Railway's Branch Line Gala was a steaming success

* Every station along the line was packed for the Branch Line Gala at the weekend.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has hailed its 2026 Branch Line Gala as a big success, with huge attendances, a vibrant atmosphere and visitors travelling from across the UK to be part of the occasion.

Over three spectacular days, visitors descended on the Dee Valley, with some travelling hundreds of miles to experience the gala. 

The event not only showcased the very best of heritage railway operation but also provided an amazing opportunity to promote the beauty of the Dee Valley to a wide audience.

* Gala organiser Iain Ross with some of the volunteers who made the event possible. 

Passengers enjoyed an impressive line-up of four steam locomotives, alongside heritage diesel traction, all operating an intensive timetable that kept trains running throughout the day. From the first departures each morning to the final services, the railway was alive with energy, excitement and variety.

The event offered far more than just trains. Beyer’s Bar, located on the ramp at Llangollen Station, proved hugely popular throughout the weekend with live music from folk hero Chris Greve, while the ever-popular brake van rides gave visitors a unique perspective of the line and its stunning scenery.

The railway says it would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who attended and supported the gala, helping to create such a memorable and successful event.

The gala was delivered virtually entirely by volunteers. From drivers and firemen to station staff, cleaners, catering teams and organisers, their dedication, passion and professionalism ensured the smooth running of a complex and ambitious programme.

* Four trains, including the GWR 3802 heavy freight, were popular with the crowds.

Branch Line Gala organiser Iain Ross said: “This year’s gala has been absolutely fantastic. We’ve seen a huge number of visitors, with people travelling from all over the UK to be here. The atmosphere right across the railway has been incredible.

“The combination of four steam engines, an intensive timetable, and the range of activities on offer has really delivered something special. It’s also been wonderful to see how popular Beyer’s Bar and the brake van rides have been.

“Events like this play a huge role in promoting the Dee Valley and supporting the local economy. Above all, this has been a team effort, and our volunteers have once again been outstanding.”

The railway is not resting on its laurels. Planning is already underway for its next major event - the 80s Diesel Weekend, taking place on May 30–31, promising a nostalgic step back in time with an intensive diesel timetable and plenty to see and do.

* Find out more here: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/80s-diesel-weekend/

Looking ahead, the railway is also delighted to confirm that the next Branch Line Gala will take place from Friday April 2 to Sunday April 4 2027, with tickets going on sale from Monday June 1 2026.

* For more information and updates, please visit the railway’s website – www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

New visa rules could mean care homes turning away people with dementia

* Warning: CFW chair Mario Kreft MBE.

Care homes in North Wales could be forced to turn away elderly people with dementia unless ministers act to “fix the visa” for overseas staff.

In a stark warning ahead of the May 7 Senedd election, Care Forum Wales (CFW) says tightening immigration rules and the closure of visa routes are choking off a vital lifeline for the sector.

According to CFW, which represents more than 400 private and third sector care providers, the crisis is deepening because Wales has an ageing population and a shrinking working-age workforce.

The organisation’s election manifesto points out that international recruitment is no longer optional but essential to keep services running, particularly in rural communities.

Domiciliary care companies are also being badly hit with fears that providers lack capacity to look after people in their own homes.

In the manifesto CFW is urging the next Welsh Government to follow Scotland’s lead and take on direct sponsorship of social care visas, creating a stable and ethical route for overseas workers.

Visa applications were already being driven down by negative rhetoric from Westminster, restrictions on dependants and tougher recruitment conditions.

It was also pushing existing overseas workers to consider leaving, exacerbating a chronic workforce shortage that is fuelling delayed hospital discharges and longer NHS waiting times.

But the Scottish Government has stepped in to sponsor overseas care workers left high and dry and facing deportation.

They are providing £500,000 to support international social care workers already in the UK displaced by visa changes to settle and work Scotland.

The funding is used to meet the costs associated with moving and to and working in Scotland’s social care sector, for those who have found themselves without sponsored employment elsewhere in the UK.

CFW chair Mario Kreft MBE rejected claims that care work is “low skilled”, describing overseas staff as highly trained, values-driven professionals who had stepped up during the pandemic and were now a cornerstone of the sector’s frontline.

Mr Kreft said employers had invested heavily in international recruitment  and are required to pay them more than the Real Living Wage paid to domestic staff, contrary to the belief that they were cheap labour.

The real risk, warned Mr Kreft, was that without a sustainable visa pathway, more homes would be forced to reduce their services or even close, piling even more pressure on the beleaguered NHS.

He said: “International care workers are not a ‘nice to have’ – they are the backbone of many services across Wales. Take them away and the system simply doesn’t function.

“To call care workers low skilled is frankly insulting. Try supporting someone with dementia at 3am or managing complex nursing needs with compassion and professionalism – that takes skill, compassion and heart.

“These are highly committed, highly trained people who stepped up during the pandemic when Wales needed them most. They deserve our respect and our support.

“They are doing a hugely important job keeping our most vulnerable people in a care home or their own homes when many of them would otherwise  be in hospital, leading to even more pressure on the NHS.

“Restrictions on dependants and constant negative messages have created fear and uncertainty. Good people are now thinking twice about coming to Wales – or staying here.

“The next Welsh Government cannot shrug its shoulders and say immigration is nothing to do with us. If social care collapse, it will have a disastrous knock on effect on the NHS.

“Scotland has shown there is another way. Wales needs to follow their lead, take control of sponsorship and send a clear message that care workers are welcome here.

“When social care can’t recruit enough staff, hospital beds fill up. Operations get cancelled. Families are left in limbo.

“There are far too many people peddling the myth that anybody can work in a care home or provide domiciliary care. That’s just absurd because it is a highly skilled profession.

“The other fallacy is that overseas workers are a cheap option when the complete is the case.

“It costs much more to recruit international staff than it does to employ local people. The truth of the matter is that not enough local people are willing to work in social care.

“If we don’t grasp the nettle, the unintended consequences are potentially horrendous.

“If care homes and domiciliary care companies don’t have enough staff, they will either have to reduce the number of people for whom they provide care or shut down completely.

“Things are bad enough now but even more people won’t be able to get into hospital when they need to and down the line it’s something that could cost lives.

“This isn’t just a social care issue – it’s a national crisis.

“We are already seeing providers really struggling financially. Without urgent action from the new Welsh Government, ministers risk presiding over avoidable closures and more bed blocking in Welsh hospitals.”

 

 

Acts of kindness in the desert hearten Thailand-bound trio

More acts of kindness from people they've met along the way have heartened the three lads from the local area cycling to Thailand to raise money for charity.

As they headed across the desert of Uzbekistan this week Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham were offered free overnight accommodation plus meals by families they encountered miles from anywhere in the Karakalpakistan region of the Asian country.

In one of these stop-overs they were extremely surprised and delighted to see a visitors' book signed by a person from Wrexham who had stayed there previously with the big-hearted Kushanov family. 

And a couple of times on the road when they had problems with their bikes good Samaritans passing by pulled over their cars to help sort them out.

* Protective headgear is necessary as they head across the desert.

Their daily video log shows that as they pedalled eastwards across the wide-open spaces the weather changed from high winds and clouds to bright sunshine and blue skies - plus high temperatures of an intensity they hadn't had to deal with so far.

There were also swarms of midges to cope with, requiring them wear nets over the cycle helmets.    

The lads are making their mammoth 1,000 journey in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack in 2024.

They've raised a massive £27,000-plus of their £50,000 charity target since they left Llangollen eight months ago.

* llanblogger is recording their adventures along the way. To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Town Council offers local groups cash boosts up to £2,000

* Llangollen Eisteddfod received £2,000 from the Town Council for its general funds. 

Llangollen Town Council is offering local groups a cash boost of up to £2,000.

The council's annual Community Grant scheme, which is administered by its Management and Establishment Committee, is now open for the new financial year.

And community groups and organisations can apply for up to £2,000 towards their project. 

A council spokesperson said: "To meet the eligibility criteria, projects must fulfil at least one of a list of themes and if a project covers more than one of these themes it has a much stronger case for support."

The themes are: 

• Promoting environmental and cultural diversity.

• Food growing, planting and promotion.

• Reducing, reusing, and recycling

• Supporting children and young people.

• Supporting music, culture and the arts.

Schemes which have benefitted from the same scheme is previous years include Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod which picked up £2,000 towards its general funds, New Dot Cinema which received £2,000 to help pay for a re-start and Llangollen Youth Football which got to £1,000 for its awards night celebration. 

* For an application form, please email: townclerk@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk

* New Dot Cinema received £2,000 to help pay for its re-start.

* There was a £1,000 for Llangollen Youth Football Club. 

MP to attend latest meeting of town's prostate cancer support group

* The logo of the Tackle Prostate Cancer UK charity.

This Wednesday (April 15) Llangollen Prostate Support Group is welcoming a representative of Tackle Prostate UK charity and local MP Becky Gittins to its meeting, which takes place at the Hand Hotel at 2pm.

A group member said: "Come and add your support for PSA testing to be available for all men."

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Llanblogger now has its own WhatsApp channel

* Follow the Llanblogger channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7ehhp6hENqKMFCgd1B

Seventeen days of roadworks start on Abbey Road

Seventeen days of major roadworks on Abbey Road, Llangollen have started this morning (Monday).

The key A542 route, from Oakleigh to the bridge junction, is being resurfaced until Thursday April 30. Traffic signals are in operation near Tan y Ddol at one end and the entrance to the Pavilion car park at the other. 

The council says there will be convoy working in operation.

The work is part of a programme by the county's Strategic Highways team.