Cash boost for Gethin memorial prize

Cash boost for Gethin memorial prize

by Robert Lloyd

The musical bursary fund set up to remember the man known as Llanelli’s Mr Music, Gethin Hughes MBE, is off to a flying start.

The fund is already being backed by a £1,000 donation by the Llanelli-based Jenkins Bakery business.

It received an extra shot-in-the-arm when the first Gethin Hughes Memorial Concert was held at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli.

“The concert was well attended and we reckon that we raised close to £1000 on the night,” said Richard Christopher, secretary of the Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary Fund.

“There was also a wonderful surprise for us on the evening as we received news from the elders of Triniti Chapel, the chapel where Gethin was organist and such a faithful member.

“Gethin was one of the prime movers in the chapel’s Cymdeithas Glyd (cosy

society) and the elders of Triniti have agreed to earmark money left over in the Cymdeithas fund for the musical bursary prize.

“That sum of money comes to nearly £2000, so it is a massive boost for us in our first year as a memorial musical bursary prize.”

The prize is the brainchild of Cor Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas, a close friend of the late Mr Hughes.

“Gethin was a great pal and a long-serving accompanist for Cor Meibion Llanelli,” said Mr Thomas.

“We travelled the world to concerts and festivals and Gethin was famous the world over for being a real character and a wonderful ambassador for Llanelli.

“Gethin made an outstanding contribution to music in Llanelli and in Wales.

It is wonderfully fitting that we should honour his memory and celebrate his life with a musical bursary prize.

“Gethin cared very much about supporting and promoting youngsters on their musical careers. Hopefully, this new award will go a long way to encouraging, supporting and developing musical talent in Llanelli.”

Fund secretary Mr Christopher, Gethin’s second cousin, explained: “The aim is to perpetuate Gethin’s memory by making this an annual concert and to include a competition for young Llanelli musicians.

“The prize will be a bursary of £1,000 to the winner to help them in their first year of music college. Competitors will have to have a guaranteed place at a music college in the coming academic year. The winner will be expected to perform at future concerts.

“Further details about how students can enter, the judging panel and the structure of the competition will follow later, but our target for competitors includes next year’s A level students who are planning to move on to music college.”

Anyone from Llanelli interested in applying for the musical bursary prize can write to Mr Christopher on email to richard.christopher@sky.com, or they can contact Richard Christopher, fund secretary, on Lanelli 775627 or fund chairman Eifion Thomas on 770751.

Mr Christopher added: “The Greenfield Chapel concert was a tremendous success and we were honoured to have the celebrated BBC newsreader Huw Edwards as our chairman for the evening.

“Mr Edwards gave a very entertaining speech which included anecdotes about how Gethin helped the newsreader learn how to play the organ. It was a memorable evening, with performances from Cor Meibion Llanelli and soloist Stacey Wheeler. We are very grateful to Greenfield for allowing us to stage the concert in the chapel and everyone who helped and supported the event.”