Llan's dancing grannies stun Eagles Meadow shoppers

* Cast members of the Producers go through their paces at Eagles Meadow.

A GROUP of dancing grannies from an amateur stage society stopped shoppers in their tracks with routines from their new show.

The high-stepping troupe from Llangollen Operatic Society staged a pop-up performances at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham to showcase their latest production.

From April 12-­16 they will be staging the hilarious musical comedy version of Mel Brooks’ Academy Award­winning movie, The Producers, at their local town hall.

Society members were already on a high after hearing a few days earlier that their last major production, the musical comedy about gangsters and nuns Sister Act, had been nominated for a trio of honours in the National Operatic and Dramatic Association’s (NODA) 2015 awards, acknowledged as the am­dram equivalent of the Hollywood Oscars.

And they’re looking to pick up similar accolades for The Producers which has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-­breaking 12 Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards.

The story centres on two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop.

Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful.

The humour of the show draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of Nazis and many show business in­jokes.

It also features the outrageous hit song Springtime for Hitler.

Musical director for the show, Elen Mair Roberts, said: “The grannies going through paces at Eagles Meadow have a major part in the show as the elderly female backers who’d do anything for dodgy producer Max Bialstock.

“Their routines are hardly what you’d expect from ladies of more mature years!

“Everyone was feeling great about the pop-up event because just a couple of days ago we heard from NODA that our production last year of Sister Act had been nominated for thee of its 2015 awards.

“These are Best Technical, Best Performances for Elen Haf Taylor as Sister Mary Clarence and Ross Wilson as Sweaty Eddie and also Best Production.

“We’ll find out at the NODA annual meeting in Hereford on May 12 if we’ve been successful, so we’re all keeping our fingers crossed.

“We were actually at Eagles Meadow this time last year to present pop­up selections from Sister Act and that helped us to boost our audience numbers when we staged the show in Llangollen last April.

“With that and the award nominations, appearing at the shopping centre was definitely a lucky date for us and we’re hoping it brings us similar good fortune this time.”

She added: “People who stopped to watch us performing songs from The Producers certainly seemed to enjoy it and a few said they’ll be coming along next month to see the show, which was great news.

“We’d like to thank the management team at Eagles Meadow for all the kind co­operation they’ve given over the past couple of years.

“It’s a pleasure to come along here as we always get such a friendly reception from everyone.”

One of those taking the role, Caroline Anthonisz, said: “The grannies dance is my favourite part of the show and it was great to do it in front of the crowds at Eagles Meadow.

“I hope lots of those who enjoyed it will come along and see the whole thing next month.”

That may well be the case with Karen Griffiths who was stopped in her tracks as the grannies strutted their stuff.

She said: “I was just walking along with my own earphones in when I heard some music that was even louder.

“I wasn’t expecting to see anything like that but I really enjoyed it.

“I live in Acrefair, not far away from Llangollen, so after what I’ve seen today I might go along and see the show.”  

Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley said: "We were delighted to welcome Llangollen Operatic Society once again.

"Our shoppers loved what they saw of the show, it was hugely entertaining and I'm sure the production itself will be a big hit."

The Producers will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall from April 12­16, starting at 7.30pm, and with a matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday April 16.* Tickets are now available online at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety.

Cardiff choir at first Eisteddfod heads back to Llangollen

* Cardiff Snowflakes Choir at the Eisteddfod in 1947.

MEMBERS of a Cardiff children’s choir that won at the first ever Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod are still going strong as the 70^th event approaches.

Back in 1947, the Cardiff Snowflakes took the inaugural festival by storm, being crowned the champion children’s choir and going on to make records and tour extensively.

An appeal by the Eisteddfod in Cardiff has found several of the choir members are still meeting – and still singing – almost 70 years later.

Now aged 82, former singer Pauline Lang remembers the excitement of performing at the famous Eisteddfod that has since played host to music legends such Pavarotti, Lulu and Status Quo.

She and her friend and fellow chorister Lila Donovan still keep in touch and have fond memories of the early days of the iconic event.

Pauline said: “It was a wonderful experience. I was a bit nervous and we all had butterflies but everyone was lovely and I loved going up to Llangollen.

“We were in the big marquee and it was nice out on the fields meeting all the other performers from all over the world. We couldn’t converse with them in their language but it was great fun and there were a lot of impromptu folk dances and sing-songs.

“I think it helped that we had good weather,” added Pauline who lives in Fairwater, Cardiff, with her husband of almost 60 years, Arthur.

The Snowflakes were formed in 1926 by Gwenllian Williams and later continued under her daughters Eira Novello and Marion Williams.

Pauline joined the singers after her parents suggested it and made friends immediately with the other girls in the choir.

She said: “The first time I walked in I met up with someone I’d been in infant school with and we still keep in touch now so must have been friends for something like 78 years.

“We went back to the Eisteddfod in 1949 and we won it then as well and after that we went on to make three records with the Decca label.

“We were pretty successful and used to tour and compete all over the country as well as going over to Copenhagen for a few weeks to sing.”

While Pauline left the choir when the first of her three children was born, many members used the experience to launch their careers, with one former Snowflake heading to Hollywood.

Ira Stevens left her home in Dogo Street, Cardiff, in 1936 for Los Angeles as the body-double for Shirley Temple, appearing in several films before returning to Wales in 1939.

“I still enjoy music,” said Pauline, who worked as a typist and now has six grandchildren. “But I’m afraid my voice is too croaky to sing now.”

However, her fellow former Snowflake Lila Donovan, also from Cardiff, has never stopped singing since those early moments starring at the Eisteddfod.

“I had some wonderful years in The Snowflakes,” said Lila: “My mother and father were both musicians with the Salvation Army so they suggested that my sister and I went along.

“I can’t thank them enough for that as it led to so many adventures. We travelled all over the place, even to Denmark, and I made some wonderful friends who I have kept in touch with for years.

“I enjoyed every minute of the Eisteddfod and I think we sang Spring’s Return for that although I can’t be sure, it’s hard to remember all the details from so long ago.”

Lila went on to marry and work as a teacher, although the couple never had children of their own. Now widowed she still spends time at her local school listening to the little ones reading as well as carrying on with the hobby that has stuck with her through life – singing.

“I am a member of an operatic society now and so still sing a lot. It keeps me pretty busy and I love going up on the stage as well. It’s things like that that keep you going and I suppose I’ve been singing my whole life now,” Lila added.

Another fellow Snowflake, who joined just after the famous first Eisteddfod performance but was there to lift the crown for the second time in 1949, was Marian Hughes.

Now 77, the widow from Whitchurch, in Cardiff, remembers the group and her singing days with fondness, saying: "I have so many lovely memories of those times. After the performance in 1949 the whole world opened up for us.

"It just grew from there. One minute we were on stage with Harry Secombe or recording with the BBC Welsh radio service and of course there was the trip to Denmark that was absolutely unheard of in those days.

"We were doing concerts all over the place - it was quite amazing. I've been singing ever since and am still part of a local community choir along with five of the other Snowflakes, so we still sing together on a Saturday morning," she added.

The festival’s Musical Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, who lives in Cardiff, said: “It’s fantastic that these ladies have such wonderful memories of Llangollen and that they can recall them so clearly.

“We’d be delighted to welcome them and any other members of the Snowflakes up there again and I’m sure they would find the welcome as warm as ever.”

The Snowflakes were just one of several Welsh choirs at the first Llangollen Eisteddfod and others included Penarth Ladies Choral Society and the Mid Rhondda Ladies Musical Society who competed against choirs from across the UK, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Hungary

This year’s Eisteddfod, which begins on Tuesday, July 5, will attract competitors from even further afield and concert ticket sales are already going well, especially for the opening night when Katherine Jenkins gets the programme off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen.

Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition while the evening will feature the Voices of Musical Theatre,  West End star Kerry Ellis and classical boy band Collabro.

The great Bryn Terfel will headline the 70^th Classical Gala Concert on Thursday evening with acclaimed Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja while the day will see the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World.

Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be a feast of music and dance from the best of the Eisteddfod’s international competitors with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax at the evening concert.

It will open with a Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza, followed by the International Peace message delivered by Theatr yr Ifanc, Rhosllannerchrugog.

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

Saturday is dedicated to the top choirs 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.

* For more on Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and its competitions and concerts as well as how to get to it and where to stay go to http://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/ or check out https://www.facebook.com/llangollen

Back our last bank, says AM

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has urged people to back the only remaining bank in his constituency after being given an assurance that it’s safe from closure for the immediate future.

The AM has spoken at length with Jonathan Brenchley, Barclays’ head of corporate relations in Wales, in the wake of HSBC closing its branches in Ruabon and Chirk.

Mr Skates said he was relieved to be assured that the Llangollen branch is safe for now, but encouraged his constituents to use it as often as they can. He also called for customers of banks which have left the area to switch to Barclays.

Welsh Labour AM Mr Skates, who is based in Llangollen, said: “I’m pleased to have been given assurances that, for the immediate future, the Llangollen Barclays branch is safe.

“Only once in the past six years has Barclays closed the last remaining bank in any town in Wales. This demonstrates a greater degree of social responsibility than other banks have shown, and I would urge customers to use the Llangollen branch as much as possible to guarantee its longer-term survival.”

 Mr Skates added: “More people are going online to do their banking, which is reducing demand for over-the-counter services. We need more people to switch their custom to Barclays and use the branch regularly in order to secure its future.

“I’d urge anyone who objected to the closure of other bank branches to switch to Barclays if they wish to see Llangollen remain open in the long term.”

Mr Skates recently secured a commitment from HSBC that it would keep a cashpoint in Ruabon, and has also fought for mobile banking services for communities where branches have closed, including Rhos and Brymbo.

Former mayor of Llangollen, Cllr Bob Lube, said the branch was of great importance to small businesses based in the town.

“I’m pleased Ken has had this discussion with Barclays, and I know he will do everything he can to keep banking facilities in Llangollen,” said Cllr Lube.

“I’m glad we’ve got someone as proactive as him fighting our corner once again.”

Spring gala steams into Llangollen

* The renovated Foxcote Manor will be a

star of this weekend's Steam Gala.

Llangollen Railway’s Spring Steam Gala will take place over three days from Friday to Sunday, April 8-10.

Headlining the event are two special guests, engine no. 7820 “Dinmore Manor” and the Small Prairie class No. 4566.

The gala should also feature the return of our resident No.7822 “Foxcote Manor” following a major overhaul, supplementing locos from the railway's home fleet: 5199, 6430 & 80072.

An intensive timetable will recall the sights and sounds of the Cambrian routes in the 1950s and 60s.

The route of the Llangollen Railway follows a 10-mile stretch of the former cross-country Ruabon to Barmouth line, which was once busy carrying holiday makers from the North West of England to the Cambrian Coast resorts of Pwllheli, Porthmadog and Barmouth.

"Dinmore Manor” will be joining sister "Foxcote Manor”, which has just returned to service after a lengthy overhaul which followed around two years of fundraising and work.

A special souvenir gala programme containing details about the loco fleet, attractions, timetable and photography locations, has been designed with a reproduction of the BR style timetable cover to make it blend in with the period.

This is available to download for free from the railway’s website and will be available for free in paper format from the station booking offices during the gala itself.

There will be recreations of a number of BR named trains from the 1950s and early 60s, with the most notable being the daily Cambrian Coast Express.

Gala visitors are encouraged to download and create their very own CCE luggage label from the railway’s website, which can then be attached to their rucksack, bag or other items for their journey.

On board the recreated ‘Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society AGM Special Train’, which ran annually over the Ruabon – Barmouth line on its way to Towyn until 1964, passengers will be given a complimentary copy of the 1962 souvenir eight-page booklet, reproduced from an original held in the Talyllyn Railway’s archive.

The Festiniog Railway Society railtour headboard will also be in use, as well as a recreation of the North Wales Radio Land Cruise, which once did a circular land cruise around North Wales via Bala, Barmouth, Porthmadog, Bangor and Denbigh.

Over the winter a dedicated group of volunteers have cleared the shrubs, trees and overhanging branches from both ends of Berwyn Tunnel, making the approaches to it much lighter and drier.

Footage taken during 7822 Foxcote Manor's comeback special on this stretch can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqZXeGgefJM

During the gala, the first departure from Llangollen will be the 9.20am double-headed express service, which will run non-stop through to Corwen.

Whilst the majority of the line will be representing the 1950s & early 1960s, Berwyn station will be remaining in its GWR 1930s guise.

The gala will be the first opportunity for the newly restored ticket office to be seen in use.

After Berwyn was downgraded to Halt status in the 1950s, the building was leased to the proprietors of the nearby Chain Bridge Hotel, who removed amongst other things all the ticket office furniture and fittings.

The partition wall was reinstated when the station reopened in 1985, but the counter unit remained absent.

A replica counter has been constructed by a specialist cabinet maker in Wallasey on the Wirral, based on the surviving counter at Carrog.

The ticket office will be fitted out for the gala as it would have been 80 years ago, complete with original GWR paperwork and furniture. 

The station's waiting room has also been fitted out with period GWR posters, including to Criccieth, a popular Cambrian Coast holiday resort.

Music event planned at St Collen's

MP campaigns over pre-pay meters

* Susan Elan Jones MP

campaigning with

Shadow Energy Minister

Dawn Butler MP.

Clwyd South Labour MP Susan Elan Jones is calling on the Government and energy companies to use the spring and summer as a time to clamp down on "the scandalous cost" of pre-payment meters.

Ms Jones has joined Shadow Energy Minister Dawn Butler MP in welcoming the tariff cap recommended by the Competition and Markets Authority, but the pair also want tougher action.

They want to see:
- costs of pre-payment meters cut so they're the same as direct debit fuel tariffs
- homes with pensioners, disabled people and children not having pre-payment meters in the first place.
- no instalment of pre-payment meters during the winter
- no debt collection by energy companies during the winter
- monitoring and action on self-disconnection by those on smart meters and the prioritisation of pre-payment customers in the UK roll-out.

Ms Jones said: "This is a real scandal that affects many of the poorest people in our communities.

"Estimates show around 8,000 households in this constituency alone have pre-payment meters. Energy costs have fallen, but this isn't being passed onto people on pre-payment meter. They are paying up to £330 a year more than if they were paying by direct debit.

"One leading charity even found that 57% of pre-payment meter users were limiting how much energy they used in the winter. That shows the scale of the scandal. We need serious action to end the pre-pay rip off."

Collabro heading for Eisteddfod

* Musical theatre boy band Collabro are heading for Llangollen.

A musical theatre boy band who won TV’s Britain’s Got Talent and reduced star judge Amanda Holden to tears are headed to North Wales.

Collabro will be starring with Kerry Ellis, the First Lady of the West End, in the Voices of Musical Theatre concert at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on Wednesday, July 6.

And for one of the band members, Thomas Redgrave, it's going to mean a happy return to Llangollen where he competed as part of a choir from London some years ago.

Collabro are the latest top name to be announced for the landmark 70th festival since it was established in 1947 to promote peace and harmony in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Katherine Jenkins will be bringing the curtain up on opening night, Tuesday, July 5, when the popular mezzo soprano will be treating the audience to a concert version of Georges Bizet’s opera, Carmen, opposite American tenor Noah Stewart.

Opera superstar Bryn Terfel will be sharing the stage on Thursday, July 7, with a good friend who's also a world class tenor, the supremely talented Maltese opera colleague, Joseph Calleja, in a concert that's also being supported by Pendine Park

Meanwhile, Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra are returning to Llangollen to bring the curtain down on the festival with a foot stomping party on Sunday, July 10.

Collabro won the hit talent show two years ago, earning rave reviews from the likes of Simon Cowell and Holden along the way and are no strangers to tearful audience members.

In fact the five-strong group say they know they have done a good job when they see their fans in tears – and it happens a great deal.

According to Thomas Redgrave, he often sees people in the audience dabbing their eyes as they perform hits from shows like Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Chess and West Side Story.

Redgrave, who hails from Saltfleet, Lincolnshire, said: “Musical theatre is such a special genre which people seem to connect with.

“It’s a dream come true for Collabro to be performing at Llangollen alongside Kerry Ellis who is the first lady of musical theatre, particularly when it comes to West End productions.

“Working with Kerry Ellis will be something else we can tick off our bucket list. We seem to be very quickly achieving all our ambitions, it’s incredible.”

Redgrave is looking forward to going back to Llangollen and has already told fellow members, Michael Auger, Richard Hadfield, Jamie Lambert and Matt Pagan, all about the festival

He said: “I couldn’t believe how incredible the festival was as a competitor even though I was just one member of a large choir.

“I remember we finished in third place and our conductor was at the bar when he should have been on stage receiving our award!

“The passion for music at Llangollen was so obvious and incredible. I can’t wait to return and have told the boys all about it.

“The fact we will be performing at the 70^th Eisteddfod is amazing and we are so honoured."

The group, currently touring the UK and playing to sold-out audiences, have been enjoying life since winning Britain’s Got Talent and releasing their first album, Stars, which went straight to the top of the UK charts.

Redgrave said: “We are living our dream, everything has gone amazingly well. We’ve toured America and Japan and even managed to sing ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, from Les Misérables, to a Japanese audience in their own language - that took some doing.

“Our tour has gone amazingly well and we are all so looking forward to appearing at Llangollen. It’s going to be an amazing and an unforgettable evening.”

Collabro, who performed for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the 2014 Royal Variety Performance and at the 2015 VE Day 70 Party to Remember on Horse Guards Parade, won the 2014 Britain’s Got Talent by a big margin after wowing the huge TV audience with a rendition of Stars from Les Misérables.

Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “Collabro are a group with a distinct style and will grace the Llangollen stage.

“The Voices of Musical Theatre Wednesday evening concert promises to be a real highlight this year.

Joining Kerry Ellis and Collabro will be the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre, the CBC Voices from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra under the direction of John Quirk.

He added: “It’s going to be an unforgettable evening including songs from all the world’s major musical theatre productions. It’s not to be missed.”

Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition, along with the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World.

Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be a feast of music and dance from the best of the Eisteddfod’s international competitors with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax at the evening concert.

It will open with a Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza, followed by the International Peace message delivered by Theatr yr Ifanc, Rhosllannerchrugog.

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

Saturday is dedicated to the top choirs 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.

To book tickets and for more details on the 2016 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob5UJS2WwQ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_SNGyYQ7pk

Cruise ships could dock in Llangollen

* Cruise ships like this one could soon be docking at Llangollen Wharf.

In recent years Llangollen has benefitted from visitors from a number of cruise ships docking in Liverpool.   

Passengers are offered a day trip to North Wales that includes a visit to Llangollen but that unfortunately limits their time here and what they can see and experience. 

Under current investigation is a proposal that would bring the cruise ships over night from Liverpool around the Wirral and up the Dee, arriving around dawn for mooring at Dee Mill Wharf.

Spokesperson, David Davies, said: "This will enable passengers to spend a whole day in town with the opportunity to take a train ride, a trip on the horse drawn boat, partake of some lunch in one of our many cafes, restaurants or hotels and enjoy a local shopping experience.

"Passengers would return to their ship in time for a night time return sailing such that the cruise can then resume their programme on schedule.

"This would be a tremendous boost to tourism and trade in the town and a memorable  additional experience for all the cruise passengers, truly putting Llangollen on the world map." 

Llan event promotes best of county's food and drink

* Leanne Ing from the Cabin Kitchen.

A COUPLE who run a cake-making business in Denbighshire are tasting more success with the UK’s only white water paddle-boarding experience.

Lianne and Anthony Ing, who are both 24 were among the stars of an event to promote the best of Denbighshire’s growing food and drink industry.

Both businesses were showcased at A Taste for Local, a major networking event hosted by Denbighshire County Council at Llangollen Pavilion.

Part of March for Business, Denbighshire’s Business Month, the aim was to give people involved in the hospitality and tourism industries the chance to mingle with some of the county’s top local producers.  

 

Hugh Evans, Lead Member for Economic Development at Denbighshire County Council, was delighted with the turn out.

* Chrissie Ashworth from Temptations Cakes, left, with Karen Collo. 

He said: “We had close on 100 people at the event who were a mixture of people running their own food related businesses and those from the catering and accommodation sectors.

"Existing businesses shared information, experience and knowledge with each other while start up businesses were pointed in the right direction. There were practical examples of how to get local produce on the menu and examples of how to diversify into the tourism sector.

“The events are all part of our work on developing the local economy and delivering the wider economic development strategy for the county."

Lianne and Anthony operate Cabin Kitchen from their home in Glyndyfrdwy in the Dee Valley to supply mouth-watering cakes to cafes across the area.

Lianne explained: “It all started when we went on holiday to San Diego and California and saw people having lots of fun aboard stand-up paddle boards on the water there.

“We bought two of the boards for about £900 each and we had more boards specially made for use on white water rivers and soon afterwards started our business, Stand-Up Paddle Board UK, which offers people the chance to try them out on the fast-flowing River Dee and also the nearby Llangollen Canal.”

* Cllr Rhys Hughes opens proceedings.

“It’s a great new sport and I think we’re unique is offering the only white water paddle-boarding experience in Wales and the UK.

“In our cake-making business, called Cabin Kitchen, we bake a wide range of cakes, including gluten free, which we sell to cafes across Denbighshire."

Lianne added: “We wanted to be at A Taste for Local because it was a great opportunity to meet people in the same sort of businesses as ours and to help give what we’re doing a higher profile.”

Amongst those who picked up plenty of ideas for future business development was Karen Collo from Wrexham who was at the event on behalf of a friend who runs a string of cafes in Liverpool, Preston, Nottingham and Rotherham.

She said: “I was looking for different types of product to use in the cafes, which all have their own concept from stand-alone cafes to coffee shops.

“I found a few things which fitted the bill. One of the stalls which caught my eye was Temptations homemade cakes where the products looked very good.”

Temptations owner, Chrissie Ashworth, said: “I’ve just moved to new, larger premises in Corwen and it was good to be at the event and to show off my products to a wider market.

“I was delighted to have the chance to show them to a potential buyer.”

Guest speakers included TV hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones who issued a rallying cry for a “farming food revolution”.

He said: “Events such as this are fantastic because we need to show people just how good Welsh food – such as our lamb – actually is.

“Because as a nation we have more and more children with obesity or diabetes, I believe education is the key to what I call a farming food revolution.

“We have got to educate them to eat more healthily and we could start with encouraging them to drink milk, which is one of the best things you can have, rather than fizzy drinks.”

Other speakers were Colin Loughlin, chairman of the Hamper Llangollen food festival, who stressed the importance of food and drink to the tourism industry, and David Shiel, senior countryside officer for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, who referred to the strong link between the local landscape and food.

Councillor Rhys Hughes, who represents Llangollen on Denbighshire County Council, said: “The event was all about networking and allowing businesses to meet and get to know each other.

“Tourism is worth over £400 million a year to the county and today was also a way to celebrate the abundance of good quality food products and what we have to offer our visitors.” 

Denbighshire Council have other events in the pipeline, including Social Media for Beginners at Rhyl College on May 12 and Open 4 Business at Oriel House, St Asaph, on June 30.

Group to fly in from Germany for Operatic show

 * A group of operatic members who appear in the show as frisky grannies try out their costumes outside Llangollen Town Hall.

A GROUP of Germans are planning to fly almost 700 miles to catch the latest show by Llangollen Operatic Society.

There are now just a couple of weeks to go until the curtain goes up on the first of six performances of Mel Brook’s smash-hit musical The Producers at Llangollen Town Hall.

Cast and crew are working hard to put the finishing touches to songs, dances, costumes and scenery and tickets are starting to sell like hot cakes as word spreads and information and action shots of rehearsals are shared on social media.

Society members were particularly thrilled to hear that four people are planning to jet over from Germany to catch the show.

A few months ago two people from Frankfurt, named August and Monika, who were spending time in Llangollen to arrange internships for students from Germany were in the town’s Corn Mill restaurant when a group of operatic members came in for post-rehearsal drinks.

After striking up a conversation, it became clear that The Producers was one of August’s favourite shows, so it was jokingly suggested to him he might to come back and see it when it’s staged next month.

Producer, Tracey Rawlinson, said: “I arrived at the pub to find a group of members laughing and joking with August and his colleague, trying to persuade them to come and see the show.

“Whatever they said, it worked as I received an e-mail from him a few days later requesting four tickets.

“The group from Germany are planning to stay at a local guesthouse and tour around the area for a few days before attending the Saturday night performance.

“We’re so excited to have international supporters and are looking forward to welcoming them back to Llangollen and hope they will join in our post performance celebrations.

“In his e-mail August said he was really looking forward to seeing the show so much that he was jumping for joy.”

The Producers will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall from April 12-16, starting at 7.30pm, and with a matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday 16th.

* Tickets are now available online at the following link:  www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety.

Campaign to prepare for social care changes

The six North Wales councils and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are supporting a campaign to inform residents across the region of significant changes to the way health and social care is provided in future.

The new Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 comes into effect on April 6 and represents a shift in focus for health and social care providers across the country.

In the face of challenges such as demographic changes, a growing demand for services and further cuts to budgets, the Act calls for smarter, more innovative approaches to delivering cost effective care of the highest possible standards.

Jenny Williams, Director of Social Care at Conwy Council, speaking on behalf of the partner agencies in North Wales, said: “The time for implementing the new Act is fast approaching and a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to prepare for this big change.

“The Act is very much a new way of working. It aims to make residents an equal partner in their care, with access available  to advice and information. Any assessments will clearly focus on the individual and what matters to them.

“It is really important for those who currently use health and social care services, their networks, carers and those potentially needing care that changes are on the way. They need to understand how their care and support will be affected.

“We want North Wales residents to be fully aware of the changes and to embrace the change. We will continue to provide information to residents and signpost them to websites, resident newsletters and other forms of communication over the coming weeks."

* All the latest information on the Act and the changes can be found on your local authority website or through Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s website.

Mike to run in triathlon for air ambulance

* Mike Edwards outside Chirk Leisure Centre with one of the Wales Air Ambulance mascots, Huw HEMS.



Mike Edwards of Llangollen is competing in the Chirk triathlon on April 17, raising funds for Wales Air Ambulance. 

The event starts and finishes at Chirk Leisure Centre and Mike is training at the leisure centre.

Mike, a long-term cyclist,  regularly hits the mountain bike trails at Coed Llandegla  and pounds the roads in the Wrexham and Llangollen areas.  

Following a heart attack five years ago Mike regained his fitness and took up the triathlon event. 

He is a keen supporter of  the air ambulance, being well aware of the value of a speedy response in his sport. 


* To sponsor Mike please contact him at Cittaslow Llangollen Twitter: @Mike262, @MikeBuyLocal(Buy Local Llangollen), Facebook: Michael Edwards : BuyLocalLlangollen, or LinkedIn: Michael Edwards and also on Google Hangout



Mike has so far raised £150 through Virgin Money Just Giving. To support him, follow the link:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action;jsessionid=zgS4DAybgD59Scs7pGQG4xgq.lgvappprod2:server-one?userUrl=MichaelEdwards262&faId=690831&isTeam=false

Low income familes could cut water bills, says AM

Many lower income households in North Wales could be eligible for savings of up to £250 on their water bills, says North Wales AM Mark Isherwood.

And he is urging local people to check whether they could benefit.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has launched a special HelpU tariff for customers in households with a total annual income of no more than £15,000.

Mr Isherwood said: “Welsh Water says that many thousands of customers could benefit from HelpU - and some could see their annual water and sewerage bill cut by a half. People who qualify only have to get in touch with the company and they’ll be helped to make the switch to the HelpU tariff.

“This is an initiative that would benefit many in my constituency and I urge people to think about whether they qualify and, if so, to contact the company immediately. We know that for many the water bill exceeds five per cent of household income and so paying it can be a struggle.

“There are big savings available to those on low incomes. If you don’t qualify yourself, perhaps you know someone else who does. Please spread the word and pass on this valuable information to them.”

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water can be contacted online at www.dwrcymru.com or by calling 0800 052 0145.

60,000 customers already benefit from Dŵr Cymru’s social tariffs for water and sewerage bills. HelpU is the company’s only social tariff based solely on household income. It has been devised after consultation with the Welsh Government, the Consumer Council for Water, and Community Housing Cymru. 

Make sure you register to vote on May 5

Denbighshire County Council is encouraging people to visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to register to have their say on Thursday May 5 when voters in Wales will go to the polls to elect an Assembly Member and a Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Electoral Commission has launched its major national voter registration campaign across Wales to remind people to register by the deadline of Monday April 18.

In Wales, advertising will appear across TV, radio and online on demand video services.

This is in addition to the work that is already being carried out across Wales by the Commission and partner organisations, which started earlier this year.

The public awareness campaign across Wales aims to encourage anyone not yet registered, to do so as soon as possible.  Research shows that young people, students, and recent home movers are less likely to be registered to vote.

Registering to vote is quick and easy to do online at gov.uk/register-to-vote but you only have until Monday April 18 if you want to vote in these elections in Wales this May.

Castle a popular tourist destination

A trip up to Castell Dinas Bran was a popular excursion for visitors to the town on this sunny Good Friday.

Here, one group enjoys a breather and the spectacular view after their climb to the summit.

Candidate meets mayor and other groups

Welsh Conservative candidate for Clwyd South, Simon Baynes (left), says he had a very good meeting recently at the Hand Hotel with the Mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, Fiona Maher of http://northwalesfaeryfestival.com/ and David Davies, Chairman of the Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism http://www.new.llangollen.org.uk

Mr Baynes added: "This discussion produced many good ideas and points to raise at the postponed meeting with Welsh Minister Lord Bourne which will be held in Llangollen soon."

Redevelopment of old tip site gets underway

WORK to prepare for the redevelopment of the former council refuse tip on the road into Llangollen has started.

One of the area’s county councillors, Stuart Davies, said Denbighshire’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team had received a Heritage Lottery grant to help create a countryside training area on the Wenffryd site off the A539.

And he says he would also like to see the inclusion of extra car parking for visitors to the town along with cycle and footpaths linking the area with the nearby Llangollen Canal towpath and the World Heritage site at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and perhaps also a football pitch.

Cllr Davies (pictured) said: “The tip closed back in 2008 because of problems of safe access from the main A539, which is a very busy road.

“I’ve been trying for the past four years to get something done with the site and now, at last, things are happening.

“The main aim has been to create a safe access with good visibility and that is now being done as the job of clearing the area around the old tip get underway.

“The AONB people will then have a training facility for countryside maintenance, such as woodcraft, on the site.

“All this is very much a work in progress and I must stress that nothing has yet been agreed, but I’d also like to see extra car parking put in for visitors to the town and foot and cycle paths joining the area up with the nearby canal towpath and eventually the World Heritage site.

“My fellow Llangollen county councillor Rhys Hughes and I would also like to see a football pitch on the site and maybe also an area set aside for wild plants.”   

MP calls for tougher law on bank closures

Susan Elan Jones MP has urged the Government to toughen the law against 'insidious bank closures' in Parliament.

Speaking in a debate in the House of Commons on the budget yesterday (Tuesday), the MP said "It's time we looked very seriously at what happens when banks closes. This is a problem facing many communities and many people."

Ms Jones made her comments after HSBC announced they would close branches in Ruabon and Chirk.

In a separate debate on the Macur Review, the Clwyd South Labour MP, speaking in her role as Shadow Wales Office Minister, also urged judges "not to be soft in sentencing" in cases relating to historic child abuse in North Wales homes.