Latest news with #Gambles
Leader Live
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
LOOK: Chair of Llangollen Eisteddfod praises volunteer army
During Eisteddfod week alone, volunteers contributed more than 30,000 hours to ensure the smooth running of one of Wales' most iconic cultural festivals. From youngsters to pensioners, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to support every aspect of the event – with volunteer stage crews working alongside floral, tickets, finance, communications, marketing, field hosts, stewards, grounds staff, accommodations teams, those looking after competitors and many more teams. 'This is an incredible achievement for a festival that employs just one full-time member of staff,' said Mr. Gambles. 'The heart and soul of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod is our volunteers. Their passion, dedication, and tireless hard work transform this festival from a dream into a truly magical celebration of music and culture. "Without them, none of this would be possible – they are the unsung heroes who make Llangollen shine on the world stage.' This year's Eisteddfod – the 78th since its founding – attracted praise from leading figures including Ken Skates MS, Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens MP, and local MP Becky Gittins. They each applauded the commitment and energy of the volunteer team, led by John Gambles, the Board of Directors and Chairs of various teams. Most volunteers hail from Llangollen and North Wales, while others travelled thousands of miles to lend their support. Llangollen has enjoyed a busy summer, with volunteers co-promoting all seven TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion concerts. This year's event welcomed more than 4,000 competitors from across the globe, including the world-renowned New Zealand Youth Choir, who won the prestigious Choir of the World title. Tens of thousands of visitors descended on Northeast Wales, providing a major boost to the local economy. Music industry insiders hailed the volunteers as the 'Pride of Wales', with Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti, praising their exceptional contribution. Read more The volunteer team also partnered with local schools to inspire the next generation of Eisteddfod supporters. Forty students from Ysgol Dinas Brân and Ysgol Morgan Llwyd joined the Welcome Host team, assisting with field events, the festival shop, and liaison duties, while a further 20 students helped with programme sales. Volunteers work tirelessly year-round to keep the Eisteddfod thriving. This year, they also assumed full-time operations of the iconic Llangollen Pavilion, with plans to transform it into a vibrant all-year-round arts venue. Anyone who wants to volunteer at the Llangollen Pavilion - please email volunteers@
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Llangollen to benefit from approx 180 extra parking spaces
Llangollen Town Centre has often suffered due to the lack of car parking spaces but thanks to the Eisteddfod Team running the Pavilion, the town will see close to an additional 180 parking spaces from Thursday, May 15. The spaces will be available when there are no events on at the Pavilion or its grounds. John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod says that opening up the grounds will be a significant boost to the local economy. There will a number of pay points on the site with a variety of ways to pay. John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod (Image: Llangollen Eisteddfod) The changes will see the implementation of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. This advanced technology will significantly improve security, deter anti-social behaviour, and enable 24-hour monitoring of the car park and the Eisteddfod grounds. The ANPR system will help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors to Llangollen. Costs will be from 70p for 30 minutes for the main car park, £6 for up to 8 hours and £10 for 12 hours. The Pavilion field car park will have the same charges but with a maximum time of 8 hours. There will be no overnight parking. Mr Gambles said: "For as long as I can remember, parking has been a huge issue in the centre of Llangollen. When we took over the Pavilion full-time in April, one of the first things we did was look if it was possible to open up our site for additional car parking. "Any revenue raised will go towards running the Pavilion for the benefit of Llangollen and towards the running of the Llangollen Eisteddfod." The field will be open from May 15, with the centre of Llangollen only 500 metres away. The Eisteddfod say the changes have been carefully considered to balance public convenience, revenue protection, and the facilitation of future enhancements funded by this revenue. There will be no charge for parents of pupils at Ysgol Dinas Bran for parents dropping off and picking up. MOST READ There will be numerous mechanisms to pay for parking, including booking services for specific elements. Mr Gambles added: "We appreciate resident's cooperation as we implement these new measures. Our goal is to provide a better, safer, and more enjoyable experience for everyone who visits Llangollen and the Royal Pavilion. "We are certain that by adding close to 180 spaces in the heart of Llangollen, we will see a rise in visitors to our wonderful town."
Axios
25-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
More than 300 rich people ask Congress to reject tax breaks for rich people
More than 300 wealthy individuals, including heiress Abigail Disney, are asking lawmakers to reject GOP plans for tax breaks for the rich. Why it matters: "No more tax cuts for the wealthy. Not in our name," they wrote in a letter sent Monday to the Democratic minority leaders from New York, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, and first reported Tuesday. The intrigue: Only two of these high-net-worth individuals agreed to share their names publicly: Disney and Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation, an ecofriendly-branded consumer products company. She is well-known for advocating for higher taxes on the rich. He's long advocated for corporate social responsibility — a term you're hearing less of these days as any kind of progressive activism by companies appears under attack. Zoom in: The rest include heirs from such prominent families as the Rockefellers, Pillsburys (as in the baking company) and Gambles (of Procter & Gamble fame), as well as some company founders. These folks aren't household names and aren't looking for the publicity, says Mike Lapham, project director at the Responsible Wealth Project, which coordinated the letter with Americans for Tax Fairness and Voices for Progress. The big picture: Extending and expanding the 2017 tax cuts is now the focus of congressional Republicans. It's expected those tax breaks would come at the expense of big cuts to critical health and income benefits needed by millions of Americans. "These cuts aren't just unnecessary; they're cruel, prioritizing handouts to the wealthiest households over the well-being of those who need help the most," per the letter. Between the lines: Making the tax cuts permanent would give a $278,000 tax break to those in the top 0.1% and a $130 cut to the bottom 5%, per an analysis from the Tax Policy Center.
