Hospital beds question under discussion

North Wales has nearly 400 fewer hospital beds and 350 fewer nurses than five years ago, according to new figures obtained by Plaid Cymru – the Party Of Wales.

The figures, released following a series of Freedom of Information requests, shows that in October 2009 the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board had 2677 in-patient beds and employed 6276 nurses. By October 2014 the figures were 2284 in-patient beds, a 15% fall, and 5907 nurses, a 6% drop.

Wrexham Maelor Hospital saw a drop of 50 beds coupled with the closure of Flint and Llangollen community hospitals during that period (1).

At the same time, the number of inpatient cases in North Wales rose from 80,867 to 86,249 – a 6.7% rise. But in Wrexham Maelor the rise in the past year alone has been 15% - from 26331 to 30409.

Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said that such a reduction in beds and nursing staff was contributing to the difficulties the NHS was facing in terms of coping with a growing elderly population and ensuring there were beds for those brought in by ambulance to A&E.

Mr Gruffydd said: “Closing wards such as the Acton ward in the Wrexham Maelor , coupled with the loss of many community hospitals, help explain why we are seeing long queues of ambulances outside our main hospitals and why people waiting so long for operations.

“The health board claims that nurse recruitment is the problem but nurses tell us they’ve applied to work Bank shifts and not heard back from the board. Instead, we’re seeing expensive agency nurses being recruited when we need longer-term planning in terms of workforce recruitment and retention.”

He was also critical of the health board’s claims that care was now focussed in the community: “These cuts in hospital services would be easier to stomach if we had seen an equivalent increase in funding for community care and GPs, but the truth is that we are facing a looming crisis in GP and primary-care services. I fear GP shortages will be the ‘health story’ of 2015, unless something drastic is done about it.

 “Care at a hospital might be an out-dated concept for health bosses who want to see more care delivered at home but, until the structure and provisions are in place to ensure that home-care is functioning properly and can be delivered within budget, then there is a real danger that the system will fail if they reduce the number of beds and nurses.

 “In recent years, Labour has underfunded the NHS in Wales and, as a result, we have seen a health service struggling to meet demand, which is rising with every new medical breakthrough and with a population that is living longer. The Cardiff Labour Government is presiding over an NHS that employs fewer nurses and has fewer facilities than it did five years ago – that’s a huge indictment of their misrule.”

* See the statistics at:  

1     https://statswales.wales.gov.uk/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Activity/NHS-Beds/NHSBeds-by-Organisation-Site

* In a related story local health services campaigner Martin Crumpton has contacted llanblogger to say:

“The current BBC website story in which an emergency medicine consultant has blamed a drop in his hospital's performance on a lack of capacity in parts of the region shows that at last, somebody with a voice they can’t ignored has told them what I’ve been saying all along, but studiously ignored. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30863360

“As llanblogger readers will know, this confirms everything I’ve been campaigning against since our Cottage Hospital and others were closed. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written to the Board of Betsi Cadwaladr urging them to reopen our hospital and others in North Wales so misguidedly, reprehensibly and disastrously shut in the now-infamous `North Wales Health Is Changing’ debacle.

“Blaming this on internecine political wars between the Welsh and English NHS authorities is nothing short of ludicrous and is procrastination instead of action. Last week, I watched the Parliamentary Select Committee in which it was made crystal clear that the NHS cannot un-knot itself from the bed shortage without a sharp and immediate increase in bed capacity – well, the capacity was there all along until the bean counters of the loathed Mary Burrows regime decided they could spreadsheet their way to major savings.

“And it’s going to get worse because of the same ill-thought-out policy: When the GP practice and the chemist move to the wholly-unnecessary new and bedless Health Centre at the far edge of Llangollen, are going to react instinctively and dial 999 if they develop worrying symptoms or their children sustain deep cuts. It’s human nature, especially where children are involved. Ambulances DO NOT take people to clinics or Minor Injury Units, only to hospital A&E.

“Llangollen is an elderly town with a high proportion of residents without private transport. For the majority, it’s relatively quick and easy to get to the Regent Street Health Centre for worries and minor injuries. Anyone’s understanding of human nature and physical capability will know that the River Lodge site is beyond reach if you don’t have a car, and you’ll certainly think twice about leaving blood or vomit all over a taxi, if you can afford one – if you can risk waiting for one, as they’re not bound by NHS target times to arrive.

“Something I find genuinely disturbing is the silence coming from the doctors at the Regent Street Health Centre. To date they’ve only given one statement  - they opposed the closure of the Cottage Hospital.

“I ask the doctors to reconsider moving to the new health centre, and to put their weight into helping the campaign to have the Cottage Hospital re-opened. There cannot be a better outcome for us and North Wales at this time.”

Step out in Llan's walking festival this May

* The beautiful countryside around Llangollen where some of the walks will be held.

PEOPLE are being invited to step out in the annual Llangollen Walking Festival, which takes place in and around the town this May.

Organiser Mike Smart, of Summerhill-based walking guides company Treksmart, said: “We’re inviting people to come and join us in this beautiful Victorian town where walkers are welcome, for short, medium and long walks all within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Programme for the festival, which takes place over three days on May 2, 3 and 4, is:

Saturday May 2

• UNESCO World Heritage Site walk (easy walk of 4.5 miles)

• Llangollen town history walk (easy)

• Castle, cliff top, valley and fantastic views (moderate walk of eight miles)

• Ponderosa, World's End, High Moors, Cliff Top, castle and fantastic views (strenuous walk of 12 miles)

• Evening entertainment, with local food and drink, Welsh folk tale storytelling (in English), music and song

Sunday May 3

• Food and drink walk (easy 3.5 miles)

• Steam train ride and walk (moderate walk of eight miles)

• Steam train ride and walk and high moors and wilderness trek (strenuous walk of 15 miles)

Monday May 4

• History in the landscape walk (3.5 miles)

• Photography walk (easy)

• Chirk Castle, two aqueducts, Offa's Dyke, battle site and Pilgrims Way (strenuous walk of 12 miles) 

• Nordic walking for beginners

• Nordic walk advanced level

Mike Smart added: “Apart from all this we’ll also have free Welsh beer for the over-18s and other free refreshments on some walks.”

 

* For more information go to: http://www.llangollenwalkingfestival.co.uk/ or e-mail to hello@treksmart.net. The festival is also on Facebook. 

Town awakes to covering of snow

* Castell Dinas Bran with a covering of snow this morning.

Llangollen awoke to a covering of snow this morning (Sunday).

The forecast for the rest ofSunday is that it will be another cold day across the country with some sunny spells and also a wintry mix of showers, especially across western and northern parts.

Snow showers will mainly over the hills in these parts.

Young 'Uns to stage Half a Sixpence

* The full cast of Half a Sixpence line up. (Pictures by Barrie Potter).

LLANGOLLEN Operatic Society’s junior section, The Young ‘Uns, are busy with final preparations for their 26th annual show, Half a Sixpence. 

This is a sparkling new version of the smash-hit musical, based on the novel by H G Wells, which toured across the UK in 2007/2008.

It has all the familiar storylines and characters of the original show and the 1967 film starring Tommy Steele but has been re-imagined for today’s audience with additional scenes, bigger roles for some of the supporting characters, more pace and more humour.

The chorus has as much if not more involvement than in the original show and there are many new minor roles which have given the Young ‘Uns chorus members an opportunity to shine.

Charlie Hackforth (pictured below left) plays the part of Kipps, the oldest draper apprentice in the business. 


Joanna Stallard (pictured above left) is Anne, his long term sweetheart despite Kipps’ short-lived engagement to Helen Walsingham, played by Amy Jones. 

Cassius Hackforth plays Chitterlow, an eccentric actor/playwright who discovers Kipps and shows him he has inherited ‘a fortune’. 

Luke Haynes plays Young Walsingham, who becomes Kipps’ financial adviser and speculates his fortune away, and Beth Evans plays Mrs Walsingham, their mother.

Audiences can expect plenty of singing and dancing from cast members ranging in age from six to 18.

Producer Pamela Williams also provides choreography, Chrissie Ashworth is the artistic director, Dee Smith is assistant producer and Julian Cattley has joined as musical director.

The show will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 5, 6 and 7, at 7.30 p.m. On the Saturday there will also be a matinee performance at 2.30pm.

* Tickets, priced at £8 for adults and £5 concessions, are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre, Jades Hair and Beauty, Gwyn Davies Butcher or Stella Bond on 01978 860441.    

 

The day last the last train ran through Llan 50 years ago

* Llangollen GP Dr Rhys Davies, as a young boy, waits to board the final passenger train to run through Llangollen 50 years ago.

* Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, the fireman on the last

 train through Llangollen, returned the station to meet the crew

of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

 

To mark the 50th anniversary today (Friday) of the day the last passenger train ran through Llangollen before the service fell victim to Dr Beeching's axe, llanblogger brings you this special feature prepared with the help of Llangollen Railway's George Jones ... 

THE last train through Llangollen on the Ruabon to Barmouth line ran on January 16, 1965.

And to mark the 50^th anniversary of the momentous event George Jones of Llangollen Railway, who remembers it very well, has been looking back to when Dr Beeching’s infamous axe fell on the passenger service.    

He recalled: “The Ruabon to Morfa Mawddach/Barmouth line was listed for closure in a report published by the British Railways Board (BRB) in 1963, entitled The Reshaping of British Railways.

“This was at a time when Dr Richard Beeching was chairman of the BRB having been brought in from ICI by the Minister for Transport, Ernest Marples.

“The decision to appoint him followed a statement by Harold McMillan, the then Prime Minister, in March 1960 to the House of Commons, when he said: `First the industry (i.e. railways) must be of a size and pattern suited to modern conditions and prospects. In particular, the railway system must be remodelled to meet current needs, and the modernisation plan must be adapted to this new shape.’

“This was at a time when the British Railways operating deficit had reached £86.9m rising to £135.9m when interest and other charges were added and was causing popular national concern.

“The report and its conclusions were handwritten by Dr Beeching, with financial information added, but nowhere does his name appear in the document. Despite this it is popularly known as The Beeching Report.

“Whilst Dr Beeching might be seen as the ‘axeman’ in the eyes of the public and the popular press, it is generally accepted now that the ideas set out in the report to reshape British Railways were sound, even if some of the individual line closures were questionable on the basis of the limited information available on which to make the decisions.

“A continuing criticism of the report is that it gave no consideration to future population growth and economic expansion of certain areas.

“The estimated annual loss for keeping the line open, as quoted at the TUCC Objectors meeting, was - operating cost £152k less revenue £47k - £105k a year plus £93k for track renewals in future years.

“The original date for closure was set as November 23, 1964 but delayed due to the need for Crosville to arrange the bus service.”

George added: “Objections to line closures were to be made to the Transport Users Consultative Committees and would only be accepted for cases of hardship resulting from the closure.

“Due to the absence of other public transport along the length of the line west of Llangollen, the objections of hardship were accepted and recommended to the Minister.

“However, the result was to arrange for the Crosville bus company to provide a rail replacement bus service along the line of route to allow for its closure. This was delayed until such time as Crosville could acquire the additional vehicles to operate the new route as the X94 from Wrexham through to Barmouth.

“When the vehicles were available the line’s closure was set for January 18, 1965, effective from Saturday, January 16, the last day of trains to Llangollen and Barmouth to Bala – the service between had been suspended due to flooding in December 1964.

“It was soon recorded that the X94 route was the biggest loss making bus route in Wales.

“Whilst the passenger service was withdrawn in January 1965, the line to Llangollen remained open but only for goods traffic to the yard west of the station until final closure in April 1968.

“This situation was maintained despite the town pleading for excursions to be operated to the station during Eisteddfod week.

“The railway was then dismantled in its entirety and Llangollen station became derelict for the want of agreement for it to be redeveloped.

“It was only after 10 years disuse that the preservation scheme took hold and returned it to use from 1975. Without the railway venture taking off the site would likely have been cleared and a notable feature of the Llangollen scenery would have disappeared.

“Many people who come to the heritage railway today to enjoy the heritage line and lament the line’s closure say it should have been kept open.

“Had it been retained the line would have been severely rationalised and probably only the main stations – Llangollen, Corwen, Bala, Dolgelley - would remain.

“In today’s world it would be operated by Arriva Trains Wales with a minimal diesel service, not unlike that provided on the Central Wales line.

“There would be no aspects of the steam age heritage as have been recreated by the Llangollen Railway which is what a lot of people come to experience and enjoy as elements of a bygone age.

“As someone once said, Dr Beeching did us a favour in closing the line as it gave us, the volunteers, a reason for recreating it – even if it has taken 40 years to achieve the dream of rebuilding 10 miles from Llangollen to Corwen – with a bit still to do.”

Christopher Magner, a rail enthusiast who travelled from Wirral to record the final day, said: “I was very sad when I travelled on the last train  from Llangollen. It was so frustrating that all the efforts  to keep the route open had come to nothing in the face of officialdom."

How the press recorded the occasion

Under the headline “The Beeching axe fell on the Barmouth line on Saturday night,” this how the Leader of the day recorded the closure.

“Hundreds of people waited at stations to watch the last trains go by.

“Scores bought tickets for momemtos, while others made the trip.

“Yesterday, (Monday 18 Jan) the Wrexham-Barmouth bus service, replacing the train came into operation.

“The first bus left Wrexham at 7.25 was empty. The first fare was picked up at Llangollen.

“Business in the opposite direction was much better.

“The last train from Ruabon left at 5-50pm on Saturday (16 Jan). Normally, only a handful of people travel on it. On Saturday 40 passengers, some with tape-recoding equipment to catch the last hoots, whistles, etc, were aboard. Flashbulbs popped. It was more like an opening than a closure.

“Railway enthusiasts, some having travelled from the South of France, the Midlands and Merseyside had a bitter pill to swallow when the train reached Llangollen.

“Recent floods had closed the Llangollen-Bala section of the line and the rail passengers had to leave the train and travel that section by bus.

“About 100 people were on Llangollen station to see it chug in and unload. It turned round at 7-15 and went back to Ruabon.

“At Bala about 70 people were on the train for Barmouth. Once more, people crowded the station platform which was bare of lamps, seats and other fittings which had been bought mostly by the 70-odd station staff.”

llanblogger helps unearth rare picture

llanblogger has helped the town’s heritage railway unearth a rare picture of the last British Rail train to run through the local station.

We put out the call to our readers and swiftly received a reply from well-known local GP, Dr Rhys Davies.

He sent in an atmospheric black and white picture – thought to be one of only a few in existence – showing himself as a boy along with a group of other travellers gathering by the final train into the station.

Dr Davies said: “The picture is of the last train into Llangollen in January 1965. I'd gone on it with my mother and one of my brothers.

“I am the little lad in the duffle coat looking at the engine after we'd got off. I kept the ticket, but I think it's long gone!”

Railway spokesman George Jones said: “The picture is excellent. The locomotive number looks right – 46509.

“Our expert Chris Magner has studied it and says it is a notable find after all these years.

“The loco is an Ivatt 2 Class as used in the latter days of the line and known as a Mickey Mouse.

“The last train, with driver Fred Taylor and fireman Elwyn Jones, both of Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham, was an historic occasion and a bitter end to a battle to retain train services to the town.”

“As there is no train service planned in January 2015 beyond the 4th, Llangollen Railway will not recreate the event as such on the anniversary date.

“However, finding this picture is very significant as I had been unaware of any photo of the last train leaving Llangollen.” 

Llanblogger editor Phil Robinson said: “I am delighted our news website has been able to help the railway in this way. My thanks to Dr Davies for getting in touch.

“The last British Rail train out of the station was a landmark occasion in the history of our town.”

Last fireman returns to the station

The man who was the fireman on the last British rail passenger train through the station 50 years ago made a sentimental journey back to Llangollen last weekend.

Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, was on the footplate of the 7.15pm from Llangollen on January 16, 1965.

Mr Jones returned the station last Saturday to meet the crew of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

Speaking about the occasion 50 years ago, he said: “My abiding memory of the occasion was thinking. `this will be the last time I do this here’, as I put the water hose into the engine's tender to top up the water level for the journey back to Ruabon.” 

Skates welcomes funding boost for disadvantaged areas

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates has welcomed Welsh Government funding of more than £30m to help people in some of the country’s most disadvantaged areas.

The £31.7m boost was announced recently as part of the Communities First programme and will benefit areas close to Llangollen.

Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates, a member of the Welsh Government, said: “This investment will benefit 52 areas, known as ‘clusters’, and support some of the most vulnerable people in Wales by combating poverty and promoting education, health and economic prosperity.

“These areas will benefit from the funding between April 2015 and March 2016. The announcement includes £1.25m being split between two clusters in the Wrexham County Borough Council area.

“As well as the Caia Park/Hightown patch in my colleague Lesley Griffiths AM’s constituency, the Urban Villages Wrexham cluster in – which includes Pant, Penycae, Plas Madoc, Gwenfro and areas of Brymbo and Cefn Mawr – will also benefit from further Welsh Government support.

“The funding is another boost from the Welsh Government for its work to support Wales’ most vulnerable communities and narrow the economic, education and health gaps between our most deprived and affluent areas.”

Welsh health service gets £40m boost

The Welsh Government is allocating an extra £40m to the Welsh NHS in 2014-15 to help it deal with winter pressures, Finance Minister Jane Hutt announced today.

 

The extra investment, which comes from the Welsh Government’s reserves, follows the announcement that an additional £200m is being allocated to the Welsh NHS in 2014-15.

 

The £40m investment is the equivalent amount for Wales to the additional £700m the UK Government has given to NHS England to help it deal with winter pressures.

The Welsh NHS – like health services across the UK – has experienced sustained pressure over the Christmas and New Year period as a result of increased demand from an influx of sick patients.

Pressures on the NHS in Wales have included:

• GP out-of-hour services experienced their busiest festive period since they were established
• The Welsh Ambulance Service saw a significant rise in the most critically-ill patients using its services, with unprecedented levels of demand over recent weeks
• Hospital emergency departments across Wales have reported an increase in admissions of patients with acute conditions, complex needs and dependency.

Finance Minister Jane Hutt said: “The additional £40m I’m announcing today means that in 2014-15, the Welsh NHS will have received nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in extra investment to deliver high-quality, sustainable health services.

“With an additional £295m being invested in 2015-16, which includes the £70m revenue funding as a result of the Autumn Statement, it means increased investment in our Welsh NHS of more than half a billion pounds over two years.

“This demonstrates our clear commitment to a sustainable NHS in Wales based on the reforms outlined in the Nuffield report.”

Welcoming the additional investment, Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This additional investment in our health service will help our NHS deal with the significant pressures the service is facing – pressures that are being experienced across the UK as a result of increased demand from an influx of sick patients.

“Winter is a very busy period for our health, social care and social services – but our urgent and emergency care services, in particular, are seeing significant extra demand on their services.

“I want to thank staff who are working tirelessly, often in difficult situations, to ensure that those people who have needed urgent and emergency care have received high-quality treatment and services and have been treated with care and compassion.”

Entrants sought for Llan sponsored walk

* Walk the hills around Llangollen in aid of Cancer Research UK.

ENTRANTS are being sought for second Llangollen Round Challenge to be staged this summer in aid of Cancer Research UK.

When the sponsored walk was last held three years ago almost £36,000 was collected for the charity and organisers say they are hoping to beat that amount this time round.

The idea is to walk 35 miles in the hills surrounding the town in either one or two days on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31.

The route will be fully waymarked and marshalled, with checkpoints offering refreshments, and certificates and medals will be awarded to those completing the course.

For more details, call 07905 330788, or visit www.llangollenround.info for further information and an entry form.

Llan's MP slams PM over oil prices

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has criticised David Cameron's Government for failing to regulate energy prices for oil. 

Speaking today (Wednesday) in a debate on energy prices in the House of Commons, she said: "The Government has totally betrayed people living in rural communities on this issue.

"It hasn't even brought oil prices under the scope of the regulator Ofgem.

"It just shows how out of touch the Government is when they think what matters to people living in rural areas is bringing back fox hunting, not everyday issues like the cost of oil."

Today's debate was tabled by the Labour Party who called on the Government to bring forward new laws to ensure energy suppliers pass on price cuts to consumers.
 

Call goes out for Pavarotti memories

* Luciano Pavarotti’s triumphant return to Llangollen in 1995.

An appeal has been launched to commemorate the double anniversaries of the late great opera singer Luciano Pavarotti’s visits to Wales’s top international cultural festival.

 

This year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July will stage an exhibition to commemorate both the 60^th anniversary of Pavarotti’s first visit to the event and also the 20^th anniversary of his triumphant appearance in 1995.

 

The world’s best known tenor burst onto the world stage at the 1955 International Eisteddfod as a slim 19-year-old trainee teacher, part of the Chorus Rossini from Modena in northern Italy which that year won the male choral competition.

 

That is now the coveted Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy, one of the most glittering prizes in the choral world.

* Pavarotti’s first appearance at Llangollen, as part
of Chorus Rossini from Modena in 1955. 

This year it will be decided on Saturday, July 11, the centrepiece of the 69^th Eisteddfod which runs from Tuesday, July 7, to Sunday, July 12, and which this year will feature a special exhibition dedicated to Pavarotti’s two visits to Llangollen.

 

He returned in 1995, 40 years after his first visit and Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “He has been one of the towering giants of music in our time and it all began here at Llangollen.

 

“We have a special link with Pavarotti who graciously agreed to give his name to the Choir of the World Trophy and who never forgot his first visit here and attributed his decision to make music his life to that 1955 success.”

 

Pavarotti, who died in 2007, had joined his local choir because his father, Fernando, a baker, was a stalwart member and the moment the Modena choir won the competition and the visit to Llangollen left an indelible impression on him and he often spoke of it.

 

The experience also helped shape his destiny and he once famously said that if he could win the first prize with a small choir from Modena, he could do anything.

 

He and his father stayed at the home of Alice and William Griffiths, at Beech House, Froncysyllte, for the week of the Eisteddfod and 40 years later Pavarotti would still enquire earnestly about the lady in whose home he had been a guest.

 

He once said of his time boarding with the Griffiths family in Fron: “I remember well the house I stayed in. All the way from Italy, I was exercising my English. But when we are brought to the house in Llangollen and meet the family, I understand not a word.

 

“I did not know there was such a language as Welsh. Even now I think how lucky they don’t write operas in such a language for me to sing. I would be out of work. It is impossible for us Italians to learn.”

 

Pavarotti said many times that he wanted to go back to Llangollen one day and that desire was fulfilled in 1995 when he made a triumphant return to headline at that year’s eisteddfod, marking the 40^th anniversary of his first visit to north Wales.

 

He accepted an invitation to be President of the Day, on condition that his father could share the Day Presidency with him, so for the first and only time, the Eisteddfod had two joint Presidents of the Day.

 

Eisteddfod Chairman Gethin Davies was an usher back in 1955 and admits he doesn’t recall the young Pavarotti. He said: “I kept a diary in those days and was looking through it recently and it just said, ‘Male Voice Choir today and a choir from Italy won’. I think I was more interested in my current girlfriend.

* Llangollen Eisteddfod
Chairman Gethin Davies.

“But being an usher was wonderful for a teenager and I used to volunteer to be there all day and I saw people like violinist Yehudi Menuhin and the great Bulgarian bass Boris Christoff.

 

“I was chairman by the time Pavarotti came back in 1995 and I remember he came on waving his handkerchief and he was great and sang some marvellous stuff, including one of his own composition.

 

“I watched it recently as they still show the performance on Sky Arts occasionally and he was quite magnificent.

 

“He was a very genial man but just like all the greats there was an inner steel to him as well.

 

“I do recall that the day he was Day President on the Friday it was the only time I have seen the marquee packed for the Day President’s speech as people usually use the opportunity to slip out.”

 

That Friday Pavarotti fought his way to the stage through adoring crowds to tell a packed house: "Forty years ago, my God it seems to be just yesterday for me. I have done so many things. 

 

“I always say that to the journalists when they ask me what is a day more memorable in my life, and I always say that it is when I won this competition because it was with all my friends. With me at that time there was a person that I would like to have the privilege to introduce: my Father.”

 

To tumultuous applause, Fernando Pavarotti walked on stage to join his son, and Pavarotti Jnr declared: "He is stronger than me he has a voice more brilliant than mine - at least that’s what he thinks.”

 

His father, who spoke no English, then came on stage and charmed the audience by putting his hands together and bowing to them with a beaming smile on his face.

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “We would very much like to stage an exhibition to commemorate the link with Pavarotti and we have been in touch with the Pavarotti Foundation in Italy to see if they can play some part.

 

“We would also like to hear from people who may have memorabilia or their memories of Pavarotti’s visits to the Eisteddfod and who would be happy to loan them to us for the exhibition.”

 

For more information on this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk or go to the Facebook page www.facebook.com/Llangollen

 

If you have memorabilia or memories of Pavarotti at the Eisteddfod please contact Alistair Syme at Ceidiog Communication on 01824 703073 or at alistair@ceidiog.com

Tourism forum invite goes out

Tourism businesses in Llangollen are being invited to send representatives to a meeting of the Denbighshire Tourism Forum in February when the priorities for the second year of the county's Destination Management Plan will be discussed.

Organisers say there will also be an opportunity for businesses to network, share ideas and receive an update on tourism-related activity in Denbighshire.

The  forum will take place at the Oriel House Hotel, St Asaph on Wednesday, February 25 at 11am, with registration starting at 10.30am.

People interested in attending should register by e-mailing: dcc_tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk or by telephone: 01824 706223. 

Expert backs county's dog fouling campaign

A campaign by Denbighshire County Council to tackle dog fouling in the county has been backed by a prominent vet and specialist in parasitology.

Ian Wright from Lancashire has specialist qualifications in parasitology and has published a number of research papers. He is head of the European Scientific Council for Companion Animal Parasites, UK and Ireland.

Toxocara is a parasite found in a number of animals, including dogs and it can be passed to humans through infected dog mess.

People could potentially suffer a number of effects. The most well-known and recognisable effect is retinal scarring which can lead to damaged vision, but it can also lead to a variety of health issues such as abdominal pain, lethargy and dermatisis.  Infection has also been associated with an increased risk of epilepsy and asthma.

Ian said: "It is vitally important that we drive home the messages about Toxocariasis and the impact it can have on people's health and well-being.

"Whilst the number of cases is low, with only two people per million in the UK diagnosed with health problems, around 2% of the UK population have been exposed to infection, so this is likely to be a significantly under-estimated problem.

"Toxocariasis is easily preventable through regular de-worming of dogs (at least four times a year), picking up dog mess and good hand hygiene before eating and after playing in park and gardens and stroking dogs. The more dogs (and cats) that are unwormed, the greater the risk posed to the public.

"Also picking up dog mess and leaving it lying around in a bag does not help the situation, it needs bagging and binning properly. So I would urge Denbighshire residents to clean up after their dogs and help reduce the risk of health problems.

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager in Denbighshire, said: "The Council is delighted that Ian Wright is lending his support to the campaign.  We have done a lot of work around educating the public about cleaning up after their animals, but some people continue to allow their dogs to foul in public without thinking of the health consequences.

"The health risks are clear, but also the anti-social element is unacceptable.  Denbighshire residents tell us that dog fouling is one of their greatest concerns. We have listened to their concerns and we are trying to change behaviours and encourage people to clean up after their animals".

The Council already had promoted awareness of the problems that dog fouling can create for local sports clubs, with support from former Wales rugby player Rupert Moon, as well as a number of rugby and football clubs around the county.

People can report dog fouling by visiting the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/dogfouling or by contacting the Council, on 01824 706101. 

AM asks police about Trevaline Evans case

An Assembly Member is writing to North Wales Police asking if they plan to re-open the case of Llangollen woman Trevaline Evans who has been missing for almost 25 years.

Ken Skates, the member for Clwyd South who has his constituency office in Llangollen, says he hopes police might still be able to solve the mystery. 

And he believes the public might still be able to help establish what happened to 52-year-old Mrs Evans who disappeared on June 16, 1990.

After leaving a note in her antiques shop in Church Street saying she would be back in two minutes, she was never seen again and her body has never been found.

Mr Skates (pictured right) said: “Mrs Evans’ husband Richard passed away recently, aged 83, without ever knowing what had happened to his wife. It’s a tragic situation.

“North Wales Police have said the case remains open but the investigation is currently inactive.

 

"I’m sure Mrs Evans’ surviving family will never lose hope that they might find out what happened to her, and I would urge anyone who has information which could help to contact police.

“Twenty-five years is incredibly long time, and this is a most unusual case, but of course it’s possible that someone still alive today knows what happened.”

Mr Skates said he would write to North Wales Police to ask whether detectives planned to revisit the case.

Schools invited to design St David's Day flag

Schools across Denbighshire have been invited to join a creative competition to design a flag to commemorate St David's Day.

The competition, being arranged by Denbighshire County Council, invites infant school pupils to get creative and design an A4 sized design (painting, drawing, colouring etc) that would be transformed into a specially created flag to commemorate this special day.

The winning pupil will see his/her design being raised on a flagpole at County Hall, Ruthin, during a special ceremony on Friday 27th February 2015.  The flag will be flown for a few days and once lowered, will be given to the pupil as a memento of their winning design.

Junior school pupils are invited to write a poem about St David's Day.  The winning entry will be read out at the special ceremony at County Hall, and a framed copy presented to the winner at the ceremony.  

The Chairman of Denbighshire, Councillor Brian Blakeley, said: "We want to mark this very important day in the national calendar by engaging with schools and getting pupils to get creative with their thoughts and ideas.

"We have run similar competitions in the past and have been delighted with the response.  We have a lot of creative talent in our schools and we want to nurture that talent further.

"We look forward to receiving the designs and making our winning choices."

Legion branch changes its meeting place and time

* Llangollen's RBL members play a prominent role in the annual Remembrance ceremonies.

LLANGOLLEN’S Royal British Legion branch has changed the venue and time of its monthly meetings in a bid to reinforce its flagging membership.

Early last year, the 92-year-old branch of the national ex-service organisation faced closure due to a drop in support.

But the crisis was headed off when one of its members, John Lawton, agreed to take on the three key positions of chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Now the branch has opted for another major change of strategy to help boost membership.

John Lawton said: “Five members of the branch have been keeping it open for two years, meeting in The Hand Hotel at lunchtime on the first Tuesday of the month.

“One of the reasons given for non-attendance by members was that lunchtime is not convenient as people are working.

“Accordingly, from February 5, meetings will be held at Llangollen RAFA Club on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm.

“It remains to be seen if the promises of attendance are kept.”

The branch, which was founded in 1923 as a gathering point for men who had served in World War One, thrived for years but has recently suffered from falling attendances at meetings.

Crisis point came early last year when the man who had served as both chairman and secretary, Bob Davidson, had to stand down because of ill health.

 

Seeing that there was a real possibility that the branch might fold, treasurer Mr Lawson decided it was time to step into the breach by taking on the three top positions in the branch.

Mr Lawton has previously been secretary of the Historic Warships in Birkenhead, a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadet Corps and treasurer of Llangollen Royal Naval Association.

Air Ambulance picks up £1,200 from big-hearted Llan

The Wales Air Ambulance has benefitted from two cash donations from the big-hearted people of Llangollen amounting to over £1,200.

Members of the organising committee went along to the ambulance's headquarters at Welshpool Airport to hand over a cheque for £1,000, which was the result of funds raised at Llangollen Christmas Festival on November 29.

The second cheque presented was for £209.11 from a quiz evening staged at the Sarah Ponsonby just before Christmas organised by Austin Cheminais, Llangollen's resident town crier and part-time Santa.

*Members of the Christmas Festival committee hand over

the £1,000 cheque to the Wales Air Ambulance.

* Town crier Austin Cheminais, dressed as Santa, presents the £209.11 proceeds from the quiz.