A Denbighshire couple have been honoured for their tireless work and philanthropy to the popular North Wales International Music Festival .
Professor John Last and his wife, Sue, were highly commended at this year’s Arts and Business Cymru Awards, presented at a glitzy event at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.
They were recognised in a new category under the heading “Philanthropy”, introduced to reward individuals who put time, effort and money into the arts.
The couple, who live near St Asaph, have been involved over the past twelve years. in supporting the annual North Wales International Music Festival based in St Asaph Cathedral. Sue is currently Executive Vice Chair of the Festival.
Also commended for his support for the arts was Aldham Robart, of Denbigh, who was also a Board Member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society.
Born in Canada, he is a former marketing director of Thomson Newspapers and founded the Wirral Globe and North West Motortrade magazine. He is also a former Chairman of Wrexham Maelor NHS Trust and a generous benefactor and trustee of Liverpool John Moores University.
The Philanthropy Award was made in addition to the existing 10 categories and the first winner was Mathew Prichard, grandson of crime writer Agatha Christie, for his support of the Welsh National Opera over the past 20 years.
The Lasts’ association with the week-long festival began many years ago when they lived in the Wirral. At that time Professor Last was chairman of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society and the orchestra often performed in St Asaph. In 1989 he was
awarded a CBE for services to the Arts on Merseyside.
They moved to live permanently in the area 20 years ago and for the past three years Sue Last has been Executive Vice-Chairman of the festival, working closely with Artistic Director Ann Atkinson to help ensure the future of the event.
Professor Last is a former director of external affairs for United Utilities PLC, having previously held a similiar position with Littlewoods PLC for a number of years. He was Non-Executive Chairman of the Cardiff-based PR firm Bute Communications Ltd from 2004 to 2008. From 1998 to 2006 he was a Professor in the School of Arts of City University, London.
Sue said: “The Festival went through a pretty sticky time about 10 years ago and I was involved in liaising with the Arts Council for Wales and Denbighshire County Council to keep it on the road.
“It’s a joy to see the way it has developed both in the Cathedral and through outreach work and we now have a successful festival again,” she said.
Over the past three years, the Lasts have also supported the programme financially, and have held fundraising events at their home.
“We both enjoy music and we are keen to ensure that the arts are accessible to as many people as possible,” Sue added.
St Asaph Cathedral was chosen as the venue for the festival by the late William Mathias, the royal composer who wrote the anthem,” Let the people praise Thee O God,” for the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
According to Professor Mathias, one of his greatest achievements was the creation of the hugely popular music Festival in 1972.
He visited every potential venue in North Wales before deciding that St Asaph Cathedral provided the very best acoustic setting for the event.
This year’s festival promises to be one of the best yet and will feature the world premiere of a new work by the internationally acclaimed composer Karl Jenkins who will be at St Asaph Cathedral in person.
The work was commissioned by the festival to celebrate their 40th anniversary and the granting of city status to St Asaph by the Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee year. It will be played by royal harpist Hannah Stone.
Artistic Director Ann Atkinson paid tribute to the “fantastic commitment” shown by the Lasts and Aldham Robarts.
She said: “They are the embodiment of the great and the good and have ensured that the North Wales International Music Festival goes from strength to strength.
“We are extremely fortunate to have people of this calibre as loyal and enthusiastic supporters.”
A spokesman for Arts and Business Cymru Awards said: “The personal generosity of individual donations is playing an increasingly crucial part in Welsh cultural life and we believe it is important to give this method of arts support public recognition.”
To book tickets for the North Wales International Music Festival, from September 22-29, contact the Brown Paper Tickets Box Office Number on 0800 411 8881. For more information go to www.nwimf.com or ring the Festival office on 01745 584508
