Family fun day to be hosted in Llangollen

An interactive family fun day is set to be hosted at Ysgol Dinas Bran’s school field in Llangollen.

Running from 11am-2pm on Wednesday, 12 August, the session will feature a free soft play section and taster sessions from local sports clubs.

The fun day will also feature interactive fun activities, including games, crafts, silent disco and more.

Also in attendance will be the council’s youth workers, Flying Start and Families First team, as well as representatives from the Credu WCD young carers and Menter Iaith.

The event is open to children of all ages, with a range of services available for families on the day to find out more information about the support on offer to them in the local area.

Cheryl Hughes, Community Focused Engagement Manager at Denbighshire County Council said:

“This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when schools and community partners work together. Community-focused schools are about creating opportunities that extend beyond the school day, supporting children, young people, and families to thrive.

"The family fun day celebrates the strengths in our community and highlights the wide range of support services available to local families. We look forward to welcoming families across the area for a day of fun, learning and community spirit.”

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said:

“This event is one of many that are being held around the county in August, providing a free, fun and informative resource to the families of Denbighshire.

As well as a number of play options for children, there will also be services available for the families in attendance.”

Pavarotti’s widow sends special thank you package to North Wales

* Pendine Park catering staff with the panettone (front left and right) Chris Tracey, catering manager and  pastry chef Dave Quinn with chef Hayden Harvey, catering assistants Pavreen Muvalidhavan and Karen Blackmore, head chef Eli Mattar, chef Subin Alex, second chef Tyronne Moldrich, Bibin Reyer Meithew and Peter Reynard. Pictures by Mandy Jones   

* Mario and Gill Kreft and Nicoletta Mantovani (centre) and husband Alberto Tinarelli with the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir in 2025.

A surprise thank you gift from the widow of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti has landed in North Wales after a local choir’s dream trip to Italy.

Nicoletta Mantovani sent a bumper box of delicacies from Pavarotti’s home city of Modena to Mario and Gill Kreft, the owners of the Pendine Park care organisation, in recognition of their support for the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir.

The couple made the choir’s once-in-a-lifetime visit to Italy possible through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) after Nicolette invited them to perform in a concert at the Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni.

Inside the package were traditional Modena specialties including a panettone cake and prized Amarena cherries – a heartfelt gesture from the woman who has dedicated herself to preserving Pavarotti’s legacy since the tenor’s death in 2007

A producer and director, Nicoletta founded and became president of the Pavarotti Foundation which organises tribute concerts with opera stars such as Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo..

At the landmark concert, the choir performed songs in Italian, Welsh and French.

While there they presented traditional Welsh love spoons to Pavarotti’s daughter Alice and to the Mayor of Modena.

According to Mario, it was only fitting that Pendine should help celebrate the enduring link between North Wales and one of the world’s greatest voices.

Pavarotti will always be remembered as one of the finest and most cherished tenors of all time, and when interviewed he often told how his journey to greatness began at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Pavarotti was just 19 and a trainee teacher when he first visited Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1955 with his father, Fernando, as part of Chorus Rossini, from Modena.

They secured the award for overall winning choir and following that achievement Pavarotti was determined to make music his career. He later said that winning at Llangollen was the spark that ignited his dream.

He returned 40 years later, this time as a global icon, for a sell-out concert in 1995.

Last year Nicoletta re-visited the international eisteddfod as a guest of honour to celebrate the 70th anniversary of her late husband’s first experience there.

She presented the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy to the winners of the Choir of the World Competition and was “deeply honoured” to present the coveted Pendine Trophy to the winner of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition.

PACT sponsors the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, which is one of the eisteddfod’s blue riband events, attracting entrants from all around the world.

They compete for a gleaming commemorative silver salver and a £3,000 cash prize to help advance their future singing careers.

“We were proud to support the Fron Choir in joining Chorus Rossini in Modena for what was a magical performance,” said Mario.

“Music and the arts are the golden thread running through everything we do, so this felt like a perfect way to honour that connection.

“As long-standing supporters and vice-presidents of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, Gill and I are especially proud of the enduring bond between North Wales and Luciano Pavarotti, whose extraordinary career was inspired by his success there as a young man.

“To have subsequently received the thank-you gift of confectionaries from Nicoletta was a wonderful surprise. It was totally unexpected and such a heart-warming gesture.

“Given how busy a life she leads, we feel deeply touched to think she has taken time out to arrange this lovely gift for us.

“We wanted to share the delicacies with some of our Pendine Park family and who better than the catering team who work so hard to deliver the highest standard of meals to our residents every day of the year.”

Pendine Park catering managers Mrs Chris Tracey and her husband, also called Chris, arranged for the cake to be sugar glazed and decorated with the juicy amarena cherries on top.

Pastry chef Dave Quinn, who decorated and made the first cut into the cake, said: “These are the finest, top quality ingredients. It’s been a pleasure to prepare such a wonderful treat.”

Railway will take a trip back to the swinging sixties

* The popular Chris Burton will perform during the Sixties Weekend.

The soundtrack of that swinging decade will fill the Dee Valley when Llangollen and Corwen Railway's Sixties Weekend returns on Saturday and Sunday August 1 and 2 , bringing together live music, heritage trains, historic re-enactments and family entertainment in one of its biggest events of the year. 

Visitors will step back to a time when Britain's railways were undergoing dramatic change, as stations across the line are transformed into authentic 1960s scenes complete with volunteers in period dress, themed announcements, interactive performances and living history displays.

Throughout the weekend, a programme of live music will celebrate the decade that changed popular culture forever. 

Local favourite Chris Burton will perform many of the era's biggest hits, including timeless Beatles classics while dressed as an early Beatle. 

Award-winning local performers Rose and Jacob will entertain visitors with a mix of sixties pop and folk favourites, while Esme Sallnow will bring together the sounds of artists including Nina Simone and Freddie & The Dreamers. 

* Llangollen Band Dammit, starring drummer Harry Barber, will be be performing the hits of the swinging decade.

On Sunday afternoon, North Wales charity band Jabberwocky will round off the celebrations with an energetic blend of soul, blues and classic sixties hits.

Visitors can also enjoy unlimited travel on heritage trains while exploring attractions at Llangollen, Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog and Corwen. 

The weekend features the Welsh bobbies in authentic British Transport Commission Police uniforms, dramatic protests against the proposed railway closures, Beeching's passenger survey teams, goods loading demonstrations, vintage Crosville bus tours, classic vehicles, historical exhibitions and Beeching's Bar, serving a selection of local real ales throughout the weekend.

Mandy Towers, Llangollen Station Master and one of the organisers, said: "Sixties Weekend is all about bringing history to life. As soon as visitors arrive they'll be transported back to the 1960s, with heritage trains, period costumes, live music and historical re-enactments creating an atmosphere that's unlike anything else. 

"Every station has something different to discover, so people can spend the whole day exploring the railway and enjoying everything that's happening along the line."

She added: "It's a wonderful event for families, railway enthusiasts and anyone who loves the nostalgia of the 1960s. Our volunteers have worked incredibly hard to recreate the look and feel of the decade, and we're looking forward to welcoming visitors for what promises to be a fantastic weekend."

As the sun sets on Saturday, the celebrations continue with one of the highlights of the weekend – the Saturday Night Dance at Llangollen Railway Station.

From 6pm, the station will come alive as Dave 'Boss' Griffin spins the biggest hits of the decade before live band Dammit, featuring railway legend Harry Barber on drums, take to the stage from 7.45pm until 9.15pm. Dave then returns to keep the platforms swinging until the evening draws to a close.

* Rose & Jacob will be singing a variety of hits including a mix of pop and folk.

With Beeching's Bar serving local real ales, hot food available throughout the evening and heritage trains bringing guests to and from stations along the line, the dance offers a truly unique way to experience the railway after dark.

Joe Walker, another of the organisers, said: "The Saturday Night Dance is going to be something really special. Where else can you arrive by heritage train, enjoy a drink in a beautifully restored station, listen to live music and dance the night away to the biggest hits of the 1960s? It's a brilliant way to round off a day at weekend and we hope people really embrace the occasion by dressing up and joining in the fun."

He added: "Whether you're visiting for the whole weekend or just coming along on Saturday evening, you'll be part of an atmosphere that's full of energy, nostalgia and great music. We can't wait to welcome everyone to Llangollen and celebrate one of the greatest decades in British history."

The Saturday Night Dance costs £10, or just £5 when purchased with a Sixties Weekend Day Rover ticket, with evening rail travel included for visitors joining from Corwen, Carrog, Glyndyfrdwy and Berwyn.

* For more information about the Sixties Weekend, go to: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/1960s-weekend/

* Re-enactors take a trip back in time to when protestors tried to save the station from Dr Beeching's axe.

A Night at the Opera comes to Llangollen Pavilion

* The cast and production team who will present A Night at the Opera at the Pavilion on Saturday.

North Wales Opera is performing its first event at the Llangollen International Pavilion this coming Saturday evening (July 25).

A Night at the Opera is a staged gala performance celebrating some of opera’s most loved music alongside well-known classics from musical theatre.

Accompanied by Andrew Charity, the evening features scenes and arias from masterpieces including The Marriage of Figaro, La Traviata, La Bohème, Carmen, Gianni Schicchi, Don Giovanni and Lakmé, together with favourites from West Side Story, Carousel and Cabaret.

The production brings together an outstanding cast of professional and emerging singers. Emerging performers include Grace Worrall (17), and Llangollen’s own Rose Burgon (16) who last week came first in the Young Voice of Musical Theatre competition at the International Eisteddfod.

* Grace Worrall and Priscilla Fong.

Priscilla Fong from Singapore and Linus Lai from Hong Kong are set to Wow the Llangollen audience with will-known arias from operas such as the Magic Flute and Marriage of Figaro and they both duet alongside the North Wales Opera's two youngest singers.

Also returning to North Wales Opera is acclaimed baritone Robin Gruffudd Hughes, whose distinguished career has included performances with leading companies including the Royal Opera House.

Yorkshire-based soprano Victoria Price and North Wales-based soprano Eve Marie will perform arias from operas such as Marriage of Figaro, La Bohème, and Carmen.

Leigh Mason, musical director of the Fron Male Voice Choir and ladies’ choir Lleisiau’r Afon, and Lizzie Clifford, a regular in local productions by the Llangollen Operatic and Twenty Club, will entertain the well-known operatic duet Belle Nuit and songs from musicals such as Carousel and Cabaret. Leigh Mason will also present a quirky rendition of The Cat Duet alongside Katie Nilsbird.

* Robin Gruffydd Hughes

Lee J Cander, from South Wales, familiar to television audiences from Channel 4’s Your Song, presents some of the repertoire’s best-loved tenor favourites, including the much-loved Nessun Dorma.

As an extra treat for the Llangollen audience, Carrog-based ladies choir Lleisiau’r Afon will perform alongside North Wales opera during the show.

Next up from North Wales Opera at the Pavilion is Madame Butterfly this coming December.

* Tickets are available from the Pavilion website: https://llangollenpavilion.co.uk/event/night-at-the-opera/

With Ford’s Fiesta gone Ibiza is now best driver’s car out there

Seat Ibiza drive by Steve Rogers

The cute Ibiza is Seat’s best selling car of all time with six million sales over 42 years so why does it seem that its masters have left it out in the cold.

Apart from a couple of updates Ibiza hasn’t changed much since the fifth generation was launched in 2017. If it ain’t broke don't fix it is a reasonable argument but rivals like Renault Clio and Vauxhall Astra have moved on at pace while Ibiza has not even got hybrid technology. A mild hybrid is coming next year which seems a long time to wait given the electrical clout of the Volkswagen group.

Seat was always touted as the sporty side of the VW group but that title has gone west now that the Spanish company has established its own sporting arm with Cupra which appears to be smothering its little brother. I was in Germany a few months ago and all I saw were Cupras, there wasn’t a Seat in sight.

For all that Ibiza is still a favourite among the supermini clan, particularly young drivers, and with Ford’s Fiesta out of the game is the best driver’s car out there.

This is just a straight forward three-cylinder one litre with good economy, even without hybrid help, excellent build quality and a comfortable but spicy ride. The first challenge when I leave my cul-de-sac is to negotiate a couple of speed humps and that tells me how things are going to play out.

Ibiza’s firmish suspension does a good job of cushioning this type of obstacle and it gets better as you enjoy swishing through twists and turns without a care in the world. This is the closest to a hot hatch without being a hot hatch and it will still keep passengers comfy.

There are four models in the range, one engine option with two power outputs, 94bhp and 113bhp, the former powering this car with a five speed gearbox. FR and FR Sport levels get six-speed and automatic options.

Given that it’s a three-cylinder one litre performance is okay and it revs happily but expect a lot of downshifting. Fifth gear is long, a bit like the old overdrive, so it quickly falls off at the slightest incline but the payback is terrific cruising economy. You will always be in the low fifties and can target 60+mpg on a motorway jaunt.

The notchy gearbox was both a surprise and a disappointment, Seat can do better.

Seat is one of the few companies that hasn’t gone all in on screen technology, not at this level anyway, so Ibiza is a joy to those who hate spending 10 minutes working out the touchscreen functions.

Without being unkind it is charmingly dated, the two lower level models don’t get digital climate control, just chunky knobs and a four speed fan which is pretty noisy even at level two, but who cares.

It does have a clear modern digital driver’s binnacle with a choice of three displays but I don’t think the tech is programmed to mirror navigation directions from the central touchscreen. I tried but failed. The good news is the touchscreen response is as fast as Wild Bill Hickok in a gunfight.

Even more impressive is the build and quality of cabin materials, perhaps influenced by its masters, particularly Audi whose goal is always perfection. Everywhere you touch is solid, I have trim creak in my new Citroen C3, there is none in Ibiza or probably any other Seat model for that matter.

By supermini standards cabin space is fine with adequate legroom front and back, and there is a good sized boot.

You can drive away in new Ibiza for £21k but the spec level is limited. My SE Technology had keyless entry and ignition, LED headlights, navigation, and a couple of fast charging type C USB ports, but no reversing camera which is often standard on rivals. Things obviously get better moving up to FR but is starting to look pricey particularly if you want the seven speed DSG automatic.

No one can argue Ibiza is anything but a well rounded, lovable supermini, fun to drive, comfortable and kind on economy, but there is a nagging feeling it is treading water waiting for something big to happen. It deserves better.

Fast facts

Ibiza SE Technology

£22,605 (starts £20,995)

1-litre TSI; 94bhp

0-62mph 11secs; 118mph

55.4mpg combined

115g/km. 1st VED £455

Insurance group 12

Boot: 355 litres

After some gruelling climbs Westheads reach 'nicest' part of their route

* As they reached a town en route to Shengdu the Westheads were fascinated to watch about 100 dancers going through paces near a temple.

After his worrying trip to hospital brought on by oxygen starvation as he was tackling miles of gruelling mountain roads in China Louis Dennis and his fellow Westhead James Thomas reached a much more manageable downhill section of their cycling route to Thailand.

In fact, they duo reckoned it was one of the nicest sections they'd encountered so far on their mammoth journey through Europe and Asia.

Mates Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis, 19, from Garth, and James, also 19, from Wrexham, are making their 1,000 journey in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of Tony Edge, the father of their friend Harrison who died following a heart attack in 2024.

For their last couple of daily video logs only two of the group were in the saddle as, they explained, Dyfan had gone on ahead to the town of Chengdu to seek hospital attention for a troublesome tooth that was giving him a lot of pain.

So Louis and James were following the river through the Sichuan Valley making for a rendezvous with their companion.

Louis told how he was feeling okay after his own spell in hospital, despite still having a little tightness in the chest.

* Louis and James were mobbed by curious locals as they hit one Chinese town.

He also noted how the weather was "roasting" but to compensate for the discomfort the scenery they were passing through was "amazing."

In a later log Louis noted how he'd picked up another couple of punctures, which he would have to get fixed when they eventually reached Chengdu, a very large town with plenty of facilities.

Something that's definitely still going right for the lads is the continuing flood of online donations from supporters back home for the British Heart Foundation for which they have so far raised over £50,000. 

* llanblogger is 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 

Llangollen Panto Group hands over £3,500 to its chosen charities

* Two of the group's youngest members, Lola and Ciara, both 13, present the £3,000 cheque to Debra Sina, Denbighshire regional fundraising manager for Welsh Air Ambulance. 

Just before they gathered to watch the new film made of their smash-hit 2026 production of Dick Whittington, members of the Llangollen Pantomime Group handed over cheques totalling £3,500 to their two chosen charities yesterday (Sunday) afternoon at the Town Hall.

From the proceeds of last January's show the Welsh Air Ambulance received a very healthy £3,000 towards its lifesaving work while Llangollen Silver Band picked up £500 to help it keep on hitting the right notes with its audiences. 

The panto Sleeping Beauty comes next for the group, which will run at the Town Hall from January 14-17 next year.

* Ruth Owen accepts the £500 cheque from the panto group's Xavier.