Former Eisteddfod president says music can “breathe harmony into the soul” as he continues humanitarian work

SIR TERRY WAITE returned to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on its 2026 opening day, six years after stepping down as president, to praise the festival’s continuing role in bringing people together through music.

Sir Terry, who rose to international prominence after being held hostage in Beirut for almost five years, was captured in 1987 while attempting to negotiate the release of other hostages. He was freed in 1991 and has since devoted much of his life to humanitarian work, peacebuilding and supporting people affected by conflict, homelessness and captivity.

Now in his late eighties, he remains closely connected to the Llangollen Eisteddfod, having served as its president from 2006 until 2020. During that time he became a much-loved and respected figure at the festival, and he has continued to visit regularly since leaving the role.

This year he was welcomed warmly by trustees and volunteers, as well as by Sir Karl Jenkins, who has become the 2026 Eisteddfod president and was preparing to feature in the opening concert, Uniting Nations: One World.

Sir Terry said: “It’s great to be back again because the International Eisteddfod has got a very important role to play in the world by bringing people from different communities together.

“The Eisteddfod has had a very rough time, during Covid and beyond. But it has managed to get back on its feet and it has been absolutely vital that international music goes on.”

Reflecting on the challenges the festival has faced over the years, he said: “Over the years, and I saw it when I was president, this festival has faced some very unusual challenges.

“One of them has been getting the people we want to come here from countries that are, some would say, beyond the pale politically, and getting visas for such people is exceptionally difficult. The team here struggle with that problem.

“I remember years ago we got hold of the chief officer in charge of visas in London. We invited him here to speak to us. He saw what was happening and understood the problem. But like all civil servants he was moved on.

“We’re now in an even more complex situation and some of our politicians, I can’t say who, but certainly some prominent people, have not necessarily helped matters at all.

“But I’ve often said that music has the capacity to breathe harmony into the soul, and that’s something that Llangollen certainly does.”

Since stepping down from the Eisteddfod presidency, Sir Terry has continued his work with a number of humanitarian organisations. He is co-founder and president of Hostage International and president of the homelessness charity Emmaus.

He said: “With Hostage International, one hour before coming here this afternoon I was talking to someone who has been held in arbitrary detention in Iraq for the last five years. I’ve been trying to help him and we’ve been giving support to his family. And that’s just one of 100 cases that we have.

“Then with the homeless, there’s also a lot of work to do. I’m still involved in this. We started off with a portable building and we now have 30 communities around England, Wales and Scotland.

“Then there’s the work I do with the children of war, who are often left without parents and left without education. Sometimes they are also highly traumatised.

“When you see what’s happening in places like Gaza and others, my goodness, so many children will grow up with no parents, no home, no education, nothing, and we have to try and do something about this.”

Sir Terry’s return added a poignant note to the opening day of the festival, underlining the Eisteddfod’s founding mission of promoting peace and friendship through music.

BARCLAYS has given no commitment to reopening bank branches in west Wales, despite calls for the banking giant to restore full services in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Paul Davies MS, Senedd Member for Ceredigion Penfro, wrote to Barclays UK Chief Executive Vim Maru urging the bank to consider reopening branches in Haverfordwest and Aberystwyth, with Tenby and Cardigan also suggested for review.

The call followed reports that Barclays is looking again at its high street presence and considering investment in its branch network.

But in a response to The Herald, Barclays stopped short of saying whether any west Wales towns were being considered for a reopened branch.

A Barclays spokesperson said: “Over the past year, we’ve added 47,000 hours of in-branch availability across the UK. We are now looking to enhance and invest in our branch footprint alongside our contact centres and app as we continue to meet the changing preferences of our customers. We’ll make more details known on proposed new branch locations at the appropriate time.

“Across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, we provide in person banking services from our local banking hubs in Pembroke Dock, Haverfordwest, Cardigan and Aberystwyth, and offer full branch services in neighbouring Carmarthen. Details of opening hours can be found on our website. We also operate a dedicated Welsh language telephone service available on 0333 202 7450, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.”

Barclays closed its Haverfordwest branch in May 2024. Its Aberystwyth and Cardigan branches also closed that year, leaving customers in large parts of west Wales without access to a full Barclays branch.

Mr Davies said the lack of branches in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion represented a significant reduction in service provision for both personal and business customers.

He said: “It’s extremely disappointing that Barclays Bank currently has no branches in either Pembrokeshire or Ceredigion. This represents a significant reduction in service provision for both personal and business customers across the two counties.

“However, I welcome the bank’s recent announcement and have written to the Chief Executive to encourage Barclays to take this opportunity to restore banking services in our area by reopening branches in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

“Access to face-to-face banking services remains vital for many residents, businesses and community organisations, and I hope the bank will give serious consideration to reopening the high street branches in west Wales.”

The issue is likely to be particularly significant in rural areas, where older residents, digitally excluded customers, small businesses, charities and community groups may still rely on in-person banking.

While Barclays says alternative services are available, critics argue that local banking points and hubs do not offer the same service as a fully staffed branch.

Barclays Local sites are generally cashless, while full branches offer a wider range of services. Banking hubs, operated separately through the national cash access scheme, provide counter services for basic cash transactions and access to community bankers on set days.

Mr Davies has called on Barclays to place Haverfordwest and Aberystwyth at the front of the queue if the bank proceeds with any programme to expand or reopen branches.

For now, however, Barclays has not confirmed whether any branch in Pembrokeshire or Ceredigion will return.

The Skewen-born singer became one of Wales’ biggest global stars with hits including Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out for a Hero

WE:SH singer Bonnie Tyler, one of the country’s most successful and recognisable musical exports, has died at the age of 75.

The Skewen-born star, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, rose from South Wales to international fame with a string of major hits and a voice that became instantly recognisable across the world.

Best known for her 1983 power ballad Total Eclipse of the Heart, Tyler also enjoyed huge success with It’s a Heartache and Holding Out for a Hero, cementing her place as one of the defining voices of 1970s and 1980s pop rock.

Her distinctive husky voice became her trademark. It followed surgery on her vocal cords in the 1970s, after which her altered tone helped set her apart from other singers of the era.

Born in Skewen, near Neath, Tyler began performing locally before securing a record deal and achieving chart success in the late 1970s. Her breakthrough came with Lost in France, followed by It’s a Heartache, which became an international hit.

But it was Total Eclipse of the Heart, written and produced by Jim Steinman, that made her a global star. The dramatic ballad topped charts around the world and remains one of the most enduring songs of the decade.

Tyler continued to perform for decades, building a loyal fanbase across Europe and beyond. She represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and remained closely associated with Wales throughout her career.

Tributes are expected from across the music world and from fans in Wales, where she will be remembered as one of the nation’s most successful international performers.

Her death marks the loss of a truly distinctive voice and a Welsh star whose music reached generations of listeners around the globe.