Actor takes u3a members on Wilfred Owen's wartime journey

* Wilfred Owen during the First World War.

Looking back over 100 years isn’t something the Berwyn and District u3a usually does, but at the last open meeting members were gripped by Strange Meetings, a moving performance by actor and author Shaun Higgins. 

Higgins has studied the life and works of Wilfred Owen, and in a tour de force using many of the poet’s own words, he sketched the pity of war in a monologue which held his audience transfixed. 

This one man show went from Owen’s stay at Craiglockhart in Scotland, where he was treated for shell shock in 1918, to his death just days before the end of the First World War.  

The u3a has meetings open to everyone every third Monday of the month at Canalfon Ni, Corwen.

The next meeting, on April 23, will be a talk by Iwan Edwards of North Wales Wildlife Trust on gardening for wildlife. 

Management buyout for county's leisure services company

 

Denbighshire councillors have approved a management buyout for Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL).

The move will see DLL - which runs leisure centres across the county including Llangollen but from April 1 no longer Llangollen Pavilion - being funded to the tune of £1.5m by a private investor to purchase the company.

DLL says the aim is to grow and sustain and protect leisure services in the county over the next 10 years.

 

Meanwhile, it will lead to savings for the council with an initial payment for the company and an on-going annual saving in the cost of the service provided. 

This decision is dependent upon the council being satisfied as to a number of practical and regulatory matters to be determined over the next few months.

 

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said: "There comes a point where we need to change the structure of the company. The council considered a proposal whereby we could bring some investment into the company. It's unique, the first of its kind, and an option I'm sure many councils won't have.

 

"This is about protecting our services for our residents, protecting jobs for our staff, protecting all the things we've become happy with as residents and visitors, and giving the company the best possible chance to grow into the future. We are essentially investing and growing instead of cutting and shutting. The council has taken the bold step in supporting us. It's transformational."

 

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities for Denbighshire and a Chair of DLL’s Board of Directors,  said: “There was a full and open debate in the council chamber on Wednesday where all members were given an opportunity to air their views.  

"Some members had legitimate concerns about the changes which were being discussed but by the end of the meeting most members agreed that the way forward was to approve the proposal. It was explained that not accepting the proposed changes could put at risk the excellent service delivered by DLL for the people of Denbighshire.

 

“As members, we needed to be sure that the proposal offered the best solution for Denbighshire residents and we’d like to reassure residents that the arrangements are being made to secure the future of leisure services over the next ten years in the county. We’d also like to reassure other parties, such as schools who share facilities with DLL, that we will ensure there are robust arrangements in place to safeguard these arrangements.”

 

The council says it will now work with DLL over the coming months to move the project forward.

* It was announced last month that Llangollen Eisteddfod will take over the day to day running of the Pavilion from DLL all year round, rather than just having access for a one-month period during the summer.

MS calls for remedy to Wrexham hospital's parking headache

* Sam Rowlands MS at the Wrexham Maelor car park.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is calling for improvements to alleviate parking issues at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. 

Mr Rowlands was commenting after hearing that the health board was considering re-introducing a park and ride system at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan.

 

He said: “I was a great supporter of the park and ride service which operated to Glan Clwyd Hospital and disappointed when it was discontinued. I certainly feel that the health board needs to be looking at a options and even a similar system for Wrexham Maelor.

 

“I believe it is something that the health board needs to be looking at as a matter of urgency and a solution needs to be found.

 

“Parking, as we all know, has been a major and challenging issue at all our hospitals in North Wales for many years as the demand quite clearly outweighs the number of spaces available at all three sites.

 

“I still receive emails from angry constituents who have been faced with this problem, and I feel so very sorry on their behalf as it is something which really should have been resolved by now.

 

“I will be demanding answers from BCUHB and will be raising the matter in Welsh Parliament as a matter of urgency.”

 

Temporary traffic management scheme for Abbey Road resurfacing

A temporary traffic management scheme will be in operation on Abbey Road, between Abbey Dingle Nursing Home and Gwenallt, from Monday March 31 until Friday April 4, to allow resurfacing works to go ahead there.

Police investigate reports of vehicle crimes close to Llangollen

Police are investigating reports of interferences with and theft from vehicles in two areas close to Llangollen.

A post on the North Wales Police Wrexham Rural social media says: "The incidents took place in the Cefn Mawr and Froncysyllte areas between Sunday 16 March and Monday 17 March.

"The first was reported in the early hours of 16 March at around 2.20am on Cae Gwilym Lane, Cefn Mawr after a work van was broken into and tools moved, before being thrown over the road. 

"Sometime during the same morning, another van was broken into on Heol Bennion, Cefn Mawr, where a number of tools were stolen – with some also being thrown in the road.

"During the early hours 17 March, another report was made to police after a vehicle on Alma Road in Froncysyllte was interfered with." 

Inspector Stefan Lederle said: “I am asking anyone with CCTV in these areas, who haven’t already spoken to us, and who may be able to assist with our enquiries to contact us.

“I am also reminding residents to ensure their vehicles are always locked and secure at night and that all valuable items are removed or hidden to help prevent these opportunistic crimes taking place. 

“Anyone with information is asked to contact us by calling 101, or via our website.”

Timeless music from the movies concert to open 2025 Eisteddfod

 

* Anthony Gabriele has led orchestras all over the world, performing in a wide range of genres and has unrivalled expertise as a conductor of film music. © Christopher Mason

A glittering concert featuring some of the most unforgettable movie scores of all time by German master composer Hans Zimmer will provide the perfect prelude to this summer’s Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

A world-class orchestra under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Anthony Gabriele will present “Beyond Time: The Music of Hans Zimmer in Concert” on the evening of Tuesday July 8, the first night of the 2025 festival which runs from July 8-13.

The Pavilion audience will be presented with programme of music made famous by a man with over 150 movie scores to his credit, including the powerful and moving backdrops to blockbusters such as Gladiator, The Da Vinci Code, No Time to Die, Dune, The Lion King, Black Hawk Down and The Thin Red Line which have brought Zimmer no less than two Academy Awards from a dozen nominations, two BAFTAs from 10 nominations, five Grammy Awards and a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The evening’s conductor, Anthony Gabriele, has led orchestras all over the world, performing in a wide range of genres and his unrivalled expertise as a conductor of film music includes over 30 titles including the world premiere performances of John Williams’ score for Superman, his Oscar-winning adaption of Jerry Bock’s score for Fiddler on the Roof and Thomas Newman’s score for the James Bond film Spectre.

At the Pavilion Gabriele will conduct the 70-piece Cinematic Sinfonia comprising top-class professional musicians drawn from across the UK specially for the occasion.

The Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford said: “Hans Zimmer is without doubt one of the greatest film composers of all time and his incredible record of honours testifies to his genius.

“We are privileged to be able to start off our 2025 series of evening concerts - featuring such incredible performers as KT Tunstall, Il Divo, Bryn Terfel and Fishermen’s Friends and Sir Karl Jenkins - with a fantastic presentation of powerful music which has captivated filmgoers over many decades. It will truly be an evening to remember and one not to be missed.”

The Hans Zimmer evening has been made possible by the cancellation of the previously billed concert by Roger Daltrey, which was to have been on the same night, due to logistical reasons.

Eisteddfod week evening concerts are:

* Tuesday July 8: Beyond Time: The Music of Hans Zimmer in Concert

* Wednesday July 9: Uniting Nations: One World featuring Sir Karl Jenkins

* Thursday July 10: KT Tunstall with the Absolute Orchestra

* Friday July 11: Il Divo with special guest Laura Wright

* Saturday July 12: Choir of the World with special guest Lucie Jones

* Sunday July 13: Bryn Terfel: Sea Songs with special guests Fisherman’s Friends and Eve Goodman

Hundreds stride out on Hope House Hospices' Llangollen Canal Walk

Hundreds of walkers pulled on their boots and trekked a 10-mile route along the Llangollen Canal to raise money for Hope House Children’s Hospices last Sunday.

 

Supporters took on the ever-popular annual walk, which started at the Trevor Basin in Llangollen, before heading over the world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and following the canal all the way to The Poachers pub at Chirk.

They they had refreshments before heading back where they received their special medals at the finish line.

 

Walkers raised an incredible £28,000 so far with money still being counted.

 

Fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer said: “It was wonderful to see this well-supported event sell out again and raise such an incredible amount of money.

 

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended and raised the vital fund we need to make sure our hospices are here to help every local child with a life-threatening condition to live their best life.

 

“We simply couldn’t do it without the incredible support we get from our community.”

 

The event was sponsored this year by Chirk-based Kronospan, who also had a team walking on the day, as well as supporting partners Roche, Caffi Wylfa and Trederwen Springs.

 

* There is a full calendar of events for Hope House you can join throughout this year. Please visit www.hopehouse.org.uk/events to see how you can get involved.