Raised in Cwmdu near Crickhowell, penman Horatio is no stranger to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and knows exactly what it is that makes the area such a special place to live, so much so that earlier this year he gave a speech about his love for the area to a conference of National Park Authority Ambassadors.
Now Horatio, the author of ‘Running for the Hills’, ‘A Single Swallow’ and ‘The Prince’s Pen’, has accepted an invitation to become the official patron of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Ambassador Scheme. The initiative is funded by the EU Interreg IVB NWE project, Rural Alliances, led by the National Park Authority. The scheme delivers a series of three free one-day sessions, providing nearly 100 diverse tourism businesses from across the area with the information they need to engage and inspire visitors to explore the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Last month Horatio fulfilled his first official engagement as patron of the Ambassador scheme by meeting with National Park Ambassadors at Tretower Court and Castle, captivating them with the inspiring tale of his journey following swallows from Africa to the Bannau Brycheiniog, featured in his book ‘A Single Swallow’.
New official patron of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Ambassador Scheme, Horatio Clare, said: “I was extremely humbled and flattered to have been considered for this role. Having seen the fantastic work this initiative undertakes in helping promote such a beautiful landscape and putting the National Park on the forefront of Welsh tourism I was delighted to accept, and I’m excited to take on the challenges associated with this important responsibility.”
Carol Williams, Tourism Growth Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, said: “The Authority wanted to pick a patron for the Ambassadors Scheme who shared a love for the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, and someone who would inspire our Ambassadors to go the extra mile for our visitors. With his creative background and fondness of the area we could think of no-one better than Horatio to take on the role of official patron and encourage our hardworking tourism operators, and we are delighted that he has accepted our offer and decided to juggle this important role with his busy schedule.”
With more courses scheduled for the autumn, there’s never been a better time to become a Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Ambassador. To sign up and see the benefits of the Ambassador Scheme for yourself, contact our Tourism Growth Officer Carol Williams on 01874 620478 or by email.
-ENDS-