Singer songwriter returns to Eisteddfod in completely different guise

* KT Tunstall.

When folk rock singer/songwriter, KT Tunstall steps onto the stage at Llangollen's International Eisteddfod with a full orchestra behind her it will be a far cry from her previous visit to the festival.  

For when the Brit award winner visited in the 1990s she drove down from Edinburgh in a van to sell goods from her friend's 'hippie shop' on the Eisteddfod field. 

 

On July 10 she will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of her first and multi-million selling album, Eye to the Telescope, with a 2025 tour that includes a very special, one off concert in the pavilion. 

 

The tracks including Other Side of the World and Suddenly I See  have been set to a completely new orchestral score thanks to a link up with the Eisteddfod's artistic director Dave Danford who will conduct The Absolute Orchestra. 

 

"He contacted me to explain the idea and I had to say yes," she said. I'm so excited." 

 

"This will be the only chance people will have to see my music set to an orchestra. The album, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is very stripped back music with four to five musicians. To have an orchestra with me will be mind blowing. 

 

"It is also out of my comfort zone as I am a bit of a control freak over my music so I have had to to learn to let go the reins. 

 

"I have been to the Eisteddfod before.  It was 1996/7 and my friend had a hippie shop in Edinburgh. She also attended festivals and I agreed to come down to the Llangollen for her. 

 

"I drove down in a van and spent the week at the Eisteddfod selling things like candles and incense. I loved it. I didn't leave the van very often but I got to see the performers from all over the world walking around the site in their colourful costumes. 

 

"I love Wales. I used to come with my family every year to Llanfairfechan and I used to have a Welsh bassist who taught me some Welsh." 

 

KT Tunstall's big break came when she was 29 and appeared on Jools Holland. 

 

"I started in the folk music scene and Bob Dylan is my hero," she recalled. 

 

She has collaborated with other singers over the years including releasing the album Face to Face with 70’s rock star Suzi Quatro in 2023. 

 

"She is amazing. I have always been a fan and met her at an Elvis tribute show in Hyde Park. She said we should do something together but it wasn't until the beginning of the end of lockdown that we had the time. When we made the album we would sit chatting for hours on end. I love the way our voices work together the result is so much bigger than the sum of the parts." 

 

The run of concerts this year include one at London's Royal Albert Hall on KT Tunstall's 50th birthday. 

 

"I was thinking about getting a few friends round with a six pack and instead I will be celebrating with 5,000 people. 

 

"I have to pinch myself sometimes when I think it is the 20th anniversary of the album and am incredibly grateful for all that I have done. But I am also looking forward and very excited about the future." 

Llangollen businesses urged to bid for a slice of £1 million fund

* Dyserth pharmacist Ravi Kiran Palutla with Cadwyn Clwyd’s Donna Hughes at his Dyserth chemist. Picture by Rick Matthews

Businesses in Denbighshire are being urged to bid for a slice of a massive £1 million fund that’s just gone live.

It’s a second helping of the Prosperous Denbighshire Business Fund being distributed by regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd and follows an initial fund worth £1.3 million that benefited almost 100 companies across the county.

Now an extra £1 million is up for grabs in grants of up to £35,000 with the closing date for applications on Thursday, July 31.

Smaller grants of up to £2,000 are also available and Cadwyn Clwyd are expecting a similarly high level of interest this time round.

Funding from the first tranche of cash helped save a 150-year-old village chemist shop in Dyserth which has seen its business boom thanks to a computerised appointment booking system.

The solution pharmacist Ravi Kiran Palutla came up with for the Dyserth Pharmacy not only boosted his business but could hold the answer to the long waits people experience at Wales’s GP surgeries.

He developed an on-line appointment booking system which allows customers to book in-person consultations so Ravi can then prescribe medicines and treatments or, where appropriate, refer patients to a doctor’s surgery.

When Ravi took over the former Peter Morgan Pharmacy in Dyserth in 2023 it seemed he might face a fight to survive but two years later the computerised appointment system has driven customer numbers up by 44 per cent and seen appointments soar from 20 a month to 300.

The secret of his success, that computerised appointment booking system, was paid for by a £1,897 grant from the Prosperous Denbighshire Business Fund, administered by Cadwyn Clwyd, which has now re-opened for a second phase of spending.

Ravi added: “A grant of just £1,897 enabled me to update the website to make it more functional and install a computerised booking system and the difference it has made has been amazing.

“The population of the Dyserth area is about 2,000 and for me to have a viable business I need a patient base of 4,000 plus and the computerised system has allowed me to build that.

“Because the appointments are made online we don’t have the pressure of taking phone calls and making bookings so we have been able to develop new services.

“These range from treating migraines, chest and urinary infections, providing morning after contraceptive pills and giving Covid vaccines which have brought us patients from as far afield as Dolgellau and Criccieth.

“We are already doing virtual travel consultation securely via the internet. This reduces the need for the patient to travel twice to the pharmacy, once for consultation, second for vaccine administration. We will be developing a private phlebotomy business soon. 

 

“I know health authorities in Wales are looking at what we have done and at the possibility of rolling it out across the country and it is the Prosperous Denbighshire Fund that has made all this a reality for us.

“We will be doing it at a smaller scale in Denbighshire pharmacies first which will then give us the opportunity to learn from the implementation. The learnings will be useful for the national project yet to come in the next 18 months. 

Cadwyn Clwyd Business Partnership Officer Donna Hughes said: “It is remarkable the difference it has made to Ravi’s business and to access to healthcare in North Denbighshire.

“He was in the first phase of the Prosperous Denbighshire rollout which can pay up to 70 per cent of the value of a project to a maximum of £35,000 of a £50,000 scheme.

“The success of what Ravi has done just shows that this kind of funding can do wonders for a business.

“It opens up tremendous possibilities and that’s why we’re delighted to be able to offer a further £1 million in grants which also include smaller schemes of between £1,000 and £2,000.

“The first phase proved hugely popular which was shown by the number of grants we were able to make and it also shows the need and the effectiveness of this kind of support for local people to build businesses with all the benefits that has for them and the communities in which they live.”

The money comes from the Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by the UK Government, which announced in their Autumn Budget a further £900 million of funding for local investment by March 2026.

* For more information contact Donna Hughes at Cadwyn Clwyd on 01490 340500, email: donna.hughes@cadwynclwyd.co.uk or go to http://cadwynclwyd.co.uk/

5th Llangollen Round Challenge raises over £130,000

 

* On the descent from Moel Morfydd.

Organisers of the 5th Llangollen Round Challenge have thanked everyone who helped them raise more than £130,000 from the gruelling event run a couple of weeks ago.

In a statement to llanblogger they say: "Our grateful thanks go to everyone  - more than 100 of you - who volunteered help with the 5th Llangollen Round Challenge, and to all our brilliant cake-bakers as well.  

"From the comments on Facebook it seems that the event was very successful, around 700 people walked, and we can say that to date we have raised more than £130,000 with an additional £17,000 in Gift Aid for Cancer Research UK.  

"That sum will make a very real difference to the various trials that are being carried out - we know that £25,000 has gone to the Add-Aspirin Trial in London - and we thank all of you for your part in that massive donation.

"From Judy and The Team (Eddy, Marie, Trevor, Angela)."

'Exciting' plans for the future of Bryntysilio unveiled

* An impression of how a restored Bryntysilio Hall would look.

Bryntysilio Outdoor Education Centre in Llangollen has submitted a planning application aimed at ensuring its long-term future.

According to its chief executive officer Chris Eastabrook, the intention is to revitalise the site while preserving its historical significance. 

The application to Denbighshire County Council calls for the erection of a new workshop and proposed alterations and extensions to existing buildings, including the main hall, lodge building, hub building and the gate house to provide for improved facilities and increased accommodation space.

The plans also incorporate general improvements to the layout of access and drainage arrangements, along with the additional use of the centre as a wedding venue for a maximum of six weddings a year.

* The hall as it appeared in 1910. 

And Mr Eastabrook believes the most exciting aspect is the restoration of the missing 'West Wing', where Queen Victoria stayed when she visited Llangollen in 1889. 

He said: “Bryntysilio, a cherished landmark in Llangollen, has taken a critical step toward securing its future for the next 60 years with the submission of a long-awaited planning application. 

“Following extensive work that considers conservation, heritage, environmental, and practical aspects, the proposals aim to revitalise the site while preserving its historical significance. 

“The design process has been complex, allowing little room for flexibility, but every detail has been carefully assessed to ensure the best possible outcome for Bryntysilio and the wider community. 

*  Plans for Bryntysilio Lodge.

“The application has been shaped by a thorough pre-application process, and we extend our gratitude to Denbighshire County Council for their invaluable guidance throughout. 

“However, the stakes are high. Without approval, one of Llangollen’s listed buildings faces an uncertain future, potentially jeopardising local jobs and vital charitable initiatives. 

“Years of underinvestment have led to this rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish a world-leading outdoor centre - one that will serve young people and adults for decades to come.” 

He added: “It has taken a lot of work to get this application submitted, and I am grateful to the design team, the county council and everyone else who has taken the time to discuss the proposals with us.  

“As a charity, we haven't been able to access any financial support until we are granted planning permission, so it's been a really challenging time finding the funds to do this application properly, however, once we achieve this milestone, a lot of doors start to open for organisations that want to support Bryntysilio, but we need local support to get there. 

“We humbly ask for the support of our community. A letter advocating for Bryntysilio’s renewal could make all the difference in securing the next chapter of its story.  Guidance on how to comment on the plans can be found on the link above.” 

* Details of the application, now publicly accessible, can be viewed at: https://developments.denbighshire.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=125898

 

Date for Llangollen Flower Club's next meeting

Llangollen Flower Club's next meeting is on Tuesday June 24 at the church hall in Regent Street, starting at 2pm.

Suzuki Across is a well kept secret of a hybrid SUV

Suzuki Across drive by Steve Rogers

Could this be the car world’s best kept secret?

A sophisticated plug-in hybrid SUV, with bags of room, four wheel drive, and 50 plus to the gallon.

The surprise is the badge on the bonnet… Suzuki.

I was asked in a supermarket car park if it really was a Suzuki? The answer was ‘yes and no’. You will buy it from a Suzuki showroom but the car is a rebadged Toyota Rav4. Nothing suspicious here. The two companies have a partnership and this is a case of quid pro quo. Suzuki gets a top flight plug-in hybrid for its range and Toyota gets a piggy back into the lucrative Indian market where its partner is king of the road. Just about everyone has a Suzuki.

Without wanting to be unkind, Across is a bit of a stranger to the UK market and Rav4 will always be the one to be noticed but Suzuki picks up sales from loyal followers who stick with the brand for the reliability of its cars and renowned customer service.

But here’s something to consider. Across is into its fifth year and if the 50 grand price tag is a bit salty just think of the second hand buys out there because cars in this bracket have a habit of depreciating quite quickly.

On the subject of the sport utility vehicle, a survey has found that half of the new models available in showrooms are SUVs, and that has gone up 543 per cent since 2000. Staggering or what? Or it could make a good pub quiz topic.

Back to Across which has had a bit of a refresh. Nothing drastic, they got it right from the start, but the technology updates are welcome. It now has ‘intelligent speed assistance’ which is about as close as you can get to a driverless car. In traffic it brakes, accelerates and keeps the car in its lane without input from the driver, well apart from holding the steering wheel.

Basically the car will emergency brake whether going forward or reversing. The cross traffic alert is particularly useful when side reversing, like in a supermarket car park where reversing from a space can sometimes be frightening the speed some drivers come down the lanes.

There are new graphics for the digital driver display while upgrades to the central touchscreen include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with navigation. Suzuki initially took a bit of flak for selling a 50 grand car without onboard satnav, although it was likely a case of Toyota holding something back for fear of losing too many Rav4 sales Across.

Frankly it is no longer something to shout about when one of the many smart phone navigation apps can be patched straight to the touchscreen providing up to the minute information on road conditions.

Across might be five years old but the hybrid technology has not been bettered by anyone. The 46 miles on a full charge is still about as good as it gets but it is the no fuss driving that makes Across so appealing. Once the battery is spent the car can be recharged on the go with the simple press of a button. But it is worth noting that the economy will dip because the engine is working harder to charge the battery so it is all a

bit of a balancing act. Or just let the car do its own thing although it won’t give more than three or four miles of electric driving but makes life simple.

We beat the official petrol only economy figure by a country mile, recording all but 53mpg over more than 500 miles which is outstanding for a car of this size.

And Across is a big SUV with tons of room for a family of five. It sits between Mazda CX-5 and the Honda CR-V and is not quite long enough to add a third row of seats which really would seal the deal. Nevertheless rear legroom is plentiful no matter how tall your passengers are.

Boot space sounds good but against rivals without the hybrid gubbins is underwhelming but in no way a deal breaker. A sliding rear seat would produce extra litres of carrying space.

Across is a useful car to have in the locker but Suzuki’s focus now is on its first electric car - the Vitara later this year.

Fast Facts

Across Plug-in hybrid

£49,529

EV range: 46 miles

2.5 litre petrol; 306bhp

0-62mph 6secs; 112mph

22g/km. 1st road tax £110

Boot: 490-1168 litres

Insurance group 40

Recent Llangollen jobs fair hailed a success

Working Denbighshire’s recent jobs fair in Llangollen has been hailed a success by both employers and attendees, with interviews already being arranged and new opportunities shared across the community. 

Held in St Collen's Community Hall, the event brought local people together with a diverse range of organisations and businesses, offering a valuable gateway to explore jobs, training, and volunteering opportunities.

Exhibitors included the Army, RAF, Anheddau, Branas Isaf, Denbighshire Citizens Advice, Business Wales, and Clwyd Alyn, among others. 

While not all attending employers had immediate vacancies, many used the fair as an opportunity to share live opportunities, offer career advice, and promote upcoming roles.

All participating employers reported they would be happy to take part in similar events in the future. Branas Isaf confirmed they’ve already scheduled interviews with attendees, and others distributed application links and signposted training routes and open positions.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation, said: “This jobs fair highlights the strength and spirit of our local community. It’s inspiring to see employers and jobseekers come together in such a positive way to create real pathways to employment and training.

"Working Denbighshire is proud to play a key role in supporting people on their journey to meaningful work and a brighter future.”

Ruth Hanson, Principal Manager at Working Denbighshire, said: “The success of this event reflects the hard work and collaboration between employers, partners, and our team. We’re committed to continuing these opportunities and supporting jobseekers every step of the way. It’s incredibly rewarding to see so many people engaged, motivated, and taking the first steps towards their new careers.”