Eisteddfod helps Kosovan family track down relative's 1966 appearance

 

* Ramadan, left, and Myrvete Gashi with their son, Lutfi.

  

THE big-hearted backroom team at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod have helped a family uprooted by the bitter war in Kosovo to recall happier times when one of its members performed at the world famous festival almost 50 years ago.

 

It was back in 1966 that a young man named Sali Krasni appeared with the Yugoslavian folk dance group Rugova at Llangollen.

 

Sali died in his sixties about 25 years ago but members of his family never forgot how fondly he used to speak about his thrilling trip to north Wales.

 

Sadly, all pictures and mementos relating to the memorable occasion were lost when the family home was destroyed by the brutal war in Kosovo in the late 1990s, which saw forces under Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic attempt to suppress the ethnic Albanian majority's independence campaign.

 

* Sali Krasni, from the
1967 programme.

Like many ethnic Albanians, Sali’s family saw no alternative but to flee their native country and seek asylum in Britain 16 years ago.

 

Over the years Sali’s daughter, Myrvete Gashi, often thought how wonderful it would be if any records of his Eisteddfod appearance could be located.

 

So on a recent holiday visit to Llangollen from their home in Enfield, north London, she and three other members of the family decided to call into the Eisteddfod office at the Royal International Pavilion, Llangollen, to see if any trace of it could be found.

 

And their luck was in because the day they chose for the unscheduled visit just happened to be the one day of the week when the Eisteddfod’s two volunteer archivists, Jean Audrey Speare and Helen Roberts, were in the office.

 

They delved back through the records and soon came up with some fascinating pieces of information relating to the appearance of Sali and his folk group.

 

Not only did they uncover photos of the group, including Sali, in an old festival programme but also a newspaper of the day featuring a picture of him.

 

The archive team provided their unexpected visitors with copies of the originals before a colleague took them on a guided tour of the pavilion, which will once again come alive with the Eisteddfod in July.

 

The Eisteddfod’s Festival Support Co-ordinator Christine Dukes, who greeted the group from Kosovo, said: “They just walked through the door of the office and said they had called in on the off chance that we might have some details about their relative who appeared at the festival in 1966 as they had lost everything during the war in their country.

 

* The family look through the old records with the help
of the archives team. 

“Jean and Helen looked back through the archives and came up with a programme showing pictures of the folk group. They also managed to find a copy of a local newspaper of the time which had in it a picture of their relative.

 

“We arranged for them to get copies of everything and then I took them on a tour of the pavilion.

 

“Of course, I explained that the whole site would have looked very different back in 1966, which was before the pavilion was built.

 

“We were very happy to be able to help them and, luckily, they came on the only day of the week that our archivists, who are both volunteers, are in the office.”

 

Along with Sali’s daughter, 65-year-old Myrvete, was her husband Ramadan Gashi, 69, their married daughter, 36-year-old Lendita Olloni, and son Lutfi Gashi, 45.

 

Lutfi, who lives in Enfield, north London and works as a joiner, said: “Our family had a very bad time in the war in Kosovo in the late 1990s and came to England as asylum seekers 16 years ago.

 

* Sali Krasni appeared with the
Yugoslavian folk dance group Rugova.

“We lost our home in a village called Drenovc when it was destroyed by the bombing and had to leave the country for our own safety.

 

“It was because of this that we lost everything relating to the appearance at Llangollen of my grandfather, Sali, with his folk group in 1966.

 

“But I remember he often would talk with great fondness about his time at the Eisteddfod and my parents and I said that one day we would come to north Wales to try to find out more about it.

 

“We came to the office in Llangollen to see if they could find anything and we were very lucky that they found for us some lovely pictures of my grandfather which they arranged for us to have copies of.

 

“It was very good to be able to find out some information about him after all this time and the family is very grateful to the very kind ladies in the office who did so much to help us.”

 

He added: “After going to the Eisteddfod site we spent a night in Llangollen and also visited other attractions in the area including the steam railway.

 

“It is a very nice town and it was good to see the place from where my grandfather brought back so many happy memories.” 

 

The curtain raiser for this year's Eisteddfod will mark the return of opera superstar Bryn Terfel to Llangollen.

 

The acclaimed bass baritone will be playing the lead in a special English-language production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street featuring an all-Welsh cast.

 

This year's will also feature concerts by Dutch jazz sensation Caro Emerald and veteran British rockers Status Quo as well as a world premiere of a new work, Adiemus Colores, by top composer Karl Jenkins.

 

He will conduct his Latin American themed work with American tenor Noah Stewart, Venezuelan trumpeter Pacho Flores and Latvian accordion player Ksenija Sidorova to the accompaniment of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Orchestra.

 

The Friday night concert, Spirit of Unity, will feature the Cape Town Opera, Africa’s premiere opera company, famed for their "vibrant vocalism and high-octane stage performances". 

 

Appearing with them will be Wales’ representative in Cardiff Singer of the World, Gary Griffiths, the Wales Millennium Centre Only Kidz Aloud Chorus under the baton of celebrity conductor Tim Rhys Evans and British Sinfonietta, one of the UK's leading independent professional orchestras.

 

The Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy on the Saturday night is the blue riband event of the week-long festival which will close with a Sunday night concert by Status Quo. 

 

To book tickets and for more details about this year’s Eisteddfod go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

 

Libs Dems slam "misleading" broadband claims

During a debate in the National Assembly on the digital economy, Welsh Liberal Democrats called for an end to "misleading" broadband claims which they claim often see customers paying for high speed broadband contracts which do not reflect the speed of service they were advertised.

 

Eluned Parrott, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Economy, said: “I am very concerned that many people in Wales may not be getting a fair deal from their broadband provider.  Customers are paying for high speed broadband contracts but in reality they only receive very slow broadband speeds which do not match the level of service that was advertised.

 

“Many businesses and individuals have contacted me to say that the current system is very unfair, because companies are able advertise that their broadband service is ‘up to’ a certain speed even if the majority of customers will receive a lower speed in practice. 

 

“The EU is taking steps to ensure that operators must be more transparent about the actual broadband speeds provided and end misleading advertising.  Under current OFCOM rules, advertised speeds must only be achievable by 10% of a provider’s customers, which is clearly unfair.

 

“The measures being proposed by the EU would help end excessive claims of internet companies who claim to deliver more megabytes than they actually do.&nb sp; Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government on these measures to ensure that we can bring an end to the unfair treatment of customers by powerful telecoms companies.”

 

Crumpton speaks out on local health service

Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, gives a personal take on the local health service...

"When they said ‘North Wales’s health is changing’ they neglected to mention it would be for the worse. I think I can speak with some authority; I’ve just come off the Terminally Ill Register after two-and-a-half years, and I haven’t come through unscathed. I’m on first-name terms with many of the ambulance crews.

* Martin Crumpton, left, gives a TV interview during
the fight to save  the Cottage Hospital.

"I don’t think it’s at all unreasonable to ask our planners to hang fire on the old hospital until the problems of the new health centre are resolved, do you? I really don’t want to get maudlin, but I wondered at the time of the crash on the A5 right below my cottage a few weeks ago if there might have been a better outcome if the cottage hospital just cross the river had still been operational before the airlift to Stoke.

"Somehow, happening so close to me, I felt involved and saddened. Even while the emergency services were arriving at such incredibly short times, I couldn’t help wondering what might have happened if there’d been a blockage at the single-file section due to accident, breakdown or congestion, and silently cursed the maniac behind this proposal.

 

"Then, of course, I couldn’t help reflect on the number of times the emergency services had made the difference between life and death, not just for me but my wife as well when she lay bleeding for over an hour after a fall before we discovered her. Frankly, it scares me. Now I’m wheelchair-bound I couldn’t get her to A&E by myself, as I did when she broke her wrist during the icy winter a couple of years ago.

 

"I think what really makes me livid is the thought that heart attack and stroke victims could be kept waiting in a queue because there’s no hospital close enough or because the route to the Maelor is blocked by a queue.

 

Please, right now, write now and register your objections, your fears and your own experiences. It has to be today."

Fringe Festival programme launched

THE programme for the 2014 Llangollen Fringe Festival had its official launch at the town’s International Pavilion on Monday evening.

* Victoria Coren Mitchell.

Announcing the varied line-up for the 17^th annual festival, Sara Roberts, a member of the organisation team, described it as a “big hitter” which would offer events to cater for a wide range of tastes ranging over 11 days from July 17-27.

Among those she singled out to illustrate this was Dylan Thomas in Llangollen, a drama by actor Peter Read specially commissioned to mark the centenary of the legendary Welsh poet on Wednesday July 23,  and the Blues Steam Train trip along the Llangollen Railway on Sunday, July 20.

Sara added: “Sometimes we take a risk to do more interesting things and present things you wouldn’t see anywhere else.
“One of those things we are doing this year is a screening of the film The Extremist, on Sunday July 20.

“It stars Llangollen actor Dyfed Thomas, who is a good friend of the Fringe, and tells the story of the Welsh nationalist terrorists who mounted a bombing campaign in the late 1960s in the run-up to the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.”

*Glenn Tilbrook.

Headliners at the festival include stand-up comedian Paul Sinha on Thursday July 17,  an evening with TV presenter and writer Victoria Coren Mitchell on Tuesday July 22 and a performance by former Squeeze frontman Glenn Tilbrook on Thursday July 24.  

Llangollen Mayor Bob Lube, who was among guests at the launch evening, said: “The council is always very happy to be associated with the Fringe, which has become one of the main cultural events of the town whose reputation has spread far and wide.

“Although it is organised by a dedicated band of amateurs it is by no means amateurish.”

Festival Programme 2014 highlights:

Thursday 17th July - Stand-up Comedy

The Fringe Comedy Night Double Bill presents two well-known names from the comedy circuit, Paul Sinha and Gary Delaney.

Friday 18th July - Shakespeare’s As You Like It
Indulge yourself and let Taking Flight entangle you in this tale of sibling rivalry, love, lust and mistaken identity.

Friday 18th July - Gruff Rhys

Through nine albums with Super Furry Animals, two with Neon Neon and handful of solo LPs, Gruff Rhys has distinctively documented the lives of others.

Saturday 19th July - Fringe Acoustica

Fringe Acoustica is back for another orgy of unplugged aural delights.

Saturday 19th July - The Neville Staple Band

Former singer with The Specials and Fun Boy Three Neville Staple will get you skanking to ska and Two Tone hits plus some reworked Jamaican ska classics and brand new original material.

Sunday 20th July - Band For A Day

Band for a Day will give you the opportunity to develop your musical ensemble skills.

Sunday 20th July - Blues Steam Train

5.45pm departure from Llangollen Steam Railway Station.  Get into the right frame of mind listening to a live blues band on the platform before boarding your steam train.

Sunday 20th July - The Extremist - A Film by Paul Ferris

The much-acclaimed, highly controversial film deals with the symbolic bombing campaign which took place in Wales during the 1960’s leading up to the investiture of Charles as the Prince of Wales.

Sunday 20th July - Jon Ronson's Frank Story

Jon Ronson presents a one-man show - Frank - telling the true story behind a new, soon to be released movie co-written by him and starring Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Domhnall Gleeson and directed by Lenny Abrahamson. Part funny memoir, part movie diary, this is a tribute to outsider artists too wonderfully strange to ever make it in the mainstream.

Monday 21st July - Band For A Day Concert

Band For A Day participants show off their new skills in a concert on the main Llangollen Fringe stage in front of a live audience.

Tuesday 22nd July - Victoria Coren Mitchell

Victoria reads from a selection her acclaimed works and talks about her life and career. Followed by an opportunity for audience members to ask their own questions.

Wednesday 23rd July - Dylan in Llangollen

To celebrate the Dylan Thomas centenary a new drama featuring renowned actor Peter Read.

Wednesday 23rd July - East India Youth

East India Youth - who is responsible for the love-lorn synth pop of 'Looking For Someone' and the chemically-dazed rapture of 'Heaven, How Long' from the stunning 'Hostel EP' - is actually one young man. William Doyle, a 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Bournemouth, cut his teeth in an indie group called The Fourfathers while still a teenager.

Thursday 24th July - Glenn Tilbrook

Former Squeeze frontman, Glenn Tilbrook, reputed for his considerable song writing talent and irrepressible sense of humour, brings his totally stripped down solo acoustic show to the Fringe.

Friday 25th July - Transglobal Underground

WOMEX headliner Transglobal Underground make a welcome return visit to the Llangollen Fringe this year. Their sell-out performance in Llangollen in 2004 was one of the great all-time nights of Fringe history. They specialise in a fusion of western, oriental and African music styles (sometimes labelled world fusion and ethno techno) and their infectious music and huge stage presence will make this a great night to remember for another decade.

Saturday 26th July - Musical Narrowboat Cruise

A rare opportunity to enjoy a journey on the Llangollen Canal cruising along our own World Heritage Site with musical accompaniment from a clarinet quartet (clarinet, violin, viola and cello) playing as you travel through the beautiful Dee Valley.

Saturday 26th July - Souvenirs

Survivors of torture helped write, create and are performing in a groundbreaking new verbatim theatre play about their experiences of torture.

Saturday 26th July - Osibisa

Known as ‘The Godfathers of World Music', Osibisa exploded onto the music world in 1971 with a pulsating and vibrant sound that was to engulf the tired post 60’s rock scene. Translated from Ghanaian Osibisa means ‘criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness’.

Sunday 27th July - Spanish Wine & Music

An intimate afternoon of Spanish music, wine and tapas in the wood panelled surroundings of Gales Wine Bar

Sunday 27th July - MuOM

Harmonic Chant and Diphonic Singing, is a vocal technique in which each singer emits two notes at once. 

Festival Tickets are now on sale, in limited numbers.

For £80 you can get into all the evening concerts.

·        See more at: http://www.llangollenfringe.co.uk/index.php/en/festival-2014/main-festival-events#sthash.o0NujFsV.dpuf

Girl band Paradise's heavenly Urdd performance

* Members of the all-girl band Paradwys.

Paradwys (Paradise), a  five-piece Welsh language all-girl Band based in Llangollen, took a second place at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Bala last week.

The girls were on the rock stage performing one of the many songs penned by themselves and entitled Deud Dim. 

The band was formed more than two years ago when the girls were pupils of Ysgol Gwernant in Llangollen.

They are now pupils of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham and still love writing and singing their Welsh lyrics to the music they compose themselves.

The band will be performing a set during Picnic in the Garden at Plas Newydd on Saturday, June 28.

This concert is being organised by Llangollen Silver Band in aid of Llangollen Christmas Lights.

There will be more details for you on Llanblogger about that  event during the coming weeks but in the meantime more details are available via  Llangollensilverband.org.uk, or by calling 07981966465.

Councillor Huw Jones, Denbighshire County Council's cabinet lead member with responsibility for culture, said: "Yet again we have seen Denbighshire pupils and students showcasing their creative skills on a national stage. 

"They have shown they are amongst the most talented children and young people in the whole of wales.  They are true ambassadors for Denbighshire.

"Hundreds of pupils have been involved in local and county heats and they are to be congratulated for their success. not forgetting the teachers and parents that have given their time and commitment over recent months.  

"The successes this week clearly show that Welsh culture is alive and kicking in Denbighshire."

Police launch summer road safety campaign

The national All Wales Summer Anti Drink/Drug Drive Campaign 2014, backed by all four Welsh Police Forces, has now begun.

 

Led by South Wales Police, the month-long campaign throughout June will see forces increase the pressure and focus on those drivers who drink and drive or drive under the influence of drugs.

 

There will be increased stop checks to catch those breaking the law, reinforce the message and educate drivers.

 

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing, from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit, said: “With the summer season now upon us, more people may be tempted to have a few drinks especially at barbecues or whilst drinking in beer gardens during the afternoons, and may drive without thinking of the consequences.

 

“The World Cup is also two weeks away and that will no doubt see an increase in the number of people watching some of the games in the pub.

 

He added: “Think before you go out, watch what you drink and plan how you will get home.”

 

North Wales Police has a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are drink and drug driving, dangerous driving including unnecessary risk taking, speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone whilst driving.

 

Chief Inspector Wareing explained: “We are committed to assisting in reducing the risk of becoming a casualty on the road through the use of targeted operations around high risk groups of people and locations while enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences.”

 

“If you drink and drive you will potentially not only ruin your life, but the lives of others innocently associated with you and your actions. There is absolutely no excuse for drinking and driving and the consequences can be devastating.

 

“You not only risk killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else, but you will end up in court and could face a fine, lose your licence or receive a jail sentence. You will have a criminal record and you could lose your job.”

 

Anyone with information regarding individuals who are believed to drive whilst over the legal limit or under the influence of drugs, can contact North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Campaigners still want beds at new health centre

* An artist's impression of the new Llangollen health centre.

Campaigners have restated their calls for hospital beds to be included in the plans for a new health centre in Llangollen.

 

The Welsh Government last week announced that it will provide £5 million of funding for the development on the site of the derelict River Lodge.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of the Keep Llangollen Health Services campaign group, said: “They’ve been dragging their feet for far too long. The hospital closed its doors a year and a half ago, and since then Llangollen and the Dee Valley has had to suffer a second class health service, with patients having to travel to Deeside or Mold for hospital beds.

 

“Of course, a £5 million investment is to be welcomed, but this shouldn’t distract us from the fact that, even with the new centre health, services in the area will have been diminished.

 

“We have raised questions about the suitability of the placing of the new centre for some time. Road safety and ease of access is a huge concern as well, which are as yet unresolved.”

 

According to Mabon ap Gwynfor, people in Llangollen shared these concerns.

 

Pat Jeffares, Councillor for the nearby Llangollen Rural ward, said: “Llangollen hospital beds are a must, as it served my ward Llangollen rural for respite care down the years. It also reduced bed blocking at Wrexham hospital, which is now causing major problem at Wrexham hospital.” 

 

Former nurse, Mrs P McBroom said: “It would really benefit the community in Llangollen to have some beds available in the health centre. It would free up beds in the Maelor hospital and provide care for patients who just need further convalescence before being discharged, especially people living on their own. It would also allow terminally-ill patients to be nearer home and their friends.

 

“As a former nurse I find it very sad to see these community hospitals closing down and the already over stretched Hospitals having to cope."

 

Jacqueline Lewis said: “Yes, I do feel that we need beds in Llangollen and I also think Llangollen hospital should never have closed. You can see the impact that it has had on Wrexham Maelor Hospital.”

 

Eve Slawson said: “(Having hospital beds) absolutely would definitely benefit our community and whole heartedly support your cause to have hospital beds in Llangollen. “

 

Carole Jones said: “I definitely agree we need hospital beds  in the new Llangollen Heath Centre.”

 

David Roberts said: “Hospital beds should be included in Llangollen health centre. It’s much better for elderly people to convalesce in their own town and so lessen bed blocking at Wrexham Maelor.”

 

Helen Roberts said: “Definitely, hospital beds should be included in the new Llangollen Health Centre. It’s essential to ease the burden on Wrexham Maelor and to ease visiting for friends and family.”

 

Gillian Thomas said: “Yes, I do think there should be beds in the new health centre and I am surprised they have not been included in the plans.”

 

Paul Roberts said: “I certainly believe that hospital beds should be included in the new Llangollen Centre. Apart from the obvious and reasons, you could argue that it is another devaluation of local services in one of the county's major tourist and popular family location. People still have to take time from work here as the surgery has no weekend or after-hours.”

 

Mary Connolly said: “Absolutely. The centre should have plenty of room for hospital beds, and also a proper outpatients for emergency/run of the mill mishaps. There will be a lot less need for people to fill up A&E in Wrexham if they can get local treatment, as was available in the old Llangollen Cottage Hospital. We sorely miss it.” 

 

Kathy Davies said: “I strongly agree that there is a need for hospital beds in Llangollen as there are many residents in Llangollen struggle to go to visit relatives in hospital especially when they are sent as far away as Deeside and also think there should be an accident and emergency unit here too, why should we have to travel all the way to Wrexham to be seen.”

Horror crash in Flintshire

The Daily Post website is reporting today (Sunday) on a serious road traffic accident in nearby Flintshire.

See the full story at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/penyffordd-crash-two-bikers-killed-7199763

Well-known couple renew wedding vows

A former Mayor and Mayoress of Llangollen, George and Barbara Hughes, renewed their wedding vows in St Collen's Church this morning (Sunday) in thanks for 40 years of marriage. Mike Connolly kindly supplied this picture.

Local roadworks bulletin

Denbighshire County Council has given details of the following local roadworks:

Berwyn Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights to allow retaining wall works from June 2-6.

A5 Regent Street, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights to allow retaining wall works fromJune 9-13.

A5 near canoe centre Berwyn Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights to allow water works  from June 26-July 2.

Free first aid course up for grabs

An Assembly Member is offering his constituents the opportunity to take part in a free first aid course.

Ken Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, is teaming up with St John Wales to allow 15 people living in his constituency to attend a two-hour course which could help them save someone’s life in future.

The session will be held in a private room at the Wynnstay Arms pub in Ruabon from 1.30pm-3.30pm on Friday, June 27, and places – which must be booked in advance – can be secured now.

Mr Skates said: “St John Wales approached me about putting on the training, and I think it’s fantastic idea which I’m happy to be able to extend to my constituents. There will be a fully qualified first aid trainer present, and it’s a great opportunity for people to pick up potentially life-saving skills.

“The session is open to anyone over 18, and I would encourage community organisations such as playgroups and WIs to spread the word so we can use our full allocation and make the most of it.”
If you would like to take part, email ken.skates@wales.gov.uk or call his constituency office on 01978 869058.

Plas Madoc campaign gathers pace with race night

A pub will host a race night as part of the on-going fundraising campaign to save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre. 

 

The volunteer-run Splash Community Trust will hold the event at the Old Black Horse in Rhostyllen on Friday, June 27, following a recent successful money-spinner. 

 

The well-attended quiz night at Flexsys in Acrefair on Friday (May 23) generated nearly £600, and trust director Greg Ogden is hoping the next few events will be just as fruitful. 

 

Greg, who lives in Trevor said: “The trust would like to thank Keith and Wendy at the pub for contacting us to offer the Old Black Horse as a venue free of charge. It’s a fantastic gesture which will really help us raise as much as possible. 

 

“As well as cash prizes on the night, we will be giving away bottles of wine to the ‘owners’ of each winning horse – it should be another great night. We are now looking for individuals and local businesses to sponsor each of the eight races, so I would ask people to once again show their support for a wonderful community cause.” 

 

Greg added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to quash some of the rumours that Plas Madoc has closed forever and reiterate that the dream is very much alive. We are committed to the centre being once again at the heart of the community and beyond.” 

 

The race night will start at 8pm. To sponsor a race or buy a horse for the night, contact Jenny Miller on 07921 659099 

 

Another upcoming Plas Madoc fundraiser is the fun day at The Duke of Wellington pub in Acrefair on Sunday, June 15, when local band The New Foos will be playing from 3pm. 

 

Greg said: “I’d like to thank Shauny, the landlady, who as well as hosting the event is supplying a bottle of whiskey for a raffle. There will also be a bouncy castle, face painting, a barbecue and a sweets stall, while the other raffle prizes include a night at The Wild Pheasant in Llangollen and a meal for two at The Cornmill.” 

 

Before that, there is also an event at Queen's Square in Wrexham on Saturday, June 7, with two local bands playing – Tiny Wooden Angels and The Uninvited – from 4pm-8pm. 

 

The Splash Community Trust now has a PayPal account through which donations can be made. If you want to contribute, type the web address https://t.co/VlqCYUVROU into your internet browser. Alternatively, you can contact Jenny direct. 

 

The trust is also working on a new website, which is coming soon and will include a ‘donate’ button so supporters can boost the coffers at the click of a button.  

US cruise ship party rides on Llan Railway

* Some of the cruise ship passengers get a close-up

look the steam locomotive Jessie before taking their

seats for the trip to Carrog.

 

OVER 100 passengers from an American cruise liner stopped off at Llangollen Railway yesterday (Thursday) morning.

 

They were from the ship Ruby Princess (pictured right) which was making a one-day call at Liverpool's Cruise Liner Terminal, and were the first escorted coach party of the new season to take a circular tour of north east Wales.

 

Driven over by coach from Merseyside via Mold, Ruthin and the Horseshoe Pass, the visitors arrived at the station in time to join the 10.50am steam train departure from Llangollen to Carrog.

 

After lunch at the Wild Pheasant Hotel in Llangollen, they spent the afternoon at Chirk Castle before heading back to Liverpool in time to sail away on the next leg of a round-Britain cruise which started in Southampton.

Similar visits to Llangollen Station by other tour groups are planned as part of a full programme of escorted tours.

 

George Jones, for Llangollen Railway, said: "The visitors were from various parts of the USA and were quite taken with the Welsh countryside, even on a damp day when the mist was on the hills.

 

“The ride on the steam train through the Dee Valley was a memorable part of their great day out."