llanblogger speaks to Dyfan about his crash and future plans

* Dyfan Hughes is glad to be back home and is making plans for the future.

Earlier today (Monday) llanblogger went to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital to visit Dyfan Hughes, the 19-year-old Llangollen man now recovering after being seriously injured in China in early August as he was on a mammoth cycling trip to Thailand.

With the permission of his mum, Nia Hughes, we spent a few minutes speaking to him about his ordeal and of his encouraging rehabilitation over past weeks.

Dyfan was hit by a truck as he and fellow 19 year olds 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 in memory of Tony Edge, the father of their friend Harrison, who died following a heart attack in 2024, and along the way raised well over £50,000 for the British Heart Foundation.  

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

Following a flight of over 13 hours from China he is at last back home ... and promising he'll be back in the saddle as soon as he's fit enough. 

Here is llanblogger's quick question-and-answer session with Dyfan:

Q: So how's it feel to be back home in Wales after what you've been through?

A: It feels amazing, a real breath of fresh air - being able to speak English to the staff members, seeing all my family and friends as well. It's just a really big boost for my brain! And getting up, being able to sit up practising hopping around. It feels really good to be able to move again. 

Q: What about the people who've been in to visit you now your'e at the Maelor?

A: There's lots of people been in to visit me. It's been packed in here. Really, packed out with my friends and family, which is so nice. It makes the days go really quickly as well. 

Q: What stage is your treatment at? Your mum tells me there's a possibility you might be coming home sometime this week.

A: Yeah. Well hopefully. I do still have a a big metal rod in my leg that they need to remove maybe in a couple weeks or so. And then after that it should be all done. 

Q: What sort of a blow was it to you and the other lads - but you in particular - having to stop your journey because of the accident, especially after you had covered around 10,000 miles up to that point?

A: It was a huge blow but at that time I didn't really realise the extent of my injuries. I thought I'd be back on the bike in two months, but obviously, that was just me being a bit dizzy after the fall. And then I realised, oh gosh, we're gonna have to go home. I won't cycling again for another year or so, which is hard, but I know we'll be going back to finish it off as soon as I'm ready.

Q: You said a couple of times on your social media you'd be going back on the road when you're able. Is definitely your intention? 

A: Yeah, definitely. We'll finish it. We'll start off where the crash happened and head down to Thailand. Maybe we'll take a different route as well, make it a bit longer. But guaranteed. I'm hoping that in around 10 months I'll be able to go and finish it off. 

Q: How did your friend Harrison in Thailand, who you were heading out there to see, feel about you having the crash?

A: Well, it was just a huge change. You know, the plans have completely changed and it was sad that the crash happened, but he knows we'll be back down to see him as soon as we can. 

Q: During the trip you raised a fantastic amount of money. How much is it now?

A: I think it's now £55,000, which is absolutely amazing.

Q: You have had lots of support from back home throughout the trip and particularly after the crash. How do you feel about that and do you have a message for everyone who supported you?

A: We can't thank everyone enough. They made that trip possible and to raise £55,000 when our original target was just £5,000 has just blown us all the way. Yeah, so really we can't thank everyone enough for the support they gave us.

Bananarama bound for Llangollen next summer

* Bananarama, Tony Hadley and Claire Grogan.

The most successful British female band of the 80s – will bring their Too Hot To Handle Greatest Hits Summer Tour to North Wales next summer as part of a run of headline dates across the UK.

The iconic group will headline Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday July 4, and they’ll be joined by special guests Tony Hadley and Altered Images for an unforgettable night of favourites and pop classics.

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

This summer, Bananarama celebrated 40 years since the release of their landmark studio album True Confessions, with a special anniversary edition reaching Number Six in the UK Album Chart.

As holders of the Guinness World Record for the highest number of chart entries by an all-female group, Bananarama have enjoyed a remarkable career spanning more than four decades. Their Too Hot To Handle Greatest Hits Summer Tour promises to be a party to remember.

Announcing the shows, Sara Dallin said: “Summer 2027 we are so ready for you! We can’t wait to perform all of our biggest hit singles and bring the Bananarama party to some of the UK’s most brilliant outdoor venues!” 

Bandmate Keren Woodward added: “We promise a night of real 80s nostalgia and along with our special guests, guarantee an evening that will have everyone dancing and singing along!”

With more than 30 million records sold and 10 UK Top 10 hits Bananarama are one of the most successful female groups of all time. Since bursting onto the scene in the early 1980s, they have amassed a catalogue of timeless hits including Cruel Summer, Venus, Love In The First Degree, Nathan Jones, Robert De Niro’s Waiting and I Heard A Rumour.

Their appeal has continued to span generations. Following the 2024 release of Glorious: The Ultimate Collection, which celebrated more than 40 years of chart success for lifelong friends Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward, the duo continue to be one of the UK’s most enduring and beloved pop acts.

Their Too Hot To Handle Greatest Hits Summer Tour will see them perform across the UK, giving fans the chance to enjoy a career-spanning set packed with some of pop’s biggest and best-beloved songs.

Joining Bananarama will be 80s icon and one of Britain’s most acclaimed vocalists, Tony Hadley, whose unmistakable voice helped define the soundtrack of a generation.

As the frontman of New Romantic pioneers Spandau Ballet, Hadley enjoyed worldwide success, helping to deliver some of the era’s defining hits including True, Gold, Only When You Leave and Through the Barricades. Almost 40 years from the beginning of his Spandau Ballet career, Tony’s distinctive vocals still brim with the same passion and energy that first captivated audiences. Combined with a successful solo career, it has cemented his status as one of the UK’s most respected and enduring artists.

Opening the night will be Scottish new wave favourites Altered Images, fronted by the charismatic Clare Grogan. Bursting onto the music scene in the early 1980s, the band became synonymous with infectious pop melodies and a distinctive post-punk edge, scoring hits including Happy Birthday, I Could Be Happy and Don’t Talk to Me About Love. Decades on, their energetic live shows continue to capture the joy and nostalgia of the era, delighting audiences with a timeless soundtrack to the 80s.

The headline concert is presented as part of an ongoing partnership with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. 

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “One of the great strengths of our Live at Llangollen Pavilion series is the breadth of music it brings to audiences each summer, and this latest announcement adds another very different flavour for 2027.

“Bananarama, Tony Hadley and Altered Images have all enjoyed long and successful careers, with songs that will be instantly familiar to generations of music fans. Bringing them together for one evening adds even more variety to an already wide-ranging programme, and helps ensure there really is something for everyone at Live at Llangollen Pavilion next summer.”

Bananarama join Holly Johnson, Alfie Boe, Ronan Keating, James Morrison and Jack Savoretti among the first headliners announced for Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2027. 

For more information go to llangollen.net

It's time to tuck into Llangollen Food Festival again

 

* A busy Town Hall during last year's festival.

If it’s October, it must be Food Festival time in Llangollen. 

This year’s Festival takes place over the coming weekend — October 10^th and 11^th — and will feature even more fantastic food and drink producers than ever. 

Around 100 exhibitors will be selling everything from mead to mugs to macarons filling Llangollen with the sights, sounds and smells of some of the finest food and drink North Wales and its surrounding area has to offer.

 

As ever, the Festival will make full use of the town’s beautiful historic centre, taking place in venues across Llangollen including the Town Hall, Gales Wine Bar, Market St, Market St car park, Llangollen Railway, Centenary Square and Riverside Park so visitors can stroll from one delicious discovery to the next.

 

Liz Taylor, Llangollen Food Festival’s secretary, is particularly looking forward to this year’s event: “The first festival took place in 1997 and from the start took its mission of creating a shop window for local food and drink producers to heart. We now attract vendors from all over Wales and England but we’re always particularly keen to highlight local producers wherever we can and we hope this year’s Festival will be the best yet.”

 

Crafts exhibitors are always an important part of the Food Festival and this year, for the first time, they have a dedicated craft area in the wine garden at Gales Wine Bar. 

Visitors will find handcrafted jewellery, handmade gifts, bespoke lampshades among many other craft makers. Wrexham’s newest radio station, Wrexham City Radio, will also be broadcasting live from Gales during Saturday so there will be plenty to see at Gales.

 

As anyone who visits Llangollen knows, parking can be a problem so this year, for the first time, there will be a dedicated parking area just outside the town at Llandyn Caravan and Camping site, just off the A539. There will be a small charge to park and a shuttle service will be available to take people from the parking site into town.

 

Xplore, Wrexham’s science discovery centre, will also be on hand to entertain children with all sorts of food-related experiments. If you’ve ever wanted to extract DNA from a strawberry or find out how to write secret messages just using lemon juice, go along to the Silver Band Hut in Parade St and Xplore will show you how.

 

For those looking for some culinary inspiration, an evolving programme of free demonstrations will be taking place at Blas Cookery and Wine school in Parade Street. Dylan Owens, Executive Head Chef Director at Manchester City FC, and Dion Jones, Executive Head Chef at Rookery Hall and Welsh National Chef of the Year 2026, will be on hand to show off their skills over the weekend along with National Chef of Wales finalist, Rob Cave, and Adam Smith, who has cooked in some of the best restaurants in Britain, will be sharing their tips and expertise in Blas’ kitchen.  

 

But it’s not just about the food. There will be music galore in Riverside Park and Centenary Square with a fantastic line-up of local bands and solo singers across the weekend. 

“Live music has become an important part of the festival,” says Pip Gale, chairman of the Food Festival. “We have some great food concessions at Riverside Park and having brilliant music alongside just makes it a great day out for everyone.”

 

* Details of exhibitors, the line-up of entertainment and workshops can be found on the new Llangollen Food Festival website: https://llangollenfoodfestival.com/ and on the Food Festival’s Facebook page.

'Tap in and tap out' now available at local rail stations

'Tap in and tap out' train travel is now available at 25 stations in North East Wales, including Chirk, Ruabon and Gobowen, as Transport for Wales (TfW) extends the ticketing product to 10 new stations on the network. 

TfW first launched tap in and tap out ticketing in North Wales in May 2026 at 15 stations across the region and following its success has now extended it further. The 10 new stations joining the network are: 

• Chester
• Chirk
• Flint (including Shotton Low Level)
• Frodsham
• Gobowen
• Helsby
• Prestatyn
• Rhyl
• Ruabon
• Runcorn East

Pay as you go gives customers a simpler and more flexible way to travel without needing to buy a ticket before their journey. 

By tapping in and tapping out, customers are charged the best value equivalent fare for the journeys they make and can also benefit from daily and weekly fare capping to further improve value.

Alexia Course, Chief Commercial Officer at Transport for Wales, said: "Since introducing tap in and tap out across North East Wales, we’ve seen how much customers value being able to travel without needing to buy a ticket before their journey.  

“Expanding to more stations means even more people can tap in and tap out for our best value fares, making rail travel simpler and more convenient.  

“We’re continuing to make public transport easier to use and helping more people choose sustainable travel across North Wales.”

Customers must tap in at the start and tap out at the end of every journey using the same bank card or payment device to ensure the correct fare is charged. 

Customers are also encouraged to register for a pay as you go account through the TfW app, where they can receive enhanced customer support, view their journey and payment history, access travel receipts and receive alerts if they forget to tap out.

TfW are working with other operators in the region, such as Merseyrail to explore options to improve the customer proposition around pay as you go, particularly at stations where the schemes touch.

Llangollen-born blind golfer Shaun swings to victory

   

     * Blind golfer Shaun Burke, left, with his "eyes" Ian McCormack.

A blind golfer originally from Llangollen has swung his way to glory in a series of major tournaments over the past couple of months.

Shaun Burke lost his sight completely after being involved in a serious road accident on the A5 near the town in 1985 which left the then-18 year old with a catalogue of injuries to his legs, ankles and head. He also had to have his face totally rebuilt by surgeons.

But undeterred Shaun went ahead with his studies, took a degree at De Montford University and eventually qualified as a teacher.

He is now in his 29th year teaching the subject at Trinity Catholic High School in Essex, the county to which he moved and now lives with his wife.

With the aid of a sighted guide, he's been golfing for the past dozen years, switching to it as a less physically demanding alternative to the marathon running he had been heavily into since his younger days.

Going part-time at school about 18 months ago gave him more time to take his golf more seriously and take the trail to competition success.

This August, helped by his regular guide Ian McCormack, he landed himself the title of Masters Best B1 Player at the British Blind Masters tournament at the Meon Valley Golf & Country Club near Southampton - the category for players who are totally or near-totally blind.

Shaun followed that up at the Portal Golf & Spa Resort in Tarporley, Cheshire last month when he was one of two Welsh men players in the 12-strong England & Wales team which took the Great Britain and Ireland Four Nations prize with a 13-5 victory over the Scotland & Ireland team in the inaugural Four Nations competition.  

At the same tournament England & Wales also shot to success in the Auld Enemies Cup by beating Scotland 4½ – 3½.

A report by England & Wales Blind Golf which staged the competition said: "A fantastic achievement and a brilliant performance from Shaun across the championship, supported throughout by Ian.

"The partnership between player and guide is such an important part of blind golf, and this is another great example of that teamwork in action."

Shaun recalled that following his catastrophic accident, which ironically happened on the road near Llangollen Golf Club, he was cut free from the wreckage of the car by a crew from Llangollen fire station, members of which he later started to train regularly with as part of his rehabilitation.

And he eventually became so fit that he went on to run in marathons and triathlons in the UK and abroad, completing no less than 10 London Marathons between 1987 and 2003 and also travelling abroad to places like Sweden and even Siberia where he ran in temperatures of minus 30F.

"I kept running until my legs got a bit knackered and that's when I took up golf," said Shaun.

"I do this mostly with the help of Ian McCormack who takes me to the ranges and to practice and competitions. He's my eyes.

"When I started doing the competitions I didn't know what would happen but I tried hard and eventually got into the England and Wales team and now my goal is to get into more international competitions next year."

Healing Prayer drop-in at Penllyn Chapel this Saturday

 

What's on at Llangollen Pavilion

 

October 11th 2026 - 19:00 - Pavilion Hall Simon Yates of Touching the void – My mountain life. On the remote Siula Grande in Peru in June 1985, mountaineer Simon Yates found himself in a desperately unenviable position. He was slowly being pulled off the mountain face by his injured partner, Joe Simpson, dangling on the rope 50 metres below. His decision to cut the rope saved both their lives in the epic of survival that followed and with the publication of the book ‘Touching The Void’ and the later film, both climbers became household names. click here for more details Book tickets for Simon Yates

December 2nd 2026 - 7pm - Pavilion Hall North Wales Opera presents Puccini's Madama Butterfly Anne Williams-King (Director of North Wales Opera) travelled the globe singing the title role in this opera to great acclaim and has directed a beautifully traditional portrayal of this opera. It takes a heart of stone not to be moved by the great tragedy of this story, which is so enriched by the composition. Everyone will have heard the humming chorus and the “Un bel di” (One fine day). Like many of its class, this opera can be expressed in a few sentences and knowing the plot will allow you to sit back and allow the drama to unfold.   Under the proven leadership and artistry of international soprano Anne Williams-King and her team, North Wales Opera benefits particularly from the experiences of Anne Williams-King as she has performed the opera so many times all over the world. A great introduction to this work by Opera Australia can be found here: link to youtube video Click here for more details Book tickets for Opera

December 19th 2026 - 7:30pm - Pavilion Hall Bingo Lingo Deck the Balls - Christmas Special Get ready for the most festive, fun-filled night of the year with Bingo Lingo's Christmas extravaganza, Deck the Balls!  This one-of-a-kind holiday event takes the traditional game of bingo and gives it a hilarious, high-energy twist. Expect music, mayhem, and plenty of prizes-this isn't your average bingo night! Deck the Balls combines hilarious hosts, outrageous performances, and a little sprinkle of Christmas magic for an unforgettable night out.  Whether you're a seasoned bingo player or a newbie looking for some festive fun, the show guarantees non-stop entertainment. With live DJs spinning the hottest tunes and the classic bingo you know and love, this event is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season with friends, co-workers and family! Book tickets for Bingo Lingo

May 29th 2027 - 7:30pm - Main Pavilion  The Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Plymouth The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth will be performing for the very first time at Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday 29th May 2027. During this special event, the band will perform Overtures, military marches and popular show stoppers – to name but a few. In addition, their world famous Corps of Drums will demonstrate their precision, accuracy and musical skills. There is something for everyone at this spectacular concert, so grab your tickets now and make sure you reserve your place early. Tickets may also make a great birthday gift for all the family. Book tickets for Marines Band

Llangollen Pavilion Limited Abbey Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire LL20 8SW events@llangollen.net    01978 862010