Operatic's next show will be The Producers

* Producer Tracey Rawlinson, right, presents the John Evans Memorial Trophy to Elen-Haf Taylor.

Fresh from its recent success with Sister Act, Llangollen Operatic Society has announced that its 2016 production will be the internationally acclaimed musical The Producers by Mel Brooks.  

 

Originally a film starring Gene Wilder, the show first opened on Broadway in 2001 and has since won a staggering 12 Tony Awards in addition to three Olivier Awards.

 

It is currently on a UK national tour with the comedian Jason Manford playing the principal role of Leo Bloom and Ross Noble as Franz Liebkind. 

 

The show will be produced by Tracey Rawlinson, assisted by her daughter Alix Rawlinson, who has just graduated in drama and theatre studies from Aberystwyth University.

 

Elen Mair Roberts will once again take the helm as musical director and society stalwart Nia Pickering will make her debut as artistic director.  

 

Tracey said: “In the same vein as Sister Act, The Producers is quite unlike anything we have staged before.

 

"It will be a challenge but Elen, Nia and I have every confidence that the cast and crew will rise to the occasion as they always do and put on a unique and unforgettable production that our audiences will absolutely love.  

 

“The show has everything; it’s vibrant, outrageous, risqué and will have you aching with laughter. We really can’t wait."  

 

The production will run from April 12-16 next year, with a matinee performance on Saturday, April 16.

  

As ever, the group is keen to welcome new members for roles both on stage and off. In particular, they would like to hear from any men who are interested in joining as this show has a significant male cast.  

 

The new season will start with a musical theatre-themed get together on Saturday, September 5 in Llangollen’s RAFA club.

 

There will be a bar, nibbles, an opportunity to get the vocal chords working with karaoke and for potential or returning members to meet and chat with some of the current membership.  

 

Rehearsals will then start in earnest on Tuesday, September 8, at 7.30pm in the studio off Castle Street. 

 

If you would like to like to get involved or would like more information, contact Tracey on 07875639533/traceyrawlinson@btinternet.com or Nia 07766800272/ nia_heavens@hotmail.com   

 

* The society recently held its annual general meeting during which the winners of its 2015 awards were announced.

 

The John Evans Memorial Trophy, which is judged by an independent adjudicator and presented to the member who is deemed to have given the best all round performance in the annual production, was awarded to Elen-Haf Taylor for her spectacular performance as Deloris van Cartier in the society's recent production of Sister Act.  

 

 

 

* Paul Gay, left, presents the Diana Gay Rose Bowl to Tracey Rawlinson. 

 

Elen-Haf is leaving the society to pursue a degree course at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

 

Recipient of the Diana Gay Rose Bowl, which is presented by Paul Gay in memory of his late wife, who was the society’s wardrobe mistress for a number of years, was Tracey Rawlinson.

 

This award is voted for by the membership and is presented to the member who is considered to have done the most for the society over the year.

 

Having not only produced but also directed Sister Act as well as doing so much more, Tracey was the unanimous choice for this award.

Good rockin' at Fringe's steam train music event

* The Del Sharrons get the train underway from Llangollen station.

There was good rockin' all along the line this evening as Llangollen Railway hosted a Fringe event called Rock 'n' Roll Steam Train.

Revellers turned up from 5pm to be greeted by sounds from the band Del Sharron playing on Llangollen station.

Shortly afterwards, they boarded the train, hauled by a steam engine, which took them to Carrog station where there was a lively set from the country outfit, The Goat Ropers.

On the way back there was dancing in a carriage specially set aside for the purpose.

It was then back aboard for the return leg to Llangollen where once again they were able to groove to tunes from Del Sharron heavily laced with 60s favourites.

* The Goat Ropers play for train passengers at Carrog station.

* Dancing on the train back to Llangollen (picture by Mike Edwards).  

* Dancing breaks out on the platform back at Llangollen station.

Musical theatre workshops for the holidays

Get your Splurge guns ready and brush up your Charleston as we're heading for 1920s Chicago.

Gangsters and molls are wanted for this year's Musical Theatre Workshop, Bugsy Malone, to be held in Llangollen, Wrexham an Oswestry by local dance instructor Julie Thomas.

And to celebrate 10 years of her workshops Julie has chosen one of her favourite children's shows.

The latest two-day workshops will run in the three towns during the summer holidays.

Julie said: "If your boy or girl aged six to 12 years old enjoys performing then book them on to this fantastic event which will culminate in a short performance for family."

* See poster below for further details ...

Search and rescue team called to Llan

North East Wales Search and Rescue has just revealed on its Facebook page how one of its teams were called out to Llangollen last Wednesday.

They say ...

"CALLOUT: On Wednesday 15/7 the team was called to treat and evacuate a young person with a significant lower leg injury following a fall at Dinas Bran Castle, near Llangollen.

Ten of our volunteer team members responded with two Landrovers.

When we arrived on scene a Welsh Ambulance Service crew had already reached the casualty and were providing initial treatment.

The casualty was placed in a vacuum mattress to stabilise the injured leg and then stretched back to the waiting ambulance. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery. The picture shows the team members carrying the casualty down."
 

Railway swings into 1960s weekend

* Railway staff get into the swing of a previous 60s weekend.

Llangollen Railway will be staging its sixth 1960's weekend On July 24-26.

Organisers say there's lots of 60's themed things to enjoy all along the line over the weekend and they are encouraging visitors to join staff in dressing up in outfits from the era.

Dr Beeching's Bar in the Robertson Suite at Llangollen station will be open on Friday evening, Saturday from 12 until late and Sunday.

Eight local real cask ales will be on offer at £3 a pint along with Wrexham lager, wines and cider.

The railway is  running a 1960's-themed pub quiz at around 8.30pm. Entry will be £5 per team with all proceeds going to boiler repairs for Foxcote Manor, the line's flagship steam locomotive.

There will be live music performed on the platform during Saturday afternoon and evening, from 7-10pm.

Entry is free and burgers from the station restaurant barbeque will be available.

Further up the line, Berwyn station café will be open and alighting from the train here provides quick and easy access to the recently reopened Chain Bridge, now resplendent after a full restoration.

The popular and free "rail replacement" vintage bus service will be running between Llangollen and Corwen during the day, also calling at Berwyn and Glyndyfrdwy - where there is a large vintage vehicle rally of 60's era cars and other vehicles.

A café in the station will be serving tea and cakes.

Anyone with a vintage car from the 1960s or older is welcome to bring it along to display and will receive complimentary travel on the railway for the event.

Carrog station tearooms will also be open, which is a good spot to get off the train for a cuppa, cake and a walk around the village with its spectacular views and the Grouse pub.

Throughout the weekend the railway will be running an intensive timetable of vintage trains - with  steam locomotives temporarily weathered to look grimy and unloved, as they were in the 60s as many branch lines, including Llangollen, were closed and steam traction was replaced by diesels and railcars. 

Two diesel locomotives and a railcar will be in use over the weekend to demonstrate the "new order" - though they themselves are all now over 50 years old and have been replaced by more modern electric and multiple unit trains on the railways of Britain.

The historic autotrain will also be used, which sees a pannier tank steam locomotive sandwiched between two coaches. 

* To see video of highlights of the railway's last five events go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cYAi5UMTC0

Fringe opens to packed Town Hall

Llangollen Fringe started last night with comedy from Sara Pascoe and a packed Town Hall really enjoyed the show. 

The festival was officially opened by the Mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, and town crier Chem watched by Bob Jaques and Sara Roberts from the Fringe.

Tonight (Friday) it's Babyhead, Radio 6 Music DJ Don Letts and live music from well-known vintage reggae band Talisman.

Sunday we see Juan Martin making his first appearance in Llangollen for eight years. 

He has been voted as one of the top three guitarists in the world and so we are in for a treat of great flamenco music from the virtuoso performer.

Other events:
* High and Mighty at Castell Dinas Bran - storytelling and music.

* Fringe Acoustica at the Rafa club

* Opening of Art Exhibitions at Y Capel at 2.00pm on Saturday

Vicar's charity cycle marathon

LEJOG –

Land’s End to John O’Groats 2015

Charity Cycle Ride:

25 July - 4 August 2015

 

* The Rev Andrew Sully is getting on his bike.

For ACTION DUCHENNE,

Looking for a cure to

Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy: 

 

www.justgiving.com/andrew-sully1

Llan MP will give her pay rise to charity

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones says she will be donating her latest pay rise to charity.

Her pledge not to pocket the extra 10 per cent comes after the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has announced that MPs' salaries will rise from £67,060 to £74,000.

The pay increase has been approved despite Downing Street and a succession of MPs saying it was "not appropriate".

IPSA chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said that MPs' pay had been a "toxic" issue "which had been ducked for decades".

He said the pay rise would not cost any money because it was being combined with cuts to expenses, pension and severance payments for MPs.

But Ms Jones (pictured left) said: "I have never supported the idea of a substantial pay rise for MPs and during the public consultation, I urged my constituents to write in against.

"Although I welcome the fact that it is now an outside body and not MPs that decides on MPs' pay, I remain unchanged in my views.  I also continue to hold the belief that MPs should not have second jobs.

"I know some people will say that there are many jobs - including senior public sector jobs in our area - where the pay is far greater than for MPs. Other people will point out that some of the MPs pay-rise is in fact the result of changes in pension and other arrangements.

"That's all true, but when so many people in the public and private sectors have only low or sometimes no annual rises and our local Councils in Wrexham and Denbighshire don't even pay everyone the Living Wage, I think there are real issues about the proposed rise.

"For that reason, I will be donating any rise in the remuneration I get to local charities."

Poisonous weeds growing near Llan, claims councillor

See responses at foot of story

* Cllr Davies' picture of what he says is Giant Hogweed growing in
the hedgerows on the Round the Valley road in Llangollen.

A COUNTY councillor has blamed “silly” biodiversity for what he believes is a poisonous plant being able to grow in the countryside around Llangollen and which he claims is putting at risk cyclists in a major downhill race.

Stuart Davies, who represents the area on Denbighshire County Council, says he has grave concerns about the lack of verge cutting in and around Llangollen.

He said: “I have been receiving complaints about overgrown verges on side roads and I’ve found that biodiversity is the reason.

“Unelected bodies are interfering in our lives and officers are not being allowed to cut the verges until late July because of advice from these bodies.

“However, the effect of this is that side-roads such as the Round the Valley road in Llangollen have been reduced to a single lane.”

“I drove along there recently on a fact-finding mission and the overgrowth was so bad that I had to reverse for half a mile to allow a van to come through due to the passing places being overgrown

“Not only that but the overgrowth was infested with nettles and Giant Hogweed.

“The Giant Hogweed is the plant that was in the national news last week as the cause of that poor little girl’s burned hands.”

He added: “A major international downhill cycle race is taking place there at the end of the month, and competitors and spectators will have difficulty accessing the site because of the overgrowth.

“On top of this there is the danger that cyclists will brush against the poisonous weeds and suffer severe burns.

“I have spoken with county highway officers and have told them that the overgrown verges must be cut immediately.

"In the long term I am going to take this matter to scrutiny committee and make sure that these silly biodiversity issues do not impact and do not harm the majority of people who live here in Llangollen.”

A county council spokesperson said: “This is something of a perennial problem that is hotly debated in the council and communities on a fairly frequent basis.

“It is a situation where both sides of the argument are equally valid, backed up by equally balanced legislation between the need for highway safety and the need to encourage biodiversity in our rural areas.

“It is a matter councillors have discussed and debated at length through full council, at cabinet and scrutiny in order to arrive at a suitable compromise and we are aiming to cut the verges in accordance with what councillors have agreed.

“I can confirm that the verges will be cut in time for the downhill bike race.”

* Response from a llanblogger reader to this story ...

I am writing about the above article that appeared on the Llanblogger on 16/07/15 quoting Councillor Stuart Davies for blaming '''silly” biodiversity for what he believes is a poisonous plant being able to grow in the countryside around Llangollen and which he claims is putting at risk cyclists in a major downhill race.'  I would like to respond to this article:

I have lived on the edge of the ‘Round the Valley road’ or Pengwern Vale for 7 ½ years and regularly pass along the road either on foot or by car.  I know the location of the photo taken by Mr Davies and have visited the site this evening.  I can categorically state that the plant he is referring to is the native/ ‘common’ Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium found throughout the British Isles.  Rather than being the related non-native poisonous plant Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, the common Hogweed is indeed edible: in Richard Mabey’s book ‘Food for Free’ it is described: ‘Cooked like asparagus, the young shoots are marvellously fleshy’.  I am an ecologist (with a Masters degree in Vegetation Survey and Assessment) with over 15 years of experience: I can state that I do not know anywhere along Pengwern Vale, or indeed in Llangollen, where Giant Hogweed grows (I am of course happy to be corrected on this if any readers of Llanblogger know otherwise!).  I would suggest to Mr Davies that he checks his facts thoroughly before writing such a provocative article. 

I would like to point out another inaccuracy in the article.  He refers to the ‘Round the Valley Road’ being ‘reduced to a single lane’ by uncut road verges: I would suggest that this has nothing to do with the state of the verges, but rather that the carriageway provides a single lane, full stop; there are passing areas stationed every so often as is the case on other such minor roads across the country. 

I would also like to address what I consider to be the broader, and more worrying, tone of his comments: that biodiversity is ‘silly’ and that he will take this matter to the scrutiny committee ‘and make sure that these silly biodiversity issues do not impact and do not harm the majority of people who live here in Llangollen’.  Llangollen is a rural town situated in one of the most picturesque locations in the country of which the majority of residents are rightly proud.  It is also in an AONB, the website of which states that it embraces ‘some of the UKs most wonderful landscapes’.  In my view, biodiversity, far from being ‘silly’, is a key component of the landscape and it is something I am sure that the vast majority of people in Llangollen value and cherish.  Furthermore it is critical for the health and sustainability of future generations, something I am sure Mr Davies has a keen interest in, that biodiversity is considered to be important and of value to society.  As a councillor Mr Davies could play a key role in educating the Council and the wider public with this message to ensure that this resource is retained for future generations. 

I would implore Mr Davies, and his fellow councillors, to look at the website and campaign of ‘Plantlife’ (the national wild plant charity) on rural road verges: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/roadvergecampaign.  This states the following: ‘Rural road verges are a vital refuge for wild flowers driven out of our farmland.  In turn, wild flowers support our birds, bees and other wildlife.  We want to see road verges managed better whilst remaining safe for motorists.  Not only can it be done – it could save money as well...’  In these days of austerity is cutting road verges, particularly on rural roads like Pengwern Vale, such a high priority, particularly where poisonous plants don’t exist?!?  Mr Davies might also wish to ask himself whether he likes honey??....if we continue to lose our ‘wild habitats’ at the same pace as today and/ or continue to mismanage them, many of life’s pleasure that they sustain (such as honey), or directly provide, may in the future be only learnt about in history lessons. 

Max Ellson

Further response from Gill Thomas ...

Although common hogweed has traditionally been used as food and is not as dangerous as giant hogweed, it still contains a furano-coumarin which can cause blisters and skin pigmentation when the sap comes in contact with the skin, which is then exposed to sunlight. To avoid this problem, the advice is to wash the skin immediately with soap and water and avoid exposure to sunlight for several days. To get this into perspective, common hogweed abounds in the Llangollen area, including my own garden and I have never experienced a problem with it, but anyone attempting to remove the plants should wear gloves and eye protection. This advice goes for many plants we might come in contact with. People may be interested in an article on the subject in next month’s Llangollen News.

Further response from Max Ellson ... 

Firstly I sincerely hope that this useful discussion does not distract from the central premise of my response to Mr Davies’s article: I passionately believe that wild plants and biodiversity in general need to be stood up for more often as they provide vital services for the well being of our planet, as well as enriching people’s lives.  Referring to biodiversity as ‘silly’ is inappropriate, disrespectful and should not be considered acceptable language in 2015. 

Further to Gill Thomas's informative response however I accept that common Hogweed does contain a furano-coumarin in its sap.  It is widely accepted however that this plant cannot be considered to be dangerous to any of the same degree as the related Giant Hogweed.  The following link provides a very useful and informed summary on the issue: http://monicawilde.com/is-common-hogweed-poisonous/, which I would urge people to read.  It starts off by stating that 'Common Hogweed is not poisonous'.  There are also many websites (e.g. http://www.thebotanist.com/articles/common-hogweed) extolling its culinary uses. 

I think it is fair to suggest that some people can be allergic to common Hogweed in certain situations/ if handled incorrectly, just as they can with even Celery or Parsnips which are in the same plant family.  The first cited web-article concludes by stating that 'Common hogweed is variable in sap phototoxicity with the most cases of phytophototoxicity reports coming from people who have attacked it with a strimmer’ and further that ‘Even strimming nettles can result in minor burn spots with semi-permanent staining’.  As with Gill, I have never experienced any problems with common Hogweed; nor do I know anyone who has.  I look forward to Gill’s forthcoming article on this subject with interest.   

Finally, as Giant Hogweed is not present along Pengwern Vale, road users (including walkers and cyclists) should have very little to be concerned about if the road verges were managed for the benefit of biodiversity, as would be the case for the vast majority of roads in the British Isles. 

New Dot Cinema launches in fine style

* A packed Town Hall at the launch of New Dot Cinema.

BIG screen spectaculars are back in Llangollen after an absence of half a century.

The old Dorothy picture house in Castle Street showed its last film to a paying audience 50 years ago.

* Audience members get into
costume for the occasion.

But the movies are back following the launch of the New Dot community cinema at the Town Hall last night (Wednesday).

A group of dedicated volunteers has spent months working on the project to recreate the magic of regular picture shows.

And their efforts were rewarded when a capacity crowd lapped up every minute of the first show in a Town Hall which had been given the look of a bijou cinema of the 1930s complete with couches and shaded lamps.

The film chosen for the premiere was, appropriately, the Oscar-winning silent picture, The Artist, and there was a full supporting bill including classic shorts starring the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Betty Boop.

There was also a montage of stills pictures from Llangollen’s past supplied by the town’s museum.

The audience, who had been asked to get into the spirit of things by turning up in costume from the golden age of Hollywood, were able to enjoy a full bar plus stands offering homemade cakes, tea and coffee.

The evening was introduced by the mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, who gave a warm welcome to the project.

New Dot aims to show one speciality film a month at the Town Hall and those planned for the rest of the year include Mon Oncle by Jacques Tati, a creepy from 1962 called Carnival of Souls and a film from last year called Northern Soul.

 

 

* Charlie Chaplin on screen.

* ... and on stage.

 

 

 

 

 

Top stunt team to perform at Llangollen bike show

The On The Edge Trials Stunt Display Team will be performing amazing feats of skill and daring on both days of the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival - LlanBikeFest 15 – on August 1 and 2.

Billed as the world’s best stunt riders, the team is led by Jack Challoner and Martin Crosswaite, who between them have won multiple British, European and world trials championships.

Their show includes 15ft jumps up vertical walls, amazing ‘drop offs’ and a range of freestyle tricks, some of which can only be attempted by a handful of riders throughout the world.

Show organiser Harry Edwards, who is out of hospital and recovering well after a bike accident, said: “These guys are a must-see, but LlanBikeFest 15 will be a real family event with something for everyone, not just bike fans.”

Attractions will include live bands, a vintage funfair, face-painting for kids of all ages by Glitterbugz and the opportunity to meet and handle some beautiful birds of prey with Rockcliffe Raptors.

The show will be opened on Saturday, August 1 by seven-times TT winner Mick Grant and Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty MBE, (pictured above) the most successful World Superbike (WSB) racer of all time.

On Sunday, August 2, more than 100 classic trials machines will compete in a stage of the Northern British Bike Pre-65 Trials Championship (NBBC).

All of the bikes are at least 50 years old and will be ridden on the Llangollen Pavilion show site from 11 am to 2pm, as part of a championship round hosted by Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club.

The Llangollen site has previously hosted successful bike shows – the last in 2011 – but LlanBikeFest 15 is being organised by a new team of local motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Harry Edwards.

Follow the event on Twitter at @llanbikefest and Facebook at Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival. 

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies is supporting this event.

He said: "As a life-long biker I welcome this event to the Pavilion and hope it goes well and that we can add it to the list of annual events that are taking place at this superb venue."

* Book tickets and stands online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk or contact the festival office at 07960 693398 or office@llanbikefest.co.uk.

First woman bishop preaches at St Collen's

* The eisteddfod service at St Collen's last Sunday. 

In her sermon at St Collen’s annual eisteddfod service last Sunday, the Church of England’s first woman bishop drew a comparison between Christian worship and singing in a choir.

Llangollen’s parish church was almost full to hear the Rt Rev Libby Lane, Bishop of Stockport, (pictured below) as guest preacher.  

She explained that it was a long time since she had sung regularly in a choir but, growing up, she sang with her mother in the local choral society and at school in a chamber choir, and later on in the chapel choirs at university and theological college.

“And while my singing may not be notable, I learnt extraordinarily important values from being part of a choir,” she said.

“I learnt about mutuality. Choirs get better when they learn to be mutually dependent.

“Those with the strongest voices are not always the best choir member.

“By definition it is not possible to be a choir on your own. The capacity to listen, and take account of one another, is key to effective choral singing, I remember.

“There is something extraordinarily valuable is learning both to take responsibility for your own contribution, while simultaneously accepting responsibility for the actions of others.

“It is a lesson in Christlikeness, in living out the gospel.”

The Bishop added: “In love and obedience to God in Christ we each have responsibility for our own engagement and participation, and we all have responsibility for the engagement and participation of one another.

“Like the voices that make up a choir, what we bring will be particular to us but essential to the whole.”

The general theme of the service was “For those in peril on the sea” and all donations from the congregation went to the Mission for Seafarers. 

MP supports keeping Hunting Act unchanged

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has spoken in support of keeping the existing Hunting Act unchanged.

MPs will be voting on whether to amend the Act this Wednesday.

Susan Elan Jones MP (pictured left) said: "The message from rural Clwyd South is loud and clear - people don't want to see the bad old days of fox hunting returning. The change proposed would do exactly that by the back door.

"All of us who come from the countryside know full well that the population of foxes has to be controlled. But most of us also think that a so-called 'sport' where foxes are chased and ripped up by hounds is cruel and does not belong in the 21st century.

"I'd like to see a huge majority of MPs, including those Plaid and Tory MPs who have previously been pro-fox hunting, vote against changing the Hunting Act on Wednesday."