SECOND CROWN FOR GUTO
Eisteddfod pics and reports:
A PROUD grandfather took to the Eisteddfod stage with no less than four of his grandchildren.
Dafydd Wyn Evans has been a member of the Deiniolen Band for 62 years and has seen hundreds of bandsmen come and go and has seen many changes.
But the tuba player was as proud as punch as his grandchildren – cornet player Richard Alun, 21, horn players Thomas John, 19, and Elin Dafydd, 14, and drummer Dylan Wyn, 16, joined him on stage with the band in the premier competition at the Eisteddfod.
“There’s a long tradition of brass band playing in Deiniolen. The band was first set up in 1834 and I’ve been a member of the band since 1957.
“I was inspired to join at the age of 10 by the sound of a bandsman practising every night in the house close to ours.
“Then I saw an advert in the Caernarfon & Denbigh (Herald) about a junior section of the band. There were 48 of us there that evening but I’m the only one left,” he said.
Dafydd is proud of the 27 players on stage at Llanrwst – 16 are still at school.
Known in the village as Dafydd Twin he was a car park attendant at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor and latterly ran the Bull public house in Deiniolen until he retired in 2011.
He said he has a treasure trove of memories from playing in the band.
“One of the best moments was playing in the Symphony Hall in Birmingham when we came third in our class throughout Britain.
“Some of the bands have professional players, we’re just a village band but with some very talented players,” he said.
Another memorable event was playing at the Racecourse Ground Wrexham before a Wales football international match in 1969.
Now 72 years of age Dafydd’s ambition is to keep playing and celebrate its bicentenary.
“Just 16 years to go. I’m hoping to be still there,” he said.
The band were third in the competition.