Eisteddfod founder's son is guest of honour at Llan 2016

* Peter Tudor at home in Staffordshire.

 

The son of the man who founded the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is to be a guest of honour at the 70^th festival next July.

 

Peter Tudor, now 84, remembers how his father, visionary Welsh journalist Harold Tudor, came up with the idea of a grand cultural gathering to help heal the scars left by World War Two.

 

Peter vividly recalls the excitement generated as competitors from across Europe began to gather for the first festival in the small Denbighshire town in the summer of 1947.

 

Oxford graduate Peter, now living near Stone in Staffordshire, even played a part by volunteering as a messenger boy and later returned to sing in one of the famous choral competitions.

* Harold and Marjorie Tudor. 

He said: “My father was originally from Tanyfron, near Coedpoeth, and after attending Grove Park School in Wrexham started work as a sub-editor on the Post and Echo newspapers in Liverpool.

 

“During the Second World War he also became a member of the British Council, an organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities.

 

“That meant him doing quite a lot of public relations work with representatives of foreign governments in Britain, including people such as the Czech foreign minister Jan Masaryk and the King of Norway, to mention just a couple.

 

“At the end of the war he thought to himself what a terrible business it had been and was looking at things people could do to prevent it ever happening again.

 

“He came up with the idea of an international gathering of singers and dancers and suggested the idea to the board of the National Eisteddfod who I don’t think were too keen on it.

 

“He then approached W S Gwynn Williams, a leading figure in Welsh music who lived in Llangollen, and he gave his support.

 

“My father was obviously very persuasive and worked very hard to get the idea accepted, which it eventually was and Llangollen was chosen as the ideal location with my father being appointed honorary director of publicity.”

* Pages from the 1947 programme. 

Peter, who won a scholarship to Oxford University and went on to work in a series of university libraries including the Bodleian in Oxford, Glasgow, Manchester and Keele before his retirement, added: “For the very first Llangollen International Eisteddfod myself and some of my school friends from Grove Park acted as messenger boys.

 

“We were wearing Press badges and it was our job to run from one part of the field to another delivering messages to various people. It was great fun.

 

“It was just marvellous to see people coming to Llangollen from all parts of Europe and to be able to meet and talk to them.

 

“While the competitions in the Eisteddfod were pretty quiet affairs with everyone silently paying attention, once they were outside on the field it was a completely different matter and everyone mixed together to chat and laugh.

 

“You also had one or two of the choirs joining forces to sing the same piece.

 

“The following year I was back at Llangollen as a member of the Coedpoeth Youth Choir. We sang on the stage and came second in our competition.

 

“That same year my father arranged for the Rhos Male Voice Choir to take part in a concert in Spain and he and my late mother, Marjorie, went with them.

 

“As a result of that visit the Spanish decided to have their own version of the Eisteddfod and in 1949 I took part in the event, held in Madrid, with the Coedpoeth Youth Choir.

 

“I kept on going back to Llangollen for a few years until I was called up for my National Service with the army.

 

“My father also became much less involved with the Eisteddfod after he took a job as a sub-editor with the Post and Mail in Birmingham.

 

“The family moved to live in Northfield in Birmingham and my father died at the age of 79 in 1986.

“The part he played in founding the International Eisteddfod wasn’t always too well remembered but has been better acknowledged more recently. I am certainly very proud of what he did.”

 

Peter, who was married to his wife Eirwen for 51 years and has been a widower since 2008, has two daughters – the eldest of whom, Gillian, followed in her grandfather’s footsteps by becoming a Reuters foreign journalist – and five grandchildren.

 

In 2003 his close family connection with the founder of the Eisteddfod was celebrated when he was invited to meet the Prince of Wales when he paid an official visit to the festival and four years later he was asked back to Llangollen to give a speech about his father from the pavilion stage.

 

* Cuttings from a newspaper covering the
first Eisteddfod in 1947.

“Being able to meet the Prince of Wales was a memorable experience and after sitting next to him for one of the performances I got to speak briefly to him over refreshments,” said Peter.

 

“Apart from those two occasions I haven’t been back to Llangollen but I’m going to do my best to be there for the 70^th Eisteddfod next year as the festival is something which has always meant a great deal to my family and myself. I also send my very best wishes to everyone involved in the 2016 Eisteddfod which should be a very special occasion.”

 

Eisteddfod Chairman Rhys Davies said: “We’ll be delighted to welcome Peter here again as his father was the man who really began this great festival.

 

“Harold Tudor was a man of great vision and the Eisteddfod and people not just in Llangollen but all over the world have a great deal to thank him for.”

 

The Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod has been held every summer since 1947 and is recognised as one of the world’s most inspirational music festivals.

 

Next year’s event, the 70^th to be held, will feature star names Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins and Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra who will bring the curtain down on the festival on Sunday, July 10.

 

This year’s Eisteddfod begins on Tuesday, July 5, when superstar Katherine Jenkins gets things off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen while Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition.

 

Thursday will be Voices of the World and the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World while Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be dedicated mainly to the dance groups with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax in the evening.

 

In a change of the scheduling Friday will also see the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite switched from its usual Tuesday in anticipation of bigger crowds and more competitors being present.

 

Saturday is dedicated to the Choirs of the World and concludes with the Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy while Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

 

The incredible Llangollen welcome and atmosphere won’t change though and throughout the week the field will be the scene for impromptu outbreaks of music and dance while the outdoor stages will host a variety of concerts and performances.

 

Food, drink and craft stalls also surround the field and visitors can dine on a difference cuisine every day of the event and enjoy the colour and excitement of what is a true carnival of nations.

 

* For more information on Llangollen 2016 go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk or onto Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen

Methodist Church stages Christmas Tree Festival

* Some of the colourful exhibits in the Christmas Tree Festival.

Llangollen Methodist Church has again branched out into the community with its annual Christmas Tree Festival.

A wide assortment of trees lovingly prepared by schools, clubs and businesses will be on show at the church in Princess Street until judging takes place just before Christmas.

Amongst the most novel offerings are a tree made from vacuum cleaner parts built by the Tidy Town Team, one fashioned in the shape of a traditional Welsh lady and named Myfanwy from Llangollen Museum and another from the New Dot community cinema hung with pictures of film stars.

Other contributions are a tree made from the pages of old books from the Hope House charity book shop and learning tree made by the children of Ysgol Dinas Bran.  

The festival is open to the public this Saturday from 10am-3pm and Sunday from 12.30-3.30pm.

Next weekend, trees can be viewed between 10am and 3pm on Saturday and from 12.30-3.30pm on Sunday.

* Above and below: More trees on display at the side of the church.

Councillor calls for speeding clamp-down

* Motorists are speeding past the new health centre, says Cllr Davies.

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has asked for a clamp-down on motorists speeding past the town’s new health centre.

He said: “Concerns have been raised with me that drivers leaving Llangollen heading towards Wrexham, past the health centre in Mill Street, are exceeding the new 30mph speed limit there.

“I have passed on these concerns to the relevant authorities and asked for enforcement activities to be put in place.”

He added: “By breaking the speed limit you are not only putting lives at risk, you are risking your driving licence as well.”

Museum's festive event at Valle Crucis Abbey

Llangollen Museum is hosting a special Christmas celebration at Valle Crucis Abbey tomorrow (Friday) evening. 

Tickets are available from the museum or at the abbey on the night.

 

 

Santa sleighs 'em for Rotary causes

 

* Santa out on his Rotary rounds.

 

Last weekend The Llangollen Dee Valley Rotary Club were out and about helping Santa around Garth, Trevor, Llangollen, Fron, Pentre and Cefn Mawr.

 

They also called in to see the Llangollen Brownie group to deliver some early presents.

 

The club says it would like to thank all the children and adults who braved the weather to say hello to Santa on his sleigh.

 

In spite of the wind, rain and cold over £600 was raised for local charities.

 

 

* ... and checking if he has the correct presents for everyone. 

Vandals make three attacks on railway line

Vandals have made three separate attacks on the railway line between Corwen and Llangollen during the past week.

In a message to its members in the area, the local Neighbourhood Watch team says the first incident happened between last Friday and Saturday when objects were thrown through the windows of a signalbox at the Glyndyfrdwy level crossing.

Then, sometime between Sunday and Monday, the vandals returned to smash another window in the box by throwing an object through it.

Third incident was at the same location when a railway wagon was broken into with windows being smashed and graffiti daubed on to the walls. 

* If you noticed anything suspicious, or have any information relating to this incident please contact North Wales Police by dialling 101.

Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers Wales on 0800 555 111. North Wales Police would like to urge residents to always report suspicious activity to them at the earliest opportunity.

Operatic gets audience swinging into Christmas

* The Operatic's Christmas show was a feast of festive fun.

Llangollen Operatic Society infused a packed audience with a massive dose of Christmas spirit during their glittering seasonal show at the Town Hall last night.

Swing Along A Christmas was a real cracker of a production featuring a host of songs and sketches from a range of talented performers.  

Perfect choice for host was Louise Cielecki, a graduate of the society’s own Young ‘Uns junior section who is now studying drama.

Her bubbly character got the whole thing off to fizzing start as she split the audience into two halves and encouraged them to compete in roaring out the loudest `merry Christmas’.

A large contingent from the Operatic hit the stage with stylish number from the musical Polar Express before around half a dozen members of the Young ‘Uns appeared to sing snatches from their forthcoming production of Honk! which hits the stage early next year.    

Multi-talented is the right term for Michael Jenkins who was next in the evening’s line-up.

Taking time off from directing the panto Aladdin at the Stiwt in Rhos, he found time to conduct the Operatic’s choral contributions in this show, do a couple of solo numbers himself and also take part in comedy duet.

His solos - including the Bing Crosby evergreen White Christmas set to a swinging rhythm – helped underline the seasonal tone and later he joined Louisa Jones in the old Dean Martin winter warmer, Baby It’s Cold Outside.

Host Louise hung up her mic for a while to join fellow Young ‘Uns alumni Nathan Lloyd in a neat comedy sketch which ended in a song before the Operatic choristers were back to keep up the pace with a number of their own.

Philip Main stepped out from the chorus to give an astonishing countertenor – or perhaps falsetto – rendition of Panis Angelicus.     

Another admirable voice, that of Lizzie Richards, then brought us the stunning Let it Go from the musical Frozen, a real showstopper to end the first half.

Ross Wilson led the charge into the second part of the show with two genuine Rat Pack-style swingers, Dean Martin’s Ain’t That a Kick in the Head and Michael Buble’s Feeling Good.

A neat atmospheric touch came when Ross took his performance out into the heart of the audience.

Louise and Nathan returned for a second two-handed comedy routine and song, followed by the Operatic singers with Winter Wonderland.

A new Operatic star appeared in the east when Dan May strode on stage to present a soulful interpretation of When a Child is Born in his debut performance before an audience.    

Alison Ravenscroft came out next with a cheekily neat Baby It’s Cold Outside – perhaps, as host Louise joked, a little unexpected from a lady who played the Mother Superior in the Operatic’s recent smash-hit production of Sister Act.     

Lizzie Richards and Ross Wilson joined vocal forces for Let it Snow, leaving the entire Operatic team to round off with Jingle Bell Rock.

The audience then got their chance to join in the fun by singing along with Twelve Days of Christmas and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, sending us out into the night with all those fantastic tunes still ringing in our heads.

A pity the Operatic had just one night for their festive entertainment feast as this show could have run and run.  

Man in charge of Llan legion resigns

THE man who had been running Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) has marched off in despair at its lack of active members.

John Lawton, who took over as chairman and secretary a couple of years ago because there was nobody available for either role, has now resigned from both positions.

* John Lawton at this year's Service
of Remembrance in Llangollen.

Mr Lawton, who lives in Wrexham, said: “Not one member in addition to the usual seven has bothered to attend any branch meeting for the last four years.

“This was in spite of me changing the time and venue to Llangollen Royal Air Force Association Club to make things easier.

“Surely if I can drive 34 miles to a meeting, then they can drive to the club from town.

“I feel that the lack of support made my job untenable so I saw no alternative but to resign.”

He added: “Myself and the member now standing in as chairman and secretary are due to meet the legion’s area chairman later this week to finalise things.

“I think the branch will remain open and I pray it does.”   

Llangollen RBL was formed 91 years ago in time to consecrate the town’s cenotaph in November, 1923.

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.

Businesses warned over mailshot

Denbighshire Council's Trading Standards team is warning local businesses not to respond to a mailshot that could result in a bill of £790 per annum.

Businesses are being advised to ignore a letter from a firm with an address in Hamburg, Germany which is headed 'UK Data Control Scotland Business'.

The letter is designed to look like an official Government document, and requires the recipient to provide their VAT Registration Number to update the 'UK-DATA CONTROL portal'.
The letter also includes a form for businesses to check and sign to say their details are correct.

The small print indicates that a cost of £790 a year will be incurred by the business for a minimum of three years.

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager for Denbighshire Council said: "We are concerned that local businesses may believe the letter to be from an official government source, which is not the case.

"If businesses sign and return the form to confirm their details are correct they could end up being tied into a contract and liable for the high costs of an entry in this portal.

"We have had several enquiries from businesses regarding this and we have advised them that they are not obliged to provide the information to this company."

* Any business concerned about a letter, email or phone call they have received can report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

 

Any consumer who wants to report a scam should Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06, for the Welsh language service call 03454 04 05 05, or alternatively report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, to help stop it happening to others.

AM pops into postal delivery office

* Ken Skates with (from left) Daniel Davies and Tom Price.

Labour AM Ken Skates visited his local delivery office to meet postal staff preparing for their busiest time of the year.

Mr Skates, Assembly Member for Clwyd South, chatted with workers in Llangollen early on Friday morning.

He said: “I really enjoyed meeting the staff and I’d like to thank everyone for their warm welcome. It was a great visit.

“The hectic Christmas period is a great time to remind people just how hard their local postal staff work, not just now but all year round. I hope they’re able to put their feet up at some point and enjoy a well-deserved break.”

Lee Fennel, delivery office manager at Llangollen, said: “Our postmen and women are working extremely hard to deliver Christmas cards, letters and parcels to people across the area. We are grateful to Ken for visiting the office to see our operation and to support the team.

Lee added: “We’d like to remind our customers to post early, and please always use the postcode as this helps us greatly at this busy time.”

Prospective candidate visits Castle Street businesses

* Simon Baynes, left, outside the Cottage Tea Rooms with

Mehmet Cakiroglu who works there.

On Small Business Saturday, Simon Baynes, the Prospective Welsh Conservative Assembly Member for Clwyd South, visited three businesses which adjoin each other on Castle Street in Llangollen - Candy Cottage, Cottage Tea Rooms and Cottage Cards & Crafts.

He said: “These three businesses cater for local residents and visitors alike. They are welcoming places to visit which showcase what is best about Llangollen.

"Candy Cottage sells homemade fudge and locally made ice cream. The Cottage Tea Rooms are busy all year round, open seven days a week and operate as a bistro as well.

"Cottage Cards & Crafts makes a perfect place to shop local and stock up on Christmas presents as well as being vital to the tourist trade."

He added: "We need to make sure that small businesses like these have the best conditions in which to operate.

"This is why the Welsh Conservatives are campaigning for a better support package for small businesses – cutting business rates, improving access to finance for small firms and incentivising small businesses to take on additional staff.

"If every small business was able to take on a single additional employee, unemployment in
Wales could be wiped out overnight."

Tattoo parlour's hygiene standards recognised

A tattoo parlour in Llangollen is one of four across Denbighshire which have been officially recognised for achieving stringent health and safety standards.

 

As part of an awards scheme introduced in the county – the first authority area in North Wales and only the second in Wales to do so - the parlours made the grade in the Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme after being assessed by staff from Denbighshire’s Public Protection department. 

 

A number of factors were considered as part of the assessments, including cleanliness, health and safety, after care advice, staff training, personal cleanliness of operators and record keeping.

 

The successful tattoo businesses included the one run by Liz Fletcher, called InK and Essence, in Llangollen, which was awarded a three-star rating.

 

The other parlours were in Rhyl, Prestatyn and Clawddnewydd , which all achieved four-star ratings.

 

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Public Protection, said: “I would like to congratulate the tattoo parlours named for reaching some of the highest levels of cleanliness and health and safety, as recognised in the ratings scheme.

 

“We are delighted to be the first authority in North Wales to adopt the ratings scheme, as we feel it is vitally important that the public have confidence that these establishments follow stringent guidelines to protect the well-being of individuals."

Llan panto group presents Alice in Wonderland

 

* Justine Bradey as the Queen of Hearts. 

 

LLANGOLLEN Pantomime Group is marking the 150^th anniversary of the publication of the story Alice in Wonderland with a spectacular local production.

 

Rehearsals are well underway for the annual pantomime which will take place at Llangollen Pavilion from Thursday, January 14 to Sunday, January 17.

 

Billed as the traditional story with a modern twist, the show will include bush-tucker trials and will be accompanied by a live band.

 

The script has been written by the pantomime’s director, Nico Decourt from Abbey Road, Llangollen.

 

He said: “We’re delighted to be performing Alice in Wonderland as it marks its 150^th anniversary. It’s a story which stands the test of time and brings plenty of opportunities for fun and mischief in the modern pantomime setting.

 

“The cast and crew are working really hard to ensure the audience enjoys a fabulously entertaining show once again.”

 

This is the 31^st production by the Llangollen Pantomime Group. Whole families regularly participate in the production with parents and grandparents performing alongside their children and grandchildren.

 

This year’s lead, Alice, is performed by Serena Young who is making her debut in the Llangollen Pantomime. 

 

The show runs from Thursday, January 14 to Sunday, January 17 at Llangollen Pavilion.

 

Doors 7pm, show 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday matinee (doors open 2pm, show 2.30pm). For the first time, tickets are available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpanto and from Jades Hair & Beauty, Llangollen or Gwyn Davies (Butchers), Llangollen. You can also reserve tickets by calling 01978 860297.

Pedestrian dies in A5 collision

The Daily Post is reporting online this morning (Saturday) that a pedestrian died following a road collision on the A5 between Llangollen and Chirk last night.

For more details, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/pedestrian-killed-in-a5-crash-10553054

Silver honour for Llan care home manager

 

* Bronwen Morris has won a silver accolade.

 

A silver accolade has gone to the oldest care home manager in Wales.

 

The prestigious honour was presented to Bronwen Morris, of Llangollen at the annual Wales Care Awards, at a glittering dinner and ceremony in City Hall, Cardiff.

 

Bronwen, 77, runs The Old Vicarage care home in Llangollen and was nominated by its deputy manager, her son, David Morris.

 

She was thrilled to receive a silver, though she said she had ‘butterflies in my stomach’ all the while the awards were being announced by BBC Wales TV news presenter Lucy Owen.

 

Bronwen said: “I was very nervous, and really thought I might not get anything as there were so many other deserving people all around me. Some of them have done such good work, I was sure I wouldn’t get anything like a silver.”

 

But the judges thought different, having been impressed by Bronwen quarter of a century’s unstinting service to her local community.

 

She took over The Old Vicarage 25 years ago with her husband of 54 years, retired accountant Brian, and they were determined to ensure their residents felt as much at home as possible.

 

Having had no formal experience in the care sector, they trained for 18 months before opening The Old Vicarage and continue to keep themselves updated with training and care home procedures.

 

Just six years ago Bronwen studied for two years for a new management qualification when she was aged 71.

 

She remains the registered care provider and proprietor of The Old Vicarage, though her son now shares the day to day workload.

 

He said: “Mum is still a very hard worker and as determined as ever to make sure all our residents’ needs are met and that they are happy, even though she is nearly as old as some of them herself now.” 

 

Bronwen believes her age is an advantage as it gives her more understanding of residents’ needs. She plays a key role in organising social activities for them and taking those who are able out to local events including Llangollen WI and the Wednesday Club. She is also a volunteer with the Parkinson’s Society and the Alzheimers Society.

 

The Wales Care Awards are run in association with Care Forum Wales, a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1993 to give independent care providers a single professional voice with which to speak on one of the most important issues of our time – how to provide better quality care for those who need it most.

 

Bronwen was presented with her silver in the Outstanding Service Award category, sponsored by Hallmark.

 

She modestly said she felt honoured to have been nominated and was delighted to receive a silver, but didn’t feel she had done anything extraordinary, except care for people in the best way that she could. Her priorities for all her residents, she said, were to ensure they are well, feel at home, comfortable, and among good friends.

 

Mario Kreft, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists will receive a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.

“I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights in the months and years to come.

“This awards ceremony is our opportunity to pay tribute and to celebrate the talent and commitment that is improving the quality of life for thousands and thousands of people throughout Wales.

“We take our hats off to them.”

As well as David, Bronwen and her husband have another son Richard, who lives in Carlisle and daughter Liz, of Ruabon, plus eight grandchildren aged from 13 to 30.

 

Rotary stages grand Christmas raffle

The Rotary Club of Llangollen is spending today and tomorrow (Saturday) in the entrance of the Co-op store in Regent Street selling tickets for its grand Christmas raffle, proceeds from which will go to various local charities.

Members will be there from 10am-6pm on Saturday.

Prizes include grocery vouchers for £100, £50 and £25 and ticket prices are £1 each.

The raffle will be drawn on Monday December 14.

Special loco heading for Llan Railway

* The Small Prairie loco No. 4566 on the Severn Valley Railway this summer.

LLANGOLLEN Railway is expecting a special visitor next spring.

Arrangements have been made for GWR Small Prairie No.4566 to attend the Spring Steam Gala which will take place over three days from Friday - Sunday April 8-10.

Featuring an intensive timetable of both passenger and freight trains, a great collection of historic steam locomotives and special attractions along the line, the event aims to offer something for railway enthusiasts and families.

Normally resident at the Severn Valley Railway, No.4566 will be travelling by road to visit the line and will be in operation alongside the railway's own home fleet.

For more details, visit the website: www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

MP explains her position on Syria bombing vote

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has issued the following statement explaining her position on last night's vote to allow the RAF to bomb in Syria:


I would like to thank all my constituents who have contacted me since the atrocities in Paris, Beirut, Sinai, Tunisia and Ankara with their views on how best we should deal with the global threat that our country and the rest of the free world faces from ISIL/Daesh.

With our security services having foiled at least seven serious terror plots in the past year and our country's threat of attack at 'severe' level, I am not surprised that most people in our area paid little regard to the argument peddled by some that we as a country are to blame for standing up for the security and defence of our nation.

I received a very wide range of opinions from hundreds of constituents regarding whether the United Kingdom be authorised to extend targeted air-strikes from Northern Iraq across the border into Syria. Some constituents felt we needed to go further than Government proposals and that the UK should send ground troops. Others expressed a purely pacifist position - against any form of military action in Syria or anywhere else in the world at any point.

But most views I received stood between these positions. Some felt we should 'stay away' yet others spoke of the need to support the UN resolution by joining France, Germany, Russia and the US in targeted air-strikes, as one constituent put it: "Labour is an internationalist party; it is right that we show solidarity with President Hollande and the people of France".  Others pointed to the logical inconsistency (a view I have long held) of supporting air-strikes against ISIL/Daesh in Northern Iraq but not across the Syrian border in Raqqa where ISIL/Daesh have their headquarters.

Both among constituents who favoured air-strikes and those who did not, there was strong support for the Vienna talks held by the international Syria Support Group and the way in which that group had brought together a wide coalition of nations. The UK is indeed now part of a coalition of over 60 nations, and it is incumbent on us to work with other countries to cut off the flow of finance, fighters, and weapons to Daesh/ISIL in Syria and Iraq.

What struck me most from communications from constituents was the very thoughtful nature of most of the emails and letters, with one constituent, who was personally against air-strikes, expressing the views of many by describing the decision as "finely balanced". Another constituent described how air-strikes had enabled the Kurds to stand up to ISIL/Daesh. Others feared that there would be inadequate ground-troops in Syria and feared that Britain might have to send ground troops (something I do not feel that we should support).


I appreciate the very considered feed-back from my  constituents. I read every single piece of correspondence from my constituents on this issue. While I was not immune to receiving some limited and unacceptable abuse, this was happily rare, compared with that received by some MPs in other parts of the country. I know most of my constituents will be aware that I do not get intimidated by any attempts of bullying, whether on social media or any other way! Any attempts to intimidate me in the exercise of my representative duty will not succeed.

One issue that concerns me immensely is that we must always challenge the casual racism that insinuates ISIL/Daesh is anything to do with ordinary Muslims, as it is Muslim people who have been on the receiving end of more ISIL/Daesh brutality than that of any other faith group. Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are always wrong. In an area like ours which is home to only a very small number of Muslims and Jews, I think it is particularly important that we all challenge abusive comments against people of these faiths.

Finally, I realise that Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Shadow Cabinet have been viciously criticised by groups like the 'Stop the War Coalition' and by individuals like George Galloway for allowing Labour MPs a free vote on the decision that came before Parliament. Although I have always been open about the fact that I did not vote for Jeremy Corbyn in September's Labour Leadership election, I believe that he and the Labour Shadow Cabinet deserve heartfelt praise for that courageous decision. They acted in the spirit of the democratic socialist party that Labour is; not the narrow sect that some people would like to turn the Labour Party into.

It was that openness to allow Labour MPs to choose in line with conscience, careful consideration and constituent opinion, that led me to go into the same division lobby as Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson, Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn and many other MPs. The key factors for me were: it made no sense to allow our RAF to undertake targeted air-strikes in Iraq but not across the border in Syria, the location of ISIL/Daesh's headquarters; and that I could not reconcile the unanimous resolution of the UN that we should take all necessary measures to counter ISIL/Daesh into a false choice between military and non-military action. The motion that MPs supported makes a clear commitment to seek to cut off ISIL/Daesh's sources of finance, fighters and weapons: it is right that it does so.

When tomorrow's Hansard is published, I would urge everyone to read the outstanding speech made by Shadow Foreign Secretary, Hilary Benn, towards the end of the Parliamentary debate. The speech well illustrates how our commitment to pluralism, freedom and the security of our nation and all those who face suffering matters in a dangerous world. 

Twenty Club auditions for gritty Lancashire classic

* Grim up north: Twenty Club is to stage Love on the Dole next spring.

FOLLOWING their second sell-out production of Fawlty Towers, Llangollen Twenty Club are heading north to 1930s Lancashire for their next production.

Love on the Dole, by Walter Greenwood and adapted for the stage by Ronald Gow, will be directed for the club by Christine Dukes and will presented next March.
The Great Depression has gripped everyone in Hanky Park, Lancashire.

Despite the joy of her recent engagement, Sally Hardcastle and her family are struggling to make ends meet.

Her brother, Harry, faces an uncertain future - out of work, a baby on the way and facing the dreaded Means Test.

When a powerful rival for Sally's affection makes his feelings known, she's offered the chance to save her family from being torn apart. But can Sally sacrifice her integrity to secure the happiness of the people she loves?

The club is looking for actors to take on a range of parts covering all ages.

Full character profiles can be found on the event page here. 

Auditions will be at on Wednesday December 9 at 7pm at The Hand Hotel in Llangollen (ask for the Denbigh Room).

To register your interest to receive more information about the audition, go to:  facebook.com/twentyclub or email contact@twentyclub.co.uk

Festive celebration at the Abbey

Free after three parking for Christmas

Denbighshire County Council has announced that the "Free After 3" parking scheme will again operate in Llangollen this year to help support the town centre in the run-up to Christmas. 

The scheme provides free parking in all council operated pay & display car parks in town centres after 3pm on a daily basis.

Llangollen car parks are also free all day this Saturday.

The scheme operates until the 31st December 2015.

Llangollen car parks involved are:

* East Street
* Hall Street
* Market Street
* Mill Street

Support urged for Small Business Saturday

 

Denbighshire County Council is urging residents to support their local businesses on Saturday.

 

The day has been designated Small Business Saturday and a national campaign has been launched to encourage people to consider shopping locally.

 

The county council is supporting the initiative and has launched its own publicity and marketing campaign.

 

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire, who is also the Lead Member for the Economy, said: “Our teams of staff have already been out and about talking to businesses and encouraging them to display posters and we have been delighted with the response.

 

“We want to emphasise the importance of shopping locally and accessing the wide variety of goods and services that can be accessed in our own communities.  We would ask residents to help us spread the word about the campaign and lets see our town centres thriving on December 5.

 

“We hope that the council’s free after three parking initiative where people can park for free in our pay and display car parks in the town centres will also encourage more people to visit town, rather than visit out of county locations."

 

* To find out more information about Small Business Saturday, please visit: www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com