Open-air theatre group play it for laughs at Plas Newydd

* A scene from last night's production of Around the World in 80 Days at Plas Newydd.

Stuffed shirt Phileas Fogg ran into some ripping adventures as he made his way around the world in just 80 days. He also had lots of laughs.

And, despite the squadrons of kamikaze midges, so did the audience last night (Friday) at Plas Newydd where the Off the Ground theatre group presented their hilarious open-air interpretation of the Jules Verne classic.

It tells the tale of how a buttoned-up Victorian Englishman takes on the intrepid circumnavigation as the result of a bet with mates at his London club.

It’s probably true to say that this talented 16-strong group of strolling players from the Wirral didn’t stick too closely to the original. But we can forgive them that because the production was peppered with as much comedy as they could possibly pack in.

Fogg believes the globe can be circled in record time, but the old duffers at the Reform Club disagree.

So after a snap decision and a bet of £20,000, he is on his way, travelling on ships, steamers and railways, tackling elephants, angry savages, human sacrifices and American elections en route, all while being chased by the finest officers of Scotland Yard.

Nothing fazes Fogg, played perfectly by Nick Crosbie employing the stiffest of British upper lips. He has accounted for everything - except what he might learn about himself on the way.

Connor Wray adopted a French accent as fruity as a ripe camembert to portray Fogg’s trusty manservant Passepartout who makes his way to join his master despite tougher post-Brexit immigration controls. From him it’s chuckles every step of ze way, oui oui!

Love interest was neatly provided by Grace Goulding as the “stunner” of an Indian princess whom the duo rescue from being thrown onto her late husband’s funeral pyre as they head across India.   

Lots of laughs came courtesy of Off the Ground old hand Chris Tomlinson as he played things up deliciously in a couple of roles such as a sweary American politician and an insane visually challenged old sea dog who pilots Fogg and his party across the Pacific in a couple of blow-up ducks.

Naturally, everything turns out fine in the end. Fogg hits his 80-day deadline, gets the girl and thanks to what he’s learned about life along the way even unstiffens a little to concede that people can now call him Phil.  

Off the Gound’s summer touring productions have become increasingly ambitious and spectacular.

Last year they brought a rapier-sharp version of the adventure tale Zorro to Plas Newydd. That went down a storm but I reckon this one was even funnier.

... and more action from the show ...

Llan Bowling Club notches up a score of 150

* A game in progress on the club's green at Plas Newydd.

Phil Jones has prepared this short but fascinating history of one of the town's oldest and best-loved organisations

This year Llangollen Bowling Club celebrates 150 years of continuous operation making it probably the oldest non-religious organization still active in the town.

Presently based in the beautiful grounds of Plas Newydd, the club’s original home was at the Ponsonby Arms Hotel.

The origins of crown green bowling in the town appear to have been closely linked with the Ponsonby which was opened in the early 1850s and it had a bowling green located to the rear of the hotel between the railway and the river.

The green, the outline of which can still be made out, was the site of the tent for the Eisteddfod of 1858.

The Ponsonby was the headquarters of the bowling club from its formation in 1867 until 1922 when it relocated to the new greens and gardens constructed on the canalside, on the site of the present RAFA Club, by the owner of the Bridge End Hotel.

* Some members outside the clubhouse.

Llangollen Bowling Club should not be confused with its good friends the Llangollen RAFA Bowling Club who now play on a new green alongside.
  
In 1925 a disagreement over proposed rent increases with new owners of the canalside facilities resulted in the club moving to its present location at Plas Newydd using the former lawn tennis court as a bowling green and a building known as “the old picture house” as the clubhouse.

The club’s first season at Plas Newydd opened on April 17, 1926 and after 91 years at this wonderful location the club is still thriving.

The green and clubhouse are leased from Denbighshire County Council and the club enjoys a close working partnership with the council.

In the past decade the club has made a significant investment in the maintenance of the clubhouse and for the first time in many years the green underwent a major programme of renovation together with the erection of new boundary fencing, picnic tables were provided for general use again all funded by the club.

The regular cutting of the green and the spring and autumn maintenance operations are facilitated and funded by the club, however throughout the bowling season the green is open to the public until 6pm after which the club has exclusive use.

Bowling activities are mainly of a social nature as the club is not in a bowling league, but during the course of the season members can play in three individual cup competitions and pairs competitions on the opening and closing days.

Your last chance to see historic hillfort site

* Work taking place at the site.

Liverpool University Archaeology Department, led by Dr Rachel Pope, has been running an archaeological student training school at the Iron Age Penycloddiau Hillfort in the Clwydian Range each summer for the past six years.

This season is the final year and this Saturday (August 5) there's the last guided walk to the site, and your final chance to see what has been happening before it is all covered back up.

If you are interested in coming along to see the remains of the house and find out about the construction of the ramparts, this is your last chance.

Meeting: Llangwyfan car park at 10am (on the road between Nannerch and Llandyrnog) 
When: Saturday, August 5.

Fiona Gale, County Archaeologist, explained: “It has been such an opportunity for the area to have this focus on Penycloddiau, a massive Hillfort in the Clwydian Range. 

“The work here links to work which has been taking place at Moel y Gaer Bodfari and feeds into the recently launched online Hillfort Atlas. Join me for the last ever guided walk to these fascinating excavations, It may be years before there is any further archaeological work at the site!”

* For more information please contact Fiona Gale at Fiona.gale@denbighshire.gov.uk

A video of the project can be seen at: https://youtu.be/9u9Qsrn9j54

Thousands expected at LlanBikeFest

Thousands of bike fans and families are expected to converge on the Llangollen Motorcycle Festival, at the town’s Royal International Pavilion this Saturday and Sunday, with the Met Office forecasting a bright and sunny weekend.

Starring TT legend John McGuinness, LlanBikeFest is a family-friendly festival, with hundreds of bikes on display, tons of trials and mountain bike action, children’s entertainment, music and a Battle of Britain Spitfire and Hurricane flypast on Sunday.

Now in its third year, LlanBikeFest will be open Saturday from 9.00 to 6.00, with an evening party 6.00 to 10.00. Sunday opening is 9.00 to 5.00.

Tickets are available on the gate both days, with adults £10 and accompanied children 15 and under free.

The festival’s official opening ceremony will be performed by the Llangollen Mayor and town crier Chem on Saturday at 11.00. 

* More information on www.llanbikefest.co.uk and  Facebook at Llangollen Motorcycle Festival, or contact the Festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free.

Art club launches summer exhibition

Llangollen Art Club launched its latest exhibition at the town's library yesterday (Tuesday) evening.

It includes a wide selection of eye-catching work by the club's members which will remain on show at the library until early September and is available for viewing by the public.

* Some of the artwork on display at the exhibition.

* Guests view a selection of the exhibits.

Skates campaigns over future of eyesore site

An AM wants to help bring a town centre ‘eyesore’ back into use.

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates was contacted for help over run-down Commerce House, on the A5 in the centre of Corwen, by local councillor Huw Jones.

The pair would like to see the Grade II-listed premises – which is privately owned and up for sale – developed for social housing, and Mr Skates has contacted Denbighshire County Council chief executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet to raise the issue.

“This building has been on Denbighshire’s list of eyesore sites for some time, it’s a real shame and I know Huw and Dr Mehmet share my frustration,” said Mr Skates.

In his response to Mr Skates, Dr Mehmet said it had ‘proved particularly difficult’ to find a solution to Commerce House, which he said is in ‘an extremely difficult state’. The council has contacted heritage watchdog Cadw to try and get the building’s listed status removed, which could make it more attractive to potential buyers.

Mr Skates said: “Because of huge cuts to Wales from the UK Government, the council cannot afford to buy the building outright and pay for the extensive work that needs doing. Social landlords have been approached about the viability of a housing scheme to address local need, and this is an option I’d like to see pursued for local people.

“I have offered my full support to Denbighshire County Council to get this matter resolved. Dr Mehmet has said the authority would provide as much support as possible should the right private sector investor comes forward with redevelopment or refurbishment proposals, so I hope this is another avenue which can be explored.”

Plan for new park on former civic amenity site

* A site plan of the proposed pocket park off the A539 approach road to Llangollen.

The river is at the bottom of the picture.

Plans have been unveiled to create a ‘pocket park’ on the former civic amenity site on the A539 road into Llangollen.

The scheme for the council-owned land, which was last used for waste disposal in the late 1990s, has been submitted by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team on behalf of the Our Picturesque Landscape Partnership.

According to a development brief, the proposal includes landscaping, tree planting, wildflower meadows and hedgerow planting with the aim of increasing the biodiversity and ecological value of the site.

Work would also be done to eradicate the small stand of Japanese knotweed said to be present on site.

Paths, tracks and parking for 36 cars would be landscaped and screened to minimise any visual impact on the surrounding landscape and immediate site neighbours.

Improved site access/egress is a key part of the proposals. Adjacent landowners and the county’s C highways department have been consulted.

Access to the site would be available for pedestrians and cyclists along pavement from Llangollen to the west and the canal to the east, a bus stop is also located adjacent to the site, providing easy access to the site to users by an alternative means to the car.

The planning brief says: “The proposed new park would be developed along with community groups and other interested parties over a number of years and as this will take time, the ethos for this initial phase was to create a welcoming site for people to enjoy both in its own right but also as a gateway to the wider area.

“The plan has been developed as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund – Landscape Partnership Scheme bid and as part of this process consultation with stakeholders and communities has been ongoing.

“The site is seen as a key gateway into Llangollen and the wider Dee Valley, it will provide a new access point for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, promoting wider exploration of the area and a longer stay.”

* The full application can be seen on the Denbighshire planning portal. Its reference number is 03/2017/0467. https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/search-and-comment-on-applications.aspx

Have your say on new travel maps

Consultations are taking place on the Denbighshire Council draft Active Travel Integrated Network Map (INM).

The INM is a 15-year plan for improving walking and cycling routes within Denbighshire and is a requirement of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, which places duties upon local authorities to map, plan for, improve and promote opportunities for active travel.

In September 2014, the Welsh Government introduced the Active Travel (Wales) Act which makes it a legal requirement for local authorities in Wales to map and plan for suitable routes for active travel within certain settlements in Denbighshire, as designated by the Welsh Government.

Active Travel means walking and cycling (including electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters) for everyday short-distance journeys, such as journeys to school, work, or for access to shops, services and bus/rail stations. Active travel does not include journeys made purely for recreation or social reasons.

Existing Routes Maps (ERMs) 

The first stage of the act required local authorities to produce Existing Routes Maps (ERMs) to show existing routes in Denbighshire that the council considered suitable for active travel. The ERMs therefore do not show all of the available walking and cycling routes within an area.

Llangollen ERM

Active Travel Integrated Network Maps (INMs)

The second stage of the Act requires the Council to produce Integrated Network Maps (INMs) that set out the local authority’s plans to develop a network of active travel routes and facilities over the next 15 years. Denbighshire County Council is now seeking your views on the walking and cycling proposals that have been developed.

Llangollen INM


View the Denbighshire Integrated Network Map route proposals

How to have your say

You can have your say on this consultation by completing the Active Travel online survey.
Have your say on the Active Travel Integrated Network Map online survey
Or you can;

• Come to one of our drop in sessions to discuss your views with the team. Find out when the drop in sessions take place. 
• Phone 01824 706 922
• Download and complete a copy of the survey and post it to Sustainable Transport Team, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ.

The closing date for this consultation is 20 October 2017

Policing devolution 'inevitable' says commissioner

A police boss believes the devolution of policing to Wales is inevitable, saying it's a matter of when not if.

According to Arfon Jones, the newly-elected chairman of the All-Wales Policing Group, there was now an unstoppable momentum in favour of the idea.

Mr Jones, the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, said support for devolving the issue was unanimous among the four Welsh commissioners who are members of the group.

Although not legally devolved many of the other areas of the criminal justice system, like the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts service, already operate with all-Wales structures.

Mr Jones (pictured) said: "The four police and crime commissioners are keen to see more responsibilities devolved to Wales.

"We welcome the fact that the Ministry of Justice are moving towards devolving more responsibilities to commissioners around victims and witnesses. This is a step in the right direction.

"We believe policing should be completely devolved to Wales and it’s only a matter of time before it is, but we need to convince the Secretary of State Alun Cairns of that and up till now we haven’t had much success.

"He is against the idea because several people tried to move amendments to the Wales Bill to devolve such things as youth justice.

"The Government didn’t support it so it didn’t go through which is a shame because youth justice is the only part of children’s services which is not devolved to Wales. "Other areas like education, health and social care are all devolved - and then you’ve got youth justice which still comes under the Ministry of Justice in London. It’s totally illogical.

"In terms of the devolution it is now just a matter of so we’re doing is preparing the ground because when it does happen it's likely to happen overnight.

"It might take 10 or 20 years but it's important that we are properly prepared and that we have the right structures in place.

"It would make sense if criminal justice was totally devolved as well the same as it is in Greater Manchester.

"Policing and criminal justice are devolved there to the mayor Andy Burnham, and if they can do it in Manchester I don’t see any reason why they can’t do it in Wales.

"To have certain elements of criminal justice outside of that sort of sphere doesn’t make sense because you need everything together as part of one integrated service.

“When you have one bit of a service devolved and not the others all it does is muddies the waters and it causes more problems and it causes more legal challenges.

"There have been a few legal challenges between the Welsh Government and Westminster and I can see more happening until policing is finally and rightly devolved to the people of Wales.

"A case in point is the confusion around the apprenticeship levy where policing is not devolved and training is, with the likely end result likely to be that Welsh Police Officers may not get the same level of training because of the impasse between the two governments." 

MP backs hearing support campaigners

Susan Elan Jones MP is backing a campaign by charity Action on Hearing Loss which calls on the Government to do more to support companies and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Speaking after meeting with representatives of Action on Hearing Loss in Parliament, the Clwyd South MP said: "A recent YouGov poll found that 57% of business leaders feel there's a lack of support available for employers about employing someone with hearing loss while nearly two-fifths of business managers don't feel equipped to enable staff with hearing loss to stay productive in the workplace.

"Those figures are really concerning when you think that 11 million people in the UK having a hearing loss - and almost 5 million of them are of working age.

"I want to see greater work opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and greater support for employers too. I welcome this very thoughtful campaign from Action on Hearing Loss who have written two excellent reports which make detailed and constructive suggestions for how the Department for Work and Pensions can act."

* Susan Elan Jones MP meeting in Parliament with representatives of Action on Hearing Loss.

Party in the Park is a big hit

Llangollen Cytun Churches Together hosted its Party in the Park at Riverside yesterday (Saturday) afternoon attracting scores of people to its range of children's games and free barbecue.

There was also a strong gospel message and here the Rev Phil Poole, Minister of the English Methodist Church, leads a live music session on the bandstand.

MP calls for tougher action on problem gambling

* Susan Elan Jones MP campaigning for tougher laws against problem gambling.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones is calling on the Government to take much tougher action to tackle problem gambling.

She is especially keen to see the Government drastically reduce the stakes allowed on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals from £100 to £2.

Ms Jones said: "I am really concerned about this issue and its impact on families and individuals.

"In the last Parliament, I was very involved in a campaign to get controls over Fixed Odds Betting Terminals devolved to the Welsh Government.

"Although the UK Government would not do this at first, our persistent campaigning did finally get them to include partial devolution in the Wales Bill."

She added: "I want the entire UK to be covered by laws that mean stakes on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are reduced from the staggering £100 a stake which is legal now down to £2.

"All of us who have campaigned on this issue know the misery that Fixed Odds Betting Terminals can cause, with casino games like routlette allowing punters to stake £100 every 20 seconds. That is £50 million being lost to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in Wales alone.  No wonder Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are often called the 'crack cocaine' of gambling."

The UK Government is currently considering responses from the Call for Evidence into Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility launched in October 2016. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is expected to publish the next stage of the Review, with its proposals, this October.

Peacemaking motorbike to star at Llan show

The 1916 Triumph believed to have carried the German Kaiser’s surrender document to allied HQ on November 11, 1918 is one of a special display of motorcycles over 100 years old that will be to the Llangollen Motorcycle Festival, August 5 and 6.

The 550cc Model H is one of several owned and ridden regularly by Brad Jones of Froncysllte (pictured).

Its history includes letters from an army officer revealing its vital role in the signing of the armistice.

It will be among an array of machines at least 100 years old (pictured below) in a display called The LlanBikeFest Centenary Club.

An even older 1913 Triumph 500 cc TT Replica, owned by Neil Shirley, will be part of an exhibit by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club, with machines representing each of the last 10 decades. And Jeff Owen of the Llangollen Motor Museum will be riding his own 1916 Triumph to the Festival.

LlanBikeFest’s John Hutchinson said: “It’s tribute to the engineering skills of our motorcycling forefathers that many of these bikes are still on the road and going strong.”

Starring TT legend John McGuinness, LlanBikeFest is billed as a family-friendly Festival, with tons of trials and mountain bike action, children’s entertainment, music and a Battle of Britain Spitfire and Hurricane flypast on Sunday.

More information on www.llanbikefest.co.uk and  Facebook at Llangollen Motorcycle Festival.

LlanBikeFest is sponsored by Carole Nash Insurance, with day tickets £10 on the gate or online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk, and children 15 and under free. Or contact the Festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free.

Time running out to have your say on bus services

Denbighshire County Council is reminding people that the  consultation closing date on plans to revise a number of public bus services in the county is looming.

The services being consulted on are:

·         1, x1, 2 Ruthin - Mold

·         5 Llangollen - Wrexham (evenings)

·         19, 40 Dyserth

·         19, 40 Tremeirchion and Prestatyn Local

·         X51 Denbigh - Ruthin - Wrexham Showing selected Rhyl - Denbigh daytime journeys

·         X51 Sundays Denbigh - Ruthin - Wrexham Showing selected Rhyl - Denbigh daytime journeys

·         53 Denbigh - Prestatyn

·         55 Ruthin - Corwen - Wrexham

·         66 Denbigh Town & Henllan

·         72, 73, 77 Fflecsi Rhuthun

·         76 Denbigh - Llandyrnog - Ruthin

·         95 Bryneglwys

·         98 Llantysilio & Pentredŵr

People can also view the proposals online at: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/travel.

The closing date for comments is August 10. All feedback received will be considered as part of the review, with the services going out to tender in the autumn.

Chef to the stars heading for Hamper Llangollen

* Tim Roberts (right) with singer and TV presenter Connie Fisher and helper Jonny Platt.

A chef who is rapidly rustling himself up a reputation as the caterer to the stars will be setting taste buds tingling at this year’s Llangollen Food Festival.

Over the past few years Tim Roberts has served up his mobile feasts of Spanish and Italian dishes to hungry diners at a host of major entertainment events.

And he’s also become the chef of choice to celebs such as opera legend Alfie Boe and presenters from TV antiques show Bargain Hunt including Eric Knowles.

On Saturday and Sunday October 14 and 15 he’ll once again be setting up his stand at the food festival named by the Daily Telegraph and the Independent newspapers as one of the Top 10 in the UK.

Tim, 43, served his apprenticeship with his family business of Eric Roberts butchers in Oswestry, Shropshire, before taking a job with a travel company working in countries across Europe.

He said: “I initially went out there to put up and take down holidaymakers’ tents but I soon got into doing the cooking for groups of 100 or 200 people.

“Ever since I was a boy I’d had an interest in watching TV chefs like Rick Stein and Keith Floyd and my love of cooking stemmed from there.

“While cooking for guests in the south of France, Italy and Austria I was able to indulge my passion for food and at the same time I was learning about different cuisines and picking up background culinary knowledge.

“Eight years ago, along with my wife Sarah, I decided to start my own business, which is called Su Casa Cuisine, and from our base in Oswestry we started to cook in people’s homes, doing dinner parties for groups of up to 15 or 20 people, which we still do."

Explaining how his brushes with the big names of entertainment came about, Tim said: “About four years ago I was cooking at an antiques fair in Shrewsbury and one of the production runners from Bargain Hunt which was being filmed there came over and asked if I could do some food for members of the crew and Tim Wonnacott who was one of the presenters at that time.

“I said of course I could and they all told me they enjoyed my paella very much.

“I’ve since become the regular caterer to the Bargain Hunt team, on buying days and at the auctions, and I cook for them about a dozen times a year. I’ve been all over the country to places like Lincoln, Malvern, Hereford, Worcester and Whitchurch.

“One of the regular presenters Eric Knowles is a particular fan of my food and loves the spiciest stuff. I do paella dishes from Spain and Latin street food such as Mexican fajitas, chicken and peppers and pulled pork.

“Another of the show’s presenters, Charlie Ross, always tells me he loves spicy food with a ‘bit of a wallop’ to it. I’ve shared recipe ideas with Kate Bliss who is also on the programme. They’re all great characters and I really enjoy cooking for them.”

Tim added: “The antiques people aren’t the only stars who enjoy my food. I recently set up at Walcot Hall in Shrewsbury to cook my chicken and chorizo paella at the Together Again Tour starring the singers Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.

“I was serving about 600 people that evening and Alfie came over for a plateful. We had a really good chat after I told him I have relatives who come from his part pf the world around Fleetwood in Lancashire. He’s a very down-to-earth guy and he said he really enjoyed my food.

“Actually, I’ve cooked for him before when he appeared at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, where I’m also a regular caterer, a few years ago but on that occasion he sent someone to get his food for him rather than fetching it himself.

“The night after the Ball and Boe concert I was back at Walcot Hall cooking for about 500 at a Cliff Richard gig and I did another 500 meals when the same tour moved on to Tamworth the next night.

“Another star who likes my food is Connie Fisher, the former singer who is a now a TV presenter. She’s had my paella three years in a row at the Llangollen Eisteddfod.

“There’s also the TV chef Ainsley Harriott who I met at a street fair in Chester a few years back. I’ve also had good comments about my paella from Nathaniel Parker who used to play Inspector Lynley in the TV crime series.”

Tim found time recently to cater for the new CBBC show Marrying Mum and Dad of which he said: “It was a great day watching the children arranging a wedding for their mum and dad and I think the programme is due to be broadcast this summer.

“I’ve cooked for so many famous people in the past few years I think you could call me the caterer to the stars but I’m really looking forward to being at Hamper Llangollen again this year.

“It’s a great event in a lovely venue held at the right time of the year. I believe it’s improved year on year and I can’t wait to start cooking there for hundreds of people once more.”

Phil Davies, a member of the committee at Llangollen Food Festival, can't wait to try Su Casa's mouth-watering cuisine.

He said: "I am a big fan of Spanish food so it will be a real treat to give their dishes a try.

"They will be among the record number of around 130 stall-holders at this year's festival which promises to be the biggest and the best yet."

* To find out more about Su Casa Cuisine, go to: http://www.sucasacuisine.co.uk/ and to find out more about Llangollen Food Festival go to www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Around the world ... and stopping off at Plas Newydd

An exciting tale of trains, boats, elephants, Indian princesses and a suspicious detective is coming to Plas Newydd next week.

On the evening of Friday August 4, Wirral-based Off the Ground Theatre is bringing its touring open-air production of Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days to the home of the Ladies of Llangollen.

Billed as the original global adventure, the play tells the story of Phileas Fogg who thinks he can travel the world in just 80 days.

The fellows at the Reform Club in London disagree. On the very day that a £20,000 wager is made between the men, Fogg sets sail.

Taking only his new servant for company, the pair race against the calendar, from the West to the East, taking on the world in the most literal sense.

On their journey they interrupt a sacrifice, are arrested, stampeded by bison, victims of a falling bridge, attacked by Sioux Indians, and accused of being bank robbers, all before they reach Japan!

The action starts at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at £12 adults, £8 concessions and £5 for under-21s. They are available from www.offtheground.co.uk, or on the door on the night. 

Fabulous old cars on display at Glyndyfrdwy

As part of its 1960s weekend, Llangollen Railway held a classic car show on the field next to Glyndyfrdwy Station.

llanblogger went along yesterday (Sunday) to picture some of the fantastic old metal on display.

* 1953 Ford Prefect.

* 1934 Packard.

* 1970 MGB GT.

* Late 1950s Vauxhall Cresta.

* 1930s Rolls Royce.

* 1960s Volvo 1800.

* 1960s Cadillac.

* 1960s Jaguar Mk. II.

County urges people to check broadband speeds

People in Denbighshire are being urged to make sure they are getting the best broadband speeds.

The county council is asking residents and businesses to test their broadband connection speeds via Ofcom’s website and to check with their Internet Service Providers when their current non-superfast contracts are due to end.

The council has also written to residents who it understands will be unable to access superfast broadband after the end of the current Superfast Cymru programme in December, providing them with advice on alternative solutions to improve speeds.

The Welsh Government’s website hosts a checker to confirm which premises have access to superfast speeds.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “Unfortunately broadband providers don’t always update customers about the full range of products available to them. The Welsh Government checker is an independent source which can tell residents and businesses if they can access superfast broadband.

“It is also easy to forget when your contract is due for renewal and people who could get superfast may find themselves unnecessarily tied into slow speeds for a further year if they automatically renew existing contracts.

“Helping residents and businesses to access superfast broadband is part of the council’s work to unlock the economic benefits high quality broadband can bring to communities and businesses.”

Councillor Richard Mainon, the council’s lead member for Developing Community Infrastructure, said: “The council has previously expressed its disappointment at information released by the Welsh Government on which properties in the county will not get access to fibre broadband through its Superfast Cymru programme.

“Although a second programme is due to get underway next year, there are no guarantees properties currently unable to access superfast broadband will get this opportunity in the next phase.

“The Council has identified properties in the county that cannot access superfast broadband and is helping residents and communities access information on available funding at http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/superfastbroadband.”

The Welsh Government’s superfast broadband availability checker is at https://beta.gov.wales/go-superfast/can-i-get-it

MP wants to hear from attacked emergency services staff

* Susan Elan Jones MP, fourth from right, outside Parliament

with emergency staff, Chris Bryant MP and other co-sponsors of the

Crime (Assaults on Emergency Staff) Bill.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones, who is co-sponsoring a ground-breaking parliamentary bill, is calling on local emergency workers to contact her if they have ever been attacked in the course of their duties.

She is a co-sponsor of Rhondda MP Chris Bryant's Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill.

It aims to make attacks on emergency workers such as police, fire and ambulance crews an aggravated offence.

Ms Jones said: "Although it's already an offence to attack a police office in the course of their duties, there's widespread acknowledgement that few people get prosecuted and the sentences that are handed out are far too weak.

"Doctors, nurses and paramedics don't have additional legal protection at all which is dreadful when a survey last December showed hospital staff in Wales were physically attacked more than 18,000 times at work over the last five years.

"I invite any constituent who works in emergency services and who has ever been assaulted in the course of their duties to email me in confidence on susan.jones.mp@parliament.uk if they'd like me to speak in Parliament about what happened to them.

"No-one should be attacked when they're just doing their job - and the criminals who attack our emergency service personnel should have to face tougher sentences. I think it's high time our law did more to protect the people who work so hard in our emergency services."

Art competition prizes are presented

* The Mayor, Cllr Sheena Burrell, with painting category winner Terence Edmonds and his picture entitled Blue Myfanwy.  

* The photograph category winner Mystical Dinas Bran. Its creator, Dawn Field, wasn't present.

* Amongst those highly commended was Jillian Handley for her painting Modern Day Legend, depicting well-known Llan character Wyn Hughes. She is pictured, right, with Sue Hall of Plas Newydd.

* Colourful entries in the children's category now on display.

Town Mayor, Cllr Sheena Burrell, presented prizes to the winners of this year's Picturesque Art Competition at Y Caban in Plas Newydd yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

Once again the competition was organised in conjunction with Llangollen Fringe.    

This year it linked in with the Welsh Year of Legends and extended to the whole of the Dee Valley as represented by the Area for Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Organisers were looking for any photo or painting/sketch from children or adults with a link to a myth or a legend in this area. 

Entries were judged by local professional artist Tikki Lowe.

Winner of the adults' photograph category was Dawn Field for Mystical Dinas Bran and the prize was lunch for four people at Caffi Florence in Loggerheads Mold.

The adults' painting first prize went to Terence Edmonds for his picture Blue Myfanwy. His prize was lunch for four people in Plas Newydd Tea Rooms.

Legend has it that Blue Myfanwy of the Dee is a greedy, lustful goddess who is up for anything and loves a bacon sandwich. She is also said to favour the International Eisteddfod and the Fringe Festival.

Highly commended for their paintings were Jan Murray (Celtic Legend), Jillian Handley (Modern Day Legend), Mike Flory (A Flash in Time), Irene C Bingham (Bran), Tina Rogers (Quest for the Grail) and Richard Buxton (The Salmon of Knowledge). Commended photographer was John Pugh (Maeneg Ellylyn - Foxgloves and Fairies).

Children's prizes were also presented. In first place was Mathilda Sutcliffe, aged eight, for Steve Your Soup is Legend. Her prize was a £25 voucher donated by the Friends of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley.

Second prize of £10 to spend in the Craft and Hobbies Shop, donated by shop owner Rob, went to Lily Anderson, 13, for her Branwen ar drudwy, and third prize, £5 in cash donated by local artist Mike Flory, was awarded to Madison Byers, nine, for her picture Giant.

All entries will be on show in The Potting Shed exhibition space in the grounds of Plas Newydd until Saturday August 5.

County offers free cyber security help

Businesses are being offered free help to protect themselves from the growing threat of cybercrime.

Denbighshire County Council is providing a workshop to businesses on Cyber Essentials, a UK Government backed, industry-supported, foundation for basic cybersecurity.

The one-day course will be delivered by Ruthin-based cyber and information security specialists Safonda and covers the Cyber Essentials framework, best practice to mitigate cybersecurity risks  and understanding external and internal cyber threats to businesses.

Denbighshire businesses are being offered a free place on this course, normally £70 per person.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “National and global reports of IT security breaches are now unfortunately becoming common place.

“While attacks are increasingly sophisticated, businesses of all sizes remain vulnerable because they are failing to follow simple security measures.

“The course is relevant to any size of business and is intended for company directors, business and finance managers and any staff responsible for the security of IT systems and software.

“This is part of the council’s work on developing the local economy by helping local businesses understand what they can do to make themselves resilient to the growing threat from cybercrime.”

The course will take place at Caledfryn, Smithfield Road, Denbigh on July 27, starting at 9.30am.

* To book visit https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/leisure/events/july-2017/Business-Event-Introduction-to-Cyber-Essentials.aspx or contact 01824 706896.