The Deiniolen Band is to set up an annual scholarship in memory of flugel horn star Iwan Williams, who started his distinguished musical career with them in his hometown in North Wales.
Iwan passed away in September 2012 aged just 39, following a long fight against brain cancer.
Close contact
Throughout his life he maintained close contact with his first band which is based in the rural village at the foot of the Snowdonia mountain range.
Iwan became a member of the Deiniolen Silver Band in primary school before going on to become one of the finest flugel players of his generation with the Yorkshire Building Society Band.
Proud
A band spokesperson told 4BR: "We have always been immensely proud to have seen Iwan‘s career blossom from our Youth Band, Senior Band, County and National bands to be such a huge success on the international stage.
Throughout his short but hugely inspirational life, he was always there to share his experiences, his talent and teaching, and was always proud to say that it all started for him in this small village in North Wales."
Help
It is hoped the scholarship which will provide financial help for young players to gain year long expert tuition at the start of their musical careers.
Fundraising has already begun, with Iwan’s close friends Dylan Cole-Jones, Carwyn Price and Dylan Williams, along with Iwan's brother, Euros, undertaking a gruelling 30-mile sponsored walk — which will include a climb to the top of the most famous mountain in Wales.
In training
The lads are already in training for the event on Saturday August 10th, which will start at 2.00am from the beach at Dinas Dinlle – a place that was very close to Iwan’s heart.
They will trek to Llanberis and up Snowdon, finishing at Deiniolen via the Llanberis Slate Quarry – another location that Iwan always made sure to visit with his wife Lorraine and son Owen, whenever he came home to Wales.
The intrepid walkers will be joined at various stages by members of Iwan’s family, as well as many more friends, and it is planned that members of the Deiniolen Silver Band will also trek up Snowdon, along with their instruments, to perform a short concert at the summit, before setting off on the last leg back to their ‘Hen Felin’ bandroom.
The proceeds of the walk will be split 50/50 – to give the Iwan Williams Scholarship a financial start, and provide for the Trust Fund that was set up for his young son, Owen, now aged 74BR
Split
The proceeds of the walk will be split 50/50 – to give the Iwan Williams Scholarship a financial start, and provide for the Trust Fund that was set up for his young son, Owen, now aged 7.
Further details of how to apply for the Scholarship will be announced later this year, but in the meantime, should you wish to sponsor the walkers, please go to: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/ysgoloriaethiwan/99373
More information
If you wish to register your interest in setting up an annual payment towards the fund, please contact Mr Meirion Jones on 01286 870452.
To keep up to date with the developments on the Sponsored Walk, as well as all announcements regarding the Scholarship, go to: http://www.facebook.com/YsgoloriaethIwanWilliamsScholarship
and/or follow us on twitter: @ysgiwan
