llanblogger news

Monday, April 6, 2026

Thailand-bound trio outline what lies ahead for them

* What lies ahead for the Westheads.

A challenging route taking in China and Mongolia now lies ahead of the three lads from the local area cycling to Thailand to raise money for charity.

As they rested up in Uzbekistan after a gruelling trip through the desert this week they reflected on what still lies ahead of them on their mammoth journey and how much they've raised for the British Heart Foundation.

Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham aim to pedal the 10,000 miles to the Far East in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack in 2024.

* The lads have so far raised £27,000 for heart research.

Over the past week or the intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, have put in some hard pedalling in the deserts of Kakakhstan and Uzbekistan, managing to notch up an average 110 kms a day despite the intense heat but brightened by a passing car stopping to hand them free bread and an ice-cream seller donating iced treats to then all.

Taking a well-earned break in the city of Nukus, they reflected on raising £27,000 of their £50,000 charity since they left Llangollen eight months ago and outlined the next steps along the long, long trail.

* A passing motorist donates some bread in the middle of the desert.

A they've planned it, ahead of them lie the legendary cities of Samarkand and Tashkent before they cross the border into China.

They then face the extreme test of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia before reaching that country's capital of Ulaanbaatar and heading back into China where they aim to take a good look at one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Wall and also Beijing.

The hill country of neighbouring Vietnam next awaits them before they eventually reach their final destination of Thailand.

* llanblogger will be 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

Get your slice of funding available to local organisations

Your local organisation could get a share of over £3,500 currently available in Llangollen.

Under the Commuted Sums programme, funding totalling £101,064.42 is on offer to support local projects across Denbighshire, and applications are now open to help improve open spaces and play areas in the county.

And £3,600 is earmarked for the Llangollen Town Council area.

A range of organisations can apply for funding, including:

City, town and community councils
Community and voluntary groups
Charities
Public sector organisations
Amateur sports clubs
Denbighshire County Council

Samantha Mullan, Community Development Officer for Denbighshire County Council, said: “Commuted sums funding helps us improve and protect open spaces and play areas across Denbighshire. It supports safe, welcoming places for communities to enjoy. I’d encourage eligible groups to apply and make a real difference locally.”

* The funding closes for applications on April 20. Further information and application forms is available online here: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/commutedsums.

Sunday, April 5, 2026

llanblogger wishes you all a Happy Easter

Evening of Welsh music and song to support Eisteddfod

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is to host a special fundraising concert celebrating the richness and spirit of Welsh musical tradition on Friday May 8.

The evening will feature acclaimed male voice choir Meibion Marchan, renowned for their powerful sound and deeply expressive performances.

They will be joined by an outstanding line-up of soloists, including celebrated harpist Angharad Huw, soprano Branwen Medi Jones and internationally respected tenor Rhys Meirion who will also guide the evening as compère.

The concert will take place at Llangollen Pavilion and proceeds will directly support the work of the Eisteddfod helping to sustain its mission of bringing together performers from across the world in a spirit of peace, friendship and cultural exchange.

Eisteddfod Artistic Director Dave Danford said: “This concert is a celebration of the extraordinary musical talent we have here in Wales, and a reminder of the deep cultural roots that underpin the Eisteddfod. We are incredibly grateful to these artists for supporting the festival in this way, and we look forward to welcoming audiences for what promises to be a truly special evening.”

* Tickets are now available via Llangollen.net

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Wales Comic Con makes colourful Pavilion return

Hundreds of fans from across the country packed into the Pavilion as Wales Comic Con made its second Llangollen appearance today (Saturday).

The popular event had traditionally been held annually at Wrexham University.

But, last year, the comic con team found a new location in the International Pavilion, which is now run by the Eisteddfod team.

The event, which is also on tomorrow (Sunday), attracted stars including Chris Barrie of Red Dwarf fame, Chris Barrie, who travelled on a special heritage service train service laid on by Llangollen and Corwen Railway as part of a joint promotion with Comic Con.

Red Dwarf star Chris Barrie boards railway's Comic Con special

Llangollen and Corwen Railway welcomed a special guest this weekend as Chris Barrie, best known for his role in Red Dwarf, travelled on a special heritage service to mark the start of Wales Comic Con.

Dozens of fans gathered at Corwen Railway Station on Saturday morning to see Chris Barrie board the Red Dwarf Train, enjoying a unique journey through the Dee Valley to Llangollen ahead of a busy day at the convention.

The visit marked a tremendous start to a new partnership between Llangollen and Corwen Railway and Wales Comic Con, bringing together heritage, popular culture and tourism in a unique and exciting way.

Paul Bailey from the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, who was up to welcome fans to Corwen Railway Station, said: “It has been absolutely fantastic. It was so great to welcome Chris Barrie to the railway. He was a brilliant guest - a great sport and incredibly knowledgeable about steam trains. You could really see his passion for heritage railways, and it meant a lot to both our volunteers and the fans who came along to see him.”

* Chris Barrie, second from right, meets Paul Bailey and other railway volunteers at Corwen Station.

During his visit, Chris spent time with the railway’s volunteer crews and even stepped onto the footplate, getting hands-on experience of life aboard a working steam locomotive.

Chris Barrie said: “I’ve had a fantastic time here and it was great to see so many fans up as the crack of dawn. Getting up on the footplate, shovelling coal and experiencing a real working steam engine is something special. The team here are brilliant – so welcoming and clearly passionate about what they do. A huge thank you to everyone at the railway for such a memorable experience.”

Looking ahead, the railway has confirmed that this is just the beginning of a new and exciting collaboration, with more joint events planned between Wales Comic Con and the Llangollen and Corwen Railway in the future.

Chris Barrie has also been invited to return to the Dee Valley for the railway’s upcoming Branch Line Gala next weekend.

The railway is continuing to operate a full programme of steam and diesel services throughout the weekend, offering visitors the chance to travel through the stunning Dee Valley as part of their Comic Con experience.

Wales Comic Con is taking place all weekend at the Llangollen Pavilion, attracting thousands of visitors and featuring a host of stars from film, television and gaming.

Visitors are encouraged to make a full day of it by combining a trip on the railway with a visit to the convention, helping to support both attractions and the wider local economy.