The day last the last train ran through Llan 50 years ago

* Llangollen GP Dr Rhys Davies, as a young boy, waits to board the final passenger train to run through Llangollen 50 years ago.

* Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, the fireman on the last

 train through Llangollen, returned the station to meet the crew

of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

 

To mark the 50th anniversary today (Friday) of the day the last passenger train ran through Llangollen before the service fell victim to Dr Beeching's axe, llanblogger brings you this special feature prepared with the help of Llangollen Railway's George Jones ... 

THE last train through Llangollen on the Ruabon to Barmouth line ran on January 16, 1965.

And to mark the 50^th anniversary of the momentous event George Jones of Llangollen Railway, who remembers it very well, has been looking back to when Dr Beeching’s infamous axe fell on the passenger service.    

He recalled: “The Ruabon to Morfa Mawddach/Barmouth line was listed for closure in a report published by the British Railways Board (BRB) in 1963, entitled The Reshaping of British Railways.

“This was at a time when Dr Richard Beeching was chairman of the BRB having been brought in from ICI by the Minister for Transport, Ernest Marples.

“The decision to appoint him followed a statement by Harold McMillan, the then Prime Minister, in March 1960 to the House of Commons, when he said: `First the industry (i.e. railways) must be of a size and pattern suited to modern conditions and prospects. In particular, the railway system must be remodelled to meet current needs, and the modernisation plan must be adapted to this new shape.’

“This was at a time when the British Railways operating deficit had reached £86.9m rising to £135.9m when interest and other charges were added and was causing popular national concern.

“The report and its conclusions were handwritten by Dr Beeching, with financial information added, but nowhere does his name appear in the document. Despite this it is popularly known as The Beeching Report.

“Whilst Dr Beeching might be seen as the ‘axeman’ in the eyes of the public and the popular press, it is generally accepted now that the ideas set out in the report to reshape British Railways were sound, even if some of the individual line closures were questionable on the basis of the limited information available on which to make the decisions.

“A continuing criticism of the report is that it gave no consideration to future population growth and economic expansion of certain areas.

“The estimated annual loss for keeping the line open, as quoted at the TUCC Objectors meeting, was - operating cost £152k less revenue £47k - £105k a year plus £93k for track renewals in future years.

“The original date for closure was set as November 23, 1964 but delayed due to the need for Crosville to arrange the bus service.”

George added: “Objections to line closures were to be made to the Transport Users Consultative Committees and would only be accepted for cases of hardship resulting from the closure.

“Due to the absence of other public transport along the length of the line west of Llangollen, the objections of hardship were accepted and recommended to the Minister.

“However, the result was to arrange for the Crosville bus company to provide a rail replacement bus service along the line of route to allow for its closure. This was delayed until such time as Crosville could acquire the additional vehicles to operate the new route as the X94 from Wrexham through to Barmouth.

“When the vehicles were available the line’s closure was set for January 18, 1965, effective from Saturday, January 16, the last day of trains to Llangollen and Barmouth to Bala – the service between had been suspended due to flooding in December 1964.

“It was soon recorded that the X94 route was the biggest loss making bus route in Wales.

“Whilst the passenger service was withdrawn in January 1965, the line to Llangollen remained open but only for goods traffic to the yard west of the station until final closure in April 1968.

“This situation was maintained despite the town pleading for excursions to be operated to the station during Eisteddfod week.

“The railway was then dismantled in its entirety and Llangollen station became derelict for the want of agreement for it to be redeveloped.

“It was only after 10 years disuse that the preservation scheme took hold and returned it to use from 1975. Without the railway venture taking off the site would likely have been cleared and a notable feature of the Llangollen scenery would have disappeared.

“Many people who come to the heritage railway today to enjoy the heritage line and lament the line’s closure say it should have been kept open.

“Had it been retained the line would have been severely rationalised and probably only the main stations – Llangollen, Corwen, Bala, Dolgelley - would remain.

“In today’s world it would be operated by Arriva Trains Wales with a minimal diesel service, not unlike that provided on the Central Wales line.

“There would be no aspects of the steam age heritage as have been recreated by the Llangollen Railway which is what a lot of people come to experience and enjoy as elements of a bygone age.

“As someone once said, Dr Beeching did us a favour in closing the line as it gave us, the volunteers, a reason for recreating it – even if it has taken 40 years to achieve the dream of rebuilding 10 miles from Llangollen to Corwen – with a bit still to do.”

Christopher Magner, a rail enthusiast who travelled from Wirral to record the final day, said: “I was very sad when I travelled on the last train  from Llangollen. It was so frustrating that all the efforts  to keep the route open had come to nothing in the face of officialdom."

How the press recorded the occasion

Under the headline “The Beeching axe fell on the Barmouth line on Saturday night,” this how the Leader of the day recorded the closure.

“Hundreds of people waited at stations to watch the last trains go by.

“Scores bought tickets for momemtos, while others made the trip.

“Yesterday, (Monday 18 Jan) the Wrexham-Barmouth bus service, replacing the train came into operation.

“The first bus left Wrexham at 7.25 was empty. The first fare was picked up at Llangollen.

“Business in the opposite direction was much better.

“The last train from Ruabon left at 5-50pm on Saturday (16 Jan). Normally, only a handful of people travel on it. On Saturday 40 passengers, some with tape-recoding equipment to catch the last hoots, whistles, etc, were aboard. Flashbulbs popped. It was more like an opening than a closure.

“Railway enthusiasts, some having travelled from the South of France, the Midlands and Merseyside had a bitter pill to swallow when the train reached Llangollen.

“Recent floods had closed the Llangollen-Bala section of the line and the rail passengers had to leave the train and travel that section by bus.

“About 100 people were on Llangollen station to see it chug in and unload. It turned round at 7-15 and went back to Ruabon.

“At Bala about 70 people were on the train for Barmouth. Once more, people crowded the station platform which was bare of lamps, seats and other fittings which had been bought mostly by the 70-odd station staff.”

llanblogger helps unearth rare picture

llanblogger has helped the town’s heritage railway unearth a rare picture of the last British Rail train to run through the local station.

We put out the call to our readers and swiftly received a reply from well-known local GP, Dr Rhys Davies.

He sent in an atmospheric black and white picture – thought to be one of only a few in existence – showing himself as a boy along with a group of other travellers gathering by the final train into the station.

Dr Davies said: “The picture is of the last train into Llangollen in January 1965. I'd gone on it with my mother and one of my brothers.

“I am the little lad in the duffle coat looking at the engine after we'd got off. I kept the ticket, but I think it's long gone!”

Railway spokesman George Jones said: “The picture is excellent. The locomotive number looks right – 46509.

“Our expert Chris Magner has studied it and says it is a notable find after all these years.

“The loco is an Ivatt 2 Class as used in the latter days of the line and known as a Mickey Mouse.

“The last train, with driver Fred Taylor and fireman Elwyn Jones, both of Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham, was an historic occasion and a bitter end to a battle to retain train services to the town.”

“As there is no train service planned in January 2015 beyond the 4th, Llangollen Railway will not recreate the event as such on the anniversary date.

“However, finding this picture is very significant as I had been unaware of any photo of the last train leaving Llangollen.” 

Llanblogger editor Phil Robinson said: “I am delighted our news website has been able to help the railway in this way. My thanks to Dr Davies for getting in touch.

“The last British Rail train out of the station was a landmark occasion in the history of our town.”

Last fireman returns to the station

The man who was the fireman on the last British rail passenger train through the station 50 years ago made a sentimental journey back to Llangollen last weekend.

Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, was on the footplate of the 7.15pm from Llangollen on January 16, 1965.

Mr Jones returned the station last Saturday to meet the crew of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

Speaking about the occasion 50 years ago, he said: “My abiding memory of the occasion was thinking. `this will be the last time I do this here’, as I put the water hose into the engine's tender to top up the water level for the journey back to Ruabon.” 

Skates welcomes funding boost for disadvantaged areas

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates has welcomed Welsh Government funding of more than £30m to help people in some of the country’s most disadvantaged areas.

The £31.7m boost was announced recently as part of the Communities First programme and will benefit areas close to Llangollen.

Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates, a member of the Welsh Government, said: “This investment will benefit 52 areas, known as ‘clusters’, and support some of the most vulnerable people in Wales by combating poverty and promoting education, health and economic prosperity.

“These areas will benefit from the funding between April 2015 and March 2016. The announcement includes £1.25m being split between two clusters in the Wrexham County Borough Council area.

“As well as the Caia Park/Hightown patch in my colleague Lesley Griffiths AM’s constituency, the Urban Villages Wrexham cluster in – which includes Pant, Penycae, Plas Madoc, Gwenfro and areas of Brymbo and Cefn Mawr – will also benefit from further Welsh Government support.

“The funding is another boost from the Welsh Government for its work to support Wales’ most vulnerable communities and narrow the economic, education and health gaps between our most deprived and affluent areas.”

Welsh health service gets £40m boost

The Welsh Government is allocating an extra £40m to the Welsh NHS in 2014-15 to help it deal with winter pressures, Finance Minister Jane Hutt announced today.

 

The extra investment, which comes from the Welsh Government’s reserves, follows the announcement that an additional £200m is being allocated to the Welsh NHS in 2014-15.

 

The £40m investment is the equivalent amount for Wales to the additional £700m the UK Government has given to NHS England to help it deal with winter pressures.

The Welsh NHS – like health services across the UK – has experienced sustained pressure over the Christmas and New Year period as a result of increased demand from an influx of sick patients.

Pressures on the NHS in Wales have included:

• GP out-of-hour services experienced their busiest festive period since they were established
• The Welsh Ambulance Service saw a significant rise in the most critically-ill patients using its services, with unprecedented levels of demand over recent weeks
• Hospital emergency departments across Wales have reported an increase in admissions of patients with acute conditions, complex needs and dependency.

Finance Minister Jane Hutt said: “The additional £40m I’m announcing today means that in 2014-15, the Welsh NHS will have received nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in extra investment to deliver high-quality, sustainable health services.

“With an additional £295m being invested in 2015-16, which includes the £70m revenue funding as a result of the Autumn Statement, it means increased investment in our Welsh NHS of more than half a billion pounds over two years.

“This demonstrates our clear commitment to a sustainable NHS in Wales based on the reforms outlined in the Nuffield report.”

Welcoming the additional investment, Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This additional investment in our health service will help our NHS deal with the significant pressures the service is facing – pressures that are being experienced across the UK as a result of increased demand from an influx of sick patients.

“Winter is a very busy period for our health, social care and social services – but our urgent and emergency care services, in particular, are seeing significant extra demand on their services.

“I want to thank staff who are working tirelessly, often in difficult situations, to ensure that those people who have needed urgent and emergency care have received high-quality treatment and services and have been treated with care and compassion.”

Entrants sought for Llan sponsored walk

* Walk the hills around Llangollen in aid of Cancer Research UK.

ENTRANTS are being sought for second Llangollen Round Challenge to be staged this summer in aid of Cancer Research UK.

When the sponsored walk was last held three years ago almost £36,000 was collected for the charity and organisers say they are hoping to beat that amount this time round.

The idea is to walk 35 miles in the hills surrounding the town in either one or two days on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31.

The route will be fully waymarked and marshalled, with checkpoints offering refreshments, and certificates and medals will be awarded to those completing the course.

For more details, call 07905 330788, or visit www.llangollenround.info for further information and an entry form.

Llan's MP slams PM over oil prices

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has criticised David Cameron's Government for failing to regulate energy prices for oil. 

Speaking today (Wednesday) in a debate on energy prices in the House of Commons, she said: "The Government has totally betrayed people living in rural communities on this issue.

"It hasn't even brought oil prices under the scope of the regulator Ofgem.

"It just shows how out of touch the Government is when they think what matters to people living in rural areas is bringing back fox hunting, not everyday issues like the cost of oil."

Today's debate was tabled by the Labour Party who called on the Government to bring forward new laws to ensure energy suppliers pass on price cuts to consumers.
 

Call goes out for Pavarotti memories

* Luciano Pavarotti’s triumphant return to Llangollen in 1995.

An appeal has been launched to commemorate the double anniversaries of the late great opera singer Luciano Pavarotti’s visits to Wales’s top international cultural festival.

 

This year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July will stage an exhibition to commemorate both the 60^th anniversary of Pavarotti’s first visit to the event and also the 20^th anniversary of his triumphant appearance in 1995.

 

The world’s best known tenor burst onto the world stage at the 1955 International Eisteddfod as a slim 19-year-old trainee teacher, part of the Chorus Rossini from Modena in northern Italy which that year won the male choral competition.

 

That is now the coveted Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy, one of the most glittering prizes in the choral world.

* Pavarotti’s first appearance at Llangollen, as part
of Chorus Rossini from Modena in 1955. 

This year it will be decided on Saturday, July 11, the centrepiece of the 69^th Eisteddfod which runs from Tuesday, July 7, to Sunday, July 12, and which this year will feature a special exhibition dedicated to Pavarotti’s two visits to Llangollen.

 

He returned in 1995, 40 years after his first visit and Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “He has been one of the towering giants of music in our time and it all began here at Llangollen.

 

“We have a special link with Pavarotti who graciously agreed to give his name to the Choir of the World Trophy and who never forgot his first visit here and attributed his decision to make music his life to that 1955 success.”

 

Pavarotti, who died in 2007, had joined his local choir because his father, Fernando, a baker, was a stalwart member and the moment the Modena choir won the competition and the visit to Llangollen left an indelible impression on him and he often spoke of it.

 

The experience also helped shape his destiny and he once famously said that if he could win the first prize with a small choir from Modena, he could do anything.

 

He and his father stayed at the home of Alice and William Griffiths, at Beech House, Froncysyllte, for the week of the Eisteddfod and 40 years later Pavarotti would still enquire earnestly about the lady in whose home he had been a guest.

 

He once said of his time boarding with the Griffiths family in Fron: “I remember well the house I stayed in. All the way from Italy, I was exercising my English. But when we are brought to the house in Llangollen and meet the family, I understand not a word.

 

“I did not know there was such a language as Welsh. Even now I think how lucky they don’t write operas in such a language for me to sing. I would be out of work. It is impossible for us Italians to learn.”

 

Pavarotti said many times that he wanted to go back to Llangollen one day and that desire was fulfilled in 1995 when he made a triumphant return to headline at that year’s eisteddfod, marking the 40^th anniversary of his first visit to north Wales.

 

He accepted an invitation to be President of the Day, on condition that his father could share the Day Presidency with him, so for the first and only time, the Eisteddfod had two joint Presidents of the Day.

 

Eisteddfod Chairman Gethin Davies was an usher back in 1955 and admits he doesn’t recall the young Pavarotti. He said: “I kept a diary in those days and was looking through it recently and it just said, ‘Male Voice Choir today and a choir from Italy won’. I think I was more interested in my current girlfriend.

* Llangollen Eisteddfod
Chairman Gethin Davies.

“But being an usher was wonderful for a teenager and I used to volunteer to be there all day and I saw people like violinist Yehudi Menuhin and the great Bulgarian bass Boris Christoff.

 

“I was chairman by the time Pavarotti came back in 1995 and I remember he came on waving his handkerchief and he was great and sang some marvellous stuff, including one of his own composition.

 

“I watched it recently as they still show the performance on Sky Arts occasionally and he was quite magnificent.

 

“He was a very genial man but just like all the greats there was an inner steel to him as well.

 

“I do recall that the day he was Day President on the Friday it was the only time I have seen the marquee packed for the Day President’s speech as people usually use the opportunity to slip out.”

 

That Friday Pavarotti fought his way to the stage through adoring crowds to tell a packed house: "Forty years ago, my God it seems to be just yesterday for me. I have done so many things. 

 

“I always say that to the journalists when they ask me what is a day more memorable in my life, and I always say that it is when I won this competition because it was with all my friends. With me at that time there was a person that I would like to have the privilege to introduce: my Father.”

 

To tumultuous applause, Fernando Pavarotti walked on stage to join his son, and Pavarotti Jnr declared: "He is stronger than me he has a voice more brilliant than mine - at least that’s what he thinks.”

 

His father, who spoke no English, then came on stage and charmed the audience by putting his hands together and bowing to them with a beaming smile on his face.

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “We would very much like to stage an exhibition to commemorate the link with Pavarotti and we have been in touch with the Pavarotti Foundation in Italy to see if they can play some part.

 

“We would also like to hear from people who may have memorabilia or their memories of Pavarotti’s visits to the Eisteddfod and who would be happy to loan them to us for the exhibition.”

 

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

 

If you have memorabilia or memories of Pavarotti at the Eisteddfod please contact Alistair Syme at Ceidiog Communication on 01824 703073 or at alistair@ceidiog.com

Tourism forum invite goes out

Tourism businesses in Llangollen are being invited to send representatives to a meeting of the Denbighshire Tourism Forum in February when the priorities for the second year of the county's Destination Management Plan will be discussed.

Organisers say there will also be an opportunity for businesses to network, share ideas and receive an update on tourism-related activity in Denbighshire.

The  forum will take place at the Oriel House Hotel, St Asaph on Wednesday, February 25 at 11am, with registration starting at 10.30am.

People interested in attending should register by e-mailing: dcc_tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk or by telephone: 01824 706223. 

Expert backs county's dog fouling campaign

A campaign by Denbighshire County Council to tackle dog fouling in the county has been backed by a prominent vet and specialist in parasitology.

Ian Wright from Lancashire has specialist qualifications in parasitology and has published a number of research papers. He is head of the European Scientific Council for Companion Animal Parasites, UK and Ireland.

Toxocara is a parasite found in a number of animals, including dogs and it can be passed to humans through infected dog mess.

People could potentially suffer a number of effects. The most well-known and recognisable effect is retinal scarring which can lead to damaged vision, but it can also lead to a variety of health issues such as abdominal pain, lethargy and dermatisis.  Infection has also been associated with an increased risk of epilepsy and asthma.

Ian said: "It is vitally important that we drive home the messages about Toxocariasis and the impact it can have on people's health and well-being.

"Whilst the number of cases is low, with only two people per million in the UK diagnosed with health problems, around 2% of the UK population have been exposed to infection, so this is likely to be a significantly under-estimated problem.

"Toxocariasis is easily preventable through regular de-worming of dogs (at least four times a year), picking up dog mess and good hand hygiene before eating and after playing in park and gardens and stroking dogs. The more dogs (and cats) that are unwormed, the greater the risk posed to the public.

"Also picking up dog mess and leaving it lying around in a bag does not help the situation, it needs bagging and binning properly. So I would urge Denbighshire residents to clean up after their dogs and help reduce the risk of health problems.

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager in Denbighshire, said: "The Council is delighted that Ian Wright is lending his support to the campaign.  We have done a lot of work around educating the public about cleaning up after their animals, but some people continue to allow their dogs to foul in public without thinking of the health consequences.

"The health risks are clear, but also the anti-social element is unacceptable.  Denbighshire residents tell us that dog fouling is one of their greatest concerns. We have listened to their concerns and we are trying to change behaviours and encourage people to clean up after their animals".

The Council already had promoted awareness of the problems that dog fouling can create for local sports clubs, with support from former Wales rugby player Rupert Moon, as well as a number of rugby and football clubs around the county.

People can report dog fouling by visiting the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/dogfouling or by contacting the Council, on 01824 706101. 

AM asks police about Trevaline Evans case

An Assembly Member is writing to North Wales Police asking if they plan to re-open the case of Llangollen woman Trevaline Evans who has been missing for almost 25 years.

Ken Skates, the member for Clwyd South who has his constituency office in Llangollen, says he hopes police might still be able to solve the mystery. 

And he believes the public might still be able to help establish what happened to 52-year-old Mrs Evans who disappeared on June 16, 1990.

After leaving a note in her antiques shop in Church Street saying she would be back in two minutes, she was never seen again and her body has never been found.

Mr Skates (pictured right) said: “Mrs Evans’ husband Richard passed away recently, aged 83, without ever knowing what had happened to his wife. It’s a tragic situation.

“North Wales Police have said the case remains open but the investigation is currently inactive.

 

"I’m sure Mrs Evans’ surviving family will never lose hope that they might find out what happened to her, and I would urge anyone who has information which could help to contact police.

“Twenty-five years is incredibly long time, and this is a most unusual case, but of course it’s possible that someone still alive today knows what happened.”

Mr Skates said he would write to North Wales Police to ask whether detectives planned to revisit the case.

Schools invited to design St David's Day flag

Schools across Denbighshire have been invited to join a creative competition to design a flag to commemorate St David's Day.

The competition, being arranged by Denbighshire County Council, invites infant school pupils to get creative and design an A4 sized design (painting, drawing, colouring etc) that would be transformed into a specially created flag to commemorate this special day.

The winning pupil will see his/her design being raised on a flagpole at County Hall, Ruthin, during a special ceremony on Friday 27th February 2015.  The flag will be flown for a few days and once lowered, will be given to the pupil as a memento of their winning design.

Junior school pupils are invited to write a poem about St David's Day.  The winning entry will be read out at the special ceremony at County Hall, and a framed copy presented to the winner at the ceremony.  

The Chairman of Denbighshire, Councillor Brian Blakeley, said: "We want to mark this very important day in the national calendar by engaging with schools and getting pupils to get creative with their thoughts and ideas.

"We have run similar competitions in the past and have been delighted with the response.  We have a lot of creative talent in our schools and we want to nurture that talent further.

"We look forward to receiving the designs and making our winning choices."

Legion branch changes its meeting place and time

* Llangollen's RBL members play a prominent role in the annual Remembrance ceremonies.

LLANGOLLEN’S Royal British Legion branch has changed the venue and time of its monthly meetings in a bid to reinforce its flagging membership.

Early last year, the 92-year-old branch of the national ex-service organisation faced closure due to a drop in support.

But the crisis was headed off when one of its members, John Lawton, agreed to take on the three key positions of chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Now the branch has opted for another major change of strategy to help boost membership.

John Lawton said: “Five members of the branch have been keeping it open for two years, meeting in The Hand Hotel at lunchtime on the first Tuesday of the month.

“One of the reasons given for non-attendance by members was that lunchtime is not convenient as people are working.

“Accordingly, from February 5, meetings will be held at Llangollen RAFA Club on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm.

“It remains to be seen if the promises of attendance are kept.”

The branch, which was founded in 1923 as a gathering point for men who had served in World War One, thrived for years but has recently suffered from falling attendances at meetings.

Crisis point came early last year when the man who had served as both chairman and secretary, Bob Davidson, had to stand down because of ill health.

 

Seeing that there was a real possibility that the branch might fold, treasurer Mr Lawson decided it was time to step into the breach by taking on the three top positions in the branch.

Mr Lawton has previously been secretary of the Historic Warships in Birkenhead, a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadet Corps and treasurer of Llangollen Royal Naval Association.

Air Ambulance picks up £1,200 from big-hearted Llan

The Wales Air Ambulance has benefitted from two cash donations from the big-hearted people of Llangollen amounting to over £1,200.

Members of the organising committee went along to the ambulance's headquarters at Welshpool Airport to hand over a cheque for £1,000, which was the result of funds raised at Llangollen Christmas Festival on November 29.

The second cheque presented was for £209.11 from a quiz evening staged at the Sarah Ponsonby just before Christmas organised by Austin Cheminais, Llangollen's resident town crier and part-time Santa.

*Members of the Christmas Festival committee hand over

the £1,000 cheque to the Wales Air Ambulance.

* Town crier Austin Cheminais, dressed as Santa, presents the £209.11 proceeds from the quiz.

Tidy Town Team has another busy year

* Members of the Tidy Town Team at work near the museum.

A band of dedicated volunteers from Llangollen  Tidy  Town  Team put in a total of 690 hours of unpaid work last year, ranging from litter picking to painting.

The facts about the team’s activities during a busy 2014 are revealed in the latest annual report of the organisation, which was formed in 2006 and currently has a membership of 20 plus a couple of would-be volunteers on a waiting list.

Co-ordinator David Davies says in the report: “Litter clearing activities continue with Dinas Bran Castle Hill, the roadside along by the `Hawthorn’ sculpture, along the Panorama, the sports fields, the wharf area and canalside being annual work locations.

 

“New tasks this year included repairing some and re-varnishing six benches in the grounds of Plas Newydd and cleaning and painting the entrance route to the rear of the Catholic Church.  

“We also applied our `gardening’ skills to the much-overgrown area in the town centre between the Tourist Information Centre and Town Hall and continued vegetation thinning in Riverside Gardens, our sixth year of so doing.  Here we also repaired a picnic table and supplied and installed another new table.

“In Riverside Park we painted railings and carried out some renovation and cleaning of the mini-golf area before releasing our energy on some more Himalayan Balsam.

“We continue to assist at the Rotary Fete and at Christmas erect the town Christmas tree and have a considerable presence on the town Christmas festival day.

“Our efforts have been acknowledged by a Llangollen Civic Society Award this year for `considerable contribution to the appearance of the Town.’

Mr Davies adds: “A big thank you to all our supporters during the year including Llangollen Town Council, Denbighshire County Council, Keep Wales Tidy, Vale of Llangollen Golf Club, Horse Drawn Boats, the Spar Supermarket (Blakemore Foundation) and Kenrick Motors.

“Finally thank you to the members of the team for their 690 hours of voluntary work during the year.”

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies said: “I’d like to pass on to the team my congratulations for a job well done. I applaud them.”

Over 4,000 sign up for garden waste service

A deluge of orders at the start of 2015 means that over 4,000 Denbighshire households have chosen to chosen to continue with garden waste collection service when charges are introduced in April, says the county council.

By Thursday 8^th January some 4,092 households had registered for collections, more than 10% of the households offered the garden waste service.

Some residents even took a break from festivities to arrange their garden waste collection with seven orders being taken on the council’s website on Christmas Day itself.

Denbighshire County Council’s Waste Officer, Alan Roberts, said: “Reaching this point so early suggests we are likely to reach the expected take-up of around 35%, which really helps us plan.

“The council reduced the price of a year’s service by £2 to £22 for those that arrange it by 31^st January to encourage early take-up so we would like to thank every resident who has opted-in, or who is thinking of opting-in, by the end of the month.”

The council is currently processing all the orders received for the garden waste service since 1^st December.

Participating households will be sent a garden waste collection calendar and a uniquely bar-coded sticker to attach to their garden waste containers. The council will start delivering these to households towards the end of January.

Around two-thirds of all orders for the garden waste service have been made using the secure payment system on the Denbighshire County Council website

Alan Roberts added: “I would recommend using the online payment facility if possible. It is available 24/7 so you can place your order whenever it suits you. The number of calls to the Council’s Customer Service team is expected to increase over the coming weeks.”

The online payment facility is available at denbighshire.gov.uk/gardenwaste or, alternatively householders can make payment by telephone on 01824 706101 (or 01824 706100 for Welsh speakers) or by calling in at any of the council’s One Stop Shops.

Re-open cottage hospital to relieve A&E pressure says campaigner

* The closed down cottage hospital.

A LLANGOLLEN campaigner has sent out a plea to health chiefs to re-open the town’s cottage hospital to help relieve growing pressure on A&E services in Wrexham.

Martin Crumpton, who led local opposition to the axing of the 137-year-old community hospital in Abbey Road almost two years ago, has written to Dr Peter Higson, Chair of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health board, calling for the facility which now lies boarded up and derelict, to be allowed to open its doors again.

 

In his letter, Mr Crumpton says: “Please announce that you’re going to reopen the cottage hospitals whose closures, albeit not the sole cause of the pressure on beds and directly on A&E, precipitated this crisis.

 

“Everyone in Wales is angry and none more so than in towns like Llangollen whose cottage hospital with its precious beds was so foolishly closed and with a demonstration of extreme incompetence in our case.

 

“Eleven ambulances queued at Wrexham Maelor A&E is not a record – I’ve previously counted 16 on my way from a routine appointment – but now this is happening consistently and regularly.

 

“Increasing throughput by discharging patients prematurely and are borderline unsafe discharges in many instances will not be tolerated any longer.”

 

Mr Crumpton adds: “We are particularly hard-hit by your board’s decision to move our GPs to a vehicle-only, out-of-town location and now our access to the Maelor admissions is almost impossible. 

“Please respond with a statement I can give to the people of Llangollen to explain why there is little or no primary health care in North East Wales and exactly how, and within what timescale, you intend to restore it.”

 

A planning application was submitted last year for the Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd housing association to build six new homes on the site of the cottage hospital plus a further six on the car park opposite. This is believed to be still pending.

Local woman obtains her doctorate

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies and his wife Laura say they are proud to announce that their youngest daughter is now known as Dr Charlotte Eve Davies, having gained a PhD in Biology.

She attended Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Dinas Bran and obtained a BSc (Hons) in Biology at Swansea University before gaining her PhD in Biological Sciences there.

She has had six papers published and has travelled extensively around the world giving speeches on her speciality.

Cllr Davies says he is especially proud that she attended the local schools in the county and that they have served her well.

An example of Dr Davies’ work can be seen at: http://theconversation.com/competitive-lobsters-are-fighting-it-out-in-uks-first-marine-park-35830

Old King Cole to reign at town's latest panto

Old King Cole is usually such a merry old soul, but he isn’t at all happy when wicked wizard Abanazar steals his magic crown. 

Not even his special pipe and bowl can cheer him up as he makes an appearance in this year's stage extravaganza by Llangollen Pantomime Group.

The show's hero Jack embarks on a mission to retrieve the King’s crown from Abanazar’s clutches and the saga takes him, Rhubarb the Fool, Candy the Dame and three witless fiddlers on a journey to the shores of Loch Ness and the great pyramids of Egypt, before they can all return to Merrivale where Jack’s true love, the beautiful Princess Rose, anxiously waits for him.

Will Jack succeed in his quest to get the crown back and thus win Rose’s hand in marriage?  Will Candy the dame ever return to make sweets for her confectionary emporium, or will she elope with Jock the Scotsman, or even the Egyptian mummy? 

 

Anything is possible in panto land.  Let’s hope it all ends well, or else doom and gloom will persist in Merrivale forever!

The show takes place at Llangollen Pavilion next week, with evening performances starting at 7.30pm (doors open 7pm) on Thursday 15, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 January 2015 and matinee performances starting at 2.30pm (doors open 2pm) on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2015. 

 

Tickets for the panto are now on sale from Gwyn the Butchers and Jades Hairdressers or by phoning 01978 860297. 

 

AM calls for Welsh Government to focus on health service

WITH A&E waiting times for NHS treatment in England currently dominating the news, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood is calling on the Labour-led Welsh Government to start focusing on its own health service, where he says 16.2% of patients - more than double the rate in England - waited longer than four hours in A&E.

 

He said: “Only in Wales, where Labour run the NHS, have there have been cuts to health spending and the performance of Accident and Emergency departments in Wales is worse than in England.

 

“According to the latest available data, A&E performance in England, where  92.6% of patients were seen in time October to December, is the best in the UK.

 

“The data in the other nations lags behind England. In Wales the data from November shows just 83.8% of patients were seen in time. In England the data from the last week of November shows 93.5% of patients were seen in time, almost 10% higher than in Wales. Northern Ireland is performing even worse - just over 80% of patients were seen within four hours in November. In Scotland 93.5% of patients were seen in four hours during September, but comparing the September figures for England and Scotland shows England was performing slightly better.

 

“In England, the Conservative-led UK Government has protected the health budget. In Wales, it continues to suffer the consequences of Labour’s record-breaking cuts. That’s why performance is not on a par with England – and that’s why patients are forced to wait longer for treatment here.”

 

 He added: “NHS Wales is something to be valued and protected, but, despite the best efforts of frontline NHS staff in Wales, patients are waiting longer for NHS treatment than pati ents in England.

 

“Labour should stop trying to score political points and accept that long-term pressures from an ageing population can only be addressed by a long-term plan to invest in the NHS.

 

“Labour’s First Minister would be wise to focus upon his own health service. Figures showed NHS England missed its A&E waiting time target for the last three months of 2014, but A and E waiting times haven’t been met by NHS Wales in over five years, ambulance response times in Wales are at their lowest since 2011, and one in seven people in Wales are on a waiting list for trea tment.

 

“As recently as last week a dozen ambulances were seen queuing outside one Welsh hospital, while this Labour First Minister continues to dismiss Welsh Conservative calls for a cancer treatments fund.”

Sainsbury's reviews plan for Llan store

 

* The Dobson & Crowther site where the new Sainsbury's store is due to be built.

 

Sainsbury’s is reviewing its plan to open a new supermarket in Llangollen, which it says will create 130 jobs.

Despite claims from campaign group Keep Llangollen Special that it would severely impact on the viability of local businesses, the plan to build the 20,000 square foot store was approved by county planners in the autumn of 2012.

Sainsbury’s said later that the supermarket would open sometime this year.

And on the basis of the new store being built, local printworks Dobson & Crowther, whose site off the A5 it is due to occupy, recently moved to a new purpose-built factory at nearby Cilmedw as part of a linked planning scheme.

But just before Christmas a Sainsbury’s executive revealed in a letter to Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism that the local supermarket was part of a general review of new store openings it was undertaking.  

This was confirmed by a Sainsbury’s spokesman yesterday (Tuesday) who said in a statement to llanblogger:  “We are reviewing our plans across a number of supermarket sites, including Llangollen. Once we are in a position to do so, we will update people on our future plans.” 

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies, a strong supporter of the scheme, said: "There are 130 jobs at risk here and contrary to the patronising nonsense put out by opponents, well paid jobs.

"People in our community are looking forward to working in the store. Legally binding Section 106 agreements were part of the planning process and I am sure that Sainsbury's will take all factors in to account if they are reviewing this project."

Martin Crumpton of Keep Llangollen Special said: “While Keep Llangollen Special has no wish to raise false hope, this is a remarkable departure from their [Sainsbury's] recent hard-line position and is encouraging as it means the threat over local jobs – the statistics are that edge-of-town supermarkets destroy on average 176 jobs within a 15-mile radius – it would also safeguard the essence of Llangollen that attracts so many visitors, its distinctive lack of cloned retail chains bearing testimony to the value of our small traders.

“However, even if this turns out to be a false hope and Sainsbury’s go through with constructing it, KLS will continue fighting it until the economics of online shopping and boycotting forces it to close. Our immediate concern will be the remaining jobs at Dobson & Crowther. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

Speaking to the Leader, Ken Skates, Assembly Member for Clwyd South, described the news as “concerning” as he was “anxious to ensure that Llangollen benefits from the promised jobs”.

But he added: “It is normal for companies to review operations in this manner and I will be seeking early assurances that work will not be delayed.”

Major operation to bring Nepalese dancers to Llan

 

* Sue McEvoy and Ben Sawin, of Llangollen International

Musical Eisteddfod, with Todd Lochhead, from Bristol,

and his wife, Lisa.

 

A major operation is underway to bring a troupe of Nepalese dancers from their home in the Himalayas to Wales for next year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

The idea is the brainchild of Bristol man Todd Lochhead whose wife, Lisa, used to run a shop in the Denbighshire town and who has fond memories of its annual cultural spectacular.

 

Todd, a trained accountant originally from New Zealand, is co-ordinating the effort to fly the 34 members of the Rising Culture Group almost 5,000 miles from their base in the ancient city of Bhaktapur, less than 100 miles from Mount Everest and a dizzying 1,400 metres above sea level, to the iconic cultural festival in Denbighshire.

 

He has been a fan of the group’s traditional dance routines for almost 20 years and although he admits it will be a tall order to raise the estimated £40,000 necessary to pay for the trip next July, he hopes that with the help of his friends and contacts around the world and the group’s own determined fundraising efforts it will be possible.

 

Todd, who lives in Bristol where he works as a financial consultant, first came across the dancers when he journeyed to Nepal in 1995 to work as a teacher at the school where the group was formed.

 

He said: “When I went over to Nepal from New Zealand 19 years ago I noticed that everyone there seemed happy and I wanted to find out why.

 

“I heard about a school which had been started in Bhaktapur – it means `city of devotees’ - which is around 10 miles from the capital, Katmandu, and decided to pay a visit there.

 

“Called the Rising English School, it was founded by a man named Kapil Banebepali and his wife Chandika, who is now the principal, and offers lessons to children aged three to 13, many of whom would otherwise have ended up having to go out to work if they had not found some way to get into the school.

 

“The average wage in the area is just 300 to 400 US dollars a year and Kapil’s work with the school opened my eyes about how much can be achieved with so little.

 

“I took a job with him as a teacher and stayed for about a month doing all sorts of lessons including English. The following year I returned and spent another couple of months teaching there.

 

“It was during this time that I first saw the Rising Culture Group performing their traditional and very colourful Nepalese dance routines, the main one of which is the stunning masked dance that has its roots in Hindu culture, and thought they were just fantastic.

 

“The dance group was started by Kapil and is based at the school. He knew the children needed to learn about their own culture as well as getting an education and broke through lots of red tape to make it happen.”

 

Todd added: “As Nepal was in a state of civil war for around a decade from 1996 it wasn’t necessarily safe to go back to Bhaktapur but last October I returned there to see my friends and was invited over again to help them celebrate the school’s 25^th anniversary in February.

 

“I saw the dance group perform on the school stage and realised they are one of the strengths of Nepalese culture.

 

“I remembered the Eisteddfod from the time my wife Lisa ran a small alternative clothing and accessories shop in Llangollen in the 1990s and thought it would be marvellous if the dancers had the chance to come over to Wales and perform in 2015.

 

“I visited the Eisteddfod office in Llangollen Pavilion a few days before the 2014 festival was held and spoke to them about registering.

 

“I then had lots of Skype conversations with my friends in Nepal about them competing.

 

“They had never heard of the Eisteddfod but I told them all about it and sent them lots of pictures and they are very keen to be involved. In fact, they told me they’d love to come to Llangollen.

 

“They are now hoping to compete in three sections, Children’s Folk Dance, Traditional Dance and Cultural Showcase.

 

“We are aiming to bring over a group of 34 people, including 20 dancers aged eight to 16, plus musicians – one of whom is a drum master in his eighties – plus a small number of people to look after the children. 

 

“Raising the necessary funds to make the trip will obviously be difficult for them as I estimate the whole trip could cost at least £40,000 but I believe that if you don’t shoot for the stars you’ll never know. Their `can do’ attitude is exceptional and somehow we’ll make things happen.

 

“They’ll do their own fundraising over in Nepal and I will be asking my business contacts and friends in Bristol and around the world if they are willing to help. In my time I’ve worked in New Zealand, Australia and Amsterdam apart from in the UK.

 

“To get to the Eisteddfod the group will need a hand-up and not a handout and I’m sure we can do it because they have such an inspirational story. It’s my belief that culture isn’t local but trans-boundary.”

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths, Musical Director of the Eisteddfod, said: “This is what the Eisteddfod is all about, bringing together people from all over the world, from different cultures and backgrounds.

 

“It is a very inclusive and international event and what gives it its unique Welsh flavour is our tradition of friendly competition and it is wonderful that we will have dancers from Nepal competing alongside English clog-dancers, Scottish sword-dancers and others from Africa, Europe and China.”

Police theft warning to van owners

North Wales Police say they want to make all owners aware of recent incidents in which vans have been targeted and items stolen from inside.

In a warning issued through Neighbourhood Watch the police say: "It is believed the offenders are using an electronic device which can open the vans without causing damage. 

"We would therefore urge owners to empty your vans of all contents overnight or when leaving the van unattended for a long period of time. Vans have been targeted in Abergele all the way through to Holywell.

"If you noticed anything or anyone suspicious please contact North Wales Police by dialling 101. Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers Wales on 0800 555 111. North Wales Police would like to urge residents to always report suspicious activity to them at the earliest opportunity."

MP welcomes aqueduct report

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has welcomed a report on the future of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct  jointly commissioned by Wrexham Council and the Canal and River Trust. 

 

The report recommends how existing land and buildings within the Trevor Basin should be developed and what facilities should be provided in order to meet the expectations of visitors.

 

The report will be discussed at a  committee of Wrexham County Borough Council tomorrow (Wednesday). 

 

The plan will be considered by the World Heritage Site board at its meeting in February, where decisions will be made on how the delivery is to be taken forward.

Ms Jones said: "It's a massive honour to have a UNESCO World Heritage Site in our locality. That makes our home area every bit as significant as the Taj Mahal and the Vatican as far as international tourism is concerned.

 

"I warmly welcome the fact that Wrexham Council and the Canal and River Trust have commissioned the recent report and that visitor numbers have increased.

 

"What's vital now is that we do everything we can to increase the length of time people stay around here. Ensuring that car parking stays free in the long term not just the short term is one important principle the Council needs to commit to.

 

"Imagine weddings and other major celebrations taking place to the backdrop of a flood-lit Aqueduct. Think of how local businesses could grow if we took on board some of the creative ideas that local people have already come up with for a Marina. Picture Cefn's newly opened historical museum as the heart of an industrial heritage centre. 

 

"Very few places in Wales and the UK have our combination of natural beauty and industrial heritage. The possibilities are endless if we are prepared to think big about how we can develop the Aqueduct area."