Ceramic artists champion shop local campaign

* Charmain Poole, left, and Jacqui Atkin of Gwalia Ceramics in Llangollen.

Ceramic artists inspired by the rich and varied wildlife of North East Wales are championing a new campaign to persuade people to shop locally this Christmas.

Shelves at Gwalia Ceramics in Llangollen’s Oak Street are a testimony to the way the region’s flora and fauna are motivating these artists in clay.

The shop and gallery is run by two potters, Charmain Poole and Jacqui Atkin, who teamed up after meeting at a North Wales ceramicists group and 18 months ago they opened Gwalia Ceramics.

Charmain, from Cynwyd, near Corwen, and Jacqui, who lives in St Martin’s, near Oswestry, take turns to run the business, a week on and a week off, giving them time to work on their vibrantly coloured designs at their workshops at home.

Their business is the kind of unique shop Denbighshire County Council’s #LoveLiveLocal campaign promotes as part of the diverse and vibrant shopping experience available on the county’s high streets.

The project is centred on the busy run-up to Christmas and Charmain and Jacqui and other retailers across the county are featured on a series of videos on social media telling shoppers about the variety of shops in Denbighshire.

As part of the #LoveLiveLocal campaign shoppers can support local independent businesses by using the hashtag on Twitter and Facebook to share good experiences they’ve had as well as promote products and services locally they have ‘loved’.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “Llangollen is a great example of the high-quality, unique shopping offer evident in high streets across Denbighshire.

“Small businesses like Gwalia Ceramics provide great customer service, going that extra mile to help their customers. As well the fantastic range of goods available in the county, shopping locally helps support Denbighshire’s economy.”

Jacqui’s work often features birds while that of Charmain, who spent a few years sailing the Mediterranean with her late husband, makes use of fish but other artists they sell have also been inspired by the natural world.

The foxes of Anna-Mercedes Wear, who died recently from cancer, feature prominently and so do the hares and weasels by Julie Shaw, part of a colourful and ever-changing display in the gallery.

Charmain said: “Llangollen is such a lovely town with so many interesting shops and lots of visitors and it’s midway between our homes so it’s been ideal.

“Our business model is very simple – we welcome ceramic artists whose work we like and appreciate.

“It’s nice to deal with good people and we like to promote them and particularly those who live and work in the area.”

Jacqui, the editor of ceramics magazine Clay Craft and the author of several books on pottery-making, has taught ceramics and worked in the NHS using ceramics as therapy for mental health patients.

She said: “My inspiration is drawn from many sources including a recent visit to Australia to see my daughter but the view from my studio window which looks out over my garden and the woodland beyond has the most enduring influence, changing with the seasons, a rich palette of colour and shape.

“None of what we have here in the shop is mass-produced, it is all individually made by artists in their studios and much of it is made locally.”

Gwalia Ceramics is part of the #LoveLiveLocal campaign being run by Denbighshire County Council and are featured on one of a series of short video clips to highlight what the county has to offer shoppers.

The Council is offering more support to local businesses with free car parking in all Denbighshire County Council town centre car parks after 3pm between November 21 and December 31.

* For more on #lovelivelocal go to https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/business/business-support-and-advice/love-live-local-caru-busnesau-lleol.aspx as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

* For more information on Gwalia Ceramics go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/showcasemakers/

Ysgol y Gwernant children visit Rhug Estate

Rhug Estate welcomed pupils from years one and two at Ysgol y Gwernant, Llangollen, to the farm recently.

The group of 38 children and four staff were eager to learn about all the different types of animals on the farm.

Whilst visiting the Rhug, the pupils aged between 5 and 7 years old, were given a tour of the farm by Gareth Jones, Rhug Farm Manager.

On their way round the farm they got to see the farm’s turkeys, geese, bison, Aberdeen angus cows and chickens. The group completed their visit in the Rhug playground.

Mrs Diane Davies, the class teacher, who accompanied the children on the visit, said: “We were very grateful to the staff at Rhug for accommodating our visit. We often forget what wonderful resources we have on our doorstep.

"All the children were absolutely fascinated by all the different types of animals they saw during our tour. We were even lucky enough to see a chick close up. It is of vital importance that this young generation understand where their food comes from.”

The Rhug Estate encourages groups to arrange a tour of the farm to learn more about how organic food is produced in a sustainable way. Educational groups are especially welcome.

Lord Newborough said: “I believe it is part of our job as custodians of this land to impart the knowledge we have to the next generation. I feel it is vitally important to spread the word about how important organic farming is to providing a better, more sustainable and healthy future for the next generation.

"I am horrified by newspaper articles that state children do not know where their food comes from. I want our future generation of consumers to make an educated choice when it comes to where they buy from.”

llanblogger launches regular car reviews

llanblogger is delighted to launch a new regular series of car reviews by STEVE ROGERS, one of the most respected motoring writers in the business and who is based in North Wales. We get into gear with his appraisal of the new Suzuki Jimny. 

* The new Suzuki Jimny.

* The Jimny boot space.

Launch report by Steve Rogers

MEET the new Suzuki Jimny, a car almost as rare as a nine bob note.

Anyone wanting the funky off roader is in for a long wait because Suzuki has only got 600 and they have been snapped up even before the car goes on sale in January.

Even with a new 1.5 litre petrol engine Suzuki is struggling to get emissions down to the required level so the most we will get is 1,200 a year from 2020.

And that's a great shame because this Jimny is like nothing that has gone before.

It has been around for almost half a century and it is exactly 20 years since the last major facelift. That is too long to wait but those lucky enough to get their hands on the new Jimny will not be disappointed.

It is light years ahead of the old model and is, dare I say, reasonably comfortable. Anyone acquainted with Jimny will know it has a ride like a bucking bronko but has always been a car that doesn't mind taking knocks and is fantastic off road.

And that key strength is still there. The new car retains the good old ladder framed chassis but this time it is much more rigid which has gone some way to improving Jimny's road manners.

Has the 20 year wait for a serious upgrade been worth it? Absolutely. The new squared off shape - am I the only one who thinks it has a bit of Jeep Wrangler about it - retains the Jimny's funkyness (have I just created a new word) as well as providing a little more space in a car that is a little shorter.

Overall it is roomier gaining 53 litres more storage space with the back seats flat. With both in place there is only room for a couple of bags of shopping, but that's not what it is here for.

Jimny has a great following in rural Wales because of its ability to go anywhere, as well as its longevity.

I went off roading in Jimny at Stoneleigh Park, the National Agricultural Centre, and was staggered how easily it coped with the most demanding circuit I have experienced. It dropped down and climbed some horribly steep gullies, made mincemeat of 'quick sand' mud and easily traversed scary looking tracks thanks to its generous ground clearance.

This Jimny really has gone all sophisticated with its Allgrip Pro four wheel drive system. It has hill descent control and dual sensor brake support, but is still an authentic off roader  - it even has the old fashioned gear stick for low range transfer.

Inside has been spruced up but it is not too flash maintaining the hardwearing easy clean plastic facings. A few more creature comforts have been thrown in - air conditioning, Bluetooth connections, digital radio, cruise control on SZ4, and on the top end SZ5, navigation, Smartphone link and heated front seats.

The biggest change will be felt on the open road. Jimny still rolls on bends and roundabouts, and the ride certainly isn't smooth but it is a lot more settled so the kids are unlikely to be reaching for the sick bags on a trip to the supermarket.

The new 1.5 litre petrol engine is a bit noisy and would benefit from a sixth gear to lower the din at motorway speeds but has decent pick up in fourth and fifth gears. There is also a four speed automatic option. Prices: SZ4 £15,499; SZ5 £17,999 with an extra £1,000 for the automatic.

So Jimny has come of age at last, practical, eye catching, and a demon off road. It would sell here in its thousands if only Suzuki had thousands to sell.

*There is more good news. The excellent Vitara has been freshened up with soft touch dashboard trim (hooray!).

It gets a few other bits and bobs, blindside alert to help with overtaking, rear cross traffic alert, sunroof, centre armrest and storage box.

More significantly the 1-litre Boosterjet engine has been added to the range and it works a treat.

I had my doubts about such a small engine carrying a mid sized SUV but it does, and with ease.

Suzuki's petrol engines can hold their own against anyone and the 110bhp three-cylinder is up there with the best providing remarkable performance, economy and low emissions.

Anyone wanting more should go for the 1.4 litre Boosterjet which is another cracker.

Prices start at £16,999.

Santas paddle for pounds on the canal

Colourfully-costumed Santas were out in force on the canal yesterday.

They were taking part in a standup paddle-boarding event in aid of Wales Air Ambulance organised by Stand-Up Paddleboard UK.

Pictures courtesy of Allan Potts.

Town carol service is on December 16

Quiz aims to benefit Cancer Research UK

For the twelfth year there will be a Christmas Quiz on behalf of Cancer Research UK. 

Organisers say it should be fun for all the family and they suggest people could even consider including it in Christmas cards to friends. 

Copies (£1) are obtainable from the Tourist Information Centre in Castle Street. 

Santa Specials now departing from Llan Railway

This year's annual Santa Specials have started steaming away from Llangollen Railway.

Aboard a specially decorated steam train seasonal travellers will be transported in style from Llangollen Station to Carrog  - renamed Lapland for Santa’s visit.

The grand old man will give each good boy and girl a special gift on the journey and the adults on-board receive a mince pie plus a tipple from Santa’s Little Helpers.

Museum hosts Myths and Legends evening

* A scene from the Owain Glyndwr puppet show.

* The puppeteers who put on the show take a bow. 

* The rest of the puppetry team come out from behind the scenes. 

* The team which shot the film St Collen receive their Best Overall Peformance award.

A sophisticated puppet show opened an evening of Myths and Legends hosted by Llangollen Museum at the Town Hall last night (Friday).

Guest puppeteers received only two sessions of training before putting on the novel entertainment which told the story of the legendary rise to fame then mystery demise of Welsh hero Owain Glyndwr.

The large audience was held spellbound as the ancient tale unfolded on a specially constructed stage as members of the group – all recruited from the local community – operated a host of key characters overseen by a small number of experts.

After the break it was time for the showing of six short films also illustrating the evening’s theme.

Shot on mobile phone cameras by local people who were not professional film-makers the three-minute movies included topics ranging from the town’s patron saint of St Collen to the big bareknuckle fight between two local men which took place in Cefn Mawr in 1861 and ended in tragedy.

After their showing the films were judged both by the audience and a panel of judges.

The one entitled St Collen was crowned by the judges and Ladies of Llangollen was chosen as the audiences favourite.

The Myths and Legends project launched by the museum was made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will also include an exhibition of children’s art based on the theme which will run at the museum.         

Eisteddfod star to hit top note in St Giles opera

* Soprano Rachel Marsh.

* Professional opera singer and tutor Anne Williams-King.

A star from last year's Llangollen Eisteddfod will be performing alongside an international cast on her home ground in Wrexham.

Soprano Rachel Marsh will be starring in two one-act operas at St Giles’ Church on Saturday, December 22, in a spectacular showcase for pupils of the North Wales Opera Studio.

She will be taking the lead role in Puccini’s Sour Angelica during an evening sponsored by the Pendine Park care organisation via their Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT).

It’s particularly appropriate because earlier this year Rachel was in the top three in the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod which was also supported by PACT.

The second opera being performed on the night is another classic, Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, with soprano Zena O’May, of Queensferry, in the lead role of the peasant girl, Santuzza.

Rachel and Zena are both pupils of the North Wales Studio which is run by Anne Williams-King, from Penycae, who is a top soprano in her own right having performed at opera houses around Europe, Australia, Japan, and the United States and across South America.

Anne said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for my students; these are two amazing one act operas. However, we couldn’t put this performance together without the support and sponsorship of Pendine Arts and Community Trust.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for two of my best students. They will be performing alongside soprano Millicent Setshedi who is coming over to Wales from South Africa specifically for the production as well as tenor Adam Margulies from Berlin and Norwegian mezzo soprano Maria Ejderos Sveinungsen. It’s going to be a truly international production.

“Sour Angelica is a really tragic tale of a young woman who is forced to live in a convent by her family after having an illegitimate child.

“She spends years waiting to hear news of her child only to find out he died of a fever. She concocts a poison potion to kill herself and, after taking it, remembers suicide is a sin so she won’t go to heaven to be with her child.

“However, she has a vision of the Virgin Mary with her child and realises her sin is forgiven. It’s a truly moving story and quite sad.”

She added: “Cavalleria Rusticana is a tale of love, rejection and revenge set in Sicily and is a wonderful one act opera. It will give Zena O’May a wonderful opportunity to show just what she can do.

“I’m looking forward to what will be a wonderful evening of music featuring some of my most talented students. The idea is to give both young and more mature singers the chance to perform and prove themselves.

“We will be working non-stop for a fortnight before the performance rehearsing and polishing the performance. We will be specifically working on language as both operas are sung in Italian and vocal performance.

“It’s very exciting to be working with such amazing international talent as well as our excellent local performers. And I’m delighted to have Marco Belluzzi from Bologna, in Italy as our accompanist.”

Rachel, 26, said: “It’s been an exciting year. This will be my first lead role and I’m very excited.

“Sister Angelica is a wonderful and incredible role in what is a very touching and tragic story.

“I’m also looking forward to meeting and singing with some incredible international talent. I have a real burning desire to succeed in opera. This will be the perfect start to Christmas!”

Zena O’May, 55, said “I sang in the chorus of the English National Opera as a mezzo soprano. However, my voice has changed a little and I’m busy learning the soprano repertoire under Anne’s expert guidance.”

She added: “I’m so looking forward to the opera event at St Giles Church, it’s going to be amazing especially as there is a real international cast.

“I’ve just performed at St James, Piccadilly where I performed Elgar’s Sea Pictures alongside my accompanist, Marco Belluzzi who will also be playing at the St Giles concert.

“It’s an exciting opportunity, I have always dreamed of playing a lead operatic role and this is a wonderful chance for me to really shine and show what I can do.”   

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft says the operatic event at St Giles is a perfect illustration of why he and his wife, Gill, set up the Pendine Arts and Community Trust.

He said: “Music and the arts in general play an important role in the care we provide for our residents and all our staff receive bespoke training in how to enrich our residents’ lives with the arts.

“I have no doubt that this will be a wonderful evening of high-quality opera and I’m sure opera lovers across North Wales will be keen to support the event. I know Gill and I are very much looking forward to what will be an amazing evening.”

Llan's new vicar gets to know his parish

* Father Lee Taylor is getting to know his new parish.

The town’s new vicar is ready to officially start work in just over a week's time.

Since moving from his previous church in Croydon two weeks ago Father Lee Taylor has been busy getting to know his new parish of Llangollen, Llantysilio and Trevor before his licensing by the Bishop of St Asaph takes place at St Collen’s on Sunday December 9.

Since his arrival most of his time has been taken up with moving into the newly-refurbished vicarage on Abbey Road but he says he’s had a very warm welcome and enjoyed meeting a wide range of local people – both parishioners and otherwise.

Keen on keeping fit he’s already joined the leisure centre and the running club and had a rapid installation as a member of one of the Eisteddfod committees.

And he’s now looking forward to getting to know as many other groups and organisations as possible.

Born and brought up in Bolton, Lancashire, he studied theology at the University of Wales, Lampeter where he was also organ scholar and choirmaster. 

After leaving university he worked at a busy call centre for the gas and electricity supplier Norweb Energi. At weekends he worked evenings at a local Working Men’s Club playing the organ before the main bingo session. 

Father Lee moved to London in 2002 to take up the post of Deputy-Head Verger at Southwark Cathedral. During his time in London he also worked as a volunteer chaplaincy assistant at Guy’s & St Thomas’ hospitals.  

In 2010 he left London to train for ordained ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, serving his curacy in Leigh-on-Sea. 

His last position was as Associate Vicar of Croydon Minster.

During his time there he worked hard at establishing partnerships with various organisations, business and charities around the town.

And he now aims to do the same sort of thing in Llangollen.

He said: “Since I arrived here a couple of weeks ago I’ve met a large number of people and had lots of invitations for coffee.

“I want to maintain the relationships the church already has with the community and also start up some new ones. It’s just a question of getting to know as many local groups as possible and working out who's who.

“I’ve had already accepted an invitation to join the music and staging committee at the Eisteddfod, which was very nice and I’m looking forward to playing a part in that.”

In his spare time Father Lee is passionate about and is a regular performer in old time music hall. He will retain his role as publicity officer for the Music Hall Society, which is based in London.

Apart from performing he also enjoys playing and composing music, ballroom dancing and the arts.

In fact, he says Llangollen’s very active arts scene was one of things that drew him to his new appointment.

“Music and performance is an intrinsic part of my priesthood,” he explained.

Father Lee also likes to keep himself fit and along with his two dogs, a Labrador and a Border Collie, he has sampled some of the country walks his new parish has to offer including those around Llantysilio and up to Dinas Bran Castle. Next, he reckons, is possibly a walking trip down the canal to the Aqueduct.

No stranger to the world of pubs since his mother ran two of them in Wigan, where he served behind the bar and played piano, he used this background to create what he reckons was one of his most exciting community ventures down in Croydon.

That’s when he organised and officiated at a beer blessing ceremony at the local Dog & Bull pub which hit the national headlines.

He recalled: “The event not only brought together a wide section of the community but it also signalled the open and welcoming face of the church in the heart of the community.”

And he promised: “Something similar is certainly on the cards for Llangollen – it’s just a question of which pub or hotel we do it in and at what time of the year. Eisteddfod week might be a good time because that’s when the town is full of people from around the world.

“I think we can look forward to lots of quirky things, ideas and initiatives, so watch this space.”

Before he starts on the beer blessing trail Father Lee has his own licensing by Bishop Gregory of St Asaph as part of the morning worship at St Collen’s on December 9.

“It will be a time when all the church family and those from the other churches in the area can gather together. Everyone is welcome and I’m told there will be a bit of a do in the parish rooms afterwards,” he said. 

Theresa sets new gold standard for end of life care

* Theresa Richards with her gold award.

A Llangollen woman who has helped scores of people fulfill their dying wishes has been honoured for her pioneering work.

Theresa Richards, who completes 40 years in the NHS this year, picked up one of the main awards at the Wales Care Awards.

The awards are organized by Care Forum Wales to recognize exceptional work in the care sector and the ceremony, sponsored by Onyx Healthcare, was held at City Hall, Cardiff.

Theresa won the gold award in the category for Excellence in Palliative and End of Life Care, sponsored by Hallmark Care Homes.

Having started out as a cadet nurse before qualifying as an RGN, she has for 17 years specialized in the field of palliative and end-of-life care, and her current role within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is as End-of-Life Care Nurse Facilitator, a position supported by Macmillan.

Since 2013 she has been responsible for introducing the Six Steps to End of Life Care programme in the independent care sector in North Wales.

Formerly only available in England, it entails working in partnership with local authorities to ensure that patients reach the end of their lives in the care home of their choice instead of going into hospital.

“I have adapted it and given it a Welsh slant,” she said.

Initially working only within Wrexham and Flintshire, she has since overseen the expansion of the scheme across North Wales and into Powys, and it is hoped that the whole of Wales will soon be involved.

Tracey Evans, the programme’s assessor and facilitator, who nominated Theresa for the award, said the work entailed developing a close partnership with the local authorities, supporting doctors and district nurses with practice development and ensuring that facilitators are trained to deliver the programme to the highest standards.

“Through the programme she ensures that the individual has a voice and is supported to stay in his or her preferred place of care, and that these wishes are documented in advance care planning,” said Tracey.

 “Theresa is passionate about ensuring that people have the best quality of palliative and end-of-life care, and the number of people who are able to remain in their preferred place of care is testimony to the quality of her work.”     

Theresa, who recently won the Bevan Foundation award for innovation for her work on the scheme, said she was proud to see how the programme was being implemented and that residents’ wishes were being respected.

She was accompanied at the ceremony by Tracey, with whom she works closely, and her husband Peter.

“It was a wonderful evening and it was very gracious of them to give the award to someone not directly employed in the care sector, even though I work in very close partnership with the sector,” she said.

Mario Kreft, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists have received 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.”

Eisteddfod launches its 2019 concert line-up

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has announces its star-studded evening concert line-up for 2019.

Returning festival favourite and Vice President of the Eisteddfod, Jools Holland will entertain the Royal Pavilion audience with his legendary Rhythm and Blues Orchestra on Monday 1^st July.

The jazz, blues and swing showstopper will launch the 2019 concert series with an unforgettable toe-tapping extravaganza of live music, sponsored by Kronospan.

The week-long festival line-up features some of the world’s most internationally renowned musicians, including French-Mexican star tenor, Rolando Villazón, salsa, pop and flamenco outfit, Gipsy Kings, and award-winning Celtic music band, Jamie Smith’s MABON.

Interim Music Director of the festival, Edward-Rhys Harry, said: “It's been an exhilarating first few months in my role as Music Director at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and a real joy to curate my very first concert series, which we feel reflects the musical excellence and diversity of this fantastic event.

“We are proud that this year’s festival line-up spans genres and generations, crossing the boundaries of age, culture and creed. There really is something for everyone and we’ll be adding even more early in the New Year, with the announcement of our Llanfest headliners for 2019.”

Evening concert line-up also includes:

Tuesday 2^nd July - Classical Gala with Rolando Villazón and guests

Sponsored by Pendine Park

One of the music world’s most critically acclaimed tenors, Rolando Villazón will debut his phenomenal voice on the Llangollen stage. Villazón, who is known for his uniquely compelling performances with leading opera houses around the world, will be joined by the magnificent Welsh lyric soprano Rhian Lois for a spectacular evening of operatic greats.

Wednesday 3^rd July - Saints and Singers: The Music of Wales

Wales has a world-wide reputation for its choral music, and Wednesday’s evening performance will showcase the Land of Song at its very best, with supreme Welsh vocalists Shân Cothi and Rhodri Prys Jones, accompanied by the British Sinfonietta Orchestra. Audiences will be treated to two rare opportunities: the premiere of a brand new piece for tenor, chorus and orchestra by Dr Edward-Rhys Harry, and the sheer majesty of the incredible cantata ‘Saint Teilo’ by William Mathias CBE. The evening promises to be a tremendously dramatic celebration of traditional music from Wales, bursting with glorious melodies and powerful operatic choruses.

Thursday 4^th July - International Celebration with Jamie Smith’s MABON

Sponsored by Denbighshire County Council and Westminster Stone

International competitors from all over the world will come together in a vibrant carnival of cultures to showcase the very best from across the globe, as they weave through the audience with their giant flags in a vivacious display of international unity and friendship.

The evening will commemorate the International Eisteddfod’s unique founding values of sharing music, dance, peace and friendship, with the poignant Peace Message and the annual Rotary Peace Award.

Special guests for the evening, multi-award winning band, Jamie Smith’s MABON, will bring their distinctive self-styled sound to get feet tapping with their interpretation of Celtic traditions, refreshingly combining heritage with their contemporary sound.

Friday 5^th July - Gipsy Kings featuring Andre Reyes

Sponsored by Linguassist

Hailing from the south of France, the group will bring their energetic set with infectious Latin rhythms to Llangollen for the very first time. Their music is warm, exuberant and hugely popular with trademark hits such as Bamboleo and Volare.

Audiences will be wowed by a heady concoction of rumba, flamenco and salsa combined with contemporary pop music, perfect for anybody who loves to dance.

Saturday 6^th July - Choir of the World

Sponsored by Aldi

In a live televised concert, the festival's competitions will reach their exciting climax on Saturday, with the finest choirs from across the globe battling for the highly sought after Choir of the World 2019 title and the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy. Those taking part in the dance categories will participate in the breath-taking Dance Champions of the World 2019 finals, competing for the coveted Lucille Armstrong Dance Award. The evening, will include a very special guest to be announced soon.

Llanfest 2019

The festival will draw to a close on Sunday 7^th July at Llanfest 2019, with exciting headliners and support acts to be announced shortly.

* Tickets will be available to Festival Pass holders and Friends of the Eisteddfod from 9am today [WEDNESDAY 28^TH NOVEMBER). Tickets will be on sale to the general public from 9am on Wednesday 12^th December online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office.

Anyone purchasing a membership to the Friends of the Eisteddfod during this two-week priority-booking period will also gain access to these advance tickets, contact the box office to become a member, please telephone 01978 862001.

Late night Christmas shopping starts tomorrow

Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism is spearheading the annual campaign to bring late-night shopping to the town in the run-up to Christmas.

The shops will be open until 7pm each Thursday until the big day, starting from tomorrow.

Chamber chair David Davies: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas now in Llangollen.

"Why not support our local businesses by enjoying a festive stroll around town during our late night shopping evenings?

"Or maybe join friends for food and drink combined with some Christmas shopping, while experiencing the festive beauty of our town?

"Thank you to everyone of you who continually support our local businesses. It’s so important to keep our local high street alive.”

New online facility for volunteers

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) has been involved in a number of  digital platform developments.

As well as the relaunch of dvsc.co.uk , its new corporate interactive and informative website, in June it added an exciting enhancement to its #DenbighshireVolunteers digital platform, in partnership with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, with a new digital volunteering platform to replace the current system on volunteering-wales.net.

The new platform enhances the #DenbighshireVolunteers.net service offer, and can be found direct from the site with a click of the Get Involved button.

It is free for volunteers and for organisations looking to recruit. As before they can find opportunities by searching for keywords or according to distance from your location.

However, volunteers can now also log the hours and skills they gain through volunteering and will receive digital badges for volunteering 50, 100, 200 hours or more.

The system will help volunteer involving organisations in Denbighshire to recruit and manage volunteers, log volunteer hours, plan rotas and events, record training and experience and produce reports.

In August the information sharing agreement with DEWIS Cymru and InfoEngine went live.

InfoEngine is an online directory of third sector services in Wales provided and supported by Third Sector Support Wales, a partnership of County Voluntary Councils and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

There are nearly 40,000 voluntary organisations and community groups across Wales whose services support individuals in many ways. 

Infoengine is the online directory of voluntary sector services for Wales that helps citizens, groups and professionals to find out what services are available to support people in your area.

DVSC's link with Dewis Cymru means that people don't need to visit more than one place for information.

Voluntary sector service information is registered on Infoengine and also displayed in Dewis.

The shortlist facility enables users to create specific shortlists that are automatically updated and can be printed to produce hard copy directories. The Infoengine widget also enables people to embed the Infoengine search engine in their own website.

Infoengine grows daily and is proving an essential tool in providing information, advice and assistance to the people of Wales.

Helen Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer of DVSC, said:“Like all great digital tools and platforms, Infoengine is only as good as we make it. So I want to urge all voluntary and community groups, third sector organisations and social enterprises in Denbighshire to register and list the full range of services on offer and to ask our public service partners in the county to promote it so that the public have the widest possible information and choice as possible.  

"The more we engage, and work together in partnership, the more we raise the profile and awareness of third sector services among the public, professionals and public service partners and the more we can help promote and support wellbeing for all.”

To support you in getting your information and opportunities online DVSC is inviting members to drop in to its offices any time between 9 and 12 on Friday December 7 and a member of its team will help you upload your service information on InfoEngine and your volunteering opportunities on http://denbighshirevolunteers.net/get-involved/. 

You will need to allow up to an hour to get information onto both sites and you must ensure you bring all information required with you – organisation information, project/service information and all information about your volunteering opportunities.

Whilst it is not mandatory organisations are encouraged to complete this bilingually but they must bring any translations with them.

* DVSC says there is no need to book for this event but if you have any questions, email volunteer@dvsc.co.uk or call us on 01824 702441.

Apply for free childcare offer online, says county

Denbighshire County Council  has announced that parents and guardians can now apply online for the Welsh Government’s free childcare offer.

In 2017 the Welsh Government (WG) pledged to offer 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare to eligible working parents of three and four year olds, for 48 weeks of the year by September 2020.

Children will be eligible to access the offer from the beginning of the term following their third birthday until the September following their fourth birthday.  

The new offer comes into effect in Denbighshire on Monday, January 7^th, 2019.

Eligible children will be entitled to up to 20 free hours of childcare during term time, on top of the 10 hours already provided by the Foundation Phase.

During the school holidays, when there is no early education, the offer will provide 30 hours a week of childcare for up to nine weeks. Parents are able to choose any registered childcare setting that suits their personal and family circumstance, whether inside or outside of county, in agreement with the provider and the local authority.

Those not currently accessing the 10 hours a week free childcare provided by the Foundation Phase will be able to apply for 20 hours free childcare, as part of the scheme.

To be eligible for free childcare, parents/ guardians must meet a set of criteria:  their child must be aged 3 or 4;  parents/ guardians work and earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours at national living wage or national minimum wage, or are in receipt of specific caring benefits and they must live in Denbighshire.

Councillor Huw Hilditch – Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children, Young People and the Welsh Language, said: “We have worked tirelessly with the Welsh Government over recent months to bring the implementation date forward and we are delighted to be able to share this very positive news.  

“The aim of the Childcare Offer is to allow eligible parents to have more employment choices, increase their disposable income to help counteract poverty for those in low paid jobs and ensure that quality early education and childcare is provided to promote child development and prepare them for early education.

“Our colleagues in education have worked hard to get this scheme available in Denbighshire at the earliest opportunity and we would urge parents and guardians to go online and check whether they are eligible."

* All of the information about the childcare offer can be found at: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/childcare

Llan groups get an early Christmas cash bonus

* Representatives of the benefitting groups say cheers to Cittaslow for their cash windfalls.

A dozen Llangollen community groups received an early Christmas bonus last night when they each won a share of a £5,000 windfall from the Town Council.

The council’s Cittaslow committee hosted a presentation evening at the Town Hall for the annual Community Support Grant scheme which sees local groups benefit from cash injections from the council.

Members of the public, provided they were town residents, were invited to listen to short submissions from representatives of the various groups outlining why some extra cash would come in handy to help them continue to thrive.

The large audience was then asked to vote on which organisations they thought to be most deserving.

At the end of the process Cllr Austin Cheminais, speaking on behalf of Cittaslow, made the surprise but welcome announcement that there would be no losers as every one of the groups would get the amount of cash they asked for.

That meant the cash was handed out to:

Three of the groups each also received a cash bonus voted for by Cittaslow members.
Cooking for Wellbeing received an extra £100, Activity Outdoors got £50 while Soft Play received an additional £30.

Cllr Cheminais described the work of all the benefitting groups as “brilliant” and said what they did helped to make Llangollen the vibrant community it is.

Eisteddfod commissions two new musical pieces

* British Columbia Girls Choir from Canada.

Llangollen Eisteddfod has commissioned two new pieces of music to reflect the growing number of younger singers entering its choral competitions.

The festival has authorised one piece by Roderick Willliams OBE and the other by its Interim Music Director Dr Edward-Rhys Harry, entitled Reset the World.

Both pieces have been specifically commissioned to resonate with the festival’s teenage entrants and the organisers are encouraging choir leaders from across the globe to enter its Senior Children’s Choir competition, before the upcoming deadline of Friday 23^rd November.

Delight in Disorder is a setting of a poem by Robert Herrick and the music tries to capture the mischievous character of the words. 

It is designed to be suitable for various combinations of broken and unbroken voices across gender.

The piano part features a walking bass that remains unchanged throughout the piece.  While no doubt testing for the performers, hopefully it will also appeal to their sense of fun.

Reset The World reflects themes growing up in today’s world of technology and social media.

Edward-Rhys Harry said: “We have welcomed global performers since the end of the Second World War and to stay current we regularly look to modernise our offering to respond to our changing audiences. When writing the piece, I envisaged what it would be like if the world had its own ‘reset button’ similar to technological devices, hence the title of the piece.

“We hope this gospel-inspired song will be a valuable addition to the audition test pieces choirs choose to perform, as we would like to encourage teenagers around the world to ‘press pause’ and enjoy real world harmony, diversity and culture through music and performance."

Groups of no fewer than 16 voices and aged between 12-18 can enter for the chance to win, following in the footsteps of 2018 winners, British Columbia Girls Choir from Canada.

Successful entrants will compete on the Royal International Pavilion stage for the prestigious title of Children’s Choir of the World.

Closing date for the Senior Children’s Choir category is on Friday 23^rd November 2018 and applicants are asked to contact the Eisteddfod office to obtain a copy of the test pieces.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will take place on 1-7 July 2019.

* For more information on all the competitions or to apply on the Eisteddfod competitors’ website visit: http://eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk/