Police update on smell of smoke in Llangollen

Police have issued information on their Facebook page following numerous reports about a smelly of smoke in the area, which says:

New technology will improve access to museum’s collection

Museum news latest update from David Crane ...

Here at Llangollen Museum we are delighted to announce that we have been successful in securing funding to allow us to improve access to, and care of, items in our collection via digitisation and conservation. The £42,778 award is from the Welsh Government.

The programme will allow us to employ exciting new technology to create new displays in the Museum, as well as conserving and recording more of our artefacts and improving the information that we can make available online.

The main new display in the Museum will be a Dreamoc ‘holographic’ display cabinet. This will allow us to show 3D imagery of items in our collection that are not normally on display. We hope to have the first ones showing later in August. Alongside that will be Victorian stereographic viewers. These were the 19th century equivalent of Meta Quest, and will allow visitors to view 3D photographs of scenes around Llangollen, that we hold in our collection, as they were in the late 1800s.

Another new addition will be a touchscreen timeline display, available in the Museum and on our website, helping visitors to understand where items in our collection, and local landmarks, originated – both in time and space.

Importantly, we will also purchase a Braille printer, letting us make all of our display material available for those with visual impairments.

We will increase the number of images of items in the Museum database by over 1,000. We will also purchase a new 3D photogrammetric scanner, allowing us to add more than 100 items to our 3D digital archive. A new collections management PC will be purchased, helping us to future proof our collections management system. Prior to digitisation, selected items will have critical restoration work carried out.

Finally, we will digitise microfilm records that we hold of the Llangollen Advertiser newspaper, between 1920 and 1945 (that are not yet available digitally), enabling everyone to access this vital source of information. The digitised versions will be made available on our website, and given to the National Library of Wales to be included on the Welsh Newspapers Online web pages, alongside the existing 50 years that they already have.

Our next talk will be on July 29, when Andy Harrop-Smith will give a presentation about The Folklore of Birds. In August there will be no talk, but on September 30 Professor Howard Williams will give a talk entitled What’s Watt’s Dyke? Do come along and enjoy finding out about these diverse subjects, and keep an eye on our social media for announcements about future talks. All talks start at 7:00pm at the Museum. Tickets are £3 at the door with refreshments provided. Do get the dates in your diaries - we hope to see you there!

The next exhibition in the Janet Wakefield Gallery at the Museum will start at the beginning of August and will be an exhibition of paintings by the Llangollen Art Group. They will be followed in September by a display by the Pen y Cae Art Group and then by local artist Tricia Lea in October.

For all of the latest information about what is happening at the Museum, do keep an eye on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Llangollen-Museum-100057657969751/.

Finally, as with many voluntary organisations, we need more volunteers, especially to cover the weekends. If you want to be more involved with the history of the area, and become a volunteer at the Museum, please contact our manager Gill Smith at gilliansmith2@hotmail.co.uk or on 07516 023524.

* After a very successful first six months, the Clwyd and Dee Valley Young Archaeologists Club (YAC), finished for the summer holidays. The session in July focused upon The Pillar of Eliseg, Offa's Dyke and the Bronze Age burial mound beneath the Pillar. 

The youngsters were taught about finds from the burial cairn and how to record them. Arrangements are underway to take the group to the open day at the Bryneglwys dig in August and to host members of that dig for a finds’ session. We are in the process of arranging the sessions for the next six months beginning in September, dates to be announced. 

We are excited to have storyteller Andy Harrop-Smith joining our team in the near future. Please email Gill Smith on gilliansmith2@hotmail.co.uk for more information and membership details. For details of the themes for upcoming meetings please look at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/share/14TB2VbYbL6/.

Our window displays change every month. August will see a display about medicine in Llangollen, followed by a display of medieval items from our collection in September. October will feature the Ladies of Llangollen, November will focus on Remembrance Day and December will celebrate Christmas.

Inside the Museum, the item of the month for August will be a stone Tudor head, discovered at Pentre Hall in Bronygarth near Chirk, home to a branch of the Edwards family in the 17th century. The type of stone and the appearance of the head, along with the connection of the Edwards family to Valle Crucis, make it possible that the head originated at the Abbey.

Double tragedy unfolds involving man, 46, who died in River Dee

* The headline on the Daily Post story.

A mum died on her way to identify her son's body in a heartbreaking double tragedy involving the 46-year-old man who died in an accident on the River Dee in Llangollen, according to a story in the Daily Post.

* For the full story, go to: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mum-dies-crash-travelling-north-34340182

Kayaker's 'huge progress' after breaking neck in river incident

A kayaker is “making huge progress every day” in hospital after breaking his neck following an incident on the River Dee near Llangollen, his wife has said.

* For the full story, see Denbighshire Free Press at: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/26400417.kayaker-broke-neck-near-llangollen-making-huge-progress/

Railway launches Glyndwr Steam Roast experience

* The traditional Sunday roast served at the Owain Glyndwr Hotel in Corwen.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has teamed up with the community-run Owain Glyndwr Hotel to launch The Glyndwr Steam Roast, a new visitor experience combining heritage steam travel with a traditional Sunday roast in the heart of Corwen. 

The first departure takes place on Sunday August 9, with the experience running every Sunday until November 8 with just 30 places available on each departure,

The new package has been created to encourage more visitors to spend time in Corwen while showcasing two of the Dee Valley's most treasured attractions.

Passengers will depart Llangollen aboard the 12.20pm heritage steam service, enjoying one of Britain's most scenic railway journeys through the Dee Valley before arriving at Corwen Station shortly after 1pm. 

* A steam train like this GWR Heavy Freight will bring diners to the hotel (below) which is just two minutes' walk from Corwen station.

A short two-minute walk takes visitors to the Owain Glyndwr Hotel, where they will enjoy a traditional Sunday roast before returning to Llangollen on the 4.20pm steam train.

Tickets cost £40 per adult and £15 per child, with the package including return steam train travel and a reserved Sunday roast. Drinks, starters, desserts and any additional purchases will be paid for separately at the Owain Glyndwr Hotel.

The partnership forms part of the railway's wider commitment to supporting Corwen town centre, strengthening links with local businesses and creating new reasons for visitors to explore the town.

Wayne Ronneback, Station Master at Corwen Station, said: "This is exactly the kind of partnership we want to see developing in Corwen. The railway has always been about much more than trains – it's about bringing people into our communities and supporting local businesses.

"Working alongside the fantastic team at the Owain Glyndwr Hotel allows us to create something genuinely special. Visitors can enjoy a wonderful steam journey through the Dee Valley before experiencing one of Corwen's most welcoming community-run venues.

"It is wonderful to be collaborating in such a positive way. By working together, we're creating an experience that benefits everyone – our passengers, the hotel, other local businesses and the wider community. We hope The Glyndwr Steam Roast becomes one of the must-do Sunday experiences in North Wales."

The railway says it has seen increasing demand for experience-led travel, with dining experiences proving particularly popular with visitors looking for memorable days out. 

As well as offering visitors a relaxing day out, the initiative is expected to increase visitor dwell time in Corwen, support the community-run Owain Glyndwr Hotel, encourage additional spending within the town and further strengthen tourism links across the Dee Valley.

* For more information, to see the menu and to book, visit https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/glyndwr-steam-roast/ Please advise of any dietary requirements at check out.

Pentredwr resident gets the rotting blue bag blues

* The Pentrdwr resident's picture of their rotting blue recycling bag.

A Pentredwr resident is one a number across Denbighshire having trouble with disintegrating blue recycling bags.

But the county council, which is responsible for recycling, says it is aware of the problem and is looking at ways of addressing the issue.

The resident local contacted llanblogger earlier this week to explain the problem, attaching a picture of the rotting bag which residents are expected to use for cardboard waste.

They said: "I attach a photo of our Denbighshire blue cardboard bag, now, this week, shedding a lot of white dust and it is from all four sides. 

"Cannot move the bag for the dust dropping everywhere and over our clothes. Wondered if its just our blue bag or others out there? 

"Whether it's plastic or paint it just cannot be healthy to breath in especially for the refuse collectors that have to lift the bag to empty it.

"A windy day and it will just take off elsewhere. I would conclude this is not good for the environment either if it's a widespread blue bag occurrence."

Elsewhere in the county numerous complaints are being made about the blue bags and particularly the £12.50 cost being charged to residents by the council. 

Things have become so bad that over 700 people have so far signed an online petition demanding free replacement bags.

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “We are aware of concerns raised by residents and recognise issues some households have experienced recently with their blue bag.

“The Waste and Recycling Service is reviewing all options available to address these issues and support effective recycling across the county. We will provide any further updates to residents when appropriate.”

Paraglider rescued from high up in the trees at Pengwern Vale

* The team carry out the rescue of the paraglider among the trees. Picture: NEWSAR

A paraglider escaped unhurt after being painstakingly untangled from trees in Pengwern Vale by rescue experts.

At the request of the fire service and police, a team from North East Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) was deployed to provide assistance when the person became caught in trees about 25 metres above the ground earlier this week.

In its own Facebook post the service says: "With the casualty suspended in extremely thin trees on very steep terrain, the rescue presented a number of challenges.

"Working alongside partner agencies, the team established a rope system above the casualty before using a twin-tension rope system to safely lower him to the ground in a controlled descent.

"Once on the ground, he was assessed by team members and, fortunately, had escaped without injury, although he was understandably shaken by the experience.

The call to Llangollen came while the team was assisting with a search for a missing teenager in Talacre.

The post adds: "A fantastic team effort by NEWSAR and our partner agencies, demonstrating excellent teamwork and flexibility in responding to two incidents at the same time, and ultimately resulting in two positive outcomes.

"Our team of volunteers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days responding to those in need throughout Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and parts of Conwy and Powys. To donate, please click the link www.newsar.org.uk/donate"