Today's marks the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone for the Jubilee Tower.
Yesterday, came a comment, "Must be the most undersold under advertised event of the year (sic) 22k was a lot of money for a 1 day, were (sic) was the open tendering". I found myself just a little annoyed after reading this. Of course, I have no idea whether there was an "open tender" for the £22,000 cost of the celebrations, though this appears to be the cost, according to County Voice, the council's newspaper.
What I do know is that this has been advertised since at least May, including a mention here on this blog. It's featured more than once in the Denbighshire Free Press, including a significant historical article a fortnight ago. The BBC has picked this up on TV, radio and its website. There've been fliers available from various places. It's been in County Voice. It has its own website. It's been bound up with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the area of outstanding natural beauty. There have already been events. One of the Craft Centre's rooms was devoted entirely to it, recently. There's at least one banner in Rhuthun/Ruthin advertising it.
These are the ways I've discovered information about the celebration without even looking hard...
As for £22,000, this equates to £110 for each year since 1810. That's also 11p for every annual visitor to Moel Famau. I could go further in that it represents just 9p per person in Siroedd Dinbych a'r Fflint/Denbighshire & Flintshire. Since the lights will be visible for miles, including from Merseyside & Cheshire, during what I understand is a whole week, that seems like a pretty sound investment, doesn't it? You might argue that it's better in May, but we have to accept that the Jubilee Tower architects chose October 1810 for their own event, rather than the spring or summer. We should be thankful thy didn't lay the stone in January, given the weather nine months ago.
This represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a fresh look at the hills that define who we are. Our forebears lived on the hillforts thereon. Generations have crossed the Bwlch or Clwyd Gate and wondered at the vista before them. 200 years ago, the range's highest point inspired decision makers to erect a monument that has, ever since, marked out the hill for generations. Imagine the struggle to cart the stone to the summit and build such a tower using nothing but manual labour and crude equipment in sometimes appalling conditions. Imagine the the daily walk for the labourers, and not just to the Bwlch car park.
It seems to me that this isn't just money well spent, it's essential to draw attention to the hills, to Rhuthun and to the on-going heather & hillforts programme, a significant grant that has already helped transform and preserve the landscape. Why, then, should anyone want to deny us an afternoon & evening of celebration?
Images: work started in the summer of 2010 on improvements to the car parking at Bwlch Penbarras and this will include new interpretive materials
Yesterday, came a comment, "Must be the most undersold under advertised event of the year (sic) 22k was a lot of money for a 1 day, were (sic) was the open tendering". I found myself just a little annoyed after reading this. Of course, I have no idea whether there was an "open tender" for the £22,000 cost of the celebrations, though this appears to be the cost, according to County Voice, the council's newspaper.
What I do know is that this has been advertised since at least May, including a mention here on this blog. It's featured more than once in the Denbighshire Free Press, including a significant historical article a fortnight ago. The BBC has picked this up on TV, radio and its website. There've been fliers available from various places. It's been in County Voice. It has its own website. It's been bound up with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the area of outstanding natural beauty. There have already been events. One of the Craft Centre's rooms was devoted entirely to it, recently. There's at least one banner in Rhuthun/Ruthin advertising it.These are the ways I've discovered information about the celebration without even looking hard...
As for £22,000, this equates to £110 for each year since 1810. That's also 11p for every annual visitor to Moel Famau. I could go further in that it represents just 9p per person in Siroedd Dinbych a'r Fflint/Denbighshire & Flintshire. Since the lights will be visible for miles, including from Merseyside & Cheshire, during what I understand is a whole week, that seems like a pretty sound investment, doesn't it? You might argue that it's better in May, but we have to accept that the Jubilee Tower architects chose October 1810 for their own event, rather than the spring or summer. We should be thankful thy didn't lay the stone in January, given the weather nine months ago.
This represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a fresh look at the hills that define who we are. Our forebears lived on the hillforts thereon. Generations have crossed the Bwlch or Clwyd Gate and wondered at the vista before them. 200 years ago, the range's highest point inspired decision makers to erect a monument that has, ever since, marked out the hill for generations. Imagine the struggle to cart the stone to the summit and build such a tower using nothing but manual labour and crude equipment in sometimes appalling conditions. Imagine the the daily walk for the labourers, and not just to the Bwlch car park.
It seems to me that this isn't just money well spent, it's essential to draw attention to the hills, to Rhuthun and to the on-going heather & hillforts programme, a significant grant that has already helped transform and preserve the landscape. Why, then, should anyone want to deny us an afternoon & evening of celebration?Images: work started in the summer of 2010 on improvements to the car parking at Bwlch Penbarras and this will include new interpretive materials
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