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Latest news from the 'Jazz in the Bar' team at Brecon -

On 23rd June 1894, a firedamp explosion at Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, Glamorgan, resulted in the death of 290 coal miners and 123 horses underground , making it the worst disaster in Welsh mining history up to that date (it was later exceeded by that at Senghenydd in 1913). ..

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On 23rd June 2012, Christine James became both the first woman and the first Welsh learner to be appointed Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Brought up in an English-speaking household in Tonypandy, Ms James learnt Welsh at school in Porth and Aberystwyth University.

 The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod  including Chairing of the Bard, Crowning of the Bard and The Award of the Prose Medal.

Born this day 1984 in Bangor

Duffy (Amie Ann Duffy)  - Singer-songwriter, best known for her hit songs "Mercy" and "Warwick Avenue"

Duffy and her twin sister were raised in Nefyn on the Llŷn Peninsula and moved to Pembrokeshire with her mother when her parents divorced.  Returning to Nefyn, Duffy started her career singing with various local bands. 

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Half Light,  released on 23rd June 2006 and shot on location in Wal es, is a Mystery/Horror Film starring Demi Moore and Hans Matheson. Locations include Ynys Llanddwyn and Malltraeth beach on Anglesey, Betws y Coed, and the Ty Coch Inn at Porthdinllain.

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On this day 1314, 1,000 Welsh Longbowmen were part of the defeated force at The Battle of Bannockburn.

Following Edward I's subjugation of Wales after the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1282 and the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, Wales was legally annexed to the kingdom of England.  This left Welsh military forces redundant, they were a large group of men used to regular pay and a soldier's way of life.  They were ideal mercenaries for Edward as they included the much respected Welsh Longbowmen that had been used to such good effect against the English during the preceding conflicts, so it stood to reason that the English were keen to utilise them. .Many Welshmen fought in Edward I's campaigns in Scotland, forming 10,000 of the 12,000 foot soldiers led by Edward to defeat William Wallace at Falkirk in 1298.  But they were disobedient and riotous, on one occasion almost killing Edward I himself in a camp dispute, although the gradual rehabilitation of the Welsh gentry, where the Welsh were again allowed to hold positions as Sheriffs and in government, helped restore their discipline, as the Welsh soldiers only really obeyed their own native officers. Later, Edward II (1307-27) had reason to fear a union between his Scots, Irish and Welsh enemies, so he was keen to keep the Welsh soldiers in his employment.  In his total force of 15,000 foot soldiers at The Battle of Bannockburn 5,000 were Welsh including 1,000 longbowmen, dressed in their distinctive white and green.  

The Battle of Bannockburn opened with one of the most celebrated individual contests in history (pictured). Sighting Robert Bruce isolated, Sir Henry de Bohun, charged him, lowered his lance and bared down on the king. Bruce met the charge, dodging the lance at the last minute, stood up in his stirrups and brought his battle axe down on de Bohun's helmet, splitting his head in two.  The following battle was an unremitted disaster for the English, they lost comprehensively, suffering heavy casualties,  thousands of infantry, 100 knights and one earl lay dead on the field.  Those fleeing caused chaos in the massed infantry behind them. In the rout that followed hundreds of men and horses were drowned in the burn desperately trying to escape.  Some however managed to escaped the confusion, the Earl of Pembroke and his Welsh infantry made a safe retreat to Carlisle.

On 23rd June 1864, Aberystwyth was linked to the rail network for the first time.

The arrival of the railway gave rise to something of a Victorian tourist boom and Aberystwyth was once even billed as the "Biarritz of Wales". A second railway opened in 1867, which linked Aberystwyth to Lampeter and Carmarthen, bringing in new crowds of tourists from industrial South Wales, which resulted in the opening of the Royal Pier in 1869, which, attracted 7,000 visitors.

During this time, the town's impressive station was built and a number of hotels and fine townhouses were built. One of which, "The Castle Hotel", was never completed, but in 1872 became Aberystwyth University and then in 1907, became home to the National Library of Wales. 

Then in 1896, The Aberystwyth Improvement Company opened the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, which at the time was the longest funicular railway in the British Isles.  The railway formed part of a theme park on Constitution Hill, which also included arcades and a restaurant at the foot of the hill and at the top of the hill a camera obscura and park.

The original railway station was replaced by a grand terminus building with five platforms in 1925 by the Great Western Railway. However when railway usage went into decline, the station was too big for its purpose and was replaced by a retail unit in the 1990's. 

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