Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace 2025
Gwe Heddwch Y Cymoedd 2026
Gwyl Heddwch was a one day event, organised by members of the community of Aberdare, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th 1945
Such was the success of the festival, that an additional event - Gwe Heddwch Y Cymoedd - has been organised for Saturday September 12th 2026. Further information, and booking for this networking event, aimed at creating an going Peace Network or "Web" in the South Wales Valleys, is now available at www.ticketsource.com/stelvans
The inaugural Gwyl Heddwch took the form of a FREE event on Saturday September 13th 2025, and featured a number of guest speakers and performers, including Kyoko Gibson; Dafydd Iawn; Keith Dunn, Honorary Consul for Japan; Mererid Hopwood; Richard Outram; James Schneider; Cwmbach Male Choir & Lewis Merthyr Band; and facilitator Mike Church
The 2026 event will feature morning presentations by Jill Evans, Darren Macey, Betty Hunter and Yuliia Bond, a complementary lunch, plus an afternoon session featuring an open Round Table discussion, facilitated by Mererid Hopwood
The timetables for the 2026 and previous 2025 events are outlined below
Such was the success of the festival, that an additional event - Gwe Heddwch Y Cymoedd - has been organised for Saturday September 12th 2026. Further information, and booking for this networking event, aimed at creating an going Peace Network or "Web" in the South Wales Valleys, is now available at www.ticketsource.com/stelvans
The inaugural Gwyl Heddwch took the form of a FREE event on Saturday September 13th 2025, and featured a number of guest speakers and performers, including Kyoko Gibson; Dafydd Iawn; Keith Dunn, Honorary Consul for Japan; Mererid Hopwood; Richard Outram; James Schneider; Cwmbach Male Choir & Lewis Merthyr Band; and facilitator Mike Church
The 2026 event will feature morning presentations by Jill Evans, Darren Macey, Betty Hunter and Yuliia Bond, a complementary lunch, plus an afternoon session featuring an open Round Table discussion, facilitated by Mererid Hopwood
The timetables for the 2026 and previous 2025 events are outlined below
Gwe Heddwch Y Cymoedd | Valleys Peace "Web" Networking Event 2026
Gwe Heddwch Y Cymoedd | Valleys Peace "Web" Networking Event 2026
10:00
Doors Open
Refreshments available from Spires Coffee Shop
11:00
Introduction & Welcome
Mike Church
11:05
"The Welsh Women's Peace Petition"
Jill Evans
11:20
"Kier Hardie and the Peace Movement In Wales"
Darren Macey
11:35
"The World at War Today"
Betty Hunter & Yuliia Bond
12:05
Q&A
12:30
Lunch Break & Networking
13:15
North Wales Peace Network
13:30
Rhwydwaith Heddwch De Cymru | South Wales Peace Network
Round Table
Facilitator: Mererid Hopwood
15:00
Close
Book your FREE place at www.ticketsource.com/stelvans
10:00
Doors Open
Refreshments available from Spires Coffee Shop
11:00
Introduction & Welcome
Mike Church
11:05
"The Welsh Women's Peace Petition"
Jill Evans
11:20
"Kier Hardie and the Peace Movement In Wales"
Darren Macey
11:35
"The World at War Today"
Betty Hunter & Yuliia Bond
12:05
Q&A
12:30
Lunch Break & Networking
13:15
North Wales Peace Network
13:30
Rhwydwaith Heddwch De Cymru | South Wales Peace Network
Round Table
Facilitator: Mererid Hopwood
15:00
Close
Book your FREE place at www.ticketsource.com/stelvans
Gwyl Heddwch
Details of the previous 2025 Gwyl Heddwch, which featured Kyoko Gibson, Dafydd Iawn, Keith Dunn, Honorary Consul for Japan, Mererid Hopwood, Richard Outram, James Schneider, Cwmbach Male Choir & Lewis Merthyr Band, plus facilitator Mike Church are outlined below
Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace 2025
10:00
Doors Open
Refreshments available
10:30
Introduction & Welcome
Speakers: Kyoko Gibson & Richard Outram
Facilitator: Mike Church
11:30
Open Forum - "Heddwch | Peace"
12:30
Oleander Dedication
Kyoko Gibson & Mr Keith Dunn OBE, Hon Consul for Japan
13:00
Lunch Break & Networking
14:00
Gwyl Heddwch
Jill Evans & Beth Winter
Students of Aberdare Community School
Kyoko Gibson, James Schneider, Richard Outram, Mererid Hopwood
plus video contributions from Caroline Lucas & Archbishop Rowan Williams
Cwmbach Male Choir, Lewis Merthyr Band, Arwen Morgan (Harp) and Special Guest Dafydd Iwan
16:00
Close
10:00
Doors Open
Refreshments available
10:30
Introduction & Welcome
Speakers: Kyoko Gibson & Richard Outram
Facilitator: Mike Church
11:30
Open Forum - "Heddwch | Peace"
12:30
Oleander Dedication
Kyoko Gibson & Mr Keith Dunn OBE, Hon Consul for Japan
13:00
Lunch Break & Networking
14:00
Gwyl Heddwch
Jill Evans & Beth Winter
Students of Aberdare Community School
Kyoko Gibson, James Schneider, Richard Outram, Mererid Hopwood
plus video contributions from Caroline Lucas & Archbishop Rowan Williams
Cwmbach Male Choir, Lewis Merthyr Band, Arwen Morgan (Harp) and Special Guest Dafydd Iwan
16:00
Close
