On a cold February evening Abergavenny Mayor, Maureen Powell hosted the launch of the new Visit Abergavenny brochure.

In a break from the norm, the cover was drawn by well known cartoonist and local man Mumph (Mal Humphries) .

Abergavenny and District Tourist Association have commissioned and will distribute 30,000 brochures in a bid to encourage visitors to the town and surrounding areas.

The Association currently has close to 100 members including hospitality providers and local businesses.

Councillor Powell welcomed the Tourist Association committee members and councillors who attended the launch.

She said how proud she was of the town and hoped that current plans for improvements to the town centre would benefit all.

The chairman of the association, Councillor Sam Dodd thanked the town council for their contribution of £1,500 towards the brochures and also for their ongoing support.

She said how the committee were delighted with the new cover and took the opportunity of thanking Mary Davies, committee secretary as well as Sue Trumper, treasurer for their stirling efforts in the production of the brochure.

She pointed out that although the Tourist Information Centre had been relocated due to cuts, it was still functioning very successfully in the Tithe Barn, and was regarded as a role model for towns struggling to maintain a TIC.

Mumph presented the Tourist Association with a framed copy of the new cover as a keepsake of the occasion.

Interestingly, Mumph had drawn and sent the picture to print before it was announced that the National Eisteddfod would mark the end of an era and use a brand new white Pavilion in 2016.

Consequently, the cover of Visit Abergavenny features the pink Pavilion which has been used for the last ten years but one which will not actually be used by the Eisteddfod when it visits the Gateway to Wales.

As you can imagine, the illustration now has a very collectible tag to it.

Mumph told the Chronicle, “I’ve been so used to seeing the pink Pavilion on the Eisteddfod maes, I had no reason to doubt that it would be replaced this year.

“By the time the announcement of the new Pavilion was made in November last year the cover illustration was completed and printed.”

Mumph added, “The Pink Pavilion has served the Eisteddfod well and had become an icon to the Eisteddfod goers. I’m quite pleased in some ways to have had this unintended opportunity to bid farewell to it.

“We intend to publish a limited edition print run of the illustration to help raise funds for this year’s Eisteddfod.

“They’ll become available at Framed by John, here in Abergavenny. It will be the only image of the 2016 National Eisteddfod showing the Pink Pavilion.”