Citizens Advice outreach sessions in the area

 

Chance to go behind the scenes at the railway

* The railway is powered by hundreds of volunteers.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway is throwing open its doors and inviting the community to discover the secrets behind one of Wales’ most popular heritage attractions. 

On Saturday March 14, from 10am, the railway will host a Volunteer Open Day at Llangollen Railway Station, offering a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes and see what it really takes to run a fully operational heritage railway between Llangollen and Corwen.

 

From safety critical operational roles and signal box duties to front of house customer service, retail, engineering and even the pathway towards becoming a steam locomotive driver, the Open Day will showcase the huge range of opportunities available. Visitors will see how departments work independently and collaboratively to deliver safe, professional, and memorable operating days.

 

The railway is already proud to have the largest volunteer base of any similar organisation in Denbighshire, with a dedicated team running into the hundreds. Interest in the railway continues to surge, with volunteer-led videos viewed more than 20 million times on social media in the past five months alone. Yet organisers say there is always room for more people to get involved - because at Llangollen and Corwen Railway, no two days are ever the same.

 

The event forms part of the railway’s continued growth, supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Denbighshire County Council, which has helped strengthen the volunteer programme and widen access to new opportunities.

 

The railway’s full 2026 season begins on Saturday March 28, with a packed programme of events ahead, including St David’s Day celebrations and a build up to the much-anticipated Branch Line Gala from April 10 to 12.

 

* Full details and tickets for the Branch Line Gala can be found here: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/branch-line-gala

 

Robin Crowley, Volunteer Coordinator at Llangollen Railway, said: “Through the Shared Prosperity Fund and Denbighshire County Council, the Llangollen and Corwen Railway is truly thriving. We already have the largest volunteer base of any comparable organisation in Denbighshire, but our ambitions continue to grow as we head into our 51st year of operation.

 

“Interest in the railway is going through the roof following our recent rise in profile, and it is our volunteers who make that possible. No two days are ever the same here. One day you could be working on the footplate, the next in the signal box, in the workshop, or welcoming passengers from around the world.

"This Open Day is a chance to find out more about what we do, how we operate, and the incredible contribution our volunteers make. If you are considering becoming a volunteer or even just curious, we would love you to come along.”

 

Open Day sessions will run throughout the day, with opportunities to speak directly to current volunteers and departmental representatives.

 

* To find out more and confirm attendance, email: volunteering@llangollen-railway.co.uk.

 

 

Llangollen's Chainbridge Hotel back on the market for £1.8m

Llangollen's historic Chainbridge Hotel has returned to the market.

The hotel, on the banks of the River Dee, features 33 en-suite bedrooms, a bar (50 covers), a restaurant (60/80) and a function room (100/150), is now "unexpectedly re-available" with a price tag of £1,800,000.

* For the full story in the Oswestry Advertizer, go to: Llangollen's Chainbridge Hotel back on the market for £1.8m | Border Counties Advertizer 

Food Share’s Winter Wellbeing sessions are moving

Llangollen Food Share’s Winter Wellbeing sessions are moving.

Today's (Wednesday) Winter Wellbeing event is moving from the Youth Club on Willow Street to the Memorial Hall on Market Street, LL20 8PS due to building work being carried out. It will stay at the Memorial Hall until the beginning of April. It is open between 11am and 2pm.

New Opportunities for Those Needing Help

The well-attended sessions started in January and have been a huge success. The new venue means that a much wider range of activities can be offered. Lots of organisations are there to help with everyday life and the cost-of-living (see below). Group activities and one-to-one support is available from the ‘Community Wellness’ organisation from 11am -1pm.

Light lunches and hot drinks are available free of charge, although donations are welcome.  

Help with Mobile Phones, Tablets and Computers

The centre manager, Steph Mitchell, said: “Many people feel ‘left-behind’ by new technology. But it can offer great opportunities to those who know how and where to look. We are offering support for those who are not technically minded and struggle to engage with the digital world. We have someone who can give you help with using computers, tablets and mobiles, helping you to become confident in using the internet safely. Our dedicated problem-solver will be there to help you to learn new skills."

Funding from the Welsh Government has helped the Food Share to buy some laptops for you to use for the sessions, either on your own or with help from the team.

Food Parcels for those in need

The regular Wednesday food parcel distribution for those in need is at 1pm – 2pm.

A very warm welcome awaits all. 

Help and support with:

·        Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

·        Training, Qualifications and Skills

·        Employment Support

·        Energy support, including gas electricity and water

·        Addiction and substance misuse

·        Homelessness, tenancy support

·        Financial

·        Internet and Computer support

Organisations taking part:

·        Community Wellness

·        Cyfle Cymru – into work support and training

·        Wallich – Homelesness support and DAWS (Drug, Alcohol, Wellbeing Service)

·        Warm Wales – Fuel support

·        Hafren Dyfrdwy – water bill support

·        Fuel Bank Foundation – emergency fuel support

·        MIND – Mental health support

·        My Home Denbighshire – tenancy support

·        Working Denbighshire – into work support

·        NHS Harm Reduction Team

·        DASU- Domestic Abuse support

Also refugee support, neurodiversity, dementia,Repair Café, Mens Mental Health.
Some organisations will not be at every session.

* For more information contact: 07538 894449, email: info@llangollenfoodshare.org.uk
www.llangollenfoodshare.org.uk  Facebook.com/llangollenfoodshare

Team meets to do more work on Town of Culture bid

 

* The drafting team at work on the expression of interest at Dory Gallery last night.

The team helping to draft Llangollen's bid to become the UK's first official Town of Culture had its second meeting last night (Tuesday).

People drawn from across the local community pledged their support to become stakeholders in the process at a public meeting in the Town Hall earlier this month when it was unanimously decided to go ahead with a bid to become the UK's first official Town of Culture, which could lead to a cash boost of up to £3 million.

At its meeting last week the Town Council, which is spearheading the process, approved the submission of an official expression of interest in the competition, which is being run by the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for towns in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The overall winner will receive £3 million to deliver the programme. Two finalists in the same category will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their proposed programme.

Shortlisted places will be announced this spring. The full application phase will run from spring to autumn 2026, followed by panel visits in autumn 2026. Finalists and the winning town will be announced in early 2027. The delivery year will be 2028.

Last night around 20 people who have joined the bid drafting team met for the second time, at Dory Gallery in Regent Street, to do more detailed work on the draft expression of interest, which has to be submitted by March 31.

They were welcomed by the Mayor, Cllr Aled Morris, and later thanked for their efforts by town clerk Gareth Thomas.

There will be further meetings of the team before the expression of interest is submitted.                    

Llangollen hotel staff’s 200-mile charity relay for colleague with cancer

 * Inspirational ...Fiona Sellars. 

The humble bravery of a mum-of-two with incurable cancer has inspired colleagues from a hotel in Llangollen to step up to a £10,000 charity challenge.

The journey that Fiona Sellars is facing has sparked an emotional response from across the Everbright Hotels group, with staff determined to turn their admiration into action.

In a remarkable show of support, teams will walk and cycle from North Wales to Cumbria over 10 days to raise money for the Breast Cancer Now charity.

Around 100 colleagues will tackle the 200-mile route in relays as part of the group’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

The challenge gets underway from the Belmont Hotel in Llandudno on April 7 and those taking part will be sent on their way with a gathering outside the nearby Llandudno Bay Hotel. The challenge is set to finish outside the George Hotel in Penrith on April 16.

Along the way the fundraisers will call at the group’s sister hotels, including The Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa in Llangollen, Rossett Hall near Wrexham and Stone Cross Manor in Kendal.

Staff not taking part in the physical challenge will organise events and activities to boost the total as momentum builds across the company.

Fiona, the group’s Marketing and Business Development Support Manager who is known as Fi, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.

Since then she has been astonishing family and colleagues by the courageous way she has faced up to her illness, buoyed by her defiant mantra: ‘”It is what it is”.

Fiona, 57, who has worked at The George Hotel for 19 years, was “overwhelmed” when bosses told her they had chosen to support Breast Cancer Now after being deeply impressed by her courage.

She said: “I was taken aback to be honest. I am aware that I am currently unwell, but it is so humbling, it’s amazing to think they think so much of me.

“I knew we would be doing something for the 10th anniversary but I had no idea we would be supporting Breast Cancer Now.

“I was absolutely overwhelmed. I can’t thank them enough.”

Since the initial diagnosis, Fiona has gone through a whole host of treatment and care at various hospitals and cancer units including in Carlisle, Penrith, Newcastle, Whitehaven and Middlesbrough.

As well as undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bone infusions, electro chemotherapy, and a left breast mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, Fiona was diagnosed with lymphoedema in 2024.

In March last year she was diagnosed with what is known as a “local reoccurrence” within the initial area, related to the primary cancer, for which she is receiving further treatment.

She was then diagnosed with a number of cancerous nodes under the right arm, prompting more treatment.

Fiona said: “I must have had about 54 rounds of treatment to date, and it’s a double whammy sometimes with immunotherapy and chemotherapy on a three-week cycle, and there has been surgery as well.

“I have treatment each week for three weeks, then have one week off the treatment.

“I’ve been told by so many people — family, friends, colleagues — that I’m strong and positive. The truth is, I don’t always feel that way, but I know the only option is to keep going.

“People sometimes ask, ‘Why haven’t you just curled up in a corner?’ And my answer is simple - why would I? Giving up has never felt like a choice.

“Of course, there are days when I don’t want to get out of bed, when treatment feels overwhelming and I think, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’

“I cry. I get frustrated. I feel exhausted. But this is the hand I’ve been dealt, and I choose to face it head on.

“Right now, my breast cancer is incurable, which means treatment is ongoing.

“For the foreseeable future, I’m living with the disease and continuing treatment — but I hold onto hope, because you never know what might be around the corner.”

Fiona said she takes her inspiration from her two daughters, 27-year-old Molly and Lola, 20.

She said: “We have been through so much together as a family and we’ve gone through some tough times.

“They tell me I am their rock, but they are mine as well.

“The girls, and my partner Gavin, have been so supportive.”

Fiona, who lives in Appleby, praised the way Everbright Hotels have supported her.

She said: “They have just been so good from my first diagnosis in 2022 to right now.”

Fiona said she hoped to take part in the start and the end of the challenge, though that would depend on the timing of her cancer treatment.

One of the colleagues Fiona has inspired is Becky Shields, general manager of The Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa.

She will be doing her own separate challenge by cycling the route from North Wales to Cumbria in two days.

Becky, who lives in Oswestry, is timing her cycle so she arrives at the same time the main fundraising group reaches The George Hotel in Penrith.

Becky said: “Fi helped me with some marketing work a couple of years ago.

“It took a massive amount off my plate and I was extremely grateful for her help, she was so supportive.”

Everbright Hotels Operations Director Darryl Shaw said: “We wanted to celebrate our 10-year anniversary, it’s an important milestone for us.

“We were thinking what we could do to mark those 10 years and the answer was always within the business and that was to celebrate the strength and resilience Fiona has shown and continues to show. She has been an absolute Trojan.

“We all just wanted to do something which raises awareness in support of the challenge Fiona has faced over the last few years.

“The response from the staff to the challenge has been so positive, it has been overwhelming really how colleagues are so keen to help and support the cause.

“The last 10 years have been an incredible journey for us from the formation of the company and the business to now so we wanted to celebrate that with our staff and our customers.”

* A JustGiving page has been set up for the £10,000 charity challenge. People can donate to the fund by visiting https://justgiving.com/page/everbright10yrbreastcancernow