Category: Event

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The “Worst Bad Guys in Welsh History” come to West and Mid Wales and the Welsh Borders.

Testimonials from people who saw the show in January 2026

Audiences have been raving about “The Worst Bad Guys in Welsh History” events being held in venues across Wales through 2026. An entertaining evening that combines history discussion, storytelling and ancient folk music, to demonstrate the various routes through which we get our history. Join us as we take a lighthearted look at some of the worst behaviour ever recorded, from the villains, scoundrels and bad guys of Welsh history.

After performing to sell out crowds across south Wales throughout January 2026, historian, author and broadcaster Graham Loveluck-Edwards (off the telly!) is bringing these events, based on his new book “Scoundrels Cads and Vagabonds from Welsh History” to venues in West Wales, Mid Wales and the Borders. Suitable for all ages. Tickets for adults £12, and children under 12 go free.

West Wales

19th March 2026 (7pm)St Peter’s Hall, Carmarthen>BUY TICKETS
20th March 2026 (7pm)Penparcau Hub Aberystwyth>BUY TICKETS
17th April 2026 (7pm)The Guildhall, Cardigan>BUY TICKETS
18th April 2026 (7pm)Haverhub, Haverfordwest>BUY TICKETS
25th April 2026 (2pm)Parc Howard Museum, Llanelli>BUY TICKETS
Dates and venues for Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion

Powys

21st March 2026 (7pm)Pant-Y-Dwr Hall, Rhayader>BUY TICKETS
26th March 2026 (7pm)Knighton Centre, Knighton>BUY TICKETS
Dates and venues across Powys

Gwent

12th February 2026 (7pm)St Woolos Cathedral, Newport>VIEW DETAILS
27th March 2026 (7pm)Melville Theatre, Abergavenny>BUYTICKETS
23rd April 2026 (7pm)Miners’ Institute, Cefn Fforest>BUY TICKETS
Dates and venues for Gwent (Newport, Torfaen and Monmouthshire)

How to order tickets:

Here’s how to get your ticket. First of all, from the list above, choose the date and venue that suits you best and click on the “>BUY TICKETS” link to see full information about the venue including: time of performance, a Google Maps pin, best place to park and bus routes. Once the page opens, if you are using a PC the ticket buying widget is to the right of the main photo. If you are using a phone, scroll right the very bottom of the page. Select how many tickets you want with the + and – buttons. Once your transaction has gone through you will be sent an order confirmation email.

THERE IS NO NEED TO DOWNLOAD OR PRINT OFF TICKETS. Once you have ordered tickets, your name gets added to a guest list which we go through on the door.

Video Taster

Want a flavour of these events? Sure! Here is a short video that was shot at the Pontypridd event earlier in the year. It gives you an idea of content and delivery without any spoilers. Enjoy.

An exert from one of these events held in Pontypridd in January 2026
Scoundrels cads and vagabonds from Welsh history cover artwork

Get the book…

These events are based on Graham Loveluck-Edwards’ latest book: Scoundrels cads and vagabonds from Welsh history.

A compilation of bad guys and horrible history from Wales. This is Graham Loveluck-Edwards’ fifth book on Welsh history and those who love his witty style and irreverent approach are in for a real treat in this rogues gallery of scoundrels and their scandalous behaviour. Everything from traitors to tyrants and from pirates and highwaymen to the bishops who bent the rules.

It is available to buy for £13.99.

BUY NOW
scoundrels from Welsh history tour banner
Coming to a venue near you
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You asked – We listened…

The Glamorgan History Walks survey results

Thank you to everyone who supported the Glamorgan History Walks through the summer, and thank you especially to everyone to took part in our survey. The idea was to find out what people who went on the walks enjoyed about them or what they thought we could do better. We also wanted to get some ideas on routes to consider for next year and new things we should try.

The success of any exercise like this hinges on people’s willingness to share their experiences. In that respect we can not thank you all enough as the uptake on the responses we got was brilliant. A link to the survey was posted on my Facebook page and I also sent out 135 emails, so to get 69 of you responding and taking part is a really good sample to work with, and in itself tells us that you are very much engaged with these events.

To gauge the basics, we asked you if these events were enjoyable, and if people who took part this year would want to take part in the future. Also, as the USP of these events is to focus on Welsh heritage, history and folklore (rather than a walk for a walk’s sake) we wanted to know if they were hitting the mark in that respect. I am very proud to be able to say these were our results.

Now I’m no expert, but that is a very encouraging and humbling response. Like I say. 69 of you took part in this survey so this is very encouraging that we are putting on an event that at its basic level is hitting the spot.

But we are not resting on our laurels.

We asked for more detailed feedback on specific areas and we have had a lot of suggestions that we could implement.

Future routes

The feedback we had on the various routes we did this year was positive. It was suggested that we make the event more than just “The Glamorgan” history walks and take in other counties too. This is something in the long term we can take on board but we are not well enough resourced to do so in 2026. Its only me doing all the planning and leading and history revisions so broadening the area may sound simple but while its just me, it would be too much to take on at this stage, But who knows. In the future we could may be entice some other historians to join the gang and plan and lead walks in other areas that follow our formula.

Suggestions which came up most frequently were that the shorter, Thursday evening walks we introduced this year were a good idea and that giving you more “shorter” walks to choose from would be a popular move. It was also suggested that we might want to introduce more “wheelchair friendly” routes or events.

Places people wanted aded to the routes we do currenlty included Cardiff Bay. It was also suggested by a couple of people that we should do more walks in and around Swansea and Neath.

A theme rather than a destination, was the suggestion that we do more walks that take in sites of our industrial heritage. Places linked to that suggestion were commonly Parc Slip and Measteg, the Rhondda and Cynon Valleys and Merthyr Tydfil. Another suggestion was Flat Holm which I would love to do but the only issue is getting a boat out there in the first place but this is something we are looking into.

Walk admin

A couple of suggestions came in around what else we could offer walkers to help them enjoy the experience of the day. There are practical reasons why we cannot do them all, however some we are looking into include:

  • Starting Saturday walks at 10am or 10.30am instead of 9am
  • Have more flexible ticketing options for people who book multiple walks
  • Introduce a “Group” ticket for walking groups to book as one
  • Produce a “summary” document for walkers to take away with them, to help them remember all the points covered
  • Branded Hi-Vis jacket/tabbard for the back markers with a name badge on the front (guess who came up with that?)
  • A book to accompany the walks (I am already on that and it should be available in time for next Summer’s events).
  • More guest speakers.

So there you have it. A lot for us to think about, and we are already looking for ways to implement as much of your feedback as possible. We will keep you posted about it all once we start putting next year’s programme together.

But until then, I would like to thank everyone who took part in the survey and especially to Oggie, David, Huw and Brian for meeting with me and going through it all to form some kind of plan.

Watch this space.

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Breaking News! Book number 5 and a tour.

Scoundrels cads and vagabonds from Welsh history coming soon

Everyone knows that I am rubbish at keeping secrets, so I might as well get it off my chest now. Yes, I have a new book coming out in October. This will be my fifth book on Welsh history and folklore and this time it revels in the misdeeds of some of Wales most wicked miscreants.

It is called “Scoundrels, Cads and Vagabonds from Welsh History” and is published by Candy Jar books and distributed by Books Council For Wales/Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.

What’s it about?

It is the definitive collection of Welsh horrible histories.

It is all based around questions such as: Who were the worst bad guys in Welsh history? The most tyrannical rulers? The most blood thirsty outlaws? The most unscrupulous traitors?

So to answer them, in this book I take a light-hearted romp through a rogues’ gallery of scandalous behaviour.

Everything from medieval miscreants to swashbuckling pirates. Even a few Kings of England thrown in for good measure.

All viewed from the perspective of the people of Wales. We look at the antics of these scoundrels and ask, “do they deserve their bad reputations?”

Just so you know, the answer is usually “yes!”

As you can guess, it is intended to be a bit of fun so as much as what is contained in it is factually correct, it is told in a manner intended to amuse and entertain. A great ‘gateway’ into history for younger readers, or an alternative narrative for people who are more absorbed by the topic.

Who is in the book?

Well I don’t want to give too much away but I do have certain rules around who is in and who is out.

First of all, to get a mention in this book you need to feature in Welsh history. That does not mean however that you have to be Welsh.

There is no question that Edward Longshanks was not Welsh. Equally however, there is no doubt that he made a big impression on Welsh history.

Secondly, there is no one in this book in living memory. My intention when writing it was to give you a light-hearted overview of some scandalous behaviour from history. The trouble with people in living memory is that commentary on their actions becomes political rather than historical and that isn’t as much fun.

So as much as you might be able to think of any number of politicians from the last 100 years who would qualify as scoundrels, none of them have made it into this book. Even though some undoubtedly deserve to be.

Finally, of course, to make it into this book you will need to have done something very naughty indeed. Something utterly scandalous in fact. It is a rogues’ gallery. A compendium of cads, scoundrels, blackguards and ne’r do wells.

How will I be able to get a copy?

It wont be available in the shops or on Amazon until 27th October but you will be able to get it earlier than that exclusively on my website from 13th October (or possibly earlier printers dependant). It will retail for £13.99.

Did you mention a tour?

Good memory. Yes I did. I have written a live show based on the book. It is predominantly a ‘history talk’ but with a few flourishes and surprises along the way to liven things up a bit. The long term plan is take it on tour to venues all over the country so more dates and venues will be announced.

In the mean time however, I have my dates and venues for January 2026 nailed down and they are part of the Glamorgan leg of the tour.

And here they are:

•Thursday 8th January (7pm):   Town Hall,   Cowbridge

•Friday 9th January (7.30pm):   St Mary’s Hall, Talbot St,   Cardiff

•Tuesday 13th January (7pm):   The Museum,   Pontypridd

•Thursday 15th January (7pm):   Pioneer Hall,   Barry

•Friday 16th January (7pm):   Vivian Hall, Blackpill,   Swansea

•Saturday 17th January (7pm):   Town Hall,   Neath

•Thursday 22nd January (7pm):   St Augustines Hall,   Penarth

•Friday 23rd January (7pm):   Town Hall,   Llantwit Major

•Saturday 24th January (7pm):   Coychurch Memorial Hall,   Bridgend

•Thursday 29th January (7pm):   The Prince of Wales,   South Cornelly

•Friday 30th January (7pm):   Soar Centre, Penycraig,   Tonypandy

In February and March I also intend to add dates in Merthyr Tydfil, Carmarthen, Llandudno, Bangor , Wrexham, Aberystwyth, Brecon, Abergavenny, Newtown, Newport and anywhere else they’ll have me.

Tickets will cost £12 and will go on sale in October, and once again, the best place to get them is from the website.

So for the person in your life who is “difficult to buy for” here is a selection of great Christmas presents to choose from. A book and a ticket to the show for a fraction under £26. Not bad!

Scoundrels January 2026 tour poster A4
Scoundrels January 2026 tour poster A4

Would you like me to contact you when its available to buy?

Just in put your details below. No charge, no obligation. Once the books arrive you will be contacted and offered first dibs on a first print run of the first edition.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

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St David’s Day Celebrations at The Three Golden Cups, Southerndown.

St Davids Day poster 2025

Got any plans for Saturday 1st March 2025? It’s St David’s Day you know. And I am delighted to announce that myself and Chris Jones are hosting a day of events at the Three Golden Cups in Southerndown in Bridgend, and its going to be epic.

Guided walk with Chris

It all begins at 10.45am with my good friend Chris Jones guiding you on a walk across Southerndown, Dunraven, St Brides and Ogmore. With some guests and surprises along the way.

This walk is in Chris’ back yard.

It is approximately 8 miles in length and includes a couple of hills. But it is stunningly beautiful, has a great blend of coast and country and takes in two castles, two pubs and has plenty of toilet breaks.

Then its back to the Three Golden Cups where Janine has another surprise in store for you. A traditional Welsh Cawl, freshly prepared. Just what you need after a long walk to build your energy back. And it’s included in the price of your ticket. Although your drinks will be extra.

History talk with Graham.

After your cawl, sit back and enjoy an entertaining talk from yours truly. It will be a blend of real history as well as the ever popular legends and folklore. Unavoidable given the topic:

St David and the Welsh Dark Age Saints

So we will learn about that amazing period in history when Wales was producing some of the most famous intellectuals in Europe. And all the things they got up to.

Sound interesting? Well you can buy your ticket for the whole event for just £25 per person and tickets are now on sale. Numbers will be limited as there’s only so many people we can accommodate. So if you like the sound of it, click on this link to buy your tickets.

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The Grand Welsh Historic Pub Tour.

If you have a love for history and old pubs (or if you are looking for a Christmas present for someone else who does!) then here’s a series of events you should not miss.

Historian, author and broadcaster; Graham Loveluck-Edwards (off the telly!) is hitting the road in January 2025. Touring some of the oldest and most interesting pubs in Wales. He will be delivering talks based on his best selling book “Historic Pubs of Wales“. The tour is called “Historic Pubs, and all the madness that ensued therein”.

As the name suggests, as much as these talks are based on history, the content is light and the delivery, humorous and ‘tongue-in-cheek’.

Every old pub has a mad back story and in these talks you will get to hear the best of them, told by one of Britain’s finest story tellers.

The dates and venues are as follows:

Click For Tickets
The grand Welsh historic pubs tour logo

You will hear about all the incredible folklore and history tied up in these wonderful old buildings. Whose thatched roofs, darkened beams and log fires are saturated with stories from the past.

Revealing secrets such the Cardiff pub which bears the scars of a Tsunami, the Vale pub whose landlord was the most notorious pirate on the Severn Sea, the pub on the edge of the dunes with more ghost stories than Hampton Court and many many more.

We’ll also be talking about the role of the inn and tavern in centuries gone by and what the future looks like for them too.

And answering the age old question; which is the oldest pub in Wales? All washed down with your favourite tipple of choice.

The tour, spread throughout January 2025, will take in venues across South Wales. So, you can see it in a fantastic old pub near you. Venues are all within easy reach if you happen to live in Cardiff, Barry, Cowbridge, Bridgend, Penarth, Port Talbot or Porthcawl.

Each talk will be tailored to pubs near by, so if you fancy seeing more than one talk, they will all be different.

All events start at 8pm to give you a chance to grab a pint and a bight to eat before we start. They will all be finished by 9.30pm, so no worries about getting home (or staying on for a few more drinks). Its up to you really!

Tickets are available from this website on the links below. Priced at £10 per person.

These events are e-ticketed so we will have a record of who has bought tickets. So, no need to print emails off or anything like that.

Click for Tickets
Historic Pubs and all the madness that ensued therein
Historic pubs talk by Graham Loveluck-Edwards