Wales at War theme for Penmaenmawr weekend

Aug 14 2008 by Michelle Coyle, North Wales Weekly News

PENMAENMAWR will go back in time with its Wales At War celebrations over the bank holiday weekend.

The three-day event starts on Saturday, August 23 and will pay tribute to the efforts of those who contributed to the war effort, both overseas and in Penmaenmawr.

The celebrations will be kick-started by a rousing bagpipe performance in the village at 11am on Saturday with many shops decorated in line with the occasion.

Military stalls will stand along the beach in Penmaenmawr selling uniforms and dogtags while 1940s-style clothing will also be available to wear over the weekend.

Military vehicles will also parade through the village and the famous Red Arrows will stage a fly-by over Penmaenmawr. A licensed dance featuring classic wartime songs will be held at the Community Centre at 7pm – tickets £5.

On Sunday at 11am, weapons talks will take place on the beach, followed by a battle re-enactment at 12pm. Veterans will join youngsters on a parade to the cenotaph at 2.30pm from the library car park.

On Monday, the weapons talk and re-enactments will be repeated before revellers can learn to jive and have a sing-along in the afternoon.

Penmaenmawr town councillor and organiser Vivienne Mooney said: “It should be a fantastic weekend, people keep calling all the time asking how they can get involved.

“I became interested in re-enactments after watching Saving Private Ryan and now organise them all over the country. I hope to make this an annual event that will spread across Conwy.”

michelle.coyle