Dementia Friends to run information session for town council

As part of Dementia Action Week from May 18-24, Age and Dementia Friendly Llangollen have arranged for Becky Bowcott from DVSC's Dementia Aware Denbighshire project to present a Dementia Friends information session to the Town Council at their monthly meeting on the Tuesday May 19, at 6pm.

A Dementia Friends session aims to give people a greater understanding of dementia, how it can affect people and the little things we can do as individuals and a community to help them. 

If anyone is interested in attending this session or would like to arrange a session for a specific group, organisation, school or business please get in touch with: DFllangollen@outlook.com. 

A spokesperson said: "The group are actively seeking volunteers to be part of their steering group so for more information about Age and Dementia Friendly Llangollen or the Dementia Aware Denbighshire project do not hesitate to contact us."

Library's monthly hearing aid clinic is today

* Volunteer Helen offers help and advice about your NHS hearing aids at the monthly clinics in Llangollen Library.

Anyone aiming to keep their hearing equipment in peak condition can visit the regular monthly hearing aid drop-in clinics held at Llangollen Library.

Run by the local health board's Hearing Aid Volunteer service, they are free to attend and offer basic maintenance and servicing of NHS appliances.

Volunteers, including Helen who is regularly at the Llangollen sessions, are trained and co-ordinated by the North Wales Audiology Service of Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board.

The clinics are held on the second Friday of the month.

* For audiology information, call: 03000 850078. 

Thousands of illegal cigarettes seized by Trading Standards

Following previous successful operations to crack down on the sale of illegal cigarettes, Denbighshire County Council’s trading standard officers along with the Trading Standards Wales Regional Tobacco Team and North Wales Police conducted further visits to premises across the County.

Three premises were targeted following successful test purchases of illegal cigarettes.

Across the visits officers seized over 12,000 illegal cigarettes and 6.7 kilograms of hand rolling tobacco in two premises’, resulting in the temporary closure of one with the agreement of the owner.

During the search these items were discovered concealed in a variety of ways. Illegal tobacco and cigarettes were found in purpose built hidden compartments and false walls that were secured by electromagnets.

Emlyn Jones Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Service said:

“This is another example of the great work that our trading standards officers are doing to take illegal products such as these off the shelves. The items seized were counterfeit and carry serious safety and health issues to those people buying and using them.

“The products have not been safety tested, and the cigarettes pose a real fire safety risk as they do not have the safety burn ring. From a health point of view, the contents of the tobacco are unknown, and they could potentially have harmful levels of illegal chemicals far beyond the normal risks of genuine authorised tobacco products.

“Our residents play a vital role in identifying areas and persons of interest, which help our trading standard officers to investigate and get illegal tobacco, vapes and other products out of the community”.

Businesses can get in touch with Denbighshire’s Trading Standards Team for advice on illegal cigarette, tobacco and vaping products on Denbighshire’s website.

Railway to host diesel power and the ultimate 80’s weekend

* The band Rhythm Train will be playing on the platform.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway is set to turn the clock back some 40 years with ‘Diesel Power and the Ultimate 80’s Weekend’ on May 30 and 31. 

This new event will see classic trains, live music, food, drink and cars from the decade that brought us everything from Live Aid to Home Computing.

The event is being organised by railway volunteers Pete Edwards and George Walker, who are both involved with the railway’s Diesel Group. 

Pete said: “We’ve been talking about having an 80’s Weekend for years and are very excited to be actually doing it at long last. Although our diesel fleet actually dates from the late 1950’s and 60’s, these classic machines were all still in everyday use during the 1980’s and it’s what I remember travelling on to gigs and events as a teenager. 

"We have locos like our Class 47, which worked Crewe-Llandudno trains regularly through the 80’s. Big, powerful and sporting the famous double arrow logo and corporate blue livery, seeing 47449 at work is like a time machine back to my youth.”

* No. 4799 will be in use. 

* ... as will No. 31271

Starring alongside 47449 are four of the railway’s other diesel locomotives: Class 26 No. 26010, which worked in Scotland; Class 31 No. 31271, which was based in London; and two legendary Class 08 English Electric shunters, No. 08195 and 08202. Nicknamed “Gronks” because of their distinctive engine noise, these locos could be seen all over the UK in the 80’s. 

Some are still in mainline use today and the L&CR has two which are used for shunting and engineering trains.

George said: “Although I was born in the 1990’s, I’ve been fascinated with the 80’s since I was a kid - the trains, cars, buses and music. We’re really looking forward to seeing the 08s pushed forward into the limelight and working a public train – they really don’t do this very often and it’s a great opportunity to turn the clock back 40 years, put on some 80’s clothes and revel in the nostalgia.”

Local band Rhythm Train, based in Wrexham and popular across North Wales, will be performing live at Llangollen Station on the evening of Saturday 30th. Visitors are encouraged to get into the spirit of the weekend by coming along in their best 80’s fancy dress.

Rhythm Train are a high-energy five-piece party band known for belting out a packed set of 80’s classics guaranteed to fill the dancefloor. From iconic anthems by Queen and Whitney Houston to favourites from Madonna, Bon Jovi and more, their performance will bring the unmistakable sound of the decade to life. 

With a reputation for lively shows and crowd-pleasing sets, they promise a proper party atmosphere to round off the day’s events. Tickets for the live music event are just £5 but free for anyone with a Gala Ticket.

Pete added: “Our aim is not just to run trains, it’s to take the Dee Valley back to the 80’s. There will be cars, signs, adverts and lots of other things to look out for over the weekend. 

"The 80’s changed the railways too as British Rail geared up for privatisation. Sectorised business units like Network South East, InterCity and Railfreight became household names through high-profile advertising campaigns, aimed at getting people away from their cars and increasingly busy roads. We really hope everyone will join in and raid the backs of their wardrobes, local charity shops and fancy-dress boxes and don their finest 80’s outfits.”

George Walker can be seen driving Class 31 No. 31271, which carries the distinctive 1980’s Railfreight Construction livery, characterised by bright construction sector patterns and shiny stainless steel double arrow logos.

* Tickets and more information can be bought by visiting:  https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/special-events-in-2026/80s-diesel-weekend

Rising star Brook Fox joins Emili Sandé in Llangollen exclusive

* Brook Fox.

Fresh from a breakthrough year and fast emerging as one of Wales’ most exciting new voices, singer-songwriter Brook Fox will bring his heartfelt indie‑rock energy to Llangollen this summer when he supports Emeli Sandé during her world‑exclusive, one‑night‑only orchestral spectacular.

The BBC Radio Wales A‑Lister will open the show on Friday July 10 as part of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, setting the tone with his soaring melodies and honest, down-to-earth songwriting at the iconic Welsh venue.

Final tickets are available at llangollen.net 

Hailing from the coastal town of Burry Port, Brook Fox began writing music during the 2020 pandemic, drawing inspiration from artists such as Sam Fender and Catfish and the Bottlemen. Their influence helped shape his early direction, particularly through sharp, working-class storytelling. Blending indie-pop and rock influences, Fox has developed a distinctive sound defined by relatable lyrics and emotional honesty.

Brook has already built an impressive reputation on the live circuit, supporting Liverpool favourites Keyside and Welsh pop sensation Mali Haf, while also sharing festival stages with major acts including McFLY and Kaiser Chiefs. With his debut EP Everybody’s in Love set for release later this month, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year, with his Eisteddfod appearance marking a major milestone in his rapidly rising career.

* Emeli Sandé.

His inclusion in the Eisteddfod line-up also reflects the festival’s ongoing commitment to championing emerging talent and showcasing the next generation of artists on one of the country’s most iconic stages.

 

Emeli Sandé burst onto the music scene in 2012 with her debut album Our Version of Events, which featured timeless hits such as Next to Me, Read All About It (Part III), and Clown. The record became the UK’s biggest-selling album of the year, earning critical acclaim and praise from legendary artists such as Madonna and Alicia Keys. 

 

Since then, Sandé has continued to evolve artistically, with her acclaimed albums Let’s Say For Instance (2022) and How Were We to Know (2023) highlighting her emotional depth and musical versatility. 

 

Raised in rural Aberdeenshire by a Zambian father and working-class Cumbrian mother, Sandé grew from a shy teenager into one of the UK’s most influential and celebrated voices. Her emotionally charged performances and soaring vocals have earned her multiple BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello Award, and an MBE for services to music — securing her place among Britain’s most decorated musical talents. 

 

Joining her on stage in Llangollen will be The Absolute Orchestra, conducted and arranged by the Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford. Renowned for pushing creative boundaries and pioneering cross-genre collaborations with artists such as KT Tunstall and Kosheen, the orchestra will blend soul, pop, and symphonic brilliance into a truly unforgettable night of live music.

 

Artistic Director of the festival, Dave Danford said: “Bringing together world‑class artists with bold new voices is at the heart of what makes Llangollen and the Eisteddfod so special. Brook Fox is an exceptional emerging talent and pairing him with Emeli Sandé and The Absolute Orchestra will create a night that celebrates both the future and the brilliance of live music.”

Founded in 1947, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is one of the world’s most vibrant celebrations of music, dance and international friendship. Held annually in Llangollen, North Wales, the festival brings together thousands of performers and visitors from across the globe, uniting cultures through creativity, performance and competition.

Following a record-breaking 2025, the 2026 festival is set to be its most ambitious to date. Alongside an expanded programme of competitions, this year’s line-up features an exceptional series of concerts and large-scale collaborations, including bespoke orchestral performances with internationally renowned artists. These landmark events sit at the heart of an increasingly diverse programme, reaffirming Llangollen’s reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive international arts festivals.

 

For more information and to purchase tickets visit llangollen.net

 

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