Food Share distributes 300 VE Day gift packs to the elderly

* Some of the volunteers involved in distributing the gift packs.

Llangollen Food Share members are celebrating the massive achivement of distributing 300 VE Day 75th anniversary gift packs to the town's elderly people.

Those living in Llangollen's care homes and sheltered or supported accommodation each received a special pack containing a cake, an apple, a note and a commemorative keepsake.  

* Packs made up ready to go out.

The distribution was made possible thanks to funding from Llangollen Town Council, Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group, Llangollen Foodshare, and a generous contribution from an anonymous donor who was a baby when the war ended in Europe on May 8, 1945.

The gift packs went out to coincide with the Town Council’s live streaming of its virtual Stay at Home VE Day Party yeterday (Friday) afternoon.

* A souvenir included in the packs.

Steve Kennedy of the Swan Inn at Pontfadog, who has done much to help the town’s coronavirus support group, used his culinary skills and his kitchen to produce homemade cakes for the gift packs. 

Dee Valley Produce has given 300 apples to go in the packs and Gecko T-shirts produced the bespoke VE Day anniversary keepsakes. 

Cat Meade, co-ordinator of the coronavirus support group, assisted with the demographics and contents and its volunteers distributed the packs this Thursday and Friday.

Food Share's Kalamity Wild posted on Facebook yesterday afternoon: "I cannot thank you all enough! 300 VE Day gift bags made and distributed to many of Llangollen's elders, an idea we had only a week ago... you wonderful lot! 🥰

"Stephanie Mitchell Jen Davis Jane Louise Tornado from Llangollen Zero Waste and Food Share for making and distributing the gift bags 🛍;

"Cat Meade, Nick, Lisa Griffiths, Mel, Barry and Robin from Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group for transport and distribution 🚐;

"Stephen Kennedy at The Swan Inn, Pontfadog, and Amelia at Pretty Vintage Tearoom and Barista Coffee for baking hundreds of cakes 🍰;

"Jenny Coppock and Andy Coppock at Llangollen Tshirts - InfiniteTee UK for sourcing and printing 300 coasters to our bespoke design 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧;

"Wayne Siddall and Samantha Fletcher at Dee Valley veg for 300 delicious red apples 🍎;

"Rose Brown for making masks for all our volunteers 😷;

"And Gareth Thomas at Llangollen Town Council and a generous local donor for inspiring and helping to fund the project." 👏.

Tune in at 3pm today to see Town Council's virtual VE Day party

Later today Llangollen Town Council is to stage a virtual celebration of the day the Second World War ended in Europe 75 years ago.

Earlier this year, the council tasked a small group to begin planning for a party to celebrate the milestone anniversary of VE Day.

The aim was to put this on at the town hall and to include a tea dance, music of the era and to generally make merry.

The coronavirus lockdown appeared to put an end to the project - until the group came up with the idea of staging the celebration online instead.

So at 3pm today they will live streaming the big VE Day Stay at Home Party on Facebook for what they hope will be a large social media audience.

The professionally-shot programme, which runs for half an hour, will feature memories of the wartime era recorded via Skype with a group of residents at the local Old Vicarage Care Home, favourite songs from the period such at A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Goodnight Sweetheart sung by local performers and a poignant wreath-laying ceremony by the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion.

Eleri Jones, a local actor and director currently on the trainee directorship at Theatr Clwyd, will perform local poet I D Hooson's The Red Poppy against the backdrop of 75 ceramic poppies placed near the war memorial on Centenary Square.

The programme, which was pre-recorded observing strict social distancing rules, will end with host and well-known local singer Charlie Jones performing Dame Vera Lynn’s iconic We’ll Meet Again.

Deputy town mayor Cllr Issy Richards, who heads the council’s Remembrance Day Working Group which organised the virtual party, said: “When the lockdown began we immediately cancelled our planned party at the town hall but then we decided that a version of the event could be streamed on social media.

“We have been extremely fortunate in having a Llangollen-based professional programme maker as director on the production and also being able to draw on the talents, in terms of organisation and performance, of quite a few people from this area.

“We were also very lucky to have a number of marvellous people still living in our community who remember the war very clearly and who allowed us to record their recollections of the time.”

* To tune into the VE-Day film, go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/220715008050894/?ref=bookmarks

It will also be streamed later on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Parti-Aros-Gartref-Dydd-B-E-Llangollen-V-E-Day-Stay-at-Home-Party-103158784706199/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Castle is lit up to salute frontline workers

Castell Dinas Bran was lit up in blue last night as a salute to NHS and other frontline staff.

The illumination, which could be seen for miles around, was arranged by Scott Cooper at ASG Entertainments and Chris Davies of Eastwood Media helped by Llangollen's Karen Edwards.

The previous evening there had been a similar lit-up message of thanks to the NHS, this time in red, on a nearby section of the Panorama overlooking the town.

ASG posted on Facebook: "Supporting one another in a time of crisis 🌈

"We wanted to do something special here at ASG to show our appreciation & our thanks to all the amazing NHS staff & key-workers who are keeping the country going during this pandemic. 

"So with the support of Denbighshire County Council, North Wales Police, Eastwood Media & the help of some amazing people we have been able to work together to light up the Panorama & surrounding areas in Llangollen whilst adhering to social distancing (with the final monument being lit up this evening)."

Eastwood Media posted: "PLEASE NOTE: this was completely voluntary by all the parties involved & organised by ASG. It was not a scheduled or advertised event due to social distancing guidelines."

* A giant Chinook helicooter overflies the town around 8pm.

At the same time as last night's weekly Clap for Carers a large Chinook helicopter flew low over the town, which many saw as tribute to NHS and key workers from the armed forces who have been working hard in the fight against Covid-19. 

Pictures of the unexpected flyover were posted on Facebook soon after by Adrian Hyde.

Meanwhile, County Councillor Graham Timms sent in this picture of the electronic message on the road sign near Llantysilio and the Horseshoe Falls specially adapted to say thank you to the NHS (see below). 

He said: "The electronic signs in the town, Llantysilio and Llandegla have been changed to display this message from 7.30-8.30 on Thursday evenings." 
 

Elsewhere in north Wales the iconic Rainbow Bridge on the A55 has been lit up to say thank you to the NHS, social care and other key workers. This well-known landmark lived up to its name when it was bathed in rainbow colours alongside a thank you message projected onto the nearby cliffside.  This one-off tribute to staff from the health and care sectors and other key workers who are working tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic, was arranged by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent.

MP calls for Welsh Government support for dairy farmers

Following the announcement of a new UK Government scheme to support dairy farmers in England, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) is calling on the Welsh Labour Government to step up and do the same.

The new UK Government fund will enable eligible dairy farmers in England to access up to £10,000 each to help them overcome the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

With some dairy farmers facing financial difficulties and excess milk, the new UK Government fund will provide support for those most in need. Eligible dairy farmers will be entitled to up to £10,000 each, to cover 70% of their lost income during April and May to ensure they can continue to operate and sustain production capacity without impacts on animal welfare.

Simon Baynes said: “This is great news for dairy farmers in England who have been so badly hit by the Coronavirus outbreak. It’s time now for the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff to step up to the plate and do the same for Welsh dairy farmers, like those in my constituency of Clwyd South, who need financial assistance too.

“Welsh farmers are the backbone of our rural economy and deserve to be supported through this crisis.”

Five things we might be able to do again if lockdown is eased

* People might be able to make greater use of outdoor spaces if circumstances allow the lockdown to be eased.

According to a story this afternoon in the Daily Post online, there are five things people could be allowed to do again if Prime Minister Boris Johnson eases lockdown restrictions from next Monday as expected.

There are:

* Unlimited exercise outside

* Employees could return to their place of work

* You can make use of outdoor spaces

* You could be allowed to visit garden centres

* You could visit high street stores and cemeteries

For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/five-things-you-can-monday-18213583

Business help fund processes almost £65m of applications

Almost £65m of applications have now been processed from the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund, the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates has revealed.

The applications process saw an incredible 9,500 claims submitted in little more than a week. The latest figures show more than 4,000 businesses, charities and social enterprises have already been offered or have accepted financial support from the fund. Welsh Government staff and contractors are continuing to work through the applications to get money to businesses as quickly as possible. Businesses, which have submitted an application will be contacted as soon as possible and do not need to take any action. Due to the high level of demand, the second phase of the Economic Resilience Fund was paused on 27 April to allow Ministers to consider what further support businesses, charities and social enterprises need and when. The Economic Resilience Fund, which is part of the Welsh Government’s £1.7bn support package for business, provides significant financial support in addition to schemes already launched by the UK and Welsh governments. Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister, Ken Skates said: “We know businesses need government support at this incredibly challenging time and they need it quickly. “The Economic Resilience Fund offers vital support for businesses, particularly those micro, small and medium-sized firms which are at the heart of our economy. This support is over and above that which is available to firms in England. “There has been unprecedented demand for this phase of the fund and while it will benefit thousands of firms in Wales, we have been clear it will not reach all. That is why we took the decision to pause the fund and assess the current applications, and reflect on what further support we can provide. “This continues to be an incredibly challenging period for Welsh businesses and the economy as a whole, but I want to be clear that the Welsh Government is committed to doing all that it can within its powers and resources to support firms and help see our economy back to pre-pandemic levels of growth.” Samantha Tilston, of Tilston Training Limited in Llay, Wrexham, said: “This funding has helped ensure there is a little light at the end of the tunnel, which may have just saved us.”

County ramps up "stay at home" message

* Llangollen and the rest of the county aren't ready for visitors yet.

The ‘Stay at Home’ message is being ramped up in Denbighshire ahead of the bank holiday.

The county council is working closely with the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and other key partners to promote the Stay at Home message, to help protect people’s health and well-being, to protect communities and the NHS.

Residents are encouraged to stay in their local neighbourhood for their daily exercise and visitors are asked to stay away, for the time being.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We’ve seen the positive impact that social distancing and adhering to national guidelines is having on the spread of coronavirus and we would like to thank people for their efforts. They are making a real difference.

“On occasions we have seen some people visiting some of our beauty spots and we’ve issued appeals for people to stay away.

“We fully appreciate that the great weather is making it very tempting to visit places such as our scenic countryside or our glorious beaches.  

"Denbighshire will be open for residents and visitors soon, but we’re not quite there and we’re asking people to hang in there and to continue following the national guidelines until further notice."

Memories of wartime evacuation to Llangollen

Preparations for the 75th annversary of VE Day tomorrow (Friday) revived fond memories by Peter Wiseman, from Beckenham in Bromley, of his father's wartime evacuation to Lllangollen which we we share here ...

* Peter Wiseman.

When war broke out in September 1939, my grandmother, Gladys Wiseman, had been employed by Monsanto Chemicals at their London office in Victoria Street since June 1931.  

According to her Service Record (which I still have), she was the Secretary to a Mr. Arnold, having been recommended by Booths’ Agency and was in good health when she commenced her employment at the sum of £4.10.0 per week!  

Her only son Derek (my father) was an 11-year old schoolboy and my grandfather, Albert, was a clerk at the Admiralty in Whitehall.

* Gladys Wiseman at her typewriter at Monsanto and Derek Wiseman during National Service.

The family home was in Howard Road in Penge, South-East London and my father attended the local Catholic Primary School nearby.

At the commencement of hostilities, many children were being evacuated to other, safer parts of the country and, at Monsanto, it was decided to relocate my grandmother to the Ruabon office where she became Assistant to a Mr. R.S.L. Smith. 

My gramdfather, being in a reserved occupation at the Admiralty, remained behind where he subsequently joined the Home Guard and was often to be employed on fire-watching duties on the Admiralty roof.

* Grandfather Albert

It came to pass that Llangollen became the new family home and was to be the start of a lifelong love affair with the pretty little town.  I learned from conversations with my grandmother “When we were at Braddan”, implied that one residence was the house in Princess Street.

* Braddan

My father also told me that they also lived at No.2 Willow Street when they added Sally, an Old English Sheepdog, and a cat named George, to the family home.  Apparently, there was nothing George liked better than to climb on top of Sally sleeping by the fire, curl up and go to sleep!  

Dad spoke very fondly of his time in Llangollen and how he continued his education at school in the town where learning Welsh was compulsory and how he became friends with a girl who would become Mrs. Mary Bithell and their friendship lasted through the years with the exchange of Christmas cards until Dad died in September 2012.

Keen on sports, my father was able to indulge his love of cricket and football during the war and often spoke of a teacher at his school who used to tend the ground of the Llangollen Cricket Club at the then ground by the canal and where the Pavilion now is.  The teacher concerned was a fine cricketer who had played to Minor Counties standard and Dad used to say that the wicket was excellent and it was where he played as a schoolboy.

* Former ground of Llangollen Cricket Club.

During the war, my grandmother (and grandfather on his occasional visits), became friends with Mrs. Margaret Thomas and her husband Richard who owned Dicks & Co., the shoe shop at 31 Castle Street where Chatwins now is.  

Margaret Mason, as she was before her marriage to Richard in 1933, hailed from Lincoln and came to work in Llangollen as a receptionist at the Royal Hotel.  Her marriage to Richard was a happy one until his death in 1957 and her business acumen was of great assistance in running the business which had saddler Harold Roberts and then Dad’s friend Mary Bithell as lifelong employees.

Among some of the stories Dad told me was how he used to watch the German bombers flying over the Eglwyseg Rocks on their way to bomb Liverpool.  He would often witness this whilst on one of his favourite walks, making the steep climb up to Castell Dinas Bran.  

During the summer months, Dad and his friends would play on the rocks and swim in the river and would skim stones across the water.  Dad actually sported a lifelong dent in his forehead caused by a skimming stone that was misdirected!

One of my grandmother’s favourite stories concerned the engine driver who had just left the station, halt his train in order to watch the fisherman on the bank land his salmon! According to her Monsanto Service Record, she and my father returned home at the beginning of 1943 whereupon she resumed working at Victoria Street again until her retirement in 1965.

* Grandmother’s retirement from Monsanto. Peter says he still has and uses 

the stainless steel tea service pictured.

In writing this piece, I have tried to remember some of the things I was told over many years but, suffice to say, in September 1972, I was finally persuaded by my grandparents to holiday with them at Dicks & Co. with Mrs. Thomas.  

Having heard so much about Llangollen, I found that, when I embarked on my first walkabout the morning after we’d arrived in the dark, I knew exactly where I was! I now regard Llangollen as my second home and always look forward to my regular visits.

* Llangollen Town Council’s Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen, is to be streamed live on the Llangollen & District Noticeboard Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/220715008050894/ at 3pm on Friday, May 8^th, and also a little later on the new Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen page https://www.facebook.com/Parti-Aros-Gartref-Dydd-B-E-Llangollen-V-E-Day-Stay-at-Home-Party-103158784706199/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Fechan residents and staff prepare their VE Day tributes

* A VE Day tribute produced at the Fechan.

* A cascade of poppies.

* Another artistic display.

* Putting in the bedding plants.

* An ice cream van calls to round off a great day in the sun.

Residents and staff at Llangollen Fechan care home have been busy preparing for our VE Day celebrations this Friday.

They have put together two poppy cascades utilising bottoms of plastic pop bottles, painting and lacquering them before fixing them onto wire mesh, along with residents messages, to make a very effective and artistic display for all to enjoy.

Residents have also created painted flower cones and put bedding plants in tubs and troughs ready for the big day.

To round off the fun yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) there was a visit from Mr Tee and his ice-cream van.  

Two of our care staff, Soffie-Ellen Lawrence and Ella Louise Thomas, won a key-worker competition and all staff and residents we were able to enjoy a delicious cold treat in the warm afternoon sun. 

County has no plans yet to bring back garden waste collection

Denbighshire County Council has updated its position on its garden waste collection which was suspended following the coronavirus outbreak.

Like all other local authorities councils across Wales, the council says it has needed to introduce significant changes to protect the health and well-being of the public and its staff. 

Those changes included the suspension of the garden waste services and the temporary closure of the household recycling centres.

Household waste and recycling collection services have been operating as normal. 

And the council says it has are no plans to change this.

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said:  “Due to many of our frontline workers being unwell or self-isolating, we have brought in workers from other service areas and teams to ensure we’re able to run our more essential collections as best we can, such as food waste recycling, dry recycling (such as cardboard, paper, glass, plastics and cans), hygiene waste (such as nappies and incontinence products) and non-recyclable waste.

“We have prioritised our efforts on these essential collections, but we have cancelled some of our less-essential collections, such as garden waste collections. We recognise that this is proving difficult for subscribers, especially since we have experienced such great weather and we share their frustration.

“Our intention is to reinstate the service as soon as possible, but we cannot do that at this stage due to the ongoing national restrictions and some staff being unable to work safely due to underlying health conditions, which put them at significant risk.  However, this position is under constant review.  

“We aim to resume the service during May, and we will inform residents as soon as we have a definite date for resuming the service through our web and social media accounts.  We would like to thank everyone for their patience during this period”.

Until the garden waste collection resumes, the council is issuing the following advice:

• Store your garden waste in a neat heap in the corner of your garden, turning it occasionally (weekly) to keep it aerated.

• Do not put garden waste into your bags, bins, boxes or caddies for recyclable nor non-recyclable waste.

• Do not burn your garden waste; this creates air pollution that could harm people nearby who may already have breathing difficulties due to COVID-19.  There is also the danger that fires could get out of control. Fire services around the country are reporting an increase in callouts due to garden fires.

• Why not try home composting? You could create your own low-cost compost bin or heap, turning your food and garden waste into garden compost that’s perfect for mulching and conditioning your soil. https://walesrecycles.org.uk/recycling-knowledge/i-want-do-more/composting-home

If residents have paid for their garden waste collection, the council will extend their subscription to cover the duration of any missed collections since the service was suspended. For example, if the service was suspended for two months, the Council will extend the collection at no extra cost for the weeks missed..  

Those receiving subscription reminders are asked to do so, to ensure that their collection service resumes as soon as the service is reinstated.   

For more information, go to: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/bins-and-recycling/bins-and-recycling.aspx or call us on 01824 706000.

Senedd member supports alternative VE Day events

* Centenary Square, complete with its new NHS flag, 

shots of which will feature in the VE Day Stay at 

Home Party programme to be streamed live on Friday afternoon.

With Llangollen having its own virtual VE Day celebration on Friday a North Wales Member of the Senedd (MS) is urging people to take part in revised events to mark the 75^th anniversary of the landmark occasion.

A number of local, regional and national events had originally been organised to mark the end of hostilities in Europe at the tail end of the Second World War, but as the country deals with the Covid-19 pandemic these have had to be cancelled and revised plans have now been put in place.

This includes the Llangollen Stay at Home VE Party programme arranged by the Town Council to be streamed live on Facebook at 3pm on Friday. 

Mark Isherwood MS said: “The coronavirus outbreak means that there will be no street parties, parades or concerts this year, but nonetheless there is plenty going on to celebrate.

“This Friday at 11am a Two Minute Silence will be held to honour the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, and also take the opportunity to reflect on the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on so many lives across the world.

“There is no right or wrong way to take part in the Silence, some people may wish to stand at their windows or step outside their front door, but I urge individuals and families across Wales and the UK to embrace this opportunity to share in a national moment of reflection.

“At 3pm, Sir Winston Churchill’s 1945 speech to the nation will be broadcast on the BBC as part of special programmes planned for the day, and you can stand up and raise a glass of your choosing whilst saying the following toast: 'To those who gave so much, we thank you'.

“On the same day from 8pm on BBC One, I hope you will all watch the thanksgiving programme which will honour and celebrate the Second World War generation with an evening of memories and music, including Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again.

“At 9pm, HM The Queen will broadcast a message to the nation on the BBC – at the exact moment her father, King George VI, gave a radio address in 1945.  

“We may not be able to have the big celebrations we originally had planned, but It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the sacrifice made in the Second World War is never forgotten and for that reason I urge you all to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.”

* Llangollen Town Council’s Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen, is to be streamed live on the Llangollen & District Noticeboard Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/220715008050894/ at 3pm on Friday, May 8^th, and also a little later on the new Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen page https://www.facebook.com/Parti-Aros-Gartref-Dydd-B-E-Llangollen-V-E-Day-Stay-at-Home-Party-103158784706199/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

* For further information on the revised events, visit:  https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/

Fire station's powerful tribute to NHS heroes

The team at Llangollen fire station have come up with their own tribute to frontline NHS staff fighting coronavirus.

In a Facebook post accompanied by the words "NHS" spelled out in hosepipes, they say: "So here is Llangollen station's little nod to our brave frontline NHS staff. From us to you. You're doing our nation proud."