The day I (almost) met the Queen

Today, on the day Elizabeth II overtakes her ancestor Queen Victoria as Britain’s longest reigning monarch, llanblogger's Phil Robinson recalls the time he (almost) met her.

During nearly 50 years in local journalism I’ve covered more than my share of royal visits and every one of them has been quite a personal, as well as professional, thrill.

One of these visits happened when Her Majesty came to Cheshire Oaks, near Ellesmere Port, back in the mid-1990s.

At the time I was editor of the local paper and was deeply involved in planning our coverage of this momentous occasion.

We put everything together like a military operation over the course of a week or so beforehand but when the big day finally arrived I found myself at a bit of a loose end waiting at the office for our team or reporters and photographers to return with the hot story.

Actually, it was the first time I’d been out of the “front line” for such as a visit and was feeling more than a little frustrated that my colleagues were out having all the fun while I twiddled my thumbs back at base.

So, using the prerogative of rank, I decided to nip along to the shopping centre and see if I could grab a slice of the action for myself.

When I arrived on the scene it was about half an hour into the visit and the entrance to the shopping parade through which the Queen and her entourage had arrived was still buzzing with activity.

More frustratingly it was also cordoned off by police officers and I knew there was no way I was going to get through without an official pass.

These are issued days before any royal visit and, although I’d ensured that my reporters and snappers assigned to the job all had them safely pinned to their jackets, I was without one. I didn’t need one because I wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the event.

Undaunted, I scurried around to another of the entrances to the shopping parade and found it deserted and unpoliced.

It was vaguely at the back of my mind that if I continued through there I might find myself being arrested or shot but, what the hell, I pressed on with my mission to perhaps get a close-up look at Her Maj.

However, it occurred to me that I was much too late for that as there was not another soul in sight.

As I made my way gingerly along the line of shops – conspicuously without a pass – I eventually reached the entrance to a well-known store selling tea and coffee.

Just at that moment a rather well dressed elderly lady walked out of the doorway and turned in my direction.

For a split second I wondered why a pensioner had wandered into the middle of a royal visit.

Then I realised I was just a couple of feet away from Elizabeth II herself.

Should I turn smartly around and head the other way?

Should I dive into the nearest bushes?

Should I brazen it out and walk right up to her and say something?

Damn it, this was the one and only chance I’d ever have in my lifetime of speaking to my sovereign.

So I took the latter option and walked towards her and when I came face to face with her I said cheerfully: “Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Welcome to Ellesmere Port!”

Completely unmoved, she looked directly into my eyes and then down onto my jacket lapel where the absence of an official pass was glaringly obvious.

She completely ignored my hearty greeting and walked straight past me followed by her retinue who were by this time also out of the shop which they had been visiting with her.

I can’t say I blame her for the snub. As far as she could see I was just some idiot who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.   

I was stunned and a little hurt by my treatment but at least I can say I once spoke to the Queen – even if she didn’t reply.    

Beatriz's new food range in memory of her mother

* Beatriz Albo with one of her tapas meals.

A scientist who swapped the laboratory for the kitchen by launching a cooking sauces brand has won a vital grant enabling her to expand her business.

Dr Beatriz Albo is returning to the lab to develop an exciting new range of Spanish tapas meals and delicious aiolis created in memory of her mother.

Beatriz is planning to unveil the new range at the Hamper Llangollen food on October 17 and 18.

She is looking forward to returning to the annual food festival where her innovative Sabor de Amor products made their debut last year.

“Hamper Llangollen was my first food festival, so it is special to me,” said Spanish-born Beatriz, whose Wrexham business has taken off faster than she could ever have imagined.

The popular event in Llangollen’s Royal Pavilion is recognised as one of the UK's top 10 food festivals.

 

Cadwyn Clwyd has provided financial support over the past few years to ensure the festival's long term viability, this was funded through the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

 

Beatriz has just been awarded a grant to develop her long dreamed of range of tapas ready-meals at the new North West Food development Research Centre (NoWFOOD) at Chester University.

“Facilities there are fantastic, they have everything I need to help my business grow,” said the mum of two who inherited her passion for food from her family.

Her grandparents ran a restaurant in Salamanca, Spain, all their lives. Her mother was also an accomplished cook and, following her death in June, Beatriz has developed a trio of flavoured aioli sauces in her honour.

“I want to name them Elisa, after my mother. I’ve worked on the recipes at home and the family all love them. There’s a chilli flavoured aioli, another to go with paella and the third has hints of lime and mint.”

Beatriz, who lives in Brymbo, trained as a scientist, gaining a PHD and working in food research before becoming a teacher. But her first love was cooking and last year she followed her heart and made it her full time career.

She started Sabor de Amor – which means flavour of love – by producing the traditional sauces she grew up with in Spain and which she continued to cook for her family after moving to Wales. They included Sofrito, a perfect base for paella, salsa brava, tapenade and aioli. All the sauces are completely authentic, have no additives or artificial flavourings.

She said: “They are just natural ingredients which we used all the time when I was a child. People love them because of the pure flavour. There is a food revolution going on.

Consumers are looking more and more for additive free products. They want to experience simple, natural tastes and aromas. I started off producing just two sauces and now there are 12 in my range, demand has grown so fast.”

Sabor de Amor supplies local farm shops and Beatriz also attends events such as Hamper Llangollen, for which she has to work full out to ensure she has enough stock.

“I went to one festival where I sold out in the first day and had to cook more sauces overnight ready for the following day,” she said. “They were so fresh that the jars were still warm as I was selling them.”

She hopes the Sabor de Amor range will soon be available in supermarkets and is using her grant and work in the NoWFOOD lab to help achieve that ambition.

Beatriz does all the preparation, cooking and marketing of the brand herself, with occasional help from her children, Albert, 18, soon to study business management at Lancaster university, and Susana, 11, a pupil of St Joseph’s school, Wrexham. Her partner, Paul Keysell, a graphic designer created the Sabor de Amor brand designs.

Information and tasty recipes can be found at www.sabordeamor.com

Hamper Llangollen chair Colin Loughlin believes this year's festival is going to be one of the best ever.

 

He said: “Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

 

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

 

"The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular - I can't imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting."

 
For more details about Hamper Llangollen 2015 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Witness appeal follows Bryneglwys collision

An appeal for information and witnesses is being made following a serious collision on the A5104 Bryneglwys this morning (Tuesday, September 8).

Four people have been taken to hospital following the incident involving a grey coloured Vauxhall Corsa and a black Mitsubishi Warrior which happened before 5.28am.

Ambulance service attended and the road was closed for a time and diversions put in place which emergency were at the scene.

The driver and two other individuals who were travelling in the Corsa along with the driver of the Warrior have been taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital having sustained serious injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.

The road was re-opened at 8.54am.

Sergeant Nicky Collins of the Roads Policing Unit said: “We are keen to trace anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have seen the vehicles on the road prior to the collision to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit in St Asaph on 101 quoting reference S137307.”

County's statement on refugee crisis

The following position statement has been supported by councillors in Denbighshire this morning, following a discussion about the situation regarding refugees in Syria.

 

The statement, submitted by Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire, reads:

 

“The tragedy of the Syrian refugee crises has touched all of us. Denbighshire County Council is keen to join with the Welsh and UK governments and others to coordinate an approach to fulfil our responsibility and play our part in providing assistance and humanitarian support to those refugees displaced as a result of the war in Syria. This could include accommodating a number of families, with appropriate Government support."

Historic Plas Newydd font gets new lease of life

AN 800-year-old font in the grounds of Plas Newydd, historic home of the legendary Ladies of Llangollen, has been given a new lease of life.

The ornately-carved font, which was originally located at nearby Valle Crucis Abbey, stands within a well-house in the dell behind the mansion, just below a summer house.

* Plas Newydd gardener Neil Rowlands at the revived font.

Despite being a popular spot for visitors it had to be closed by Denbighshire County for around two years due to safety reasons when the whole area became waterlogged and muddy.

Now it has been revived by Plas Newydd’s resident gardener Neil Rowlands using the experience he gained in a previous job in the gardens of Lady Lever at Port Sunlight on the Wirral.

Neil said: “Three springs flow into the top of the dell with the water eventually finding its way down into the River Cyflemen. The the springs had gradually altered course which meant water was dropping onto the pathway linking the summer house to the font making it slippery and dangerous.

“We put in two French drains to divert the flow of water away from the path and the font.

“Now clean water from the springs is being delivered to the font instead of the muddy water which had been going into it.

“It’s now much cleaner and nicer to look at for people visiting Plas Newydd.

“The whole job took about five weeks and was very satisfying to do.”

Kevin Pennington, who is charge of Plas Newydd for the county council, said: “The font project was part of our aim to re-create some of the views within the estate that the Ladies of  Llangollen would have known and loved.

“It’s very important to do this as the house and grounds are an important feature of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of which Llangollen is part.” 

New qualifications launched in Wales

From the start of this year's school term, students across Wales are able to take revised qualifications which the Welsh Government says are specifically tailored to the needs of Welsh learners and businesses.

For the full story, see ITV.com at: http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-09-07/new-qualifications-launched-for-welsh-pupils/

Police boss hunts unsung crime-fighting heroes

A POLICE boss is asking for the public’s help to honour unsung crime-fighting heroes of the community.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC (pictured) has just launched his latest round of Community Awards to recognise people and groups who help police to keep their neighbourhood a peaceful and safe place to live and work and who help in rehabilitating offenders.

And he is inviting members of the public to send him their own nominations for the main accolade on offer, the coveted People’s Award.

This aim of this award is to highlight and honour an individual or community group who have made a strong contribution towards community safety and crime prevention.

It is the only one of the awards which is nominated directly by members of the public using an online form. The closing date for nominations is September 25.

Mr Roddick,  who in his time has served as a police officer, a barrister and a judge, revealed that his inspiration for setting up the awards, which are now in their second year, came from last year’s People’s Award winner, Deana Fisher, who pioneered the successful Gwarched Bermo CCTV project which helps keep Barmouth safe.

The Commissioner said: “I went over to Barmouth with a group of police officers and others to see the system and I recall that a local councillor said to me when referring to Deana, `that woman deserves a medal’.

“That comment inspired me to say that the excellent work done by people like Deana must be acknowledged.”

Mr Roddick added:  “One of the awards I established last year is called the People’s Award. 
“This will go to an individual or group who have made an impact in helping to keep people safe and/or to reduce crime. 

“This contribution may impact the whole area, a local town, neighbourhood or even street, but it will have made a difference to the people living and working there.

“It could be someone who is working to bring communities together to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, or is working with people to deter and reduce offending.

“While I will select most of the award recipients myself in consultation with my office, the People’s Award is special in that it is the only one which will be nominated directly by the public.

“I am therefore asking for the assistance of the people of North Wales to help me select a suitable candidate for this particular award.

“If you know someone in your community who has gone that extra mile to prevent or reduce crime, protect and support members of the community or generally helped to make North Wales a safer place to live and work, please nominate them for the People’s Award. 

“I believe I was the first Police and Crime Commissioner in England and Wales to institute such awards, so North Wales is very much leading the way with this initiative.

“Last year’s awards ceremony was a great success and allowed me to shine a light on the tremendous efforts of some very special people.

“That is why I again decided to host my community awards in 2015.”

The winners of the People’s Award and the other PCC Community Awards will receive their honours in front of police and civic leaders at a presentation on the evening of Thursday, October 22.

Last year’s inspirational People’s Award winner was Deana Fisher who was a key figure in establishing and running the Gwarchod Bermo CCTV project.

For a number of years she has been an active member in the community and spent several years as a town councillor.

She regularly volunteers her time to the project and willingly monitors/reviews the system to help keep Barmouth safe.

The CCTV service relies entirely on enthusiastic and driven volunteers like Deana to operate successfully.

There is clear evidence of a reduction in crime in the area due to her work on the CCTV project.

The member of the public who nominated Deana last year said of her: “She has almost single- handedly transformed our small town into probably the safest place to live in North Wales.”

* To nominate your choice for the People’s Award, go the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s website at www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk to complete and return the online form.  Alternatively you can download the form, complete it and return it to The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Glan-y-Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW, or by email to opcc@nthwales.pnn.police.uk and remember the closing date is September 25.

Llan now has its own WI Calendar Girls

* Posing with a 1935 Standard car loaned by Llangollen Motor Museum

at the Plas Newydd calendar launch are (front) photographer Kim Price

Evans (left) and Valley Girls WI president Gail Ellson (right).

Other calendar girls are behind them.

LLANGOLLEN now has its own version of the famous WI Calendar Girls.

But instead of posing nude like their counterparts in Yorkshire a few years ago, members of the area’s newest branch of the Women’s Institute donned a range of colourful period costumes to appear alongside some famous local landmarks in their 2016 calendar.

And Valley Girls WI are now selling copies with the aim of raising £1,000 to split between Nightingale House and Hope House hospices.

Llangollen-based professional photographer Kim Price Evans, who took the dozen atmospheric images for the calendar, revealed that although her fellow members kept fully clothed for her shoots, the project did stem from a saucy burlesque workshop she and friend Julie Thomas, who are both accomplished dancers, did for the Valley Girls earlier this year.

* An evocative 1940s type scene at Llangollen
Railway is on the calendar's front cover. 

She said: “We went along to a meeting to do the workshop and the idea of doing a calendar came from that.

“We wanted to create something a bit different, so we decided on a calendar showing famous spots in Llangollen including the heritage railway, the Motor Museum, the Chain Bridge, Plas Newydd, Valle Crucis Abbey, the canal and wharf and the International Pavilion.

“We had members posing in each scene and we reckon we have them wearing costumes depicting most of the decades of the 20^th century, which is appropriate as the WI is celebrating its centenary this year.

“The whole thing began in the spring and has taken quite a few months to complete but it was a lot of fun to do.”         

Valley Girls WI was founded in 2013 by a small group of local thirty-somethings who shared a passion for baking, crafting and socialising.

Its president, Gail Ellson, said: “We have a target of raising at least £1,000 from sales of the calendar which will be split equally between our two local hospices.

“But, apart from supporting these great charities, we also want the calendar to be used as a tool to help market Llangollen.

“We’d like to see businesses buying a stock to distribute to their customers and people using them as Christmas or birthday presents for their friends and family.

“We’ve had an initial print-run of 1,000 copies and they’re already selling well, with orders coming in from as far apart as Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Bagshot in Surrey.”

On hand at the official launch of the calendar at Plas Newydd, historic home of the Ladies of Llangollen, was Chris Andrews of the Nightingale House fundraising team.

He said: “It costs £2.8 million a year to run the hospice and most of that must come from local fundraising, so we are incredibly grateful to the Valley Girls for pledging half the proceeds of their calendar sales to us.”

John Matthews, ambassador for Hope House Hospice, who was also at the launch, said: “We need £4 million a year to keep running and what the Valley Girls are doing for us is much appreciated.”

Copies of the calendar are available via Valley Girls’ website at www.valleygirlswi.co.uk, or by emailing: valleygirlswi@outlook.com  

MP calls on councils to accept refugee families

Susan Elan Jones MP has written to the leaders of Wrexham and Denbighshire councils calling on them to accept 10 refugee families in the light of the current refugee crisis.

The Clwyd South Labour MP has asked Wrexham Council leader Councillor Mark Pritchard and Denbighshire Council leader Councillor Hugh Evans if they would agree to accepting 10 refugee families with Government support.

 

She said: "I certainly don't support open access immigration and I think it is vital that there are strong controls in place before we allow refugees to enter our country legally.

 

"However, what we talking about here is a decent humanitarian response to a tragedy of epic proportions. 

"Germany has already taken 35,000 vulnerable Syrians, Canada has accepted 10,000 and Switzerland has agreed to 3,500. It is shameful that David Cameron's Government here in the UK has only accepted 216 people. 

 

"I know that there is strong support for action in our local area. I really hope that David Cameron's Government acts before more innocent victims die. I also hope that Wrexham and Denbighshire Councils will show their support locally."

Update from the doctors' surgery

 

* New health centre ... opening on September 14.

 

llanblogger has been asked to publish the following update information from Llangollen doctors' surgery ...

 

We are pleased to report that, after a week of frustration, the majority of the problems with our telephones have now been fixed and patients can use our main number – 01978 860625 – again.   

 

We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our patients and would like to thank Ken Skates and his assistant David Goodban for their help in resolving this issue with BT. 

 

We are extremely annoyed and disappointed that we have had to resort to getting our Assembly Member involved in this in order to get a satisfactory response from BT.

 

However, our recorded messages are still not working and we are unable to play our usual “out of hours” message for when we are closed. 

 

Can we please make patients aware, therefore, that should you require urgent medical assistant when we are closed (we are open 8.00am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday), please ring the Out of Hours service on 0300 123 55 66.

 

 

We would also like to make patients aware that the date for the opening of the new Health Centre on Bishops Walk has now been confirmed and the Practice will be up and running there from Monday 14^th September. 

 

Further information is contained in the newsletter below and on our website:  www.llangollenhealth.com.  Copies are also available from reception.

 

 

DR A D EVANS & PARTNERS

 

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MOVE TO THE NEW HEALTH CENTRE

 

General Information

 

We will open in our new premises on Monday 14^th September.  Our new address is Canolfan Iechyd Llangollen Health Centre, Bishops Walk, Llangollen, LL20 8RZ.  Our telephone number and opening hours will stay the same.

 

Arrangements with Rowlands Pharmacy

 

The intention is that Rowlands Pharmacy will relocate to the new Health Centre.  At the moment, we don’t know when this will be happening and we have therefore agreed some interim arrangements with Rowlands to minimise the impact on patients. 

 

·       As well as dropping off repeat medication requests at the new Health Centre, patients will also be able to do this at Rowlands Pharmacy on Regent St.

 

·        If you usually collect your medication from Rowlands, you will still be able to do this.  Rowlands will be running a daily collection service from the Health Centre, so that they can collect the signed prescriptions from the GP surgery and have your medication ready for you at the pharmacy on Regent St. Please note – you will need to allow at least 72 hours between requesting your repeat medication and collecting it from the pharmacy.

 

·         Rowlands will provide a home delivery service for house-bound patients. Please contact the pharmacy if you are interested in this service. Their telephone number is 01978 860657.

 

When the pharmacy has moved to the new centre, there are plans in place to implement a drop off facility for repeat prescription requests in Y Capel, Castle St, Llangollen.

 

Online Services

 

We already offer online ordering of repeat medication.  We are now also offering online booking of routine GP appointments.  If you are already registered for online ordering of medication, you will automatically have access to online booking of appointments.  If you wish to register for either of these online services, please ask at Reception or give us a call 01978 860625.

 

Travel to the New Health Centre

We are working with the Community Transport Association Wales and other organizations to ensure patients, families and carers have up to date information on the transport options available. Further information on CTA Wales is available from reception.

 

GHA Coaches operates the number 5 bus service which can take patients from Parade St, Llangollen to the new Health Centre. Currently, this runs from Parade St every twenty minutes - on the hour, twenty past the hour and twenty to the hour.

 

A pedestrian crossing has been installed on the A539 (along the Bishops Walk stretch).

 

New incident of criminal damage to cars

Police are appealing for information about criminal damage to two vehicles parked in Vicarage Road, Llangollen.

A warning message to local Neighbourhood Watch members says this happened sometime between 8pm on Saturday August 29 and 11am on Sunday August 30, with the offenders  causing extensive damage to the vehicles.

This comes after a similar incident in which criminal damage was caused to a blue Renault Clio in the car park of Llangollen Youth Club in nearby Willow Street the previous weekend.

A warning from Neighbourhood Watch, highlighted by llanblogger last Saturday, said this incident is thought to have taken place between 5.30 and 11.23pm on Sunday August 23 with what is believed to have been a sharp implement being used to smash all the windows of the vehicle.

If you noticed anything suspicious, or have any information relating to the Vicarage Road incident, contact North Wales Police by dialling 101 quoting reference RC15132481.

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.

 

WI play takes Town Hall audience by storm

THERE’S much more to the Women’s Institute than jam and Jerusalem.

While the preserves and rousing singing have indeed been its mainstays, the organisation has spent the past 100 years having a major influence on a range of social issues from improvements in public health to questioning the easy availability of pornographic literature to children.

The vital part the WI has played in the national way of life was brilliantly portrayed by members of the Mikron Theatre group at Llangollen Town Hall last night (Thursday) as they staged their play, Raising Agents, with which they are touring the country to mark the institute’s centenary.

Although it came to Britain in 1915 just in the nick of time to help out in the First World War, the WI was actually founded in Canada in 1897 by a woman named Adelaide Hoodless who was desperately looking for a way out of isolation following the death of her child.

To commemorate the centenary playwright Maeve Larkin has come up with a masterful piece of drama which seamlessly intersperses seminal scenes from the organisation’s past with the story of a mythical present-day WI in a make-believe town called Bunnington which is struggling to keep going in the face of dwindling membership.  

It was extremely thoughtful at the same time as being hilariously funny.

A hugely talented four-strong Mikron cast nip in and out of a host of characters, starting with the iconic Mrs Hoodless as she battles male prejudice against the fledgling institute in Victorian Canada.   

Next, we were transported back across the Atlantic to First World War Britain where a manic guest speaker shows queasy members how to help combat the Hun by doing in their pet rabbits to make a nice pie.

Later, we’re on a smoke-filled British station as Mikron uses a backcloth of the famous 1940s film Brief Encounter to portray another important WI moment – when the Ministry of Food allocated sugar to the institute so that branches across the country could produce gallons of jam to help keep up national morale.

Then it was on to the Fifties when the institute faced a new challenge to its survival – rock ‘n’ roll and the disinterest in all things seen as old-fashioned by the emerging beat generation.

Each step of the way along the WI’s long journey we were guided by the incredible versatility of the Mikron foursome who not only acted with a touch a magic but also played instruments from an accordion to a flute to accompany themselves in the specially-written songs which illuminated this wonderful production.

The fact that Mikron, who tour on a narrow boat during the summer and by road in the winter, were invited to Llangollen to perform the piece was down to the area’s own Valley Girls WI whose members were on duty during the evening along with ladies from Llangollen WI who, of course, provided tea and some scrumptious cakes.

Gratifyingly, the Town Hall was packed to capacity with WI groups from across North Wales and even the nearer bits of England.   

And, naturally, at the end we all joined in a chorus of the hymn which has become the WI's anthem - Jerusalem.

 

New ale launched in honour of Katherine Jenkins

 

* Songbird ... brewer Ynyr Jeffreys-Evans, right, and Hamper

Llangollen chairman Colin Loughlin raise a toast to singer Katherine Jenkins.

 

Music loving brewers are launching a new real ale called Songbird in honour of Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins.

 

The special recipe has been produced in celebration of the news that Katherine will headline the opening night of the 2016 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

The new ale will be unveiled by Llangollen Brewery at the Hamper Llangollen Food festival in the autumn.

 

Head brewer Ynyr Jeffreys-Evans says the new brew is blonde and hoppy, but also boasts a fun, sophisticated character, just like bubbly, beautiful mezzo-soprano Katherine, who is currently expecting her first baby.

 

Katherine (pictured above left) announced earlier this year that she and husband, artist, Andrew Levitas, are expecting a little girl later this year.

 

Llangollen Brewery are now hoping they will be able to help ‘wet the baby’s head’ by encouraging Katherine’s legions of fans to toast the addition to the family with a refreshing pint of Songbird.

 

Hamper Llangollen 2015 will be held over the weekend of October 17 and 18 in the Royal International Pavilion.

 

The popular event in Llangollen’s Royal Pavilion is recognised as one of the UK's top 10 food festivals.

 

Cadwyn Clwyd has provided financial support over the past few years to ensure the festival's long term viability, this was funded through the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

 

Llangollen Brewery has already tested the beer out on close friends and family and Ynyr says it has the potential to be one of their best special edition ales to date.

 

He said: “We went for a light, refreshing, medium amber colour, with slight citrus notes in the flavour. It is very much in our traditional style, very hoppy.

 

“We’re thrilled to be unveiling it at Hamper Llangollen 2015, as we so much enjoy exhibiting there.

 

“We’d also love it if Katherine would come and visit us and maybe try a pint herself, when she’s in Llangollen for next year’s Eisteddfod.”

 

The singer has said she will be taking some time off after the baby is born, but expects to be back on stage in 2016 when she will return to Llangollen Eisteddfod for the first time since 2010. Before that she will sing at the Queen’s official 90th birthday celebrations in May.

 

Tickets are already selling like hot cakes for her Eisteddfod concert version of Georges Bizet’s much-loved opera Carmen, the tale of a naive soldier seduced by a fiery gipsy woman. It will be the first time that Katherine will publicly deliver all Carmen’s operatic arias in one performance.

 

Among those planning to be there is Llangollen Brewery owner Steve Evans, who is a big fan of Katherine’s singing.

 

Ynyr, 30, who is Steve’s nephew, said: “He is a big fan and was delighted when we came up with the idea of naming one of our celebration beers after her.

 

"It is the first time we have named a beer after a contemporary personality and who better than Katherine? She has a huge following in her homeland of Wales and is recognised all around the world.”

 

The brewery has been going for five years and is thriving, having produced a core stable of hoppy bitters – Wrexham Borders (3.9%); Llangollen Bitter (4.2%) and Holy Grail (4.3%) – along with a porter – Welsh Black Bitter – and a lager.

 

The brewery also owns four pubs, The Abbey Grange Hotel, where the brewery is based; The Sun Inn, Rhewl; Prince of Wales, Llangollen; and Railway Inn, Pontybodkin.

 

Ynyr, 30, said they regularly produce seasonal, limited edition bitters to add to the core range. Others have included one to celebrate the Six Nations rugby tournament and another, Rail Ale, marking Llangollen’s connection to the steam railway.

 

Songbird will have an alcohol volume of 4.2 per cent, which makes it perfect for the festival audience.

 

Ynyr said: “It’s not too heavy and it’s very refreshing, great for people who like a nice pint in the afternoon. As always at the festival there will be a chance to taste this and our other beers before buying, which means we get valuable feedback from customers.”

 

A previous ale which they launched at Hamper Llangollen 2012 became so popular that Ynyr and Steve decided to include it in their permanent collection.

 

Ynyr said: “There was so much demand for it that it simply made sense to keep it on the pumps. It’s now one of our best sellers. Hopefully Songbird will be just as well liked.”

 

Hamper Llangollen food festival, held annually, is in its 17th year, having become one of the highlights of the UK culinary calendar. The 2015 event will showcase more than 100 local and international exhibitors, along with demonstrations by top chefs.

 

They including Britain’s youngest head chef, Luke Thomas, and Welsh culinary champion, Graham Tinsley, plus TV personalities including stand-up comedian, Silky, who will show off his cookery skills for the first time ever.

 

Hamper Llangollen chair Colin Loughlin believes this year's festival is going to be one of the best ever.

 

He said: “Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

 

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

 

"The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular - I can't imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting."

 

* For more details about Llangollen Food Festival-Hamper Llangollen 2015 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com and for information about Llangollen Eistedfodd visit  www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Quiz night in aid of prostrate group

Llangollen Prostate Support Group are holding a Grand Quiz  at the RAFA Club, Llangollen on Friday September 11.

Doors open 7pm and quiz starts at 7.30pm.

Quiz master is Paul Belton from Wrexham .

The quiz is open to teams of up to four at £2 per person.

Prizes will be awarded for the highest total, lowest total and the most original  team  name.  

All proceeds go to the support group which was formed  five years ago to raise awareness of the condition in this locality.

Its members meet at the Hand Hotel on a monthly basis.

Latest figures show county is star performer

Denbighshire County Council continues to be the top performing local authority in North Wales and one of the best in Wales, according to latest figures released by the Local Government Data Unit – Wales.

All councils in Wales are assessed against a series of measures, to gain a snapshot of how services are performing. 

Denbighshire either saw an improvement or maintained its position in 33 out of 45 indicators it is assessed against during 2014/15, the findings of which have been published today.

The council has one of the highest figures for top quartile performance in Wales and also has a lower number of poor performing indicators than any other Welsh council.

A key headline is that Denbighshire continues to be the best for recycling in the whole of Wales.

The council is also among the best in Wales for Special Educational Needs statementing, for adult protection referrals where the risk has been managed and for keeping in contact with former looked after children.

The council appears in the top quarter performing authorities for:

•             the average lost working days/ shifts
•             One of the lowest percentages for school leavers with no qualifications or looked after school leavers with no qualifications;
•             Compliant food premises;
•             Delivering disabled facility grants
•             Vacant properties returned to occupation
•             Lower levels of delayed transfers of care
•             Care plan reviews completed in time
•             Children seen by a social worker at initial assessment
•             Waste sent to landfill.

Dr Mohammed Mehmet, Chief Executive of Denbighshire, said: “We are proud of these results and they continue to show that the Council performs well, even at times of significant change due to budgets and uncertainty around merger issues.  

"That is down to the work of our staff and councillors working together with our partners to making sure that providing high quality services remains at the heart of what we do."

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “We have made a firm commitment to improving the quality of life for residents by providing the best possible services in Denbighshire.

“These figures show we are very much on the right track. However, we always want to aim higher and we will not become complacent as we strive to improve our public services further."

Health campaigner selected as Assembly candidate

Plaid Cymru – The Party Of Wales have selected Mabon ap Gwynfor as their candidate in Clwyd South for next year’s National Assembly elections.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, who lives near Corwen, stood for Plaid at last May’s Parliamentary elections, and increased the party’s vote by 20%.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor (pictured) said: “It was an honour to stand for Plaid Cymru in my home area in May and we received more votes than ever before here. We also had more people join and help with the campaign, which creates a good platform for the coming year’s campaign.

 

“The context for next year’s Welsh General Election will be very different. The key questions will be about the NHS and investing in improving the economy in north Wales.

 

"It will be about who would people rather see as First Minister - Leanne Wood or Carwyn Jones. Who would be best to ensure improvements in our health service, education, agriculture. Who can improve the lives and life chances of the people who live in Wales.

 

“Our key message is the need to invest in the Welsh economy, to provide jobs for our young people in particular and create healthier, more vibrant communities. Plaid Cymru’s campaign pledge to ensure that we have enough GPs in every community and train more specialist doctors to meet the growing demands of the NHS, especially here in the North, has proved to be very popular and my experience in campaigning for better health services locally backs that up.

 

“The cuts agenda being forced on local councils and charities by both the UK Tory and Cardiff Labour Governments are having devastating consequences on many people. Not only are people losing their jobs but we are also seeing basic services being cut – whether buses, libraries, leisure services or community centres.

 

“This has led to mass campaigns, for example the wonderful example of Plas Madoc being re-opened by a community cooperative.”

 

The 37-year-old father of three chairs the North Wales Health Alliance campaign group, which continues to fight for better NHS services in the area and campaigned to keep hospital beds in Llangollen.

Urgent message from doctors' surgery

llanblogger has been asked to carry the following announcement from the doctors' surgery ...

DR A D EVANS & PARTNERS

We are currently experiencing problems with our main phone line – 01978 860625.

If you need to contact us between 8.00am and 6.30pm please ring 
01978 860489.

If you need urgent medical assistance between 6.30pm and 8.00am (overnight), please ring the 
Out of Hours service on  0300 123 55 66.
We apologise for any inconvenience.

Recording Gwyn's landmark day

* Gwyn welcomes the royal visitors to his shop.

As revealed recebntly by llanblogger, Gwyn the Butcher in Llangollen has been shortlisted in  a prestigious national competition to find high street champions.

Gwyn Davies in Castle Street has reached the final three in the food and drink retailer category of the Welsh Government’s High Street Heroes Awards.

The competition aims to honour businesses which help to make town centres great.

Members of the public were asked to nominate individual businesses and services in the six High Street Favourites categories - food and drink, fashion, health and beauty, leisure, home and garden, professional and financial services, eating out on the high street and community service provider.

Established for almost 40 years, Gwyn Davies Butchers put their success down to providing the local community with quality meat and a friendly, personal service.

The winners of all categories will be announced during High Street Week, 19–26 September 2015.

Gwyn has just released this picture of a another landmark occasion for him – the day when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall came to call at his shop when they visited the town after touring the Eisteddfod field.

Busker raises £200 for Llan Christmas festival

* Busker Chris Burton plays outside the Town Hall on Saturday.

A musician from Walsall helped raise over £200 for Llangollen's Christmas festival on Saturday.

Chris Burton made the money by busking outside the Town Hall for four hours supported by a gorilla and town crier Austin Cheminais.

Chris has strong links with Llangollen and is a strong supporter of the Christmas festival. 

The annual event attracts a lot of visitors to the town and raises a substantial amount of money for Wales Air Ambulance.

The festival, to be held this year on Saturday November 28, relies on fundraising events, donations and sponsorship for its income.

* If you would like to contribute or sponsor the event, the Christmas festival committee can be contacted through Llangollen’s town clerk, Gareth Thomas, at the council office.

Police seek information on car damage

North Wales Police are appealing for information following criminal damage to a blue Renault Clio  in the car park of Llangollen Youth Club.

It happened sometime between 17.30 and 22.23 on Sunday 23^rd August and it’s believed a sharp implement has been used to smash all the windows of the vehicle.

If you noticed anything suspicious, or have any information relating to this incident please contact North Wales Police by dialling 101 quoting reference RC15128730. 

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.

AM hails efforts of toilet volunteers

* Ken Skates AM unveils a plaque to mark the 10th anniversary of the re-opened toilets.

Village volunteers who saved their public toilets have marked a decade since reopening them.

Denbighshire County Council (DCC) closed the loos in the centre of Llandrillo, near Corwen, in 1998, but locals formed their own volunteer group and launched a takeover bid in 2002.

The fully refurbished facilities, complete with in-built energy-saving features, were reopened during the village carnival on August 20, 2005.

On Friday, Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates unveiled a new plaque to mark the 10th anniversary.

He said: “Because it’s so picturesque, and with the Berwyn Mountains on the doorstep, Llandrillo is very popular with visitors.

"While they could enjoy beautiful countryside, free parking, shops, a pub and places to eat, dozens of walkers and ramblers were arriving with nowhere to spend a penny when the toilets were closed.

“To get to 10 years has been a fantastic team effort and shows what can be achieved when the right people with the community’s best interests at heart work together.”

Llandrillo Public Conveniences Access Group (LPCAG), formed to manage the toilets, entered in to a 20-year commitment and started with eight volunteers. There are now 25 on the rota to carry out daily duties such as cleaning.

Resident Dave Robinson, a civil engineer, was the driving force behind the project.

He said: “We started with very little information, but a business case was put together along with the results of a local questionnaire and comments from visitors when preparing the feasibility study. Having adequate income was always going to be the issue.

“However, having discussed the matter with the Llandrillo Community Council, a local precept was set at £2 to generate £900. In addition, an annual contribution from Denbighshire County Council made the venture viable.

“In the each of the 10 years of operation we have delivered a surplus, allowing investment to improve the tiling, installing a baby-changing facility and decoration.”

Additional donations are gratefully received from residents, businesses and ramblers.