Former Llangollen mayor's choir wins place in BGT final

* The Hawkstone Choir on BGT. Aled Morris is on the extreme left of the group.

The farmers' choir that includes the former Mayor of Llangollen has landed a coveted place in the final of this year's Britain's Got Talent.

Their victory for Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone Choir came in the concluding fifth live semi-final of the talent show earlier this evening (Saturday) when they pipped popular magician Jake Banfield to the top spot with a stunning performance of Pompeii by Bastille.

They were one of eight acts fighting for a place in next Saturday's live grand final 

And Aled, who handed over his mayoral chain last Tuesday after two years in office, told llanblogger he was delighted with the win.  

He said: "It is unbelievable! We are all so gobsmacked by the support and love that we have been shown and we are incredibly grateful for all the support in getting us through to the final.

"Our message is one of solidarity, with everyone that suffers in silence, to show them that they have a voice and not to suffer in silence. We all have our own stories and if we can get someoms to speak out and save one life,then that is bigger than any prize "

Last March he and the choir ploughed to victory in the audition for the show after a dazzling Golden Button success, which also won them a free pass around the boot camp stage.

Top prize in the competition is £250,000 and an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance.

The judges were all full of praise for the choir's performance tonight, Simon Cowell telling them: "You are one of the favourites to win."

Amanda Holden told them: "You create the most amazing music," and Alesha Dixon said: "There is love and passion pouting out of every one of you."

KSI said simply: "You are one of the best choirs I have ever heard."

Aled, 33, swaps the council chamber for the stage to sing with the choir which is part of Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone brand and brings together people from across the UK farming community who share a connection to agriculture and a love of singing.

The aim is to use their national platform to raise awareness and funds for mental health and suicide prevention within the agricultural community.

When Aled isn't tending to his 50-acre family sheep farm at Pen-y-Rhagfryn he is teaching the next generation of farmers as a lecturer in agriculture and land-based engineering at Llysfasi College. 

He has sat on the town council for four years, helps organise the annual Llangollen illuminated tractor run, and serves as the steam section steward for the Malpas Yesteryear Rally. 

For Aled, being part of the 34-strong choir has been a transformative personal experience. 

"The choir means everything to me," he explains. "It’s like having a large family. We might only meet every few months, but we fall back into conversation as if we’ve never been apart."

Speaking about the mental health benefits of the choir, he said: "Only farmers really understand other farmers. When you’re feeling down or lonely, it can be difficult to talk to someone who doesn't get it. Being surrounded by people who know exactly what you’ve been through offers such a comforting time in what can be an unforgiving industry."

* Aled's long-term partner Sarah Griffiths was one of the Big Brother housemates back in 2024. 

Hundreds join hunt for free Eisteddfod concert tickets

* And they're off - the ticket seekers charge into the gate at the start of the Treasure Hunt.

Hundreds of people turned up in the sun this morning (Saturday) in a bid to find the concert tickets carefully hidden on the field as part of this year's big Eisteddfod Treasure Hunt. 

A total of 79 of the golden envelopes had been secreted in a variety of hiding places which their lucky finders could then exchange for the free summer show tickets.

After their initial charge through the gates at either end of the field, the seekers - including many families - were soon queueing up outside the Pavilion building to collect their winnings. And within an hour the vast bulk of envelopes had been handed in by delighted finders. 

This year’s blockbuster line-up includes Rick Astley, Pete Tong Ibiza Classics, David Gray, Billy Ocean, Super Furry Animals, Bowling for Soup, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Deacon Blue and Tom Grennan, alongside a packed Eisteddfod programme featuring Emeli Sandé and the Absolute Orchestra, Michael Ball, Uniting Nations: One World, Global Rhythms: Made In Wales, Orchestral Qawwali Project, and the prestigious Choir of the World competition. The festival also offers a full daily programme of competitions and field entertainment.

* The big hunt begins ...

* Queueing up outside the Pavilion to exchange envelopes for tickets.

* Swapping the golden envelopes for tickets and, below, groups of happy ticket finders ...

Details given for funeral of Humphrey Gibson

* Humphrey Gibson.

The funeral of Humphrey Gibson, who died on April 24, will be held on Thursday May 28 at 1.30pm in the Main Hall of the International Eisteddfod building in Abbey Road, Llangollen. 

 All are welcome to this Quaker meeting, based on quiet reflection and focussing on Humphrey, who he was and what he meant to everyone who knew him. 

This will be followed by refreshments. 

There will be free parking in the upper (overflow) Pavilion car park. Dress code is comfortable and colourful, as you like. 

No flowers but donations, sent directly or given on the day, to your choice of Amnesty International Medecins sans Frontieres or  Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

A display photos of Humphrey is planned for the funeral and people are invited to contribute one or two pictures. These can be sent to: eleigibson@gmail.com 

There will also be a memories book to write in. If you want to contribute but cannot attend, feel free to send messages to: eleigibson@gmail.com 

The funeral meeting can be joined remotely online by using the following link: https://zoom.us/j/91032164763

Humphrey passed away peacefully following a short stay in hospital.

Born in 1938, was a teacher by profession and, after working at a school in Liverpool, came to Llangollen over 50 years ago to take up a post at Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Taking early retirement on health grounds some years ago he went on to volunteer with a number of local organisations.

Not long ago he was honoured for 60 years' of voluntary service with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and he was one of the original and of Llangollen Tidy Town Team.

Over the years Humphrey had helped out with the local Boys' Brigade and assisted young people to attain their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. He was also an enthusiastic member of the North Wales Caving Club.     

An active member of the Quaker community, he was a keen supporter of Christian Aid Week and was thought to be busily preparing for this year's event at the time of his recent illness.

He served at Town Mayor from 1996 to 1998.

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:

Q: I bought a jacket online and when it arrived it looked nothing like the images shown. The company said if I want a refund I must pay to ship it to an address in China, but the website claimed the brand was UK-based. Is this a scam and how do I avoid it in future? 

A: This is a really frustrating situation and unfortunately it’s becoming more common than you might think. It is in fact a type of retail scam and often leads to customers having refund rows with sellers who are misleading people. 

 These companies are known to convince people they’re based in the UK by using deceiving brand names and having UK websites or postal addresses. Some create AI-generated images of fake products and boutiques - and even go to the trouble of making up backstories about the origins of the brand. 

 What they actually do, as in your case, is ship low-quality items from overseas that can look nothing like the images advertised. Shoppers are then asked to fork out for expensive international shipping fees if they want their money back. 

 Understandably, many people don’t bother, because the cost of shipping takes a huge chunk out of the refund they’d receive. The scammers know this, and it’s how they take advantage of people. 

 When sellers turn out to be based overseas, UK consumer laws are far harder to enforce, so it can be difficult to recover your money. 

 There are a few steps you can take to help you spot and avoid these scams:

 ● Research before buying from a company you haven’t used before - check reviews on search engines and third-party websites 

 ● Watch out for heavily discounted, too-good-to-be-true prices and “huge closing down” sales 

 ● Be mindful of the targeted shopping adverts in your social media feeds - this is often how customers are drawn in 

 ● Consider whether images used to advertise an item were created by AI. This can be difficult, but look for overly airbrushed images, inconsistent textures or distortions on the face and body 

 ● Check the company’s website delivery information. Overseas stores offer shipping to the UK in a much longer timeframe than a genuine UK-based brand would 

 If you have been caught out by this type of scam and you paid by debit or credit card, you may be able to get a refund. If you paid by debit card, ask your bank to use the ‘chargeback scheme’. If you paid by credit card and the item cost less than £100, you can ask to use the same scheme. 

 If you paid by credit card and the item cost between £100 and £30,000, tell your credit card company you want to make a ‘section 75’ claim to get your money back. 

 The more people that recognise and report these scams, the more can be done. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has the legal power to enforce UK consumer laws against traders which target UK shoppers but are based abroad, but they rely on people reporting it. If a company has broken the law, they can impose fines and website takedowns. You can report an issue to the CMA but they can’t help people with individual cases.

 Citizens Advice can offer support with individual situations and we advise you to report scams to us too - please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. You can also report an advert you think is a scam to the Advertising Standards Agency.

Farm gate thieves caught on security camera

A security camera has provided new evidence for the midnight theft of three farm gates in Llangollen. 

North Wales Police (NWP) issued an appeal after the galvanised metal gates were removed from fields in the area on April 20.

* For the full story in the Daily Post, go to: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/cctv-captures-images-4x4-police-33991931

Appeal to save St Collen's famous medieval roof gets new boost

* The new banner includes a QR code and links showing how to donate.

The urgent appeal for funds to save the world-famous medieval roof of St Collen's Church from decay and possible loss has had a boost with a new banner showing various ways to help. 

Llangollen's parish church is asking the community for help with repair and conservation costs of its magnificent medieval hammer-beam roof dating back to the 16th century, which is acknowledged as one of Wales’ cherished historical treasures.

Suzanne Evans, who leads the Genesis Project which is currently overseeing the re-ordering of St Collen’s to make it fit to meet the needs of the 12st century, warns: “Without prompt attention the roof is at serious risk of decay and we risk losing an irreplaceable piece of Welsh history that has weathered many centuries.

* A close-up of the ornate but endangered ceiling at St Collen's.

“The roof at St Collen’s is no ordinary structure. It is an extraordinary testament to the skill and vision of our ancestors. Its timber beams have watched over centuries of Welsh tradition and storytelling, and have housed the bardic voices of our past.

“With its hammer-beam architecture - technique popular during the medieval period and seen in few places across Wales - the roof is as much a monument to our cultural identity as it is an architectural wonder.”

She added: “Each beam and carved detail echoes the lore of our forebears, standing as a symbol of community, resilience and the artistic heritage that has defined Wales.

“But now the beauty and history of this roof are at risk. Years of exposure have weakened its timbers, and urgent conservation is required to prevent irreversible damage.

“The cost of preserving this heritage is beyond the means of the church’s current resources, we have therefore launched a community fundraiser to rally support to save this historic roof for future generations.

“The goal is to raise money to fund the conservation work required to stabilise and restore the structure, ensuring it remains a fixture of Welsh heritage for centuries to come.

“This appeal calls upon the people of Wales, heritage enthusiasts, and supporters worldwide to step forward and help safeguard a piece of history that belongs to all of us.

“This is a unique opportunity to unite for our shared past, to protect the spirit of the bardic tradition, and to secure a lasting legacy for our nation.

“Every contribution, however small, will bring us closer to preserving St Collen’s. Let us come together to restore, protect, and celebrate this invaluable link to our cultural identity.

“Donations can be made through the JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/suzanne-evans-1731940087347 and we invite everyone who holds Welsh heritage close to their hearts to support this cause and help us save an amazing piece of Wales for the generations to come.”

Special evening for Ukraine raises £1,115 towards support vehicle

* Anna, Paata and the organising team of the 

Thank You from Ukraine event.

The Thank You from Ukraine event held at Llangollen Community Hall last Saturday raised £1,115 in support of the war-torn country.

And organisers of the special evening, which included traditional food and entertainment arranged by Anna and Paata from Anna's Bakery in Oak Street, say the amount puts them well on the road to buying another 4x4 vehicle to help the Ukrainian military forces battling against their Russian invaders.

Anna said: "We created an incredible evening together and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, supported us, helped organise the event, attended, donated and simply stood with us.

"The amount raised through their kindness and generosity is more than just a number, it is support, warmth and belief in Ukraine and our people.

"Every contribution, every kind word, and every person present made this evening truly special.

"Unfortunately, this amount is still not enough to purchase the vehicle, so we will continue fundraising. We truly believe that together we will reach our goal. 

"We will, of course, keep everyone updated and provide full reports on the progress of the fundraising and the final result.

"Thank you to all volunteers, guests, partners, and friends of the event. Together we showed that there is strength in unity. With love and gratitude." 

* Anna calls the raffle during the evening.