Knife Angel is joint winner of peace prize

Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife has been run by the British Ironwork Centre in conjunction with police forces across England.

The Oswestry-based project was jointly awarded the Rotary International Peace Award alongside Médecins Sans Frontières which works to alleviate suffering and protect life in war zones and recently helping refugees crossing the Mediterranean.

The accolades were announced at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s 70th Anniversary Opening Concert on Monday evening.

The Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife weapons amnesty project, culminated in the creation of the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression – an Angel sculpture crafted from surrendered weapons from 43 police constabularies across the country.

Also nominated were the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace and the Welsh Refugee Council.

Judges, television presenter and British Red Cross ambassador, Konnie Huq, Richard Hazlehurst of the Bradford Peace Centre and humanitarian and President of the International Eisteddfod, Terry Waite CBE, decided to award both organisations with the prestigious accolade after tough deliberation.

Mr Waite, former Peace Envoy said: “It would be difficult to imagine more worthy candidates for this award. All four organisations nominated fully embody the International Eisteddfod’s ethos of peace, goodwill and understanding and the judges wish to pay tribute to them all. Selecting the winners was an extremely difficult decision for us to make.

“Médecins Sans Frontières policy of témoignage helps to break down barriers, alleviate suffering and spread the message of peace across the globe, while British Ironworks’ creative and striking initiative identified a real opportunity to address the knife crime epidemic in the UK.

“Both are relatively new initiatives and we hope that this accolade will provide them with a platform to further promote their great works and also encourage others to develop work in this field.”

Clive Knowles, chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, said: “It is an incredible honour to be awarded the Rotary International Peace Award alongside an internationally renowned organisation such as Médecins Sans Frontières.

“The next stage of our project is to ensure that the monument fulfils its destiny by being placed on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. We have launched a petition for this and urge as many people as possible to sign it so that can become a focal point in raising awareness of the scourge of knife crime on our streets.”

The Eisteddfod got off to a great start, organisers said with the opening concert.

The Colne Valley Male Voice Choir joined Froncysyllte (Fron) and Rhosllanerchrugog (Rhos) male voice choirs, to perform with the Canoldir Male Voice Choir, the Cory Brass Band and conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE.

Monday also night marked the start of a week of music, dance, celebration and family fun.

With performances from artists as diverse as Sir Bryn Terfel, Kristine Opolais and Kristian Benedikt in Tosca, Gregory Porter, The Overtones, Christopher Tin and the Llangollen Celebration Chorus, Manic Street Preachers, Reverend and The Makers and BBC Radio 1 DJ, Huw Stephens following later in the week.

There will also be fun family activities on the field, from ‘legendary storytelling’, circus skills and bubble workshops to arts, crafts and musical instruments in two ‘Kids Zone’ tipis.