Holly Johnson to headline in Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2027

* Holly Johnson.

Eighties icon Holly Johnson will bring some Hollywood headline glamour to Llangollen next summer for a night of retro hits.

The former Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman will headline Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday June 27, joined by special guests Haircut 100 and Toyah.

Tickets go on general sale at 10am Friday via llangollen.net and ticketmaster.co.uk

Holly Johnson achieved massive fame as the lead vocalist and lyricist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. One of the biggest selling bands of the 1980s they debuted with three consecutive UK Number 1 singles – Relax, Two Tribes and The Power Of Love.

Holly’s voice, flamboyant stage presence and unapologetically bold persona helped secure the band’s status as provocative pop stars who blended social commentary with irresistible dance music.

Since going solo in 1987, he’s built a parallel catalogue of hits including album Blast and singles Love Train, Americanos and Atomic City, and become one of pop’s most enduring outspoken frontmen, remaining a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ visibility and human rights, using his platform to advocate for equality and acceptance.

This summer he played sold out shows at venues across the country, proving his distinctive voice hasn’t dimmed one bit.

* Haircut 100.

* Toyah. 

Joining Holly Johnson will be New Wave pop favourites Haircut 100, who made their new music comeback with the release of album Boxing The Compass earlier this year, bringing the classic line up – Nick Heyward (vocals/guitar), Graham Jones (guitar), Les Nemes (bass) and Blair Cunningham (drums) – back together for the first time in 44 years.

The album followed single The Unloving Plum, which secured the coveted BBC Radio 2 Record Of The Week slot on its release, maintaining the magic which inspired their classic 80s hits Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), Love Plus One, Fantastic Day and Nobody’s Fool.

Completing the line-up is punk and new wave icon, singer, actress and performer Toyah – an artist who has built a five-decade career defined by fearless creativity, reinvention and an unmistakable connection with her audience.

With 13 Top 40 singles and 25 albums, Toyah’s back catalogue includes the iconic hits It’s A Mystery, I Want To Be Free and Good Morning Universe, alongside the platinum-selling albums Anthem and The Changeling. As well as appearing with Holly Johnson in 2027, Toyah will also release her new studio album Future Dreaming!

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “Holly Johnson, Haircut 100 and Toyah are three unmistakable names in British music and bringing them together in Llangollen promises a night packed with character, colour and some truly iconic songs.

“Each of them has carved out a very distinctive place in popular music, and all three continue to command enormous affection from audiences. I think this will be one of those evenings with a real sense of occasion, great energy in the Pavilion and plenty of moments people will want to sing along to.”

* For more information go to llangollen.net and ticketmaster.co.uk

FOLLOW HOLLY JOHNSON WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY | I TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

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Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council

Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is:

AT JUNCTION WITH QUEEN STREET, BROOK STREET, until 17/10/2026, Adfer Adeilad / Building Renovation,  CORE HIGHWAYS (WREXHAM), Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

Heol y Farchnad / Market Street, 10/10/2026 - 11/10/2026, Gwyl Fwyd Llangollen / Llangollen Food Festival CHAPTER 8 SOLUTIONS LTD, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

(Carriageway) SPRINGFIELD, FRON BACHE, LLANGOLLEN, 28/09/2026 - 30/09/2026, Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works,  SAPPHIRE UTILITY SOLUTION

OPPOSITE 14 PENGWERN, 29/10/2026 - 30/10/2026, Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

From Castle Street to East Street, MARKET STREET, 28/11/2026, Ffair Nadolig / Christmas Fair CHAPTER 8 SOLUTIONS, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

N/R The Glen A539 Plas yn Pentre Llangollen, A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD, 05/10/2026, Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC)

Injured Dyfan announces plans for his long flight home from China

The Llangollen teenager recovering from a serious road accident in China has spoken excitedly this morning (Saturday) about his long journey home to Wales, which is expected to begin next Monday.

And he speaks of a possible return to a cycling journey to Thailand with his two Westheads mates when he is fit again.

Nineteen-year-old Dyfan Hughes was hit by a truck as he along with his two friends of the same age, Louis Dennis from Garth and James Thomas from Wrexham - together known as the Westheads - were on one of the final stages of their 10,000-mile cycling trip to Thailand in memory of Tony Edge, the father of their friend Harrison, who died following a heart attack in 2024, and along the way raising over £50,000 for the British Heart Foundation.  

Dyfan was rushed to hospital in the city of Chengdu with injuries to both legs, spine, neck and scalp and just over two weeks ago had major corrective surgery lasting for many hours.

Louis and James have already flown home to Wales after staying by is bedside along with his worried parents for an anxious couple of weeks. 

And today Dyfan has taken to social media to tell his supporters that he has at last been given the all-clear to fly home to the UK and then be brought by ambulance back to Wrexham Maelor Hospital to complete his rehabilitation.

He says: "Last night, I got the call from the insurers saying the flight has been booked. This is just the best news I have heard in ages. After seven long weeks lying in this bed in China I am finally coming home on Monday.

"It's going to be such a long day of travelling as it's going to take more than 30 hours to get home. We've got to take a connecting flight into Hong Kong, and then Hong Kong to London Heathrow and then an ambulance up. But I am just going to arrive in Wrexham at some point on Tuesday.

"I'm going to be accompanied by one doctor and one nurse and they're just going to be checking on me all the time making sure everything's all right.

"And they're actually flying out to Chengdu today and they're going to come check on me in the hospital and make sure I'm all good and give me the last go-ahead to get on the plane for Monday.

"Personally, it can't come soon enough. I'm counting down the hours now.

"I can't wait to see my friends and family and get back on home soil and smash the rehab out of the park."

In the caption he adds: "It’s a long old way home but at the end we will arrive in Wrexham hospital which I am so excited for, after nearly seven and a half weeks in the Chengdu Hospital and over 420 days since I left Wales to start the cycling journey I will be going home!

"It’s definitely going to be a shock for the first couple days, but I’m sure after all the rehab is done we will be ready to go again!"

Mario Kreft to champion workforce and smaller care homes

* Mario Kreft MBE at the location where Pendine Park’s new £15 million dementia care home, Pen-y-Don, will be built. Picture by Mandy Jones

Tributes have been pouring in after a “magnificent” social care champion announced he’s stepping down from two major frontline roles.

After four decades in the sector, Mario Kreft MBE, owner of the pioneering Pendine Park care organisation which has nine homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon, has revealed he is retiring as chair and director of two other bodies he founded, Care Forum Wales and the Wales Care Awards.

But he stressed he’s “not disappearing into the sunset” and pledged to focus his energies in future on championing the workforce and supporting  smaller, independent and other community-based care providers, particularly in North Wales.

He’s also going to be busy in his day job after unveiling plans for a new £15 million 77-bed care home that’s going to provide much-needed dementia care and create more than 200 new jobs in Wrexham.

Mr Kreft’s  contribution has been praised by figures across Welsh public life, including former Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Wigley.

He said: “Mario Kreft has played a pioneering role in developing quality care in Wales and it is vital that the Welsh Government should build on the foundations which he has laid.”

According to Julie Morgan, the former Welsh Government Deputy Minister with responsibility for social care, said Mr Kreft had been “magnificent” as chair of Care Forum Wales and she was in almost daily touch with him during the Covid pandemic.

She said: “Mario did all in his power at such a crucial time to work with the Welsh Government to mitigate the effects of Covid on care home residents and staff.

“He was a voice for the sector and was able to tell us with honesty the day to day experiences in the field.  This was crucially important in a sector made up of many individual small care homes. He worked tirelessly to ensure their views were represented. 

“Mario’s standards are very high. He believes that care residents should not only benefit from excellent physical care but also have access to music and the arts in all its forms.

“Mario has a breadth of vision that is rarely seen. I was proud to work with him and he has made his mark on Wales."

It was a sentiment echoed by Gwenda Thomas, another former Deputy Minister, who said it had been a pleasure to work with Mario when drawing up the Social Services and Well-being Act.

She said: “Mario’s long standing commitment to compassionate care and to respect for and encouragement to staff has been truly remarkable. 

“I know that Mario will continue to be a respected voice in the sector.”

As well as being instrumental in establishing Care Forum Wales in 1993, 10 years later Mr Kreft co-founded the Wales Care Awards which has honoured nearly 1,000 frontline social care heroes since then.

He was also a key figure in the Five Nations group which represents social care providers from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire.

Among his proudest achievements was receiving the MBE from the late Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2010 in recognition of his contribution to social care in Wales.

Five years later he was honoured in the enterprise category of the St David’s Awards and subsequently served on the Ministerial Advisory Board set up by Ken Skates to shape economic growth when he was Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport.

Mr Kreft said his greatest source of pride had been the people working in social care and the recognition they deserved for the vital role they play.

He also paid tribute to the collaboration between the sector and Welsh Government during the coronavirus pandemic, which meant Welsh providers received much more financial support than anywhere else in the UK.

His commitment to social care remained as strong as ever, particularly when it comes to supporting the workforce and securing the long-term sustainability of care homes, with a particular focus on North Wales.

“I would like to thank past and present members of Care Forum Wales and the many other sector contributors with whom I have worked,” said Mr Kreft.

“My professional life, and our sector, has been deeply enriched by their dedication and commitment to social care.

“My greatest personal satisfaction has been in promoting and recognising our glorious social care workforce in Wales.

“The pandemic years brought huge challenges, which were met with fortitude and genuine care and compassion.”

Fflint Wrecsam MS Ken Skates, now the Welsh leader of the Labour Party, said that for 40 years Pendine Park had set the standard for social care in Wales thanks to Mr Kreft’s unwavering commitment and forward-thinking approach.

“Mario brought the same energy and values to his hugely effective leadership of the sector in Wales,” he said.

“He has been a tireless champion for social care and a powerful voice in highlighting the enormous contribution the social care sector makes to the Welsh economy, supporting thousands of jobs and sustaining communities right across the country.

“His knowledge, experience and determination have made a real difference, and his contribution to social care in Wales over so many years cannot be overstated.

“While he may be stepping down from his formal roles, I know his passion for the sector will remain as strong as ever. Wales owes Mario a huge debt of gratitude for the leadership, advocacy and commitment he has shown over four decades.”

Former Wrexham Senedd member Lesley Griffiths, who held a number of Cabinet roles including being Health Minister for a spell, said the social care sector was in a much stronger position due to his leadership.

 

“His focus on professionalising the workforce and thereby ensuring the sustainability, particularly for independent and community based providers, has been vital,” she said.

 

“I am sure he will continue to champion the sector, particularly in  Wrexham and North Wales.”

 

Lord Bichard, who served with Mr Kreft  on the Social Care Institute for Excellence, “Mario Kreft has not only been an outstanding Chair of Care Forum Wales but has been an influential voice for care providers across the UK.

“His passion for the sector is immense and his energy seemingly endless. Care providers, the workforce and, most of all, the ordinary folk in care have much to thank him for.”

Council urges residents to help keep community areas litter-free

 

Denbighshire County Council is urging residents and visitors to dispose of their waste responsibly, as part of ongoing work to combat littering across communities.

Littering is an environmental offence and anyone caught dropping litter may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice where sufficient evidence is obtained.

The council’s Environmental Crime Team has already issued a number of Fixed Penalty Notices across the county to support wider efforts to prevent environmental crime and improve the cleanliness and appearance Denbighshire communities

Littering can have a significant impact on local communities, the environment and wildlife. It can spoil the appearance of streets and public spaces, create additional cleansing costs and encourage further waste and anti-social behaviour.

Carelessly discarded litter can also pose a serious risk to wildlife, with animals becoming injured or ingesting items that have been left behind.

Jonathan Brittain-Hughes, Environmental Crime Manager at Denbighshire County Council, said: “We are urging people to play their part in keeping Denbighshire clean and welcoming. Most people do the right thing, and we are grateful to residents and visitors who take their litter home or use the bins provided.”

Councillor James Elson, Lead Member for the Environment and Transport, said: “We are working hard to reduce environmental crime across Denbighshire and will continue to take action against those who choose to leave litter in our communities as it has a real impact on our streets, open spaces, wildlife and local communities. Where people choose to drop litter and evidence is available, enforcement action can be taken, including issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.”

The council’s approach focuses on education, prevention and behaviour change, alongside proportionate enforcement where needed. Officers are working with residents, businesses, schools and community groups to encourage people to take responsibility for their waste and help keep Denbighshire clean.

Members of the public are encouraged also to report environmental issues and provide information that may assist investigations.

Denbighshire County Council says it will continue to monitor areas across the county and take proportionate enforcement action where environmental offences are identified and evidence allows.

Reviewer praises Llangollen restaurant - apart from the parking

* Parking is a major headache in Llangollen as the restaurant reviewer discovered.

There was only one sour note in a newspaper's glowing review of a Llangollen restaurant - the town's infamous parking problems.

The North Wales Live look at The Corn Mill spoke of its "stunning riverside location and historic water wheel".

There was also warm praise for the food which it said "lives up to the setting too, high quality, well presented, and exactly what you want after a day exploring". 

But then comes the jarring note: "The only drawback to visiting is trying to find a parking spot in the town. 

"The Market Street car park was full of people trying to navigate the pay and display machine. We drove around in circles a few times before eventually finding a parking space." 

But later the review concedes: "Whether you’re stopping off for lunch or enjoying an evening meal, it’s just one of those places that manages to hit the spot. No wonder it isn’t easy to find a car parking space in this lovely old town."

Despite the provision of six car parks in Llangollen - both council and privately run -  finding a space is still extremely difficult on the busiest days in summer and at weekends, so much so that some frustrated drivers eventually call it quits and leave town after fruitlessly driving around.    

And things aren't any less painful if you do eventually manage to find somewhere to park, with the cost of leaving your vehicle at the busiest Market Street car park having recently soared to a maximum of £10 for over four hours. 

* Denbighshire County Council has been asked to comment.

Primary school pupils create new nature haven

 

Primary school pupils have dug deep to create a new haven for nature.

Ysgol Carrog pupils recently joined together with the county council’s Biodiversity team to plant a new wildflower meadow at the school grounds.

The youngsters worked alongside the officers to create the new area at the school to help them learn more about the benefits these habitats bring to nature and also themselves.

They created the habitat which includes wildflower species wild carrot, oxeye daisy, cat's-ear, red campion, selfheal, knapweed, Meadow buttercup, common bird's-foot trefoil, white campion, meadow vetchling, and red clover.

The meadow will help the children learn about how important these habitats are for supporting local pollinators such as bees who help put food on our tables and also provide an additional outdoor area at the school to learn about nature.

Denbighshire County Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph provided the wildflowers for planting.

Biodiversity Officer, Ellie Wainwright, said: “The children really enjoyed the planting and learning about how meadows help their local nature and community. The school is really passionate about supporting nature and this project to create the meadow will help create a great habitat for all animals and plants around the school grounds.

Councillor James Elson, Lead Member for the Environment and Transport, said: “I’d like to thank Ysgol Carrog pupils and staff for welcoming our Biodiversity team to the school to support the creation of this habitat for nature at the site.

“It is great to see these pupils giving a helping hand to our local nature by planting this meadow on the school grounds.”