Simple fix for mystery over missing letters
THE disappearance of several letters from the National Eisteddfod welcome sign in the middle of the Maes on Saturday puzzled many.
The sign, which spells out Eisteddfod in huge large red letters mounted on metal posts, has been a feature of the Maes since the festival in Llanelli in 2014.
Many Eisteddfodwyr use it as a meeting point for families and friends and it is a popular photo stop.
But on Saturday the letters ‘E’, ‘F’, ‘O’ and ‘D’ had disappeared overnight. The sign now spelt “ISTEDD” meaning to sit and a word familiar to Ceredigion as part of their local dialect.
Eisteddfod officials even launched an “appeal” for information about their disappearance and at one stage police officers were seen tying crime scene tapes around the remaining letters. These were quickly removed after photographs were taken.
Rumours circulating the Maes suggested the letters had been taken by late night revellers at the Eisteddfod’s spin-off music festival Maes B which continues until the early hours. Others suggested officials check on online auction sites in case they were offered for sale.
Youngsters attending the Mudiad Ysgol Meithrin stand on Saturday offered the Eisteddfod replacment letters made of Lego.
During a press conference on Saturday morning Betsan Moses, chief executive of the National Eisteddfod, said officials “knew nothing” about their disappearance.
However it appears that the disappearance of the letters was perfectly innocent.
An Eisteddfod spokesperson said: “The letters have been in use for some years and were originally made from recycled materials that had been in store at the workshop in Llanybydder. The letters have begun to deteriorate and it is the intention of the technical team, led by Tony Thomas, to create a new welcome sign for the Llyn ac Eifionydd Eisteddfod next year.
“The letters were taken away to a secure storage space and the remaining letters left in situ as a talking point.”