Extra officers on patrol this bank holiday, say police

North Wales Police will have extra officers on the local beat during the forthcoming bank holiday weekend.

That is the message, sent via the online Neighbourhood Alert network from PCSO Karl Joseph.

He says: "With summer holidays coming to an end and depending on weather, Llangollen is expected to be really busy. "I just wanted to let you know, that extra officers will be on high-visibility foot patrol in the town." The reassurance comes after a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town centre last weekend, including arguments over cars parking on the pavement and in Centenary Square.

Steam returns to Llangollen Railway for the holiday weekend

* Steam loco 68067 will run at the railway this weekend.

Llangollen Railway has announced that steam trains should be running again over the August Bank Holiday weekend, thanks to the help of another railway and an historic engine built during the Second World War.

The War Department (WD) "Austerity" saddle tank locomotive No 68067 arrived on Thursday from the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire. 

The historic engine was built in 1943 by Hudswell-Clarke in Leeds and will be staying while repairs are undertaken the railway's resident steam locos.

Running with the British Railways number of No 68067, the identity of a scrapped classmate, the loco carries shining black British Railways livery and has an interesting history. 

After being sold on by the War Department, 68067 spent 30 years with the National Coal Board at several collieries, ending up at Bold near St Helens for the final four years of its career and picking up the name Robert. 

Lasting in industrial service until 1982, 68067 was amongst the UK's last steam locomotives in use outside of preservation. 

* The 68067 will run alongside the GWR Observation saloon.

Whilst at Bold, 68067 also took part in the legendary Rocket 150 celebrations in 1980, which included a trip onto the mainline to Rainhill, site of the historic 1829 trials that saw Stephenson’s Rocket prove that steam locomotives were the best way to operate services on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the World’s first intercity railway.

LR Press Officer Terry Pickthall said: “We are very pleased to see 68067 arrive with us after a challenging season. 

"Repairs to our resident locomotives have encountered problems and taken longer than expected, leaving us without a steam loco at the height of our season. 

"Although our diesel railcars and locomotives have done a superb job of filling the void, steam traction is very much at the heart of what we do and is always very popular with our visitors. 

"We are very grateful to the loco’s owners and wider team at the Great Central Railway who have make 68067’s visit to us possible. Everyone has pulled out the stops to get the engine to us in time for the Bank Holiday weekend, which is always a busy one for us."  

After some checks and a test run 68067 is due to be put straight to work at the Llangollen Railway today (Friday), tomorrow (Saturday) alongside a diesel locomotive and Sunday alongside a diesel railcar and will be staying in North Wales for at least the next few weeks until repairs are complete on the line's resident GWR heavy freight locomotive No 3802.

Terry added: “I was born in 1976, some eight years after steam engines disappeared from Britain’s mainline railways. However this was not the end of the story as many think. 

"As well as the heritage railway movement, many steam locomotives stayed in use on industrial railways in places like power stations and coal mines way into the 1980s. 

"I can actually remember seeing 'Robert' as an excited four year old boy when my Mum and Dad took me to the Rocket 150 event at Rainhill. 

"It’s a great feeling to see the loco again some 42 years later and visiting the railway on which I have been a proud volunteer for nearly 16 years."

* Tickets can be bought on the day of travel and advanced booking is available online at https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/.

Helicopter rescue drama above Pengwern Vale

* The Coastguard helicopter at the scene. Pictures courtesy of Phil Jones.

Two rescue helicopters were called to a hillside near Llangollen this afternoon (Thursday) to fly a man injured in a parapenting accident to hospital.

It is believed the casualty failed to make a successful launch from the usual site where a club flies from above Pengwern Vale.

Parapente is the term for a glide using an aerofoil parachute.

Helicopters from the Coastguard, the air ambulance and a vehicle ambulance were all seen to be in attendance together with the local mountain rescue team. 

The casualty was first winched aboard the Coastguard aircraft which then landed in Pengwern Vale to make a transfer to the air ambulance.

It is understood that the injured glider's friend called for the rescue parties immediately it happened. 

llanblogger has no information as yet on the casualty's condition.

* The injured man is winched to safety.

* ... and transferred to the waiting air ambulance.

Ysgol Dinas Brân students receive 'fantastic' GCSE results

* Above and below: Students celebrate their GCSE results.

Students at Ysgol Dinas Brân have today received their GCSE results after what staff describe as "an extremely difficult time" for all of the students taking external exams for the first time. 

A school spokesperson said: "We are extremely proud of all of the students who have all found it tough, but it is fantastic to see the hard work has paid off. 

"We are pleased with the results, with nearly 25% of the grades being A*/A. A good number of students received all A*/A, and we are incredibly proud of so many students who achieved their target grades or higher.

"I would like to thank all the staff and parents for their great support for the students. Well done everyone." ​

* Denbighshire County Council has congratulated pupils receiving their GCSE results.

Councillor Gill German, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children and Family Services, said: “On behalf of the Council I would like to congratulate all pupils that have received their GCSE results. 

“This last year has presented significant challenges for learners and they have made a tremendous effort to achieve their results, they have worked very hard to get here and have overcome a lot of obstacles. 

“There has been some fantastic partnership working to ensure students achieved the best results possible and pupils have received support from their families and schools. I would like to thank all those who have supported our hard-working students during this last year. 

“The council would like to wish all learners the very best in their next steps.”

Spooky kids wanted for theatre group's new show

A Llangollen theatre group is on the lookout for spooky kids to appear in its next production. 

Fresh from its success with Little Shop of Horrors last spring, Llangollen Operatic’s junior section, the Young ‘Uns, is returning to the world of the crazy supernatural to stage The Addams Family musical from February 16-18 next year. 

Preparations for the production are already underway and producer Pamela Williams has put out the call for budding young actors to fill a number of key roles. 

She said: “Basically we need boys. We are going to hold open auditions for the male roles of Gomez, Fester, Pugsley, Mal and Lucas. 

“They’re all superb parts and audition practice will be on Monday, September 5, from 6-8pm at the Operatic Studio off Castle Street. The idea is to go over songs, characters and dialogue. 

“The actual auditions will be in the same place the following Saturday, September 10, from 10am-12noon, and these are just for boys aged up to and including 18 years." 

The Addams Family is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. 

The show is based upon The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams in his single-panel gag cartoons, which depict a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things macabre. 

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, is all grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows. 

She's fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. With his cherished Morticia in the dark will Gomez manage to keep his daughter’s secret until the two families meet for a fateful dinner with hilarious consequences? 

* For further details, email: info@llangollen-operatic.co.uk 

MS backs campaign to reverse 20mph speed limits

Sam Rowlands, MS for North Wales, is backing a campaign to try and reverse plans to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit in towns across Wales. 

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government in the Welsh Parliament, was responding to an email from a South Wales man who has started a petition against the move. 

Mr Rowlands, who recently supported campaigners in Buckley fighting against this introduction, said it was about time Welsh Government started listening to local people. 

He said: “It really is quite alarming to see the Welsh Government riding roughshod over people’s views and not taking any of their concerns into account. 

“In the email I received it stated that over 50% responding to the consultation on the 20mph limit last year were not in favour of the proposal yet Welsh Government ignored this and rejected the result. 

“I feel so sorry for the people of Buckley who are having to cope with this 20mph limit and next year many more of our towns will suffer the same fate. 

“I do support letting councils put 20mph speed limits outside schools, hospitals and other areas where evidence shows it’s a benefit, but not a blanket 20mph speed limit across urban roads in Wales. 

“Monmouthshire County Council in South Wales have already said they plan to reverse the 20mp to 30mph on some roads which is a clear indication that the proposal is flawed. 

“It is about time Welsh Government started listening to local people instead of making undemocratic decisions. Meanwhile I urge all authorities to take the same stance as Monmouth council and listen to the locals and make the decisions which affect their residents.”

The new default speed limit to 20mph, which is due to be implemented in September 2023,  will affect 30mph roads with street lights fewer 200 yards apart but this can be overturned by local authorities.

Pentredwr group's success at counties show

 

* Rhys and Siân Hughes with Cath Jones and Gill Britten at the Flint and Denbigh Show.

A community group showcasing their special project to make better use of a valuable natural asset landed a top prize at the recent Flint and Denbigh Show. 

Pentredwr and District Community Association applied for Lottery funding for the Hwb project which is now half way through its two-year life. 

The association has numerous community aims centred around rural isolation and depravation and one aspect members are looking at is local Welsh Mountain grade fleece, an underused, undervalued and sustainable, fibre. 

To help raise public awareness of this natural fibre and accompanied by Gill Britten of Gwlângollen, they took a stand to explain some alternative uses for hill grade fleece at the show.

And they were delighted to win one of the first prizes for their efforts.

Project co-ordinator Sian Hughes said: "We won one of the stall categories. 

"We were thrilled with this recognition, but even more so by the genuine interest from everyone who visited out stand. 

"The pure disbelief people expressed at the poor value which is placed on such a versatile and natural fibre was overwhelming.  

"We are determined to drive forward our mission to get Welsh Mountain wool the recognition it so deserves."

She added: "We are working towards securing community prosperity by developing rural skills and enterprise, addressing rural isolation, supporting digital inclusion and access to services thereby strengthening the community. 

“Sheep production is central to farming in the valley and surrounding area, and shearing is essential to ensure the wellbeing and health of our local flocks. 

“Exploring the wider uses of locally produced Welsh Mountain fleece is a key element of the work we are doing. 

“In total, there are almost 120 different grades of wool in Britain.  Within each style of wool, fleeces are graded by quality with judgements made across a range of characteristics.  

“Our local wool is a totally natural, durable, sustainable, biodegradable fibre which is remarkably deemed as next to worthless in the current market. 

“Prices per kilo for wool have been steadily falling for many years whereas years ago the annual wool cheque would have covered rental for a farm, today, hill grade fleece in our area achieves on average 13p a kilo, meaning a whole fleece is worth only 26-30p. 

“Each sheep costs at least £1 to shear. Shearing is a very skilled job and extremely hard work. In addition, many man hours are required to gather and sort the sheep during the shearing season." 

Representatives from Hwb Pentredŵr and Gwlângollen manned two separate stands at show.

* For further details of these follow Hwb Pentredŵr, Pentredŵr and District Community Association and Gwlângollen Facebook pages. 

Hwb Pentredŵr is also on Instagram. Websites: hwb.Pentredwr.co.uk; Pentredwr.co.uk and gwlangollen.wixsite.com