When the curtain falls on the Wrecsam Eisteddfod, the work of three key members of the National Eisteddfod team will come to an end
For 18 years, Cledwyn Ashford from Cefn-y-Bedd near Wrexham has led the Chief Steward Team, but last year he announced his intention to hang up the blue tabard once and for all.
His friends Iolo Povey from Dyffryn Nantlle and Dylan Jones from Mold will also be stepping down from the Eisteddfod. Between them, they have given 56 years of service to the National Eisteddfod.
Volunteers are the backbone of the National Eisteddfod every year, and without them it would be difficult to run the festival.
From the dozens of Wrexham locals who have worked tirelessly to raise funds, to the hundreds willing to give their time during the Eisteddfod, their contribution is essential.
Morys Gruffydd, the Eisteddfod’s Volunteering Coordinator, said, “The success of the National Eisteddfod depends on the support and help of a huge number of volunteers – not only during the week but throughout the year as we prepare for the festival – and we’re grateful to everyone who’s part of the team.
“The fact that so many new Welsh speakers use volunteering at the Eisteddfod as a way to gain confidence in using the language in a community setting is incredibly powerful, and the work the Eisteddfod does in this area, both locally and nationally, deserves praise.
“But the aim of this scheme is to build on that enthusiasm and ensure continuity from year to year.”
Cledwyn – or Cled to everyone – has been Chief Steward since the 2007 Eisteddfod.
“The work is hard and the days are long, but I’ve had a lot, a lot of fun.
“Every year I say ‘this is my last year’, but like Dafydd Iwan sings, I’m ‘Yma o Hyd’. But this is my final National Eisteddfod as Chief Steward,” he said.
Cled, Iolo and Dylan hope to see new blood stepping into their roles.
“The Chief Steward Team’s work starts at seven in the morning when we arrive at the Maes, and we make sure everything runs smoothly – overseeing the main ceremonies and ensuring everyone is safe.
“Our experience means we know where the hotspots are – like the caravan site, Tŷ Gwerin, and of course the Pavilion.
“Many of the stewards are older than me, so we need new blood to carry on. If younger people came forward, they’d have years of enjoyment,” said Cled.
He explained that the Chief Steward’s work is varied, “People lose things sometimes. At the Wrecsam Eisteddfod (2011), there were big pyramids, really tall, and when a woman said she’d lost her glasses inside one, I got help from Iolo and others to fetch a ladder to go in and retrieve them.
“I found the glasses, but of course, without knowing, the ladder had been taken away, and I was stuck in there for half an hour shouting ‘help, help!’” said Cled.
Before the 2012 Eisteddfod, Cled was called to a meeting with MI5 – the counter-terrorism service – to be warned of a potential terrorist attack and how to deal with any threat.
“I was shocked, but didn’t believe such a thing would happen at the Eisteddfod. But honestly, I got a call on the radio that a bag had been found near one of the poles in the Pink Pavilion. It looked fine, but while waiting for a specialist to arrive, one of the stewards picked it up. It had just been placed down – and it had sandwiches inside,” he said.
Cled was honoured by the Gorsedd three years ago – an experience, he said, that he thoroughly enjoyed.
“But I was honoured not for my Eisteddfod work, but for the work I’ve done with football over the years,” he said.
Cled was a schoolteacher for many years and helped promote the careers of successful footballers like Ian Rush, Kevin Ratcliffe and Gary Speed. After 21 years as headteacher of Ysgol Bryn Coch in Mold, he worked as Regional Welfare Officer for the Football Association of Wales.
With a huge store of memories, Cled, Iolo and Dylan look forward to enjoying the Eisteddfod in the future – and of course, Cled will continue to follow the fortunes of Wrexham Football Club and the national team.