fiat and the first one in a couple of years, so yeah I’m really pleased with that,” said Elliott. “I said from the start the car was that much better from the word go, it was actually making me sweat on most stages. “As ever, the pace at the front has been ferocious, with five or six drivers, all with great talent and pace, but we had just a little bit extra today and nicked it. But that’s not bad for an old Fiat and not bad for an old boy like me!” The second spot went to Yorkshireman Daniel Mennell in his Ford Escort MKII. He and co-driver Richard Wise only entered the series at the start of the season and, on only Mennell’s second event in the BHRC, took an impressive runner-up spot against stiff competition. Rounding out the Historic podium was Seb Perez and Gary McElhinney in their Porsche 911. The young Derbyshire driver returned a giant-killing performance to seal third, fresh from winning a rally in Mallorca the previous weekend. The popularity of the rally was recognised on Saturday when the spectator car park in the Dyfnant stage reached capacity as motorsport fans flocked to the region to witness the impressive drivers in each category blast through the forests. The lure of rally legend and local hero Gwyndaf Evans was apparent and the onlookers were not disappointed. The Dolgellau driver hurled his Ford Escort MKII through the trees in fine style during the day. Making his first appearance in the event since 2010 and first gravel rally since 2014, Evans rapidly bedded back into the driver’s seat and despite feeling like he “needed some WD40”, took fourth in the Historics with Dale Furness alongside. Running alongside the event, the Mini Rally Challenge tackled just four of the stages, offering a cost-effective platform for the 14 BMW Minis which enjoyed their own battles during the morning. Jacob Neal and Russell Thompson were the eventual victors. Organised by Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club, the event was once again sponsored by the Welshpool-based Get Jerky brand of beef jerky snacks and attracted an impressive entry of more 100 cars which tackled the rally. Images credit: Russ Otway / 90Right Archbishop of Wales the Most Rev Andy John during a previous visit to Talyllyn Railway. The clergy’s love of trains and railways is covered in a new book to be launched by Archbishop of Wales, Most Rev Andy John, at Tywyn on Saturday, March 23. ‘Reverend Enthusiasts’ is the third book from Nigel Adams in the series of ‘Talyllyn Railway Recollections’ from specialist publisher Mortons Books. This book has been written jointly with fellow Talyllyn Railway. volunteer Bob Cambridge. Nigel will also be launching a second book, entitled ‘The Fairbourne Railway Recollections’, on the same day. A retired Anglican Priest, who served in Coventry, he now lives in Tywyn and has been volunteering on Talyllyn Railway for more 40 years. Both books will be officially launched in the Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum at Tywyn Wharf station at 1.30pm by the Archbishop of Wales, a long-time supporter and honorary member of Talyllyn Railway. The Archbishop joins a long line of clerics who have loved and continue to love trains and railways. One of the most famous was author the Rev W. V. Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine and a volunteer guard on Talyllyn Railway. He was probably the first of a number of enthusiastic clerics to become members of Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, joining in 1952, the second year of its foundation. A new funding opportunity has been launched to support Ceredigion County Council’s commitment to attract more international or national events to Ceredigion.
In a press release issued by the Council: "The UKSPF Cynnal y Cardi Events Programme Fund for Ceredigion is part of a wider suite of programmes being delivered in Ceredigion, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Tourism is an economic sector of vital importance to Ceredigion, representing the third largest employer in the County and we are keen to build on this sector and attract new visitors to the area. The UKSPF 2022-2025 is a central pillar of the UK government’s ambitious Levelling Up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK. It provides three years funding for local investment. The focus of Cynnal y Cardi’s Events Programme Fund will be on:
The minimum grant available is £30,000 with the maximum grant available being £100,000. Each grant award will be subject to meeting grant criteria. As to ensure project eligibility, interested applicants must read the guidance notes carefully and send a short brief, outlining their idea (bullet point format) and a breakdown of expenditure to ce.cynnalycardi@ceredigion.gov.uk before starting on the application form." More information on how you can submit an application can be found here: Cynnal y Cardi UK Shared - Ceredigion County Council The Silver Mountain Experience visitor attraction, based at a silver-lead mine near Aberystwyth, is preparing for a choc-tastic new event this Easter. Running from March 26 to April 11, this exciting experience will give visitors the chance to meet Mr Balcombe, the mine manager, who is diversifying into chocolate making! The busy and somewhat eccentric businessman is just beginning this new venture and is inviting visitors to help him get his chocolate franchise fully up and running. Included in the visit will be a tour with Mr Balcombe himself, as he explains how he is embarking on the challenge of making chocolate and shows visitors around the mine equipment he is repurposing into chocolate producing machines. Visitors will also be able to undertake their own chocolate challenge, a quest to help Balcombe produce his ‘Balcombe Bar’ and sell it in his sweet shop. To win the reward, visitors will need to find all of the silver tickets to complete the challenge. Rumour has it there will be some scrumptious surprises around too… maybe even a chocolate fountain and marshmallows in the onsite Miner’s Rest Café – a small extra charge applies. As well as the Easter activities, visitors will be able to join a choice of guided and actor-led tours. Families with young explorers can enjoy the interactive ‘A Dragon’s Tale’ tour, an adventure to find Silver Mountain’s shy and secretive dragon, Grotty. For those who are feeling brave, ‘The Black Chasm’ is a thrilling experience delving deep into the ancient myths, Welsh legends and gruesome mining history of Mid Wales. ‘A Miner’s Life’ guided tour is a must for those interested in a fascinating journey into the history of the mines. There are also a variety of other attractions included within the price of the entry tickets. Children will love running wild in Woo Hoo Woods, having fun in the play areas and taking part in the various trails and puzzles. For those wanting to learn more about the site’s history, the mining museum is packed full of fascinating facts and mining machinery, tools and ephemera. There’s also Ultimate Xscape onsite, featuring two thrilling escape room experiences. Head to www.ultimatexscape.co.uk to find out more and book a slot. The Miner’s Rest Café will be serving a delicious range of snacks, cakes, lunches, hot drinks and tasty Easter treats. The café is open to visitors even if they are not visiting any of the attractions and delicious, freshly prepared afternoon teas can be pre-booked. The neighbouring Red Kite Café will also be open, serving delicious breakfasts and meals. Find out more and book your tickets online at www.silvermountainexperience.co.uk/easterfun/ .More information about the Red Kite Café is available at: www.redkitecafe.co.uk |
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