Bikefest bosses reassure residents

A member of the team running this weekend’s big biking event in the town has written to residents reassuring them steps are being taken to minimise any disruption caused by the event.

LlanBikeFest 15 will be staged at the pavilion this Saturday and Sunday and is expected to attract bikers from all parts of the UK to see the range of attractions it is offering.

 

In his letter, John Hutchinson of the BikeFest team says: “As you may know, several motorcycle shows have been hosted by the site in recent years, but this a new event, organised by a group of enthusiasts, headed by Llangollen businessman Harry Edwards and supported by the Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club.

“We want to make this an annual, family-friendly festival which will be enjoyed by local people as much as the motorcycling fraternity, and bring real benefits to the Llangollen community.

“We are very much aware of our responsibility to minimise any disruption to local residents and businesses, so noise on site will be strictly controlled and we will be actively urging motorcycling visitors to ride respectfully and responsibly, especially along Abbey Road and through the town.”

Details of attractions and activities at the festival can be found at www.llanbikefest.co.uk and on Facebook, but here’s a summary of what’s happening on site:

Date	Time	Activity
Friday, July 31st	10.30am >	Some activity on site as exhibitors, clubs and traders arrive to set up.
Saturday, August 1st	9.00am – 6.00pm	First day of show. 11.00am official opening by Mayor of Llangollen and celebrity guests. Trials riding and stunt displays throughout the day. Some live music inside the Pavilion. Commentaries over PA system.
Saturday, August 1st	7.30pm – 12.00	Main showground closed. Live music inside the Pavilion only.
Sunday, August 2nd	9.00am – 5.00pm	Second day of show, including trials riding and stunt displays throughout the day. 11.00am – 2.00pm: Pre-65 trials bikes visit and leave site. Some live music inside the Pavilion. Commentaries over PA system.
Sunday, August 2nd	5.00pm – 10.30pm	Exhibitors, clubs and traders leave site.

Organisers say all vehicles will use the main entrance and the town end entrance will be pedestrian only.

AM wants young people to apply for bus scheme

Ken Skates AM is encouraging young people in his constituency to register for a new Welsh Government scheme which will give them a third off bus travel from September.

The Welsh Young Persons Discounted Travel (WYPDT) programme will help people aged 16-18 cut the cost of accessing education, training and work, as well as all other journeys.

Bus users are being encouraged to register for the scheme via gov.wales/mytravelpass (English) or llyw.cymru/fyngherdynteithio (Welsh), which will enable them to receive discounted fares on all local services and TrawsCymru journeys throughout Wales.

Mr Skates, the Welsh Labour AM for Clwyd South, said: “This is great news for -16 to 18-year-olds and shows the importance the Welsh Government places on helping young people to access opportunities such as training and employment.

 

“Travel costs can be a real barrier for young people and sometimes stop them getting a job or gaining the skills they need to find work. This scheme will help change that by making it cheaper and easier for them to get about.

 

“I would encourage all eligible teenagers in Clwyd South to register.”

Mr Skates added: “This is yet another Welsh Labour policy aimed at helping young people. We’re helping them find work through Jobs Growth Wales and we’re helping them study through the continuation of the Independent Living Fund – which the Tories have axed in England – and capping tuition fees, and now we’re helping them save money on travel.”

Search is on for young heroes

A top children's TV producer is spearheading a search for young heroes.

 

Nia Ceidiog is fronting the campaign launched by the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham to find Summer Stars who deserve a big pat on the back.

 

The winners will be honoured with their names being inscribed at a Hollywood-style Walk of Fame at the shopping centre.

 

BAFTA winner Nia, who was brought up in Coedpoeth and went to Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, wrote the original Fireman Sam stories in English and Welsh and has a long list of credits including the popular series, Something Special, for CBeebies.

 

Nia was delighted to back the Summer Stars initiative that's being organised to coincided with the children's activities at Eagles Meadow over the summer holidays.

 

The activities will include visits by popular television characters like Paddington on August 4, Shaun the Sheep on August 11, Spongebob Squarepants on August 18 and The Gruffalo on August 25.

 

The winning  Summer Hero will receive a £25 voucher from The Entertainer toy shop, a family tickets for Tenpin and the Odeon and a voucher for a family meal at Frankie and Benny's worth £50 and a voucher worth up to £30 from Nando's. Meanwhile, the runner up will receive family tickets for the Odeon and Tenpin along with a voucher for a family meal at Frankie and Benny's worth £50.

 

Nia explained they qualities the judges would be looking for.

 

She said: "Maybe they look out for an elderly neighbour or play an important role in their local church, community centre or youth club. Or maybe they are a rising sports star.

"Whatever their shining example to their peer group is, we want to hear about it."

 

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths is also backing the idea.

 

She said: “I think the search for Summer Stars is a great idea and could help give some local youngsters the boost they need.

 

"There's bags of talent among the youngsters of Wrexham and I feel sure there will be some very worthy nominees.

 

"I would urge everyone to have a good think about the young people in their communities who deserve a pat on the back either for the work they do, the troubles they have overcome or for simply being a good example to their peers and get nominating now."

 

Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley said: “It may be that the young person you know raises money for charity on a regular basis or volunteers to help people in their neighbourhood.

 

“Perhaps they play an active part in their local church or youth centre. Or maybe they are a rising sports star who is dedicated beyond their years to their training.

 

“Perhaps they have battled illness with bravery and good humour. Whatever their shining example to their peer group is, we want to hear about it.”

 

* To enter a young person you know, aged 11 and under, please email a short description of the nominee along with your contact details, including a daytime telephone number, to ceidiog@ceidiog.com Entries should be received by Friday, July 31.

Weather forces Fringe finale into Town Hall

Due to the grim weather forecast the Fringe Finale with Claudia Aurora this evening (Sunday) will now take place in Llangollen Town Hall.

A Fringe spokesperson said: "The persistent rain will make it impossible to set up the event  - and miserable to watch it - at the Valle Crucis Abbey.

"Apologies for any inconvenience caused."

Pavilion hosts toy and train sale

Llangollen Pavilion is to host the next  annual Toy & Train Sale on Saturday August 15, between 10.30am and 3pm.

According to organiser Chris Dyer, this is the only event of this type at the venue  in 2015, although he says arrangements are well in hand  for another similar show next year.

Mr Dyer said: "The Pavilion at Llangollen has always proved a big hit with the public in recent years and the unique atmosphere helps to create a special day alongside all of the many attractions on offer at this fine inland resort.


* Llangollen Pavilion.

"The venue boasts an excellent in-house cafe and the nearby Llangollen Railway station is within easy walking distance along Abbey Road and  will  be operating a good service throughout the day.

"A trip on this line should not be missed under any circumstance and therRailway has recently been extended to Corwen. 

"There is ample free parking at the venue and access is level and easy whilst a footpath links the Toyfair with the station and the town."

He added: "Llangollen  attracts a great range of traders from  all over Wales and England and a wonderful array of stock is always available  from all the big names such as Dinky, Corgi, Matchbox, EFE, Tri-ang, Hornby, Lima, Wrenn, Bachmann etc.

"In the current economic climate, prices have never been keener and it is an ideal time to build up collections at budget prices. Traders are also very keen to buy and to exchange so do raid your attics and  bring along any of your surplus items."

A sister event,  the Oswestry Toy & Train Sale, will be taking place at the Show-ground, Oswestry,  on Saturday October 17. 

* For more information, call 01643702757 or 07966 694579, or go to the website www.chrisdyerfairs.co.uk 

Yetis to gather in Llan

* Yeti cycles have a cult following.

Riders from the UK are expected to attend a gathering for owners of Yeti cycles to be held in Llangollen on August 8 and 9.

The race-bred brand has a cult like following and the yearly 'tribe' gathering continues to attract Yeti fans from a wide area who travel to take part in the meet each year.

The 2015 gathering is set to take place on the trails around both Llangollen and Llandegla, with two days of riding available on both natural and trail centre tracks.

Based at the Abbey Farm caravan site, Saturday will see riders have the option of participating in either one or two guided rides taking place throughout the day.

Both rides will head out around the natural trails of Llangollen taking in some of the best local singletrack on offer in the area.

After the ride tribe members will gather at the campsite's main bar area where a selection of Yeti retro bikes will be on display as well as the chance to discuss the day's riding.

Sunday sees the tribe meeting located up the road at One Planet Adventure, Llandegla where riders will have the chance to sample the network of way-marked trails available at their own pace as well as visit the onsite shop and café.

On display will also be a selection of new and retro Yeti bikes as well as Yeti Cycles UK staff.

* For further information, see: Facebook.com/yeticyclesuk

Bikers heading for big Llan show

The Mayor of Llangollen and town crier will welcome thousands of bikers to the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival - LlanBikeFest 15 (www.llanbikefest.co.uk) – on August 1 and 2.

Mayor Mike Adams, who rides a Harley-Davidson Sportster, and town crier Austin ‘Chem’ Cheminais (pictured with LlanBikeFest team members Debbie Rogers and Jimmy Aspinall), will officiate at the opening of the show by seven-times TT winner Mick Grant and Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty MBE, the most successful World Superbike (WSB) racer of all time, at 11.00am on Saturday, August 1 .

Mike said: “LlanBikeFest promises to be an excellent opportunity to attract new visitors to the town – and a great weekend for local people and businesses. We would love to see it develop into an annual festival with even closer links the community.”

Llangollen businessman and show organiser Harry Edwards said: “The level of support for the event in the area and from the biking fraternity is fantastic. We are determined that everyone will have a good time – and we have assured the Mayor that we will be strongly urging visitors to ride sensibly and with respect for local residents and road users.”

The On The Edge Trials Stunt Display Team will be performing amazing feats of skill on both days.

 

Billed as the world’s best stunt riders, the team is led by Jack Challoner and Martin Crosswaite, who between them have won multiple British, European and world trials championships.

 

On Sunday, August 2, more than 100 classic trials machines will compete in a stage of the Northern British Bike Pre-65 Trials Championship (NBBC), as part of a championship round hosted by Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club.

Other attractions will include a TT race bike simulator, live bands, a Saturday night party,  vintage funfair, face-painting for kids of all ages by Glitterbugz and the opportunity to meet and handle some beautiful birds of prey with Rockcliffe Raptors. 

The Llangollen site has previously hosted successful bike shows – the last in 2011 – but LlanBikeFest 15 is being organised by a new team of local motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Harry.

Follow the event on Twitter at @llanbikefest and Facebook at Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival.

Book tickets and stands online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk or contact the festival office at 07960 693398 or office@llanbikefest.co.uk.

Bike event organisers reassure residents

Organisers of a major motorbike event to be staged in the town next weekend have written to residents assuring them it will do all it can to minimise any disruption it may cause.

LlanBikeFest 15 will be staged at the Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2 and is expected to attract thousands of biking enthusiasts from across the UK.

John Hutchinson, from the organising team, says in his letter to residents: “As you may know, several motorcycle shows have been hosted by the site in recent years, but this a new event, organised by a group of enthusiasts, headed by Llangollen businessman Harry Edwards and supported by the Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club.

“We want to make this an annual, family-friendly festival which will be enjoyed by local people as much as the motorcycling fraternity, and bring real benefits to the Llangollen community.
“We are very much aware of our responsibility to minimise any disruption to local residents and businesses, so noise on site will be strictly controlled and we will be actively urging motorcycling visitors to ride respectfully and responsibly, especially along Abbey Road and through the town.”

Details of attractions and activities at the festival can be found at www.llanbikefest.co.uk and on Facebook, but here’s a summary of what’s happening on site:

Date	Time	Activity
Friday, July 31st	10.30am >	Some activity on site as exhibitors, clubs and traders arrive to set up.
Saturday, August 1st	9.00am – 6.00pm	First day of show. 11.00am official opening by Mayor of Llangollen and celebrity guests. Trials riding and stunt displays throughout the day. Some live music inside the Pavilion. Commentaries over PA system.
Saturday, August 1st	7.30pm – 12.00	Main showground closed. Live music inside the Pavilion only.
Sunday, August 2nd	9.00am – 5.00pm	Second day of show, including trials riding and stunt displays throughout the day. 11.00am – 2.00pm: Pre-65 trials bikes visit and leave site. Some live music inside the Pavilion. Commentaries over PA system.
Sunday, August 2nd	5.00pm – 10.30pm	Exhibitors, clubs and traders leave site.

 

Operatic's Young 'Uns to perform Honk! next year

* Members of The Young 'Uns during their performance in the RAFA Club. 

LLANGOLLEN Operatic Society’s junior section, The Young ‘Uns, has announced that its next show will be the musical Honk!

With music by George Stiles and book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, it is based on the story of The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson.

The recipient of an Olivier Musical Award, this heart- warming show was first performed by The Young ‘Uns 13 years ago and members are now excited about reprising it with a new cast and crew. 

Producer Pamela Williams said: “We are all really looking forward to getting started with this show.

“It’s incredibly funny and is guaranteed to charm all who come to see it.

“We are actively looking for children aged 11-18 who would like to join in the fun, particularly boys, as some of previous members have now left us to move on to university.

“We currently have a waiting list for 6-10 year olds but anyone wishing to join should please still get in touch so we have your contact details for the future. 

“Similarly, we would love to hear from anyone, of any age, who might be interested in getting involved on the production side, designing and building the set, organising and making costumes or helping in some other capacity. It’s always great to get new faces on board.” 

Honk! will be performed at Llangollen Town Hall from February 4-6 next year.

Over the past five weeks, members of The Young ‘Uns production team, assisted by friends of the society, have run a series of workshops for children aged 6 to 11 years, with the aim of developing performance skills and building confidence.

The workshops included drama games, group story telling through mime, character development and singing and culminated with a performance of songs and more for family and friends on the evening of Monday July 13 at Llangollen RAFA Club. 

Every child was rewarded with a certificate for their teamwork and commitment.

The team involved in the workshops and performance included Pamela Williams, Dee Smith, Helen Belton and Alison Jarvis.

Adventure centre marks 10th anniversary

New buses out of Llan launched

The Welsh Liberal Democrats’ Young Person’s Concessionary Bus Fare scheme for 16, 17 and 18 year olds will be launched in September 2015, it has been announced today at the same time as new T3 buses linking Llangollen and Corwen to Barmouth are launched – a route saved by local campaigners.

 

From September nearly 3,500 young people in Denbighshire will receive a one-third discount on all of their journeys by bus, including the TrawsCymru network of longer-distance services.

 

In September 2014 the Welsh Liberal Democrats agreed to allow the Welsh Government’s annual budget to pass in exchange for funding for a range of key Welsh Liberal Democrat policies, including almost £15m for a Young Person’s Concessionary Bus Fare scheme.  The scheme will be available to 112,000 16-18 year olds in Wales.

 

North Wales’ Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Aled Roberts said: “We used our influence in the National Assembly to ensure young people will have their very own bus pass. 

 

"Because of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, people aged 16-18 will now have the help they need to take advantage of work and training opportunities on offer.

 

“In North Wales 24,363 16-18 year olds will be able to travel using discounted fares. Once again we have shown that a vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats is a vote for Lib Dem polices to be put into practice.

 

“As always, we see today a Welsh Labour Government trying to claim credit for a policy they have been forced to implement. 

 

"Let us be in no doubt, this excellent scheme is only becoming a reality because of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.”

 

He added: “I would also like to welcome the new T3 buses – a route that was only saved as result of local campaigners collecting signatures for an Assembly petition when Arriva Buses had proposed that it be cut – a campaign that was supported by myself.”

Excellent prognosis for Eisteddfod says new chairman

 

* New Eisteddfod chairman, Dr Rhys Davies.

 

A doctor who's taken over the helm of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod says the prognosis for the future of the iconic festival is excellent.

 

Dr Rhys Davies was elected chairman at an extraordinary general meeting succeeding Gethin Davies who has stepped down after many years' service.

 

During this year's event a £70,000 appeal was launched to cover predicted losses due to disappointing ticket sales - and more than £40,000 has rolled in already.

 

Planning for next year's event is underway and classical singing sensation Katherine Jenkins has been announced as the headline star of the opening night when she will perform all the arias from the opera, Carmen.

 

Rhys, 59, a well-known local GP in Llangollen like his father before him until his recent retirement from daily practice, said: “In medical terms I’d say that the Eisteddfod is in recovery and the prognosis is excellent.

 

"We're very much looking forward to our 70th Eisteddfod next year and it's shaping up to being one of the best ever."

 

Born and bred in Llangollen where he still lives, Rhys says he has been coming to the annual festival every year since he was a “babe in arms”.

 

His late father, Dr Jack Davies, practised as a GP in the town for 30 years from 1955 and for many years the family home was just on the edge of the Eisteddfod field at Dolafon Villas, close to the old Cottage Hospital.

 

Rhys, who now lives with his family at Pentrefelin House since his parents passed on in the mid 1990s recalled: “We were so close to the field at Dolafon that we could just step out of our garden and into the Eisteddfod.

 

“From being a little boy I volunteered at the festival, as a messenger, programme seller, an usher and steward.

 

“University and my job took me away from the area for some years but I still returned each year for the Eisteddfod until I returned to live and work Llangollen in 1984 – eventually becoming senior partner at the local GP practice.

 

“In those days we used to provide medical cover for the festival but we haven’t done that for some time now.

 

“I became a member of the grounds committee and eventually its vice-chairman.

 

“Recently I was co-opted onto the board of the Eisteddfod and earlier this year I became vice-chairman.”

 

Rhys added: “I’m taking over as chairman from Gethin Davies following his retirement. Gethin has done an excellent job.

 

“With our well reported financial problems I know it’s not the easiest time to be coming in as chairman but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

 

“To ensure that Llangollen goes from strength to strength, I’ll be working very closely with our chief executive, our musical director, the standing board and, crucially, our small army of 800 volunteers without whom the Eisteddfod just couldn’t happen.

 

“We have a three-year plan and we will also be working with the Welsh Government and other organisations to obtain further financial support.

 

“The appeal we launched just before this year’s festival has already had a good response and we have lots of other ideas for raising money.

 

“The response we’ve had from our volunteers has also been amazing and very humbling for me.

 

"The announcement of Katherine Jenkins as the star of our opening night has caused a huge amount of excitement and tickets are selling like hot cakes - I'd advise anybody who wants to be there to buy their tickets as soon as possible."

 

Rhys, who is married to Ann, a nurse, and has a grown-up son and daughter, stressed that conditions under which the Eisteddfod had to operate were very different now to its early days almost 70 years ago.

 

He said: “Back in 1947 when the Eisteddfod was first held there wasn’t anything else like it.

 

“But over the years things have changed and we now face stiff competition from many other festivals in terms of attracting competitors, the very best performers from around the world and audiences. We need to market the festival afar, but also to potential audiences within an hour or so of Llangollen.

 

“However, we have to go in the face of that competition and continue to secure the future for what is a truly unique festival.

 

“I will be doing my very best to see that happens so that the magic of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod lives on for many generations to come.”     

Red tape is "strangling" Fringe claims director

*Town Mayor, Councillor Mike Adams, cuts the tape to open this year's Fringe Festival.

A DIRECTOR of Llangollen Fringe claims council red tape is "strangling" the popular annual event.

Graham Timms says that despite the festival, currently in progress at various venues in the town, bringing £150,000 into the local economy, its success is being hampered by both the town and county councils.

And Graham Timms believes that without more support he does not see how it can survive.

The Fringe includes music, comedy, theatre, dance and workshops.

Over the past two decades big names who have taken part include Lesley Garrett, Rhys Ifans, The Damned, Cerys Matthews,  Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Juan Martin, John Cooper Clark and Will Self.

Mr Timms said: “Denbighshire County Council and Llangollen Town Council are strangling the Fringe Festival by their inflexible attitude and the rigid enforcement of minor bylaws.

“We always try to make the town feel special during the festival with street art, banners and posters, but this year we have been told by Denbighshire that we cannot  attach anything to their  - or is it our - street furniture.

“This led to the near invisibility of our promotion in the town in the previous week, whilst the international eisteddfod was held, and a resulting loss of ticket sales.

“We were told that signage on the approach roads had to be placed in less prominent positions and attached to trees instead of street furniture.  

“For the last few years, whilst our festival has been growing, signs have been attached to lamp posts to promote the Fringe Festival. I understand that regulations are necessary, but in this instance it is strangling the fringe.”

Mr Timms added: “We ordered hundreds of pounds worth of publicity and signage and Llangollen Town Council told us that nothing was permitted to be attached to the outside of the town hall because it is a listed building.

“We’ve wasted money on publicity that cannot be used and we’ve lost vital income as a result.

“After the first day of this year’s festival we were contacted by Llangollen Town Council to remove our professionally installed lighting in an exhibition in the town hall entrance and replace it with fluorescent lighting and be charged for the privilege.

“Even though the four directors of the not-for-profit festival are financially liable for any losses and I personally feel that we are risking too much as individuals without getting any flexibility from the town hall, who see us just as an income stream or the county council who have to employ enforcement officers to check we haven’t put any signs up.”

Mr Timms went on: “The Fringe brings £150,000 into Llangollen’s economy, according to formal events impact calculations submitted to the Arts Council of Wales. Unless we get more support, I cannot see how we can survive.

“In its 18^th year, the Fringe currently has the most ambitious and expensive programme ever.

“I urge local people to come and support the huge range of events that are on in the town to ensure the festival’s continued success.”

Clerk to Llangollen Town Council, Gareth Thomas, said: "It is correct that the Town Council doesn’t allow fixed banners on the Town Hall as it’s a listed building, and this has been a policy approved by the Town Council in consultation with the Town Hall Management Group and the Friends of Llangollen Town Hall since June 2014. 

"The purpose was to stop the proliferation of banners that were being fixed to above the front entrance of the Town Hall which were detracting from the appearance of the listed building.

"However, the Friends of Llangollen Town Hall are looking at a new system of vertical banners to identify the main entrance of the building that will be available to other users.  Given the status of the building these have to be designed appropriately and must not detract from the quality of the listed façade.

"This has not prevented the weekly Country Market, the Twenty Club, The Llangollen Operatic Society or The International Musical Eisteddfod from adequately promoting events in the Town Hall, it is simply a matter of using appropriate banners that do not require permanent fixings attached to the walls of the Town Hall.

 

"In respect of the comment, `After the first day of this year’s festival we were contacted by Llangollen Town Council to remove our professionally installed lighting in an exhibition in the town hall entrance and replace it with fluorescent lighting and be charged for the privilege,' this is not the case.

"Contact was made with the fringe as somebody had placed plastic film over the Town Hall lights in the foyer and under the upstairs balcony and had disconnected one set of lights.  Hirers should not interfere with the fixtures of the Town Hall and the initial thought was it had been done by the technical team of the fringe. 

 

"This however has proved to be wrong as the works were undertaken by another user associated with the Fringe, who has rectified the situation and has apologise for interfering with the Town Hall's fixtures and fittings.

"The Town Council clearly supports the Llangollen Fringe, but equally it has a responsibility to manage its assets to ensure that the fabric of the building is maintained to a high standard given the significance of the Town Hall, and its designation as a listed building, in the centre of the town’s retail area."

A Denbighshire County Council spokesperson said: "The council understands that the fringe festival is important for Llangollen, and we are therefore happy to work with the organisers on an agreed signing layout.   However, the council also has a duty to make sure that road users and pedestrians can use the highway safely, and we these two objectives can sometimes be in conflict with each other.
 
"We are keen to support community events like Llangollen Fringe. We recognise that running an event is a very complex process and we need to make sure we are providing easy to access, clear guidance on publicising events.  We have therefore set up a toolkit to help advise event organisers to make sure the advice and guidance is crystal clear for people."

Play gives insight into the lives of Llan's Ladies

 

 

* Caroline Anthonisz, left, and Paula Sutton as Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby.

 

A PLAY specially written for the town’s Fringe Festival provides a fascinating and thoughtful insight into the lives of the famous Ladies of Llangollen.

The one-hour drama, penned by Wrexham playwright Peter Read, was given added poignancy as it was performed earlier this evening in the open air within the grounds at Plas Newydd where the couple lived together for over 50 years.

The exact nature of the relationship of Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Elizabeth Butler is central to the piece.

Were they living together as “lovers” in the sense of the term we accept today, or were they simply two women who loved each other for companionship and out of mutual admiration – a meeting of minds rather than bodies?

Thankfully, to help preserve the question mark which has hung over them for the past couple of centuries, the truth of the matter isn’t explored too deeply.

Instead, we see the frantic flight of this aristocratic duo from their native Ireland – where perhaps loveless marriages and a life of strict conventionality awaited them – to the Vale of Llangollen where their idyll was frequently buffeted by a lack of funds, untrustworthy servants and spats with the neighbours.

It is a credit to Peter Read’s dramatic abilities and a talented eight-strong cast that a decent-sized audience got a real flavour of what life was like for this rather odd couple.

Caroline Anthonisz and Paula Sutton were highly believable as Butler and Ponsonby respectively.

The fictitious modern-day couple – a playwright called James and a writer of coffee table books called Anna visiting Plas Newydd for research purposes - whom the author uses a device to tell the tale, are thoughtfully played by Joe Scatley and Megan Wroe.

And there are some neat cameos in various supporting from David Edgar, Andrew Welsh, Lizzie Clifford and John Clifford.

Sarah and Eleanor the Play will be performed again at Plas Newydd tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7pm.

* For tickets, see the Llangollen Fringe website at www.llangollenfringe.co.uk, or get them at the Fringe desk at the entrance to the Town Hall, or at Plas Newydd on the night.