Operatic and friends will remember Sarah Marshall at special show

Members of Llangollen Operatic Society are joining forces with their Young ‘Uns junior section and others to present a special show dedicated to their late choreographer Sarah Marshall.

Fresh from the success of their last big production, Into the Woods, the performers will remember Sarah, who died last October, with a spectacular evening of song and dance, entitled Something for Sarah, at Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday October 25.

The star-studded event aims to raise money for two of Sarah's chosen charities as suggested by her daughter Elin - Nightingale House Hospice and Friends of the Earth.

* Remembering Sarah Marshall.

The evening will feature a programme including group choral numbers and the Operatic contingent will present hits from their past shows.

The Young ‘Uns will contribute ensemble numbers representing Sarah's time working with them. 

There will also be fun dance performances by Julie Thomas and her Zumba Ladies and Panto Flashbacks which will see Llangollen Pantomime Group members revisiting some of the fun numbers which were choreographed for them by Sarah.

Her friends and family members will be guest speakers along with a representative of Nightingale House, which is strongly supporting the show.  

Tickets are priced at £10 and there will be a bar and raffle on the evening. Doors open at 6.15pm.  

* For more information, contact the Operatic Society’s Tracey Kempster Jones on 07875 639533.

Ysgol Dinas Bran records some 'excellent' GCSE results

 

Once again, Ysgol Dinas Brân was filled with happiness as the Year 11 students received their exam results. 

Many students were delighted, having achieved some excellent grades and feeling excited about their future and subsequent educational pursuits.

Headteacher, Mr Mark Hatch said: "I am very proud of all the students who worked so diligently and earned outstanding grades. I want to thank everyone for their hard work, and I wish all of our students the very best in their next endeavours, whether that be in our sixth form or college. Congratulations to all!"

Trading Standards issue warning after upsurge in rogue trader reports

Following increased reports of rogue traders, Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards Team are warning residents about the dangers of doorstep crime.

Rogue traders can affect anyone, but often elderly and vulnerable people are targeted by those offering home improvement services.

Callers may offer services such as window/gutter cleaning, path and driveway repairs, roofing or building work, gardening and tree maintenance or roof moss removal and can come across as being likeable pleasant individuals but can quickly become forceful and very persuasive once they start their sales pitch.

Scare tactics about leaking gutters causing damp and roots of trees damaging foundations are often used and it can be very easy to be taken in by these individuals.

Traders have also been known to attend at houses selling household products, claiming to recently being released from prison and that their work is a part of a rehabilitation scheme. This scam is often used to find out where elderly and vulnerable people live, and the traders will then pass this information on.

The council’s Trading Standards Team are warning residents to be extra vigilant when opening the door to cold callers, and to never agree to have work done or buy goods or services because of a doorstep call.

Residents are also encouraged to look out for vulnerable neighbours who may be at greater risk from being scammed and report any concerns to the police and Trading Standards.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “Rogue traders and doorstep crime pose a risk, particularly to elderly and vulnerable residents in Denbighshire and so it’s important that people know what to do if they suspect that a trader who has visited their home is trading improperly.

“It is important that residents don’t fall for the scare tactics, pressure sales or price reductions, genuine callers will not mind waiting or returning after you have had time to check their information.

“We strongly encourage residents to familiarise themselves with the Council’s guidance on rogue traders and doorstep crime by visiting our designated webpage.”

* To report rogue traders to Trading Standards, call the Citizens Advice Citizen Service helpline on 0808 223 1133. To contact a Welsh speaking adviser 0808 223 1144.  In an emergency dial 999. Or for more information on how to avoid rogue traders visit the website.

Llangollen named among the best towns in UK

* Picture of Llangollen by llanblogger

Llangollen - highlighted for its "freewheeling, independent spirit" has been named among the best in the UK by consumer watchdog Which?

* For the full story in Leaderlive, go to: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25402254.llangollen-among-uks-best-towns-villages/

Bilingual student to take next steps on her academic journey

Nimue Thomas, 18, a former pupil at Ysgol Dinas Brân, has received an offer to study Classical Civilisation at Durham University after completing A Levels in English Literature, History, Classical Civilisation, and the Level 3 Welsh Baccalaureate.

Reflecting on her time at Coleg Cambria Yale in Wrexham, Nimue, from Llangollen, said: “These past two years have been absolutely brilliant.

“From my very first day, I felt welcomed and supported, the teachers are fantastic, and their passion for their subjects made learning enjoyable and inspiring. I’ve loved every minute and would do it all again if I could.”

A proud Welsh speaker, Nimue was also grateful for the opportunity to continue her language studies.

“I really appreciated being able to complete the Welsh Baccalaureate through the medium of Welsh and having access to Welsh-language papers in exams and mocks. It was also great to be part of the college’s Welsh-speaking community.”

Outside of her studies, Nimue joined the college’s book club, led by tutor Carys Roberts, which she described as a highlight of her time at Cambria.

She now hopes to pursue a career in education or research within the field of Classical Civilisation.

Gareth Jones, Assistant Principal and Head of Yale Sixth Form at Coleg Cambria, praised her attitude and achievements: “Nimue is an outstanding student whose passion for learning and commitment to her subjects has been clear from the start.

“Her offer from Durham University is richly deserved, and we’re incredibly proud of everything she has accomplished. We wish her all the very best for the future and know she will go on to do great things.”

Don't make up your mind too quickly about this big Toyota hybrid

Toyota Hilux hybrid drive by Steve Rogers

Toyota has plenty to shout about with the latest version of the legendary Hilux pick up.

It has hybrid technology for the first time and it won the Dakar rally for the fourth time. And it came second as well so not bad for the CV.

Hilux has a worldwide following, 27 million have been shipped out of Japan since it was launched in 1968, setting a benchmark for those that followed. Not that it gets a free ride with strong competition from Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and the KGM (used to be SsangYong) Musso.

The only party pooper is the Government which has put the kibosh on rock bottom commercial tax rates enjoyed by company car drivers who chose double cab pick ups for the lucrative tax break. The double cab is now classed as a car closing the tax loophole.

Trendy lifestylers carrying jet skis and the like to the beach are good for the image but Hilux is still an off road giant, whether it is wading through water, traversing rocky slopes or tackling seemingly impossible descents. Toyota has stuck with the ladder frame chassis for its strength and rigidity and provided all the tech tools to tackle any off road challenge.

I have not been off roading but have been towing my caravan on a 150 mile trek to Pembrokeshire. Lots of hills, lots of twisting roads and lots of poor road surfaces but knowing the Hilux has the capacity to pull nearly three times the weight of my van is a feel good factor and the automatic gearbox takes the drudgery out of what would have been constant gearchanging. It also has trailer sway control, very reassuring with a 23ft caravan in tow.

The headline news is the mild hybrid system, only available with the 2.8 litre engine, which is an electric motor powered by a 48V hybrid battery. This will not give you miles of electric-only driving but should give a nudge to acceleration and improve economy.

It has done very little for performance but the engine is smoother while cruising. Compared to my last Hilux review a few years ago, economy while towing is unchanged although I did a bit better than the official average driving solo. The most noticeable improvement is the stop start which is instant now that it does not operate via the starter motor.

For those needing Hilux for heavy duty work there is a huge amount of grunt from the turbo diesel, hardly surprising given its 500Nm or torque. You can’t get away from the agricultural din under acceleration but cruising is acceptably smooth.

On the other side of the coin Hilux is a family proposition although you would want to go up the range for the normal SUV creature comforts. This Invincible X tops 40 grand and comfortably seats five adults with a pick up deck that will take a mountain of luggage and can be covered to the roofline. It is also perfect for hauling a fifth wheeler holiday trailer.

Don’t expect a magic carpet ride, after all this is primarily a go anywhere working pick up.

The slightest road blemish will send a body moving shudder through the chassis, but these are not jarring, so the updates to the suspension have clearly worked.

For this money you get auto dipping LED headlights, all round one touch powered windows, 360 degree view camera, ambient cabin lighting, leather upholstery, windscreen wiper de-icer and on board navigation as part of an extensive spec list. The eight inch touchscreen is small by today’s standards and the camera definition would benefit from a larger unit.

Another strong point are the steering wheel controls for the driver’s display. Everything is logical and easy to fathom and there is a simple button to turn off the lane assist. Why can’t all car manufacturers do that instead of burying it in the touch screen menu?

The Jack of all trades Hilux comes with multiple variations - single cab, extra with occasional rear seats, or a four door double which is the most popular.

The big question is whether switching from an SUV is the best solution when you are paying for a lot of off road technology that might never be used. A family get together around the dining table weighing the pros and cons might be better than a snap decision.

Fast facts

Hilux Invincible X hybrid

£41,525

2.8litre turbo diesel; 201bhp

6-speed automatic

0-62mph 10.7secs; 109mph

27.9-30.1mpg combined

242g/km

3500kg towing capacity

1085kg payload

Insurance group 43

Work starts on two major improvement schemes at school

Work has started this summer on improvements at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen.

Denbighshire County Council’s Property Team is managing two areas of work at the school to help benefit both pupils and staff at the site.

To support the wellbeing of pupils and staff, work will be carried out to replace the existing dining hall glazing.

It will be replaced with an insulated flat roof incorporating new polycarbonate roof lights. The work is expected to be completed by the end of August.

The property team is also commencing a second phase of work aimed at improving safety at the school site.

Phase 2 of the Ysgol Dinas Bran Safeguarding Scheme will see work carried out at the site to improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic management. The development will also increase segregation away from potential roadside risk to enhance pupil safety at the school.

This work is due to be finished by the end of October.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “We want to maintain the best environments at our schools across Denbighshire to support pupil development and promote strong learning. I’m pleased this work is going ahead at Ysgol Dinas Bran and would like to thank the school for their work and our Property Team for managing these projects.” 

Lads encounter pickpocket peril on next leg of their journey to Thailand

 

* The lads with Caco the bartender who helped them out with accommodation, food and a cash contribution.

* Louis had to visit the police station after being pickpocketed in Rotterdam.

The second week of their 10,000 cycling journey to Thailand began on a bitter/sweet note for the three lads from Llangollen who have taken up the challenge to raise support for heart research.

Their regular social media video log shows that just a day after landing in the Hook of Holland from a North Sea ferry 18-year-old Louis Dennis from Garth was pickpocket as they made their way through Rotterdam and his mobile phone was taken.

But there was some good news in the shape of a Caco, the bartender they encountered in the city. Not only did he fix them up with accommodation for the night, but also breakfast next morning and a welcome 100 euro donation to their travel fund.   

Louis, who admitted the theft had left him "at rock bottom", eventually found a replacement phone and on they went. 

The next day, as they reached Tilberg in thee Netherlands, the temperature hit 30 degrees which rendered them unable to do much cycling as they were "drenched in sweat."

Over the next two days the mercury shot up to 35 degrees, so it was day 13 out from Llangollen when they were at last able to hit the road again, setting out at 5am so they could do some miles before the sun started to beat down on them again.     

As they crossed the border into Germany at Venlo the lads found some apples growing in an orchard by the roadside. They were just helping themselves when the farmer showed up. A quick apology was all that was necessary before they were back in the saddles.

* Here's a link to the Westheads' socials on which you can follow their journey and make a donation if you wish: https://linktr.ee/westheads

* Caught scrumping in Germany - but the farmer accepted an apology. 

Town crier Chem and wife Jane mark golden wedding in style

* Chem and Jane, on the left, and their family thank guests for helping them celebrate 50 years of married life in the marquee at Plas Newydd.

Llangollen's well-known town crier, Austin "Chem" Cheminais, and his wife Jane put up a huge marquee in the grounds of Plas Newydd to celebrate their golden wedding yesterday (Saturday) evening.

* Guests mingle outside the big tent.

Over 60 of their family members from all parts of the UK along with a large number of friends from the town helped the couple mark their 50th anniversary in fine style.

Catering was by the team based at Plas Newydd while the bar was manned by members of Llangollen Fringe Festival.

A children's entertainer helped keep the younger guests entertained with games such as bubble blowing.

With close members of the family gathered around him Chem, a former town councillor and Llangollen mayor, thanked everyone for coming along to help Jane and himself celebrate the landmark occasion, adding that moving to Llangollen 14 years ago was the best thing they had ever done. 

* Young guests having fun blowing big bubbles with the children's entertainer.

Police appeal follows fatal road collision in Bwlchgwyn

North Wales Police have this afternoon (Saturday) launched an appeal for information following a fatal road collision in Bwlchgwyn yesterday evening.

It says: "We are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision involving four motorcycles and a Range Rover Evoque on the B5340 at Bwlchgwyn, Wrexham at 19:38hrs on Friday 15th August 2025.

"Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, the male rider of one of the motorcycles was pronounced dead at the scene. A second rider sustained serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Wrexham Maelor Hospital, where he remains under treatment."

Sergeant Alun Jones of the Roads Crime Unit said: “Firstly, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family at this very difficult time. This is now being investigated as a fatal road traffic collision.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who was travelling in the area and may have dash cam or mobile footage, to contact us.

“The road was closed for several hours whilst the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit carried out initial enquiries, and we thank the public for their patience and understanding.”

* Anyone with information is urged to contact the Roads Crime Unit via the live webchat on the North Wales Police website or by calling 101, quoting reference number C126741.

Intrepid fitness fans' hot idea to open their own sauna

* The newly-opened STōKED SAWNA in its outdoor setting near Mile End Mill. 

Two proud Welsh men who say they are "passionate" about health and fitness have just opened their own sauna business in Llangollen.

Over 15 years of friendship Gilbert Matthew and Mark Roberts have shared many adventures, from skateboarding the length of Wales in memory of two close friends and raising £25,000 for Nightingale House Hospice to kayaking the River Dee from source to sea. 

It was during one of these trips that the two hatched the plan to bring a wood-fired sauna to their home area in the Dee Valley.

A post-surf sauna session got them talking about how wonderful the experience was - as they describe it, "The contrast of spending time in the elements and then coming to a serene place of calm, winding the body down after exertion, and looking out of the sauna to a beautiful place".

* The men behind the idea, Gilbert Matthew and Mark Roberts. 

And that is how STōKED SAWNA, based at the far end of Mile End Mill’s car park, was born.

They spent many hours over the summer of 2024 transforming an Ivor Williams trailer into an off-grid sauna, both bringing an eye for detail and an ambition to create a truly special place for their local community. 

Mark is a skilled joiner and brought a honed talent to the building of STōKED. Gilbert is a specialized welder by trade, so he was able to bring energy and drive with a touch of engineering precision to the project.

The new business has already created between four and eight part-time sauna host roles.

They say: "Together we have created a beautiful sauna that is a joy to while away an hour or so in. 

"We are excited to welcome you to STōKED SAWNA, making Llangollen a hotter, healthier and happier place to live or visit."

* For more details of the new business, go to: www.stokedsawna.co.uk

Legion marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day in Centenary Square

Members of the Royal British Legion's Llangollen branch held a short ceremony in Centenary Square this morning (Friday) to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, when the Second World war officially came to an end on August 15 1945.   

Before the traditional two minutes' silence at 11am came the reading of the famous passage from For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."

The ceremony, held in brilliant sunlight, ended with the well-known verse from the Kohima Epitaph: "When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today". 

Ales are blessed at cheery St Collen's gathering

* Father Lee draws himself a foaming pint of ale. Below, people enjoy the gathering amongst the aisles.

It was cheers all round at St Collen's Church last night (Thursday) as free beer was served at a Blessing of the Ales ceremony.

On the feast of St Arnold of Soissons — patron saint of beer and brewers — there was a special beer tasting.

A rare 16th-century prayer was said to bless the ales, honouring a tradition as old as the church's historic hammer-beam roof which even has a carving of a man who is rolling beer barrels,

Everyone was welcome — whether they were church-goers or not.

Priest in charge, Father Lee Taylor, who organised the event, said:  "The church has always been a gathering place for the whole community and this was a joyful way to bring people together.

"So we raised a glass responsibly, enjoyed some local brews and celebrated in good spirits!"

Ysgol Dinas Bran celebrates set of 'fantastic' A Level Results

Students and staff at Ysgol Dinas Brân are celebrating another set of "fantastic" A level and vocational results, with students achieving "outstanding" grades and going on to top universities and other highly sought-after destinations.

A highly successful year with nearly quarter of all qualifications taken were passed with grades A* or A, with nearly 60% achieving grades A* to B.

The overwhelming majority of students making higher education applications have secured places at universities of their choice, including some of the most prestigious in the country.

Headteacher Mark Hatch said: "Our students have demonstrated impressive determination and resilience as a year group, tackling challenges with confidence. 

"We are proud of their remarkable achievements and delighted to see such success across a wide range of abilities, subjects, and qualifications. Once again, the results are impressive across the board, a testament to the hard work our students have put in. 

"We are extremely proud of each student’s individual accomplishments. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all students and thank their teachers and parents for their vital support in making these results possible.”

Council looks at plan to turn historic mill into holiday let

An historic listed woollen mill in the Ceiriog Valley could become a holiday let if plans are approved by Wrexham Council.

According to a story in Wrexham.com, the Grade II-listed Old Mill Welsh Shop was built in the 18th century as a small village flannel mill and is one of the oldest buildings in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog at the foot of the Berwyn mountains.

* For the full story, see: Plans to turn historic Ceiriog Valley mill into holiday let - Wrexham.com

Pioneering safety scheme targets sharp bend near Llangollen

A pioneering new road safety scheme is targeting sharp bends across north Wales - including one near Llangollen - to help protect motorcyclists.

* For the full story in the Denbighshire Free Press, see: New road safety scheme introduced on roads in North Wales | Denbighshire Free Press 

New Wrexham to Rhyl bus service starts in September

* Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales (left), announces the new route at the National Eisteddfod.

A new bus service connecting communities between Wrexham and Rhyl as part of Network North Wales is set to begin from September.

It will include an hourly bus service between Ruthin and Wrexham, an upgrade from the current two-hourly service, and an hourly service between Wrexham and Rhyl on a Sunday.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales joined Transport for Wales (TfW) at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham to announce the launch of the new TrawsCymru T51.

Replacing the existing 51/X51 services, the new T51 service will begin operating at the end of September this year and will improve connectivity between Rhyl, Denbigh, Ruthin and Wrexham.

It will be operated by Arriva.

On announcing the new service, Ken Skates said: "Network North Wales is about improving public transport and connectivity in this part of Wales to unlock opportunity and potential for the region.

"In May I announced immediate priorities and TfW is delivering on these with the new TrawsCymru bus service  a clear example of that.

"More frequent services, simplified fares, connectivity with other bus services and newer vehicles are all part of this new service."

Adam Marshall (Head of Commercial Arriva Cymru) said: "Network North Wales is an exciting programme for Arriva to be involved with – its ambitious and will deliver significant improvements which will grow the network, increase modal shift and create opportunity for the people of North Wales.

"Arriva are looking forward to joining the Traws Cymru family with the commencement of the T51 service this September. We have worked closely with TfW, local authorities and our customers to shape this service. The result is improved connectivity, higher frequencies, lower fares and fleet investment."

From September 2025:

• hourly buses between Ruthin and Wrexham (an upgrade from the current two-hourly service)
• introduction of hourly service between Wrexham and Rhyl on a Sunday
• simplified fares and digital ticketing options

From March 2026:

• better integration with rail services and other TrawsCymru routes
• new modern, accessible vehicles designed for comfort and sustainability

* Read more about the Network North Wales programme and the T51 service on the Transport for Wales website.

County's e-bin trucks prevent a jumbo jet-sized hole in the atmosphere

* The bin truck known as Crystal Clear out on the road. 

A jumbo jet-sized amount of carbon emissions has been saved thanks to a service’s greener fleet.

Currently around 15% of Denbighshire's waste fleet is electric powered and used on suitable routes for collection work.

This fleet has undergone changes since 2022 to help reduce its and the council’s carbon footprint whilst carrying out collection work across the county.

During early 2023 two Dennis Eagle e-Collect refuse collection lorries were introduced on county's northern routes. The vehicles are able to put in up to 100 miles and do 1,000 bin lifts per single charge.

These lorries provide long term costs savings through lower running costs compared to fossil fuel vehicles and cheaper maintenance due to less parts to maintain on the lorries.

Within the last 18 months five refuse recycling Electra e-Cargo lorries became a part of the fleet. The vehicles provide a range of up to 155 miles, again offering greener lower cost miles and cheaper maintenance. They can also be spotted out on the road as each are named on the front of the cabs, Christal Clean is one you can spot.

Currently the use of the vehicles has produced carbon savings of 409,493kg against the diesel equivalents. To put this into perspective this is the same as a loaded 747 Jumbo or Airbus A380, around 67 fully grown male African elephants or roughly four Flying Scotsmans.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We have looked hard at our overall fleet to see where we can reduce emissions through electric vehicles by introducing them to replace end of life stock and through funding support.

“Waste is an important service, and these EV lorries are integral to helping reduce carbon emissions their fleet produces on a daily basis.

“Our fleet department is constantly monitoring suitable ways for service delivery to reduce our vehicle carbon footprint and the use of these EVs is a prime example of this which will also help reduce long term costs compared to running fossil fuel vehicles."

 

Landslide repairs to Newbridge Road nearing fulfilment, says report

* The picture of the site used with the story.

Landslide repairs to Newbridge Road are nearing fulfilment, according to a council report.

Having been closed for more than four-and-a-half years remedial work on the B5605 is edging towards “substantial completion," it adds.

* For the full story in North Wales Live go to: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/landslide-fix-invaluable-road-nearing-32241697

Westheads lads are now heading out across Europe

* The lads riding off into the sunset as they headed across the Netherlands.

After a week of hard pedalling and camping three lads from the Llangollen aiming to ride 10,000 across the world to Thailand in aid of heart research are now on mainland Europe.

Friends Dyfan Hughes, 17, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 18, from Garth, and James Thomas,18, from Wrexham aim to cycle the 10,000 miles to Thailand in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack six months ago.

The intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, pedalled away from Lllangollen Football Club's HQ the Saturday before last at the very start of a mammoth ride which they reckon will take them at least 18 months to complete. 

And they have been posting regular updates on their progress on social media.

* Getting ready to hot the North Sea ferry. 

Their bulletins began on day three of three of their journey with a short video which described how they had run into heavy rain just outside Leicester, Theyy also filled in details of their route, which should take them from their North Sea ferry landing point in the Hook of Holland and out through Germany, along the course of the Danube river, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey and into Georgia.

Later film updates saw them doing sometimes over 50 kms a day as they headed east towards the ferry in Harwich, stopping to buy food and even play a game of footy with some local lads they spotted along the road.

On day seven they recorded how they came ashore in the Netherlands, to buy breakfast, shop for food supplies and admit they were "buzzing with excitement".

They then found themselves some free showers for cyclists and spent their first night ashore sharing a flat with some other Brits.

* llanblogger will bring you further updates on the Westheads as they come in. You can see them yourselves here: https://linktr.ee/westheads