Q: Why did you decide to organise a concert for your 80th birthday?

"When I was 75, I held a concert at the Talbot to raise money for the Chernobyl Children's Project as we needed £5000 to provide the Belarussian children with a holiday in West Wales.

I started the charity to give these children a respite from their homeland, which had been polluted by nuclear fallout after the Chernobyl accident. A lot of them suffer from leukaemia and thyroid cancer but are in remission and need time away in a clean environment. You can see the difference in them when they leave. So I thought why not do something similar for my 80th birthday?

I had heard Owain Arwel Hughes talk about the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and how difficult it was to raise funds. So - having sung with the orchestra in the 1940s - I decided to do something to help raise funds for them. So some of the proceeds will go towards them as well as the Chernobyl Children's Project.

Some of the proceeds will also go towards Ceredigion Age Concern as I work with the organisation to raise awareness about the problems faced by elderly people. Buddug Thomas, Sarah Hughes and I perform Forum Theatre, which is a radical form of theatre originating in Brazil.

We tackle issues like, poverty, bad housing, lack of transport, post offices and then ask the audience to participate and do some problem solving!

Q: How did you persuade people to take part in the concert?

"Dafydd Iwan has always supported the Chernobyl Children's Project and the peace movement and was very happy to lend a hand. I persuaded Aled Lloyd Davies to join in after I saw him conduct at last year's National Eisteddfod - he is such a wonderful conductor and Cerdd Dant singer. When I approached him, I happened to spot Twm Morys in the same place and asked him whether he'd join in as well!

We've also got some local talent - Jez Dansk who's a wonderful musician and Endaf Morgan, a young pianist from Bwlchllan. The concert will be rounded off with some congregational singing, a raffle and, of course, a birthday cake and some wine!

Q: Tell us a little bit about the past 80 years...

"I was born in London but raised in Blaenpennal and went to school in Tregaron before training as a teacher in London. After teaching for two years, I managed to get a scholarship to the Guildhall in London and my career took off. I sang in Covent Garden and then went to study in Rome, where I met my hero Gigli. I loved Italy and spent 20 years living over there.

Later, I became involved in the international peace movement and went on marches to places like Aldermaston as well as others protesting against the Vietnam war.

"During the 1980's I became involved in the anti-apartheid movement and supported the families of political prisoners. I was lucky enough to travel to South Africa to meet these people and it was a fantastic experience, especially attending their church and joining in with their singing.

What's amazing is that when I finished training college, I went to see a fortune teller who said amongst other things I can hear applause ... your heart will be full of music...you'll meet many stars...you will marry a conductor and I can see you singing in the open air in Africa. And it all came true. I've been so lucky.

As for the party on Monday 4 October - I'm a born optimist so I'm sure it will go well!" Olwen Davies