The
best contemporary poetry from the UK's sharpest publisher
Pandon
Press
Pandon Press Ltd is the sister company to Bloodaxe Books Ltd, handling its marketing, finance and sales.
Originally set up in Newcastle in 1992 to control distribution and sales, Pandon Press moved to Bala in North Wales, in 1997 and added marketing to its portfolio.
Pandon's role is to maximise Bloodaxe's effectiveness as an innovative and creative poetry publisher.
The Pandon Press office (above) has three staff: Simon Thirsk, who is chairman of both Bloodaxe Books Ltd and Pandon Press; Alison Davis, marketing and Bethan Jones, finance.
There is also a full-time receptionist - Scribble, a border collie (below).
The first sheepdog trials in the world were held in Bala, and continue to be held every year. It is still very much a major centre for sheep dog training with world-class champions based here.
When the staff are not working, they can sometimes be found sailing or white water rafting at the National White Water Centre, just outside Bala!
Bala is a small market town (of just 1,700 people) in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Snowdonia National Park.
It is a major centre for the Welsh language and culture. About 80% of local people speak as their mamiaith or mother tongue.
Bala is located on the shores of Wales's largest natural lake, Llyn Tegid, indeed, the name Bala - more correctly "Y Bala" in Welsh, means "the opening at the end of the lake".
There is powerful tradition of choirs, music and poetry, fostered through Eisteddfods - competitions which begin at a local level culminate in major national events attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year.
There are three major choirs, consisting of local people - many of them farmers - who regularly travel abroad giving concerts to audiences of several thousand.
Sometimes, in the summer, and around Christmas, these musicians can be heard on the street and in the pubs of Bala.
The Welsh poetry scene is extremely active. One of the highest honours in the National Eisteddfod is the chair for the winning poet.
Welsh poetry has strict forms like the cynghanedd which lend themselves well to competition, such as Talwrn y Bierdd.
Bloodaxe publishes a number of Welsh poets, including R.S.Thomas, Menna Elfyn, and Gwyneth Lewis.
Bala is also known for its artists, including Iwan Bala and Gareth Jones (one of his paintings of Bala is pictured right), Glyn Baines, Angharad Jones and Catrin Williams. The artist and writer Osi Osmond is also a regular visitor to the town.
