Bike Bus makes its end-of-term trip into school

* The Bike Bus makes its way past the Co-op on the way to school.

Llangollen's famous Bike Bus - the group of youngsters and their parents who celebrate the joys of safe cycling - made their colourful way to the town's primary schools this morning to mark the end of term.

After forming up at the Pavilion, around 20 of them pedalled along Abbey Road, Castle Street and via St Collen's Church car park onto Regent Street from where they turned right and into the newly-reshaped and resurfaced Brook Street and Pengwern.

 .... and over a sunlit bridge heads into town.

MP gives her blessing to Llangollen's Town of Culture bid

* Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins visits the station during her guided tour of Llangollen's cultural assets.

Just days before Llangollen makes the first official move in its bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028, the area's MP has pledged her "strong support" for the move. 

This follows her specially-arranged visit to the town on Monday when Becky Gittins and her team were given a guided tour of Llangollen's many cultural highlights by llanblogger's Phil Robinson, who is playing a key role in promoting the bid.

The afternoon-long tour took in the Pavilion, the railway, the museum, Dory Gallery and the town hall as the parts each of these landmarks plays was explained to the MP in detail by the people in charge, including Town Clerk Gareth Thomas at the town hall.

In her letter of support sent to Llangollen Town Council, which is spearheading the bid, the MP for Clwyd East says:

"Dear Councillors, I am writing to offer my strong support for Llangollen’s bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028. 

"I was delighted to visit Llangollen this week to discuss the bid with you in more detail, and it was clear from those conversations just how much passion, ambition and community backing sits behind this application. 

"There is a real sense of shared purpose and pride in what Llangollen can offer. Llangollen has a unique cultural identity, with a rich heritage and an international reputation that far exceeds its size. 

"From the world-famous International Musical Eisteddfod to its vibrant local arts and community activity, culture is woven into the fabric of the town. 

"What stood out most during my visit, however, was the strength of local involvement – with residents, volunteers and organisations all playing their part in shaping and sustaining that cultural life. 

"This bid is not just about celebrating what already exists, but about building on those strong foundations to create new opportunities, widen participation and ensure that culture is accessible to all parts of the community. I was particularly encouraged by the focus on bringing people together and ensuring that the benefits of this opportunity are felt right across the town. 

"I have every confidence that Llangollen has both the vision and the capability to deliver a successful and impactful programme as UK Town of Culture. I will continue to support the town as this bid progresses." 

With best wishes, Becky Gittins MP

At a packed public meeting in the Town Hall last month it was unanimously decided that Llangollen should go ahead with a bid to win the coveted title and land prize money of up to £3 million.

The Town Council, which is spearheading the process, then 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.

A number of meetings have been held at which representatives of the town's businesses, attractions and residents have assisted in the preparation of the expression of interest, and the last of these will be held this evening (Thursday).

It will be known whether Llangollen has reached the shortlist for the competition before the end of spring. Finalists and the winning town will be announced in early 2027. The delivery year will be 2028.

Hope House supporters raise £20,000 at Llangollen Canal Walk

Hope House Children’s Hospices is celebrating the success of last Sunday's Llangollen Canal Walk where hundreds of supporters came together to raise a massive £20,000. 

The popular 10-mile route saw walkers head out from Trevor Basin over the  Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and along the scenic canal path to The Poachers pub in Chirk, before returning for a well-earned medal. 

This year’s event was sponsored by DMR Plumbing & Heating, whose team also joined the walk.  

Vicky Bradbeer, fundraiser at Hope House Children’s Hospices, said: “This wonderful event always brings our community together, and seeing hundreds of people out enjoying the fresh air while supporting local children has been amazing.  

“We are so grateful to everyone who walked, donated and helped raise such an incredible amount this year which will help local children with life-threatening conditions to live their best life. There’s still more money coming in from donations and sponsorships too so the total will keep rising every day – which is just amazing.  

“Our heartfelt thanks also go to DMR Plumbing & Heating for their sponsorship, and to our event partners Roche, Trederwen Springs and Caffi Wylfa for their invaluable support.”  

Rosie-Jane Quayle from DMR Plumbing & Heating, said: “Supporting a charity like Hope House Children’s Hospices means a great deal to us. We believe in putting people first, and we’re proud to play a part in helping create moments of comfort and support for families that need it most.” 

It costs £10 million a year for Hope House Children’s Hospices to support children and families that need it the most with 80% of the funding coming from the public though fundraising and events like the Llangollen Canal Walk.  

* See how you can get involved in the charity’s future events at www.hopehouse.org.uk/events 

Plea to move parked vehicles holding up work on Youth Centre

* The Youth Centre car park where unauthorised vehicles have held up some of the improvement work.

Denbighshire Youth Service has made a plea for people to move their vehicles from the car park on Llangollen Youth Centre.

The service is currently carrying out external improvement works at the building in Willow Street.

But this morning (Wednesday) they put out an urgent post on their Facebook page to say this is being hampered by unauthorised people using the car park and asking them to move their vehicles.

Under the heading "Important," the post says: "We are undergoing external improvement works at Llangollen Youth Centre (Willow Street, Llangollen LL20 8HH).

"We are currently unable to proceed with some works due to how some cars have been parked in the area and ask that these vehicles are removed as soon as possible please.

"Again, if you could please not park in the Youth Centre car park or in the immediate vicinity that prohibits the work taking place. Thank you."

The service was put out a similar message on social media earlier this month, which said: "The Youth Club car park is private property and not for public use. While we understand it has been used regularly by residents, we now require the space to be clear.

"Work has begun on site, and we require the car park to be clear of vehicles as soon as possible to allow contractors full access.

"Thank you for your understanding and for helping us improve this community space."

Footplate experiences announced for railway's Branch Line Gala

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced a limited programme of exclusive footplate experiences as part of its highly anticipated Branch Line Gala, taking place from Friday-Sunday, April 10-12.

They will give visitors a rare opportunity to travel in the cab of a working heritage locomotive, alongside the driver and fireman, offering a unique behind the scenes insight into the operation of steam traction on a traditional rural branch line.

 

Footplate passes will be available on two of the railway’s headline locomotives for the gala weekend, resident pannier tank No. 7754 and heavy freight locomotive No. 3802, with a mixture of full-length and shorter runs operating across the three days.

 

Full-length runs covering extended sections of the line will be priced at £130, with shorter half-length experiences available from £65, allowing enthusiasts and visitors alike to experience the sights, sounds and atmosphere of steam operation from the footplate itself. A special intermediate-length run between Carrog and Llangollen will also be offered on the Sunday.

 

The railway says the experiences form part of its commitment to providing immersive and memorable heritage railway events, giving visitors the chance to connect directly with the skills and traditions that define Britain’s railway history.

* Heavy freight locomotive no. 3802.

 

Iain Ross, Organiser of the Branch Line Gala, said: “Footplate experiences are one of the most exciting and authentic ways to experience a heritage railway. They offer a completely different perspective on the operation of these historic locomotives and allow participants to appreciate the teamwork, concentration and skill required to run a busy branch line service.

 

“With an intensive gala timetable, visiting locomotives and a strong Great Western theme, the 2026 Branch Line Gala is already shaping up to be one of our most ambitious events in recent years. Adding a programme of footplate rides allows us to offer something truly special for enthusiasts and visitors who want to get even closer to the action.”

 

The Branch Line Gala will feature an intensive timetable of steam and diesel services across the full length of the line between Llangollen and Corwen, alongside freight demonstrations, brake van rides, shed tours, live music and a wide range of catering and refreshment options at stations along the route.

 

Footplate experience places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

 

* Further details and advance booking information for Footplate Passes on the Branch Line Gala are available here - https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/branchline-gala/footplate2026

Methodist church is collecting Easter eggs for Ukraine

Llangollen Methodist Church is collecting Easter eggs to send off to children living with the conflict in Ukraine.

Teams4U, the Christian charity based in Wrexham, is going to use its network of contacts in the war-torn country to deliver a little bit of joy to the youngsters and Llangollen Methodist Church is collecting eggs to take to the warehouse. 

A spokesperson for the church said: "You can donate by giving eggs - the 90 gram size is preferred for ease of packing - to any member of the church or by dropping them off over the next two weekends.

"Sunday's 11am service is a Palm Sunday service, and at 6pm there is a special Taize service. 

"Good Friday sees an 11am service followed by a Walk of Witness to Centenary Square. Members from all Churches will be joining together for some Easter songs and readings and to give out Hot Cross Buns and mini eggs to passers-by.  All are welcome to join in.

"There will be a celebration of Easter at 11am in the Methodist Church on Sunday April 5 and then, on Easter Monday, the Memorial Hall is open for Easter craft activities and seasonal refreshments. So there are lots of opportunities to donate your Easter Eggs!"

April's events and activities at Pengwern Community Hub

Here are events and activities going on at Pengwern Community Hub during April:

Latest offering from unsung 4x4 hero

Toyota Land Cruiser drive by Steve Rogers

When it comes to off road legends Jeep and Land Rover are first in line. Fair enough, they’ve been around the longest but we need to add another to the roll of honour.

The Land Cruiser is a bit of an unsung hero yet it has quite a history not to mention enough sales to cover the whole of Wales.

It was born all but 75 years ago in August 1951 as the Toyota BJ and quickly made a name for itself by becoming the first vehicle to climb to the 6th station on Mount Fuji. A lofty 7,874ft along the Yoshida Trail, a favourite with trekkers.

The BJ became Land Cruiser three years later and has clocked up 11.3 million sales in 170 countries. Watch anything on the tele from Africa and the Middle East and you are guaranteed to see Land Cruisers churning up the dust.

And so the story goes on with a spanking new model, this one sitting on a new platform that has a body-on-frame set up for the first time aimed at increasing rigidity and improving the ride and handling on and off the road.

As for the new body design it looks as if it has been carved out of granite. It's all sharp edges without a curve in sight. It caused quite a stir at my local recycling centre, loads (all men) wanted a look and said it looked great but no one could put a name to it.

See what I mean about Land Cruiser being an anonymous unsung hero.

At almost five metres long and standing at 1.935m it is an intimidating monster and looks as if it is ready to turn into a Transformers super hero. The running boards and handles on each door frame are needed just to haul yourself into the seats.

Something you don’t have to worry about are potholes, the 20 inch wheels crash through them as if they weren't there yet the ride is still on the jiggly side in spite of the new platform, but then what can we expect from a car that can do amazing things when tackling the most treacherous offroad conditions?

The Land Cruiser uses the same four-cylinder turbo diesel as the Hilux pick up. It is robust but agricultural and someone paying more than £80 grand might expect something a little more refined but we have to accept where the majority of sales come from and drivers on rough tracks in the Middle East are not too fussed with such niceties. They want something that won’t break down.

In spite of its whopping 500Nm of torque this is no flyer even with a new 48v hybrid battery that supplies 12kW of power and is good for an extra 65Nm or torque at start off. Hauling its three tonne body weight means acceleration is ponderous but it can pull three and a half tonne which is probably more important.

All that reflects on the economy which is around average. My best result was 29mpg but most of the time I was hovering between 26-27mpg, thankfully an 80 litre tank ensures more than 400 miles between fills.

I doubt the Land Cruiser will spend much time off road in the hands of UK buyers and that lofty price tag doesn’t sound quite so intimidating when you go through the spec sheet which goes on forever. You are left wanting for nothing whether it is driver and

passenger safety aids or those luxuries like heated and ventilated seats front and back, yet don’t expect Range Rover style luxury. In many ways the car’s cabin is dated, I counted 36 switches, not counting those on the steering wheel, which for me is a joy. You can play them like a piano without the stress of dabbing at a touchscreen, although it has one of those as well.

What I liked about the Land Cruiser is that it doesn’t carry the snob reputation of its posher rivals. Lots will look on this as the king of the castle as far as luxury off roaders go and who can argue with that.

Favourite feature: The ice cold cool box between the front seats.

Fast facts

Land Cruiser Invincible

£82,845

2.8 litre diesel; 204bhp

8 speed automatic

0-62mph 12.3secs; 105mph

26.4mpg combined

282g/km. 1st VED £5,690

Insurance group 49

Boot: 742-2000 litres

Railway partners with Wales Comic Con on Red Dwarf steam train

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced a new partnership with the Wales Comic Con ahead of this year’s event, which takes place on April 4 and at the Llangollen Pavilion. 

To celebrate the new collaboration, fans will have the opportunity to travel to  Comic Con in unique style aboard a special Red Dwarf Steam Train on Saturday April 4, featuring celebrated actor and comedian Chris Barrie. 

Best known for his role as Arnold Rimmer in the long-running sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf, Barrie will travel on the steam train, meeting fans in a special meet and greet experience as it journeys through the Dee Valley. 

Barrie has enjoyed a distinguished career as a vocal impressionist on ITV’s Spitting Image and starred as Gordon Brittas in the BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire, as well as appearing as Hillary the butler in the Lara Croft Tomb Raider films. He is also known for his personal enthusiasm for steam railways, making the collaboration a natural fit.

 

The special service will depart Corwen at 9am on Saturday April 4, before arriving in Llangollen at approximately 9.40am, just a short walk from the Pavilion. 

Capacity is limited to the first 200 passengers. Tickets are priced at £40, £12 for kids and includes a full-line return journey between Llangollen and Corwen, with return services available at 12.20pm, 1.45pm, 3.15pm or 4.20pm. The ticket also includes priority entry to Wales Comic Con. Significantly; ample parking is available at Corwen.

 

On Sunday April 5, the partnership continues with a special Cosplay on the Trains experience. The first 200 passengers will receive a full-line return journey on the railway plus priority entry to Wales Comic Con, offering exceptional value as both travel and event access are included. Organisers have also promised surprise appearances and themed experiences throughout the day.

 

Dave Hennigan, Trust Manager at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with the team behind Wales Comic Con to bring these exciting plans to life. 

"Having worked with them previously, we know just how passionate and creative they are in delivering memorable events, and it is fantastic to be collaborating once again. The opportunity to welcome fans aboard a special steam service, particularly with such a well-known guest, is something truly unique for our railway and the local area.

 

“It makes it even more special that Chris Barrie himself has a genuine love of steam trains, which adds an extra layer of excitement for both railway enthusiasts and Red Dwarf fans alike. 

"This partnership marks the beginning of what we hope will be a strong and lasting relationship, and we are very much looking forward to working together on this and other future events that will help attract new audiences and showcase everything our railway and Llangollen has to offer.”

 

Wales Comic Con brings together stars of film, television, gaming and comics alongside cosplay, traders and immersive fan experiences. The new partnership with the Llangollen and Corwen Railway aims to enhance the visitor experience while showcasing one of North Wales’ most scenic heritage attractions.

 

* These exclusive tickets can be bought here: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/products/comic-con

Middle East war forces cycling lads to pick safer route into Asia

 

* A busy day's sightseeing for the lads in the city of Tblisi, Georgia.

"There's no need to worry about us and we're now heading for Asia."

That is the latest positive message from the three young friends from the Llangollen area embarked on a mammoth cycling trip to Thailand in aid of a heart charity.

Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham aim to cycle 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 intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, set out from Lllangollen Football Club's HQ last August on their marathon ride which they reckon will take them at least 18 months to complete. 

To date they have cycled through Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey and Georgia and are now heading for central Asia.

Along the way they aimed to raise £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation but, so far, well-wishers following their daily social media updates have pledged more than £24,000 to their cause.

The lads spent the winter in the town of Batumi on the Black Sea coast of Georgia and recently got back on the road as the weather improved.

A few weeks ago they used one of their daily social media updates to outline the problem they faced of exactly how to get safely into Asia with political problems in both Iran and Russia.

But the war now raging in the Middle East has forced them to make a major adjustment to their route.

They will now take a plane ride with their bikes across the Caspian Sea to Aktau in Kazakhstan. 

While they are waiting for their flight they have been spending some time sightseeing in Tblisi in Georgia.

In a recent update they revealed how they have been contacted by many people back home expressing fears for their safety but their message was that they are all safe and well and excited about getting into Asia.

They also gave out the good news that their visas to enter China had now come through. 

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Public toilets to have £1 entry charge from April 1

* The Market Street public toilets.

Public toilets in Market Street and Riverside Park, Llangollen will have an entry fee of £1 from April 1.

The charge is part of a package of measures announced by Denbighshire County Council to keep open its conveniences. 

The proposals were developed after money received by the council had not kept up with financial pressures and the increasing cost of delivering services, especially statutory services like social care and education. 

The county worked with city, town and community councils to collaborate together on a sustainable model to fund and protect as many facilities as possible. This model incudes direct financial contributions from the city, town and community councils.

Following this work, there are changes to charging for the toilets which will see the installation of contactless payment/entry systems commencing in March, the refurbishment of toilets and the closure of three facilities across Denbighshire - not including Llangollen.  

Work to introduce the contactless system at Llangollen is expected to take between two to three days dependant on weather but the toilets will remain open for use during this work.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport. said: “I want to once again thank the town and community councils for their positive energy and collaboration that supported everyone in reaching this position where we can now keep most of our public toilets open. 

"I’d also like to thank residents and visitors for their support and patience whilst refurbishment work is carried out on some of the sites.”

Latest roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council

Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is: 

A542 Carriageway HORSESHOE PASS 24/03/2026 - 02/04/2026, Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing DCC HIGHWAYS, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A542 JUNCTION REGENT STREET, HILL STREET, 15/05/2026 - 22/05/2026, Gwaith BT/ BT Works, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

APPROXIMATLEY GWEN HEFR A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD, 06/05/2026 - 06/05/2026, Gwaith BT/ BT Works, Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

Pengwern / Trem Yr Ysgol, Llangollen, 30/03/2026 - 30/04/2026, Gwaith Teithio Llesol / Active Travel Works PRONIN LIMITED,  Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE PENDYFFRYN, GRANGE ROAD, 05/05/2026, Gwaith BT/ BT Works PLATINUM (DCC), Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

JUNCTION OF VICARAGE ROAD, BACHE MILL ROAD, 06/05/2026 - 07/05/2026, Adnewyddu Polyn / Renew Pole, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

AT JUNCTION OF BROOK STREET, PENGWERN, until 30/04/2026, Gwaith Teithio Llesol / Active Travel Works PRONIN LIMITED, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

ABBEY ROAD, 13/04/2026 - 30/04/2026, Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing DCC HIGHWAYS, Confoi 10 mya/10 mph Convoy

County invites people to have their say on taxi fares

Denbighshire County Council is proposing to form a new Taxi Forum to help it set the annual table of fares for hackney carriage taxis.

The forum will meet once a year ahead of the council’s annual review of its table of fares for hackney carriage (taxi) vehicles.

Previously, the process has been to propose and then consult on a table of fares based on statistical data including changes to average insurance prices, the change in inflation rates, and what neighbouring local authorities are charging for the same types of journeys.

Now, the council is proposing to introduce an additional step in the consultation process asking people about their experiences before it carries out the consultation on the fares.

The council is responsible for setting the fares for taxis licensed in Denbighshire under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and hopes that by establishing a forum and allowing taxi operators and taxi users to come together and share their experiences and concerns, that a table of fares can be created each year that works for everybody.

Denbighshire County Council is inviting as many taxi operators and taxi users in the county as possible to complete the consultation surveys.

Anyone who completes the survey will have the opportunity to register their interest to take part in the ‘Taxi Forum’, which will be an in-person meeting in April 2026.

The council hopes to use the findings and recommendations of the forum to propose a new table of fares, which will be consulted on as part of a follow-up consultation.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “We highly encourage as many people as possible to take part in the council’s consultation and register their interest in becoming a member of the ‘Taxi Forum’, to ensure that any decisions we make represent the views of all our stakeholders.

“The council understands that we are currently living in difficult times financially in this country which makes it even more important for us to consult not only the taxi firms, but the general public as well, to help ensure that any changes we introduce are fair for both sides.”

* To find out more and to take part in the ‘Taxi Forum’ consultation, please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/consultations.

All responses must be received by Sunday 29 March 2026.

Mayor's choir storms to Golden Buzzer success on Britain's Got Talent

         

* Llangollen Mayor Aled Morris stormed to success in tonight's Britain's Got Talent episode.

The Mayor Of Llangollen, Aled Morris, ploughed to victory as part of a farmers choir in tonight (Saturday's) Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) show on ITV. 

And their dazzling Golden Button success means the Hawkstone Farmers Choir go straight through to the semi-finals of the hit TV talent show's 19th series.

They also skip past the bootcamp stage of the competition, giving them a head start.

Performing a soaring rendition of the Elbow anthem One Day Like This at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Aled and the choir moved a celebrity judging panel led by Amanda Holden, guest judge Stacey Solomon, Alesha Dixon, and KSI.

Aled, 32, swaps the council chamber for the stage to sing with the choir which brings together people from across the UK farming community who share a connection to agriculture and a love of singing.

For Aled the experience is a world away from his daily life of the sheep farmer at Pen-y-Rhagfryn.

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

Aled’s journey into joining the choir began with a mysterious Facebook advertisement looking for farmers who like to sing. 

It wasn't until he arrived at the audition venue - Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog in the Cotswolds - that he realised the project was for Clarkson's Hawkstone brand. 

In addition to serving as Mayor, Aled 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. 

Despite his busy schedule, he says the choir has offered him a vital sense of belonging, camaraderie and a chance to sing with confidence.

The choir's mission is to use their national platform to raise awareness and funds for mental health and suicide prevention within the agricultural community - an industry where isolation can often take a heavy toll.

"The BGT experience was amazing," he said. "It felt so surreal to actually experience the set, the judges, and the atmosphere was incredible."

Following their Golden Buzzer success, Aled and the choir are preparing for the live semi-finals and a series of new projects in 2026.

* Aled isn't the first member of Llangollen's mayoral team to appear on TV. Mayoress Sarah Griffiths, Aled's long-term partner, was one of the Big Brother housemates back in 2024. 

* The Hawkstone Farmers Choir sing on Britain's Got Talent. Aled is on the back row, second from left.

* The celebrity judges who gave the choir the Golden Buzzer.

Insight given into the importance of Eisteddfod volunteering

* The Pavilion audience hears about the importance - and joys - of Eisteddfod volunteering.

Scores of people were given in insight about what it's like to volunteer for Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod at a special evening event in the Pavilion last night (Friday).

They were welcomed by its chairman, John Gambles, who told them that although it is run by just a handful of paid staff the festival - now in its 79th year - relies heavily on a small army of hundreds of volunteers to make it possible each July.

The board of trustees which he heads is also made up of volunteers, he said, adding: "And we all do it because we love it."

A short film, made in 2004, was then shown giving potential volunteers in the audience a chance to see what the colourful annual peace-centred festival is all about.

It was introduced by board member Karl Young who said the volunteers who made it all possible were each "making a big difference in a small way."

Artistic director Dave Danford, one of the few paid staff, said: "Everything that every volunteer does here is valuable and much appreciated. I'm so excited about this year's Eisteddfod because this place is so special. There's nowhere else like it."

John Gambles then called on a procession of people who lead the various groups of volunteers working across the Eisteddfod to give describe their roles and how they personally became involved with the festival.

These included Karen Price, who serves as competition liaison officer and volunteer co-ordinator; Phil Robinson, chair of the communications working group; and Barrie Potter, who leads the heritage team, keepers of the Eisteddfod's rich archive going back to its earliest days.

Impressions of how vital volunteers are to the smooth-running of the Eisteddfod also came from stewards' secretary Sharon Matthews and Ros Davies, who for many years has led the dedicated ticketing team. She put out an urgent appeal for new volunteers to help bolster the hard-working group.

A veteran of the Eisteddfodd and a former chairman, Gethin Davies, told the audience this would be his 75th years of volunteering, which began as a schoolboy selling programmes in the early 1950s. 

His three priorities in life had been, he said, his family, his career as a solicitor and his commitment to the Eisteddfod, "although not necessarily in that order."

Further impressions came from the floral team's Diana Ballard, marketing's Sian Eager, staging's Jeremy Davies and John Blaze of the grounds committee whose "fantastic" team is responsible for everything from toilets to liaison with the Eisteddfod's partners in the Live at Llangollen concerts, Cuffe and Taylor.

The evening finished with introductions to Heulwen Wright, the council's deputy town clerk, who will oversee Eisteddfod outreach events in the town centre this year, and Paul Spencer, who chairs Friends of Llangollen the independent body - itself made up of volunteers - which has raised an incredible £650,000 for the festival since it was set up around 50 years ago.  

* For details about volunteering with the Eisteddfod, email volunteer co-ordinator Karen Price at: karen.price@llangollen.net

* Eisteddfod chair John Gambles welcomes potential volunteers.

* A young Pavarotti appears with his Italian choir in the film shown during the evening.

* Artistic director Dave Danford says how excited he is about this year's festival.

* Volunteer co-ordinator Karen price describes her role.

* Ros Davies makes her appeal for more volunteer ticketing stewards.

* Veteran volunteer and former chairman Gethin Davies speaks of his long association with the festival.

* Dr Rhys Davies, another former chairman and long-time volunteer, describes his role leading the group which promotes the use of the Welsh language at the Eisteddfod.

* John Blaze whose busy grounds team takes care of everything from toilets to liaison with Cuffe and Taylor for the Live at Llangollen concerts.