Boris says Tories can win Clwyd South seat

* Stuart Davies supplied this picture of Boris Johnson canvassing in Castle Street during the 1997 general election.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the Conservatives can win the local Clwyd South seat, which he unsuccessfully fought himself in 1997 - as a winnable seat in the general election.

He revealed this aim as he unveiled his party's Welsh manifesto on a whirlwind visit to Bangor on Dee racecourse earlier this afternoon.

* For the full story, see Leaderlive at:

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18059176.boris-johnson-eyes-clwyd-south-seat-tories-22-years-failing/

Sion Corn tries helicopter for Christmas festival arrival

* Sion Corn tries out the Wales Air Ambulance 

for his rapid arrival at Llangollen Christmas Festival on Saturday.

Sion Corn – the Welsh Santa Claus – has been checking out the quickest way to reach Llangollen when the town stages its annual Christmas Festival this Saturday November 30.

Thousands of seasonal revellers are expected to come flocking to the Denbighshire tourist spot for the big event.

As Sion Corn will be starring in the traditional parade and wants to make sure he’s there in good time on the day he’s been trying out various modes of travel over the past few weeks.

And he reckons that by far the quickest way of reaching Llangollen from his home in the Far North is aboard the Wales Air Ambulance helicopter which the festival is once again this year raising funds to support along with local groups in the town.

So he went along to its base near Welshpool to check it out.

Later he said: “Apart from its fantastic range of lifesaving equipment and its dedicated crew, both medical and pilots, I was very impressed with how fast it can reach its patients.

“If it can be on the scene of an emergency so rapidly it shouldn’t take long at all for it to whisk me and my helpers across to Llangollen on the big day.

“My trip aboard the helicopter also convinced me the Christmas festival couldn’t be supporting a worthier cause.” 

Kicking off at 1pm with the famous parade, which sees Sion Corn being escorted into town over the historic bridge by a colourful cavalcade of entertainers and local groups, this Saturday’s event features children’s fairground rides, food stalls, choirs, craft stalls, circus acts and face painting.

There will also be a chance for youngsters to visit Sion Corn in his glorious grotto and put in their early requests from what they’d like to see him bring them on Christmas morning. 

During the afternoon visitors can look forward to an eclectic mix of musical entertainment from local groups on two outdoor stages and other on-street entertainment.

The fun-packed day rounds off at 5pm with the ceremonial switching on of Llangollen’s legendary Christmas lights and a firework extravaganza. 

Llangollen Christmas Festival is organised by a group of dedicated community volunteers. It costs over £4,000 to stage each year and is self-funding.

The festival aims to provide a free family-orientated event in the safety of the town centre with surplus funds being donated to Wales Air Ambulance and local community groups.

Over the last couple of years the police have estimated that the spectacular event draws over 2,000 people into town during the course of the afternoon.

For the third year the festival has teamed up with Light Up Local Food, a project aimed at promoting Llangollen-based food and drink producers.

Chairman of the festival committee Austin ‘Chem’ Cheminais, who is also the local town crier and a member of the town council, said: “With the help of the community we manage, each year, to raise just about enough to fund the event and give a little to charity.

“Last year’s festival was particularly successful thanks to the good weather and the feedback from those attending was very positive.

“The ‘market’ feel to the event provided by Light UP Local Food was particularly commented upon and helped to attract visitors from much further afield.

“Once again we’re expecting a bumper crowd to come along and help us to give a great early start to Christmas.” 

Festival organisers have also arranged for free parking throughout the day at local car parks.

New claims from Stuart Davies in cancer scan battle

* Former councillor Stuart Davies.

The Llangollen man who spearheaded a campaign for men across Wales to have equal access to a prostate cancer scan now claims the local health board is making it difficult to receive it.

Former town mayor and county councillor Stuart Davies, 71, paid Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) nearly £900 for a multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) scan when a cancer that he'd beaten several years ago returned in 2017.

The mpMRI is a specific type of investigation that can give more detailed images of the prostate than a regular MRI scan and was recommended to Mr Davies by the health board as a way of specifically deciding upon the correct treatment for his cancer.

But after receiving the scan he was shocked to learn that it is offered for free by other health boards in Wales.

He organised a petition, which attracted over 6,000 signatures, demanding equal access to the scan across Wales and sparked a discussion in the Senedd in Cardiff, Shortly afterwards Mr Davies marched on the capital, joined by fellow campaigners.

Before the petition was launched, just three of the seven health boards in Wales, offered mpMRI before biopsy and only one board provided it to a standard high enough to safely rule men out of biopsy.

This meant men in four health boards did not have access to mpMRI as a diagnostic test, unless they paid to have it done privately.

Mr Davies’s own health authority, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, recently wrote to inform him that the new mpMRI scanning service has now been implemented in north Wales.

But Mr Davies now claims some men in the region are being refused the scan while the health board is refusing to refund those who have paid for it to be done.

He said: “Men are still contacting me to say that the Betsi is making it difficult to get this scan and are now refusing refunds.”

His claim comes in correspondence he’s had with the Petitions Committee of the Welsh Assembly, which has agreed to consider his petition at its next meeting on December 3.

He has also submitted letters in support of his campaign from leading cancer charities.

He wrote to the Petitions Committee: “My thanks to the committee for continuing to support our petition.

“It is interesting to see that Cancer Research Wales is supporting our stance in that while some boards are implementing this measure that the private sector and or other boards should provide these.

“Given that the private sector charges roughly £900 to the public and yet only £360 trade price to the NHS it seems stupid that the NHS is ‘forcing’ patients to pay privately and then refund them when it would be £600 cheaper to do it directly.”

A statement from the Betsi Cadwaladr UHB says: “Following considerable efforts over recent months we are now at a point to begin accepting referrals for pre-biopsy mp-MRI scans.

"This will enable a proportion of gentlemen to avoid an invasive biopsy procedure."

A board spokesman added that if anyone who has a complaint to make relating to refunds can do so through our complaints process here: https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/contact-us/make-a-complaint/”

Inner Wheel to stage Christmas Cheer event

Llangollen Inner Wheel are staging their annual Christmas gathering in the Town Hall on Saturday December 14.

Group spokesperson Eileen Dart said: "It's the entertainment and supper we hold every year before Christmas as our main fundraising event. 

"We support many charities both local and worldwide and this year we will be raising money for Guide Dogs, Riding for the Disabled, and Medcare in Uganda."

Sporting talent honoured in Llan

* Club of the Year, Ysgol Glan Clwyd U13s girls football team.

Sporting talent from across Denbighshire joined together in Llangollen to celebrate the Denbighshire Community Sports Awards 2019.

The prestigious Denbighshire Sports Awards, now in its 8^th year, recognises individuals, teams, schools and clubs for their dedication to local community grass roots sport in the county.

Over 100 nominations were received and the judging panel drew up a final shortlist of 25 finalists, who were invited along with their friends, families and colleagues, to the glittering awards ceremony at Llangollen Pavilion.

Invited guests were treated to a night of celebration, inspirational stories and a speech from special guest, Liz Johnson, who wowed the crowd with her inspirational story of how she became a Paralympic and World Championship Gold Medallist.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: "The Denbighshire community sport awards has helped recognise and share some amazing stories over the last few years and 2019 was no exception. The standard of the nominations this year was outstanding and shows how many talented people we have here in Denbighshire. I pass on my congratulations to all of the winners and to everyone who was shortlisted.”

Denbighshire Leisure, including the Disability Sport Officer and the Active Young People team, work closely with the award nominees and winners, who give up their own time to help improve community sport in Denbighshire.

The event was sponsored by Alliance Leisure and Knights Construction Group, alongside category sponsors Technogym, Denbighshire Education and Children’s Service, Denbighshire Community Housing, XN Leisure, Origin Fitness and Disability Sport Wales, who helped make this event possible.

If you would like to nominate someone for a Denbighshire Community Sport Award 2020, please check the Denbighshire Leisure website in the new year for details.

Winners

Junior Sports Performer – Huw Jones

Young Inspiration – Holly Roberts

Sport in School Award – Denbigh High School

Disability Sport Award – Anastasia Blease

Sports performer – Jennifer Broughall

Club of the Year – Ysgol Glan Clwyd Girls under 13s Football Team

Coach of the Year – Jonathon Dawes

Volunteer of the Year – Llio Jones

Lifetime Achievement – Bryn Lloyd Jones

Hospice offers art therapy workshops

Art therapy workshops for people looking to have a little time out for themselves are to be launched at Nightingale House Hospice.

Run by the hospice’s art therapist Pam Hutcheson, the course will run in six-week blocks starting on Wednesday November 27, from 5pm-7pm.

The aim is to provide headspace for those who feel they never have any downtime to explore their own interests or hobbies.

The greatest benefit of art therapy is you don’t have to be any good at art and all you need to do is fulfil the eligible criteria as follows:

* Have responsibility for caring for someone or regularly look after an elderly or ill or disabled relative.

* Currently work or have worked in the NHS, local council, police or any other public or civil service roles.

Art therapy is proven to strengthen personal identity and confidence by increasing self-esteem and self-worth, as well as discovering new ways to communicate and develop new coping strategies.

Art therapist Pam Hutcheson said: “This course will help participants build personal resilience by learning skills to maintain a good well-being. It offers an opportunity to express concerns, within a safe and confidential environment and a time to reflect or relax without having to talk.

“Each session allows you to explore your own creative ideas or use the pre-selected session theme, with an option to share your experiences at the end with the rest of the group.”

* To register your interest email art.therapy@nightingalehouse.co.uk or call Pam Hutcheson on 07535 394780.

This course is brought to Nightingale House Hospice courtesy of a grant from the Civil Service Insurance society (CSIS) grant, administered through Hospice UK

Jaguar XE is a fab choice in the executive sector

* The new Jaguar XE (above and below). 

Jaguar XE road test by Steve Rogers

It normally takes about 800 words to tell you about the car I have been testing.

How about I wrap this up in one? Fabulous.

Okay, you want a little more meat on the bone. I get that so here's your 800 words.

The motor in question is the Jaguar XE, the smallest of the three saloons in the range under the XJ, the one that chauffers Boris Johnson, and the XF, the car that made the world sit up and take notice of Jaguar again. Since its launch in 2015 the XE has lived in the shadow of the glorious XF but the latest model has changed all that.

It had to improve because XE is up against the usual German suspects all of which have very fine offerings in BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, both of which are updated models, and Mercedes-Benz C Class. See the size of the challenge? And it has got tougher with Alfa Romeo's Guilia and the new Volvo S60, staking a strong claim for the top table.

Not that things got off to a great start in the XE. The first thing I did was bash my head on the roof getting into the driver's seat. This car sits low and I am not so flexible as the years pile on.

At first glance nothing much has changed but closer inspection reveals a more interesting bumper and a new front and rear lights which are LED and put on a real show at night. Automatic dipping has reached new heights.

The major changes are inside and the first thing you notice is a stubby gear lever which has replaced the eye catching rotary dial which raised from its bed when the ignition was switched on. That was so cool but on balance I prefer the lever which looks more sporty and turns the automatic eight speed gearbox into a manual change should you wish, although I prefer playing with the steering wheel paddle shifters. Puts me in Louis Hamilton mode...

Like its competitors Jaguar has gone full on digital for the centre console with a main 10 inch screen for radio, navigation, phone and such like, and a smaller screen below for heating. I don't always like digital heating controls, they can take your eyes off the road for too long, but this set up is clear and selections can be made quickly. Driver and passenger have a big dial each to select temperature, fan speed or heated seat level. This three in one function looks over complicated but you quickly get the hang of it.

Even my wife, a big critic of digital displays, thought this system acceptable so I am sure Jaguar will be relieved to have her seal of approval.

Response time on the big screen for navigation etc is sharp and although there is no 360 degree function the rear camera definition is good. And talking of cameras there is a special treat with a camera filling the rear view mirror. Turn it off if you don't like it. Pity it is part of a £1,470 technology package.

I liked it nearly as much as the heated windscreen, another aid which more car companies should adopt.

Then there is the new steering wheel. Quite a lot going on here, one function in particular standing out. The speed limiter, normally a shared switch with cruise control, is a dedicated button right under the thumb and is up and running in two seconds. And there is a head up display for the driver so no excuse for breaking speed limits.

So all fine and dandy in the cabin? Not quite although this particular flaw doesn't seem to bother Jaguar. The meagre rear legroom has been a complaint since the start and it is no better now. Even I found it tight with my short legs and head room is sparse as well.

Boot space is best described as okay, how often do you load a boot anyway, but it failed the golf clubs and trolley test although you would never get those into a BMW 3 Series either.

What's left? The most important bit, how it drives! It is a Jaguar so expectations are high and it does not disappoint. I could drive the XE until I fell asleep which I wouldn't because it is so much fun. This is agility and balance of the highest order and the weight of steering is spot on. Performance is brisk as you would expect from a 250bhp 2-litre petrol.

So where does XE figure in this illustrious group? On looks alone the Jaguar is my top pick, just ahead of the Alfa and Volvo with the Germans bringing up the rear. Without driving all six around a track it is impossible to give a definitive answer...but I told my wife I want one if she wins the lottery.

Next up is the new Audi A4 so let's see what that brings to the table.

Key facts

XE HSE Dynamic

£40,335 (£46,315 test car extras)

2-litre petrol; 247bhp

0-60mph 6.2secs; 155mph

36.2mpg combined

159g/km. 1st road tax £530

Boot: 455 litres

Insurance group 31