High satisfaction rating for Welsh health services

Asked what they thought about health services in Wales, people gave them a score of 6.5 out of 10, which compares favourably with other European countries.

That is the main message from the latest statistical bulletin, covering January-March 2012, presenting results from the National Survey for Wales, produced by the Welsh Government.

Other key results are:

·         92% of people who saw a GP in the last 12 months and 92% of people who had a hospital appointment in the last 12 months were fairly or very satisfied with the care received

·         31% of people who made an appointment with a GP found it difficult to make a convenient appointment. Of those, 42% said this was because they had to wait a long time for an appointment

·         97% of people who saw a GP agreed that they were treated with dignity and respect; 95% of people who attended a hospital appointment agreed they were treated with dignity and respect

·         Of people who attended A&E in the last 12 months, 23% said they travelled by ambulance. 84% of people who attended A&E found it easy to travel there

·         24% of people agreed that they were kept informed about how local health services were performing. 59% would like more information about how local health services are performing.

Sale agreed for empty Oakleigh

* Oakleigh has been sold after lying empty for over two years. 

llanblogger exclusive

Oakleigh, the former mental health resource centre on Abbey Road, Llangollen, has just been sold after lying empty for over two years.

Agents Legat Owen, whose Chester office has been handling the disposal of the imposing property in front of the Eisteddfod field, has told llanblogger that its owners, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB),  accepted an offer for it yesterday (Monday).

Asking price for Oakleigh has been £350,000 although Legat Owen said the terms of the agreed sale would remain confidential.

This latest development comes at the end of a formal bidding process which closed on January 18.

A statement from the agents says: “We are pleased to be able to confirm that following a competitive bidding process BCUHB have today accepted an offer for the sale of Oakleigh.
 
“Solicitors are in the process of being instructed to prepare contract documentation with a view to progressing towards an early exchange of contracts and completion
 
“The terms of the agreed sale are confidential between the parties.”

The property has been empty since September 2010 when it was sold off by the board as surplus to its requirements. 

Legat Owen’s details for the sale show that Oakleigh covers 306 square metres (3,293 square feet) on a site of 0.28 hectares (0.69 acres).  

The description continues: “Oakleigh comprises an attractive two storey period propertyfof brick construction under a pitched timber framed roof with clay tile covering.  

“Internally the property retains many of its original features.  

“The property has a rateable value of £10,000 and is available for sale freehold.  

“The property offers potential for a variety of alternative uses subject to securing the appropriate planning permission.  

“Planning permission has recently been granted for a change of use to a residential dwelling.” 

A Freedom of Information request submitted to BCUHB by llanblogger last year showed the annual cost of maintenance and security of the property while it remained empty was £500 a year. 

Oakleigh has often been mentioned in connection with proposals by BCUHB for major changes to health services in Llangollen.

Legat Owen said it is not able to give any details of the buyer.

Businesses asked to back a new campaign

Businesses in Llangollen are being asked if they would like to “take it slow” by giving speedy help to an exciting new initiative.

Over 50 shops, restaurants, pubs and other firms are being invited to help start a local Slow Food group in the town.

Slow Food is an international organisation that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment by promoting local, seasonal produce and reconnecting people with where their food comes from. 

It is a not-for-profit movement in which local groups, run by volunteers, organise a variety of events alongside local food and drink producers and chefs. 

Membership is open to individuals, however businesses and other organisations can also become Slow Food supporters and/or partners to help organise and promote group activities.  

Each group determines its own aims and activities, which could include ideas such as: 

- Helping to develop kitchen gardens in local schools 

- Sensory taste education workshops for children and adults 

- Local gastronomic tours: visits to local farms, food artisans, specialty stores and wineries 

- Tastings and dinners to highlight local and/or heritage products in the area 

- Running cookery classes and taste education courses 

- Exchanges with other Slow Food groups 

- Maintaining and promoting heritage foods and drinks 

·        If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, or would like to be kept informed of our progress, e-mail

slowfoodllangollen@gmail.com, or phone or text Sal on 07786 623802.

Organisers also want to hear from anyone in Llangollen who is already a member of Slow Food UK.

Irish link could boost north Wales tourism, says AM

Clwyd South Assembly member Ken Skates says a new tourism initiative launched by the First Minister could bring big benefits to North Wales.

Visiting Dublin last week First Minister Carwyn Jones launched a new campaign with Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm, to boost visitor numbers from Ireland by at least 10% over the next five years.

Speaking during the week when Wales play Ireland in the Six Nations, Mr Skates said investment in port facilities in Holyhead could help bring in additional ferry-based tourism through North West Wales and Liverpool.

He also said airport access from Manchester and Birmingham was vital to increasing the share of visitors and holidaymakers who come to North East Wales.

He said: “I’m fully supportive of the Welsh Government’s aim to increase the numbers of Irish visitors to Wales by 10% over the next few years. North Wales relies heavily on tourism so I’m keen to ensure the campaign focuses on attracting visitors from the emerald isle to destinations right across the region.

“North Wales is potentially very accessible from Ireland, but we need to see a big focus in improving ferry port capacity in areas like Holyhead. We need to see a coherent strategy to invest in turnaround facilities and moorings at our ports and develop a stronger partnership when visitors come via the port in Liverpool.

“New partnerships with Stena and Irish Ferries need to be constructed with highly targeted marketing initiatives about what our region has to offer visitors from Ireland, one of North Wales’ most important international markets.

“We also need to exploit longer haul cruise markets. A recent Assembly report we did highlighted that cruise tourism is the highest growth sector in the developed world, growing at an average rate of 8% over the last 40 years.

“Airport access to North East Wales is another crucial issue. Daily flights from Ireland to Manchester and Birmingham mean North Wales is already within easy reach by plane but this needs to be co-ordinated with marketing and promotions to attract short-stay visitors and longer-stay holidaymakers.”

In 2011, a total of 148,000 visits to Wales from Ireland were recorded, with a total expenditure value of £33 million. According to the International Passenger Survey, the average length of trip lasted 4.1 days, with Ireland accounting for around 17% of all international visits to Wales.

Mr Skates added: “Many visitors from Ireland will come to South Wales for the rugby this week, but we need to show them there is another side to our great country.

“From Snowdonia National Park to the stunning Clwydian Range to the magnificent views on the coastal path, North Wales is a region waiting to be discovered by Irish visitors.

“What we need now is a planned programme of infrastructure investment and targeted marketing to help sell the region to Irish and international visitors on a global stage.”

Llan antiques fair dates announced

* Llangollen Pavilion - venue for a series of antiques and collectors fairs during 2013. 

 

The first in a year-long series of antiques and collectors fairs takes place at Llangollen Pavilion next Sunday, February 3.

It offers interested browsers and avid collectors alike a huge range of fascinating items from a dedicated group of reputable dealers.

You can lose yourself for hours amidst the variety of stands.

Organiser Peter Stubbs said: "Whatever your interest, you can find china and glass, furniture large and small, postcards, ephemera and cigarette cards,  medals and militaria, curios and objets d'art, jewellery, pictures and prints, autographs and first day covers, coins and stamps, linen and textiles, vintage clothing and kitchenalia, together with handmade crafts and modern collectables. 

"After finding the perfect addition to your collection, why not round off your stay with a slice of our our delicious home-made cake,or traditional Welsh cakes? 

"If you're looking for something more substantial, we offer a full range of hot and cold dishes, including hearty real homemade soup."

Peter added: "We are not just here to sell, but also to buy. If you have anything to sell then please bring it along.

"Most of the stallholders are looking for fresh stock and will offer you a price for whatever you have; it does not have to be gold or silver, just anything old or interesting -you could go away with cash in your pocket!

 

"All this for just a £1 and free car parking for a day out."

Dates for the fairs at the Pavilion this year are:

·        Sunday 3rd February  

·        Sunday 3rd March

·        Sunday 7th April  

·        Sunday 5th May  

·        Sunday 16th June  

·        No fair in July due to International Eisteddfod

·        The Big One – Two-day fair, Saturday and Sunday, 3 and 4 August  

·        Sunday 1st September  

·        Sunday 6th October  

·        Sunday 3rd November  

·        Sunday 1st December  

All fairs feature refreshments and free parking.

·        For all enquiries and bookings, call Dave Moss on 01490 450338 or Peter Stubbs on 01978 869037.

Find out how to read old documents

Following the success of last year’s introductory sessions on how to read old documents and how to interpret old title deeds, Denbighshire Archives is holding two further sessions on the mornings of 4 and 18 February, from 10am until 12pm.

Archivist, Jane Brunning, explained: “Old documents can be a valuable source of information for people who may be researching their family history or the history of their house or street but they can be tricky to the uninitiated.

“We hope these sessions will give people an insight into how to read old documents, which can shed a unique light on times past if you know what you’re looking for.”

The session on 4 February will be devoted to practical demonstrations of how to read a selection of documents from the 16th and 17th centuries, and the session on 18 February will delve into the mysteries of legal documents from the 16th to the 20th century.

Both events are free, but as places are limited, booking is essential.

If you have an old document at home that you cannot read, or you are just be interested in learning a new skill, book yourself a place and come along to the Gaol. Email: archives@denbighshire.gov.uk or telephone 01824 708250

Flooding hits trains between Shrewsbury and Wrexham

The National Rail Enquiries website says today (Sunday) that ni train are running between Shrewsbury and Wrexham general stations until further notice due to flooding at Gobowen.

The operator afected in Arriva Trains Wales and the route is Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Codsall, Cosford, Telford Central, Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Chirk, Ruabon, Wrexham General & Chester.   Further further updates see: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/sa5686a6467547bebd35cc5ca219eef6/details.html

Val sees superstar relative on screen

 

* Valerie Hall at her home in Llangollen.

 

 

 

 

* Relatives of Valerie Hall who all have connections

to Russell Crowe including her great-grandmother

(centre) Sarah Jane Crowe.

 

A trip to the cinema to see her long lost relative Russell Crowe in the blockbuster film Les Miserables will be just the tonic for a Llangollen woman fighting leukaemia.

 

Valerie Hall, 66, came forward after an appeal to find relatives of the Oscar-winning Australian superstar by the manager of the Odeon cinema at Eagles Meadow in Wrexham.

 

The first five family members who can show a connection will each get a pair of tickets to see the screen adaptation of Les Misérables, the hit 1980s musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic 19th-century novel.

 

The enthralling story of love, passion and redemption - nominated for a host of Oscars including Best Picture - is showing to packed audiences at the Odeon and is already promising to be the biggest film this year.

 

Gladiator star Crowe can trace his family roots to Wrexham where grandfather, John Crowe, ran the grocers, Crofruit, before emigrating to New Zealand in the mid-1920s.

Valerie had hoped to meet Crowe in 2009 when had been due to return to his family roots in Wrexham for the BBC Wales programme, Coming Home, but unfortunately the project fell through.

 

She said: “I believe that Russell Crowe’s grandfather, John Edward Crowe, and my grandmother, Sarah Jane Crowe, were sister and brother.

 

“The family were big in the Wrexham area and spread out from there. There really is a great many Crowes in the area and beyond. But one thing that stands out and how you always know it’s a Crowe your talking to is the eyes.

 

“Those icy-blue eyes are a real family trait I’m afraid, all the Crowe’s have them, they are not just peculiar to Russell.”

 

She added: “I'd love to have the chance to meet him out of curiosity more than anything.”

 

And while Russell Crowe’s grandfather left Wrexham to start a new life in first New Zealand before finally settling in Australia, Valerie’s ancestors stayed closer to home moving to Liverpool where she spent much of her life.

 

She said: “My maiden name was Dovaston, a name I can trace back to the times of William the Conqueror. It actually means ‘dark stump’!

 

“I moved to Llangollen 26 years ago and initially ran a guest house although I have worked at a care home, in a wine shop and as a charity worker too.

 

“I haven’t been in the best of health in the last few years and am currently taking a trial drug from America as I was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia known as Philadelphia chromosome.

 

“A trip to the Odeon at Eagles Meadow with my husband to see Les Misérables would be a real pick-me-up especially as there is that family connection, however distant it is.

 

“I do think Russell Crowe is a wonderful actor and it’s amazing to think we share a common ancestry. I hope if he ever comes back to North Wales he drops in for a chat. I think I’d like to meet him now.”

 

Odeon Manager Andy Elvis was delighted to invite Valerie Hall to the cinema to see Les Misérables.

 

He said: “We have had a phenomenal response to our appeal for relatives of Russell Crowe to come forward.

 

“Les Misérables is proving a big hit with Wrexham cinema goers and it’s certainly a wonderful film and deserves every one of its Oscar nominations. I think audiences are amazed at the sheer scale of the film.

 

“It’s a truly first class cinema experience and I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t seen it to book a seat and come along for a wonderful night’s entertainment.” 

TV stardom for Eddie's Angels

* Eddie's Angels appear on Sky TV's Got to Dance show at 6pm on Sunday.

 

 

Millions of viewers will see a Llangollen-based dance group put in a gold star performance on TV tomorrow (Sunday) evening.

Eddie’s Angels are a strictly-for-fun outfit which meets every Monday morning in the Town Hall under the instruction of local dance teacher and choreographer Julie Thomas.

The oldest member of the group – and the man from whom it takes its name – is 97-year-old Eddie Clark – who drives himself in from Minera Mountain for the weekly sessions.

Also in the group is Eddie’s daughter Deborah Smith from Erddig and other  members come from Ruabon, Wrexham, Acrefair, Cefn, Chirk, Bala and Oswestry.

Tomorrow night, Eddie’s Angels will be featured in Sky TV’s Got to Dance programme, starting at 6pm.

Members of the troupe along with their friends and supporters will gather in The Bridge End Hotel, Llangollen, to watch the performance on a large flat screen TV upstairs in the function room from 6-8pm.

Julie Thomas said: “We got three gold stars from the judges, Ashley Banjo, Kimberly Wyatt and Aston from JLS, plus a standing ovation from them and the 700-strong audience.

“Eddie is a sprightly 97 year old and his daughter Deb is also dancing, along with our oldest Angel,  81-year-old Jean Gardiner. I am so proud of them.

“There's 20 of us to watch out for and we are definitely the novelty act, so please come and join us to enjoy this amazing dance show.”

Net is cast for volunteer lock-keepers

* The Canal & River Trust is offeroing the chance to help out on the canals. 

The Canal & River Trust, the new charity which cares for 2,000 miles of waterways in England & Wales, is calling on communities to get involved in a scheme that will see them becmoning volunteer lock keepers along the Shropshire Union and Llangollen Canals .

 

Lock keeping has been a fixture on the canals for hundreds of years and the role of the modern-day volunteer lock keeper is to help the Trust look after the waterways, including helping boaters through the locks, providing a polite and friendly welcome to waterway visitors and helping to maintain many historic, listed locks.

Actor and adventurer Brian Blessed supported the first appeal during 2012 which saw over 250 people come forward and become volunteer lock keepers.

Now, the Trust is asking for public support to try and double these numbers in over 50 locations across the country.

Paul Corner, volunteer coordinator for the Canal & River Trust, said: “As a new charity we were heartened by the amazing support we received for this role last year.

 

"Volunteers are integral to the future of the nation’s waterways and our growing groups of volunteers have been making a huge difference to local canals and rivers up and down the country.

 

"This is one of the oldest and most iconic roles on the waterways so we’re asking the millions of people who visit the nation’s canals and rivers each year to get active and become a volunteer lock keeper.”

In a recent survey with volunteer lock keepers who took part in 2012, 99% said they planned to return in 2013 and over 70% of people said that ‘keeping fit and active’ was one of the major motivations for waterways volunteering. In total, they collectively contributed over 4,500 volunteer days.

Throughout the season, it’s also estimated the volunteer lock keepers assisted 1,500 boats and engaged with over 1,700 towpath visitors on average per week, helped reduce water loss by encouraging lock sharing and making sure lock paddles were closed and also improved safe passage through locks.

Paul added: “Working outdoors and staying fit have been a key incentive for people, as has a sense of pride in knowing they’re helping protect this 250-year-old working heritage. It’s extremely important to us that we offer volunteers something appealing where they feel like they’re making a difference which this role certainly does.

“The waterways are a national treasure that everyone can participate in and our volunteers have been able to provide so many additional benefits on top of the year round work Canal & River Trust staff carry out.

 

"Whether it’s helping a boat through the lock, talking to customers or local practical tasks, it can really make a huge difference to a visitor’s appreciation of the waterways in North Wales and make sure they’re supported for many more years to come.”

 
 

Volunteers can start quickly and no prior experience is necessary as a full induction, training and a uniform will be provided. The key qualities the Trust is looking for is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

The Canal & River Trust will care for 1,654 locks and there are approximately 5 million ‘lockings’ each year (passages through locks). Over 32,000 boats now call the waterways home; a figure higher than at the height of the industrial revolution.

Full details about how to become a volunteer lock keeper and location details are available by:

 

· Visiting: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer

 

· Emailing: volunteer@canalrivertrust.org.uk

 

· Phoning: 0303 040 4040.

Impairment focus panel meets

If you have a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment this is your opportunity to be listened to.

Denbighshire's Physical and Sensory Impairment (PSI) focus panel will provide you with an opportunity for consultation, information exchange and discussion on local and national issues.

The first meetings are:

February 6^th 10.30am to 12.30pm, Rhyl Community Fire Station, Coast Road Rhyl

March 4^th 10.30am to 12.30pm, Erianfa Community Centre, Factory Place, Denbigh
April 9^th 10.30am to 12.30pm, Corwen Sports Pavilion, War Memorial Park, Corwen
Rona Roberts, PSI Facilitator based at the Disability Resource Centre in Bodelwyddan, said: "Everyone's views are important, and we want to hear them so that the planning of services in Denbighshire can be influenced.

"If people wish to become involved and cannot attend the meetings, or have specific requirements to enable them to have a voice on the panel, please contact me via e-mail, text or telephone."

Rona can be contacted at the Disability Resource Centre (on the Ysbyty Glan Clwyd site at Bodelwyddan)

( 01745 534 525
Mobile 07432812887
E-mail Rona.Roberts@wales.nhs.uk

Heavy snow fall in Llan

* The view along Regent Street at 8.40pm.  

It is currently snowing heavily in the middle of Llangollen - in line with earlier weather forecast.

Twitter shows it’s snowing across a wide area – from Overton to Llay and from Bwlchgwyn to Summerhill.

One tweet says Llangollen Road through Plas Madoc to Acrefair totally thick with snow.

Flashing warning sign says the Horseshoe Pass is closed.

GHA buses says it is bringing its buses home early.

Visibility extremely poor on the A483 near Wrexham.

Further tweets say:

Just took me half an hour to get from Plas Coch to rhosymedre. Roads are dangerous.

Visibility so bad cars are driving at a maximum of 30mph on A483 bypass near Wrexham.

11.31pm: Tweets says: Reports of jacknifed lorries, abandoned cars - not just bypass but A55 & M56 :

11.40pm: Wrexham.com reporting hearing some staff in Tesco, Wrexham, spending the night there as they are snowed in. Others stuck in vehicles - and pubs in and around town.

11.50pm: Heavy rain now falling in Llangollen - perhaps the prelude to a thaw.

Tide of new betting shops should be stemmed, says Skates

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called for councils to be given stronger powers to stem the numbers of betting shops popping up on high streets in North Wales.

The AM (pictured below) said the recent closure of major retail stores such as Peacocks, Game and JJB Sports as well as scores of small independent shops on the High Street risked more Betting shops opening up in their place. 

 

He believes local councils needed to have stronger planning powers to restrict their numbers in disadvantaged areas.

A report last year for the High Streets First campaign said more than a third of betting shops in Wales are in the most deprived communities.

 

Mr Skates said: "In the last year alone we have seen major retail players such as Clinton Cards, Blacks, Peacocks, Game and JJB Sports all disappear form the High Street, in addition to the recent problems HMV and Blockbuster have suffered. Added to this, scores of small independent shops have also closed their doors.

“The risk is that in the next few months and years these vacant properties will be taken up by betting shops, which prey on vulnerable communities and disadvantaged areas hit hard by unemployment and joblessness.

“In areas like Wrexham, as it is across North Wales, High Streets are more than just a collection of shopping outlets, they form part of the soul of the town. We can’t let the high street become clustered with these addictive betting shops.

“A recent report I did as part of the Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee highlighted that vacant sites in our Town Centres now account for 11.5% of all High Street premises, a figure indeed higher than the overall UK average.

“Planning rules need to be changed to allow local authorities in North Wales to stop the excessive spread of betting shops and the clustering of outlets in run down high streets.

“All too often in North Wales you find a row of bookmakers, empty shops and loan companies on a high street, with very little diversity in between. It represents a very unappealing offer to potential investors and seriously affects the way people see their own high street.

“Often this happens because planning rules allow stores with the same ‘use’ license to replace a similar store. So when a café, shop or bank closes in my constituency a new one can open up regardless of the numbers of similar such outlets nearby.

“At the moment bookmakers fall into the same category as banks, which are financial services so it means these facilities can be changed into betting shops without our democratically elected local authorities having a say. This must change.”

Campaign begins over axed hospitals

According to the Daily Post this morning (Friday) Health Minister Lesley Griffiths must intervene in a health board’s decision to transfer intensive care services for the most at-risk newborns to England and controversial plan to axe hospitals and services.

See the full story at:

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2013/01/25/call-for-health-minister-to-step-in-over-north-wales-hospital-cut-and-baby-care-move-55578-32676849/

Chamber feels "cheated" over Sainsbury's plan

MEMBERS of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism believe they have been “cheated” over the controversial plan to build a new Sainsbury’s supermarket in the town.

And they say that if they had known the outcome of  Denbighshire County Council’s planning process they would not have supported the scheme in the first place. 

They also accuse Sainsbury’s of “riding roughshod” over local opinion. 

When the details of the scheme to build a 20,000 square foot food store on land currently occupied by the Dobson & Crowther print works off Berwyn Street was first revealed the chamber decided that rather than object to the application it would support it. 

This was on the strict understanding conditions would be imposed preventing a café being operated on the premises, there would be no delicatessen or butchers counters and that pedestrian access to the town from the supermarket car park would be changed. 

Chamber chair John Palmer stressed these stipulations when he made a short presentation to the planning committee as it considered the application last October. 

The committee approved the plan subject to certain conditions but the formal certificate of decisions later indicated there would be no café permitted. 

Some of the other conditions were rather vague, according to the chamber.  

Soon afterwards the developers submitted an appeal against some of the conditions, including the one covering the café ban, and it became clear they were in fact seeking an extension of the original café area.  

When it was considered last December, the planning committee decided to uphold the appeal despite another presentation from Mr Palmer objecting to the proposal on the basis the town stood to lose a considerable amount of passing trade.   

Mr Palmer said this week: “In the discussions with the developers before the application was submitted it was made very clear to them the chamber would object to a café as part of the development and we were led to believe that it would not be included in the application.  

“The reason for objection to a cafe was to protect existing café businesses in the town centre.

 “The fact that it was included but rejected as part of the committee’s original decision suggested that the outcome was satisfactory.  

“However, the results of the appeal now mean that some of those businesses are vulnerable.” 

Mr Palmer added: “There would appear to be no legal redress for  the chamber and members feel the planning committee succumbed to the power of large organisations and were afraid of any legal challenge if they failed to uphold the appeal.  

“Our members now feel cheated and had they known the outcome of the café issue, would not have supported the original application.  

“The power of the supermarket over local opinion has succeeded again.”

Responding to this story when it was carried in the Leader yesterday (Thursday) Andrew Sanderson, development manager for Sainsbury’s, said: “While Sainsbury’s has not been leading on this supermarket application, we met several local people including John Palmer during public consultation.

“We do not feel a small coffee bar in the supermarket would compete with the range of cafés in the town. Customers use our cafés while doing their food shopping, not as a destination.

“An independent retail consultant commenting on the planning application agreed a café is unlikely to be as attractive to most tourists as existing facilities, which we accept are primarily serving a tourist market.

“Sainsbury’s wants to work with the town and has already offered free marketing space in the store for use by local independent businesses.

“We want to encourage shoppers using the store to also make trips into the town to enjoy the hospitality Llangollen has to offer.”

A spokesman for Denbighshire Council said: “All of the planning applications relating to the food store development in Llangollen have followed a due process of consultation, assessment and determination by the elected members of the planning committee.

“Decisions have been made having regard to all representations received and in accordance with adopted planning policies and guidance.”

Historic US church backs eisteddfod choral contest

 

* The Welsh Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles.

One of America’s most historic churches - where Oscar-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins attended a memorial service for his mother - has backed a major choral competition back home in Wales.

The Welsh Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles held its final service last month after 124 years but its legacy will support the Male Voice Choir competition at the world famous Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for the next three years.

The church was founded in Los Angeles in 1888 when the West was still wild and when the city had a population of fewer than 50,000 – these days it is the second biggest in the USA with nearly four million inhabitants.

It had a proud history too - its choir sang at the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in 1938 and at the San Diego World’s Fair in 1935.

They also played a part in another piece of Hollywood history, singing and taking walk-on roles in How Green Was My Valley, which won the 1941 Best Picture Oscar and Best Director award for John Ford.

So it was a sad day when the last service was held on Sunday, December 16, according to Gwyn Phillips, (pictured below with wife Mair dressed for a St David's Day event) a retired insurance broker, now 81, originally from Cwmfelinfach, near Newport, and who emigrated to Canada in 1956.

He met his wife, Mair, a Welsh-speaking nurse from Llysfaen, Colwyn Bay, there and they moved to LA in 1960 and have been there ever since, bringing up three children, David Wyn, Bryn Morgan and Glenda Elen.

Gwyn was an elder of the church and Mair a deacon and he said: “The church has been around for a long time but for the last five or ten years numbers have been declining and we weren’t really able to carry on.

“It was a synagogue and we bought it from the Jews in 1929 and now we’re selling it back to them as a heritage centre – it must be the only Welsh church with five or six Stars of David in the windows.

“We used to hold a regular Cymanfa Ganu and that was very popular and so was the three-day weekend eisteddfod we had and whenever there was a Welsh choir in southern California we’d try and invite them and we’ve had the Llanelli and Rhos Choirs here and the Three Welsh Tenors, Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Alun Rhys Jenkins.

“We even made the church earthquake-resistant in the 1980s and raised £250,000 ourselves to do it.

“We are at least glad that we have been able to support events like the Llangollen Eisteddfod – it was a must as far as we were concerned and we were delighted to be able to sponsor the make voice choir competition.

“Music and singing is all part of our heritage and even last year when Wales played England at rugby we went down to this bar and I counted 62 Welsh people there and we all stood to attention to sing Mae Hen Flad Fy Nhadau – even the English loved it.”

Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said:“While we’re obviously saddened to hear that this historic church has had to close we’re very grateful for their kind sponsorship and support.

“It’s a wonderful and very appropriate gesture that this church which has been attended by immigrants from Wales for well over a hundred years should support an international event back home in Wales – I’m sure the generations of Welsh Americans would approve.”

Gwyn and his wife, who was brought up at Plas Farm, Llysfaen, have visited Wales many times and Mrs Phillips still has three brothers and a sister living in Wales.

They say that the church, founded by the Rev David Hughes, from Llanwchllyn, near Bala, in 1888 when its 22 members met in the back room of a shop in Los Angeles, has been a big part of their lives and will be missed.

One of its members was Mary Griffiths, whose brother, Griffith J Griffiths, donated the 3,000 acres of Griffith Park to the city of Los Angeles – a journalist who made his money in gold mining, Griffith served two years in gaol after shooting his wife.

She survived but unsurprisingly divorced him and Griffiths, who had professed to be a teetotaler but turned out to be a secret drunk, died of liver failure but not before making further bequests to the city.

The church, in Valencia Street, has been a hub of Welsh life in southern California since then and Gwyn added: “We have been able to support a number of Welsh institutions, including the Llangollen Eisteddfod, the National Eisteddfod, the National Library and St David’s Cathedral, and they’ve been thrilled by the money we’ve sent them.

“As far as we’re concerned here, while that money is being used it’s working and doing something for Wales. That’s the important thing because it is Welsh money.”

A video of the Welsh Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles is on Youtube on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJ5Pt1FVeo

For more details on this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen

AM calls for probe of high suicide rates

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called for the Welsh Government to commission specialist research into the suicide rate in Wales.

Figures released by the ONS have shown that the suicide rate in Wales has risen 30% in two years, the highest level since 2004.

The rates are now higher than in England. The rate in Wales is up from 10.7 per 100,000 people in 2009 to 13.9 in 2011. The England rate is 10.4 per 100,000.

The Chair of the Assembly’s All Party Group on Mental Health said the new figures had to be treated with caution as the factors that lead to suicide were complex and multi-layered.

However he called on the Welsh Government to examine the new figures closely and commission specialist research to shape policies that could help excluded and marginalised groups at particular risk of suicide.

Mr Skates said: “We do have to treat statistics relating to suicide very carefully indeed. The factors that cause someone to take their own life are complex and reading any concrete patterns into the figures is very difficult.

“However, it is concerning that the suicide rate in Wales has risen 30% in two years and is now higher than the rate we are seeing in England. It had been feared that the economic downturn would have a big impact on mental well-being in Wales and we need more research to examine this further.

“That is why I believe the Welsh Government and the NHS should take a leading role in helping to commission specialist research into the suicide rate in Wales. We need to look at the factors that are underpinning this increase and how policy in mental health can be shaped to help and support groups that are most likely to take their own life.

“One of the at risk groups appears to be middle aged men. A report released last year by the Samaritans - ‘Men and Suicide: Why it’s a social issue’ highlighted that males from disadvantaged backgrounds in their 30s, 40s and 50s are at higher risk of suicide than other groups.

“It said that on average, men from low socio-economic backgrounds living in deprived areas are ten times more likely to die by suicide than men from high socio-economic backgrounds living in the most affluent areas.

“These are the sorts of issues that need now to be researched further. With a legacy of heavy industrial manufacturing that has gone into sharp decline over the last thirty years, maybe there are longer term factors, particular to Wales, that need to be explored.”

Some of the increase may be down to a change in the way deaths were recorded by coroners following new guidance.

Wales had a greater number of deaths than any E nglish region. North-east England is the next highest at 12.9 per 100,000.

* The Freephone Community Advice and Listening Line (CALL) numbers are 0800 132737 or 81066.

T* The Samaritans on available on 08457 90 90 90.

Llan team are quiz champions

A team from Llangiollen were winners of a county quiz staged by Clwyd Young Farmers Club at Denbigh Rugby Club recently. 

Fifteen teams from across the region took part and the quiz master once again was Erfyl Jones who had a variety of questions to suit everyone. 

Runners-up to Llangollen were Betws yn Rhos, Cilcain and Llansannan. 

 

 

* The winning Llangollen team of Aled Jones, Iolo Francis, Dan Griffiths, quizmaster Erfyl Jones, Jess Binks and Bronwen Edwards.