County aims to suspend council home Right to Buy

Denbighshire County Council is to submit an application to the Welsh Government for approval to suspend the right to buy for council homes for a period of five years.

The loss of homes to right to buy has significantly reduced the council’s housing stock by over 4,000 homes.


In 2015/16 the authority lost eight council homes to the right to buy and whilst it intends to increase its housing stock during future years, its claims any similar loss of homes will significantly reduce the additional gain of new homes.

The application will be submitted following a decision by members of Denbighshire County Council meeting in Ruthin today (Tuesday).

Councillor Barbara Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, said: “The council is making a firm commitment in its Housing Strategy to provide more homes to meet local need and demand and to create a supply of affordable homes, again to meet  demand.

“Significant investment has been allocated in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to allow the council to drive regeneration schemes through buying land for new high quality council homes, but this significant investment is at risk if further homes continue to be lost through right to buy.

“There is a demand for council homes in Denbighshire, with ten applicants on our waiting list compared to every vacancy. This is a significantly greater ratio than Swansea and Carmarthenshire who were the first two councils in Wales to suspend the right to buy. Other councils look set to follow suit.

“Our local Registered Social Landlord partners are supporting our application. They have indicated that they require the suspension to also apply to their stock, subject to formal consultation and decision. We also have support from the majority of our tenants, as well as the Denbighshire Tenants and Residents Federation.

“We hope that the Welsh Government will allow the suspension of the right to buy scheme in Denbighshire. There clearly is a case in the county for this to happen."
 

Denbighshire "well run authority" says report

Members of Denbighshire County Council have today discussed the annual improvement report issued by the Wales Audit Office.

For 2015/16, the report concluded that the council, "with sound financial management and scrutiny arrangements, continues to make progress in delivering improvements in most of its priority areas”.

At a meeting at County Hall, Ruthin where the report was discussed, the Wales Audit Office hailed Denbighshire a "very good, very well run authority".

The report highlights the achievements of the council, which included:

* The provision of affordable housing – the council has developed a housing strategy and comprehensive supporting action plan

* Social services are said to be largely performing well

* Arrangements for managing performance and for delivering savings are described as "robust and effective"

* The  relationship between members and officers "continues to be constructive

* The council is said to be actively exploring new types of service delivery, including with commercial partners.

The council welcomed the fact that the 2015/16 report did not include any formal recommendations, reflecting the WAO’s positive view of  its progress.

The report did contact some areas for improvement and the council says it has already introduced measures to address these matters, such as:

* Safeguarding vulnerable adults - safeguarding training has been provided for lead managers, there are improved screening of referrals through the Single Point of Access and arrangements are being reviewed for providing domiciliary care.

* Attendance at scrutiny meetings – timetable of meetings has been reviewed to encourage greater attendance, location of some meetings have changed and this has resulted in better attendance over the last three months

* The use of alternative models to deliver services – a corporate approach to delivery models is being prepared and the council is looking at income generation, to ensure value for money.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Performance, said: “The report is a recognition of the amount of good work that goes on in Denbighshire to maintain very high standards in services to residents and we are pleased that auditors highlight our achievements, particularly around managing budgets and performance.

“Whilst no formal recommendations have been made in the report, we recognise that there are areas that have been highlighted for improvement, but members have been reassured that steps had already been taken to address some of those areas.

“We are never complacent as we always strive to improve services to the best of our ability and it was pleasing to hear that the council continues to be recognised as being one of the best performing councils in Wales."

This report was discussed at the same meeting as the delivery of the council's corporate plan which it describes as "most ambitious".

Eisteddfod reaches out across the border

The saxophone-playing chairman of one of the UK’s oldest and most iconic music festivals wants to broaden its appeal to secure its future.

Retired doctor Rhys Davies (pictured below) aims to reach out across the border to attract performers, competitors, concert-goers and visitors to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

His target areas are the big cities and highly-populated areas within two hours’ drive of the Denbighshire town where the event began in 1947.

Rhys, a doctor in the town for 30 years, attended his first Eisteddfod in 1956 – as a babe in arms and now he wants to see it capture the hearts of a new generation.

He said: “Wales is important to us but if you travel west of Llangollen there are a few hundred thousand people within an hour or two’s drive. Go east and there are six or seven million.

“It is Llangollen’s Eisteddfod and the better the Eisteddfod does the better it is for the town and the whole area but we are an international festival and we need to reach out far and wide.

“We need to reach out to those people across the border and show them what a worthwhile experience it is to come here and how much we have to offer.”

He succeeded the long-serving Gethin Davies, the only person to be chairman of the event twice, and is the son of the late Dr Jack Davies who practised as a GP in the town for 30 years from 1955 and for many years the family home was on the edge of the Eisteddfod field at Dolafon Villas, close to the old Cottage Hospital.

He and his wife, Ann, have two grown-up children and now live at Pentrefelin House where his parents later moved and he said: “From being a little boy I volunteered at the festival, as a messenger, an usher and a programme seller.

“University and my job took me away from the area for some years but when I returned to live and work in Llangollen – I was senior partner at the local GP practice – I resumed my association with the Eisteddfod.”

He’s a music fan himself and plays the saxophone – ever since his wife bought him one for Christmas 10 years ago – and has broad tastes including opera, classical, jazz and the rock music of the Seventies.

He would like to forge links with cities like Liverpool, where he trained as a doctor, Manchester and Birmingham which all have large populations with links to North Wales.

He said: “It would be great to have the Superlambanana here from Liverpool and perhaps to give one day and an evening concert to showcase the culture of a city like Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham.

“They have vibrant cultural scenes, major orchestras and choirs, classical and contemporary dance companies and we have a fantastic venue and an event with a rich heritage.”

But he adds that it is also important to continue to reach out overseas and to recognise that the groups that come, particularly from the Third World, face major financial obstacles.

He added: “I would like to see Llangollen charity events and concerts through the year to boost the bursary fund to help these groups make the trip to Llangollen.

“It is the international flavour of the event that gives the Llangollen its incredible colour and atmosphere and we must do everything we can to maintain that tradition.”

Tickets sales for the concerts at this year’s Eisteddfod, which begins on Tuesday, July 5, are already going well, especially for the opening night when superstar Katherine Jenkins gets the programme off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen, .

Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition while the evening will feature the Voices of Musical Theatre and West End star Kerry Ellis.

The great Bryn Terfel will headline the 70^th Classical Gala Concert on Thursday evening with acclaimed Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja while the day will see the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World.

Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be a feast of music and dance from the best of the Eisteddfod’s international competitors with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax at the evening concert.

It will open with a Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza, followed by the International Peace message delivered by Theatr yr Ifanc, Rhosllannerchrugog.

In a change of the scheduling Friday will also see the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, switched from Tuesday in anticipation of bigger crowds and more competitors being present.

Saturday is dedicated to the top choirs and concludes with the Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy while Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

* To book tickets and for more details on the 2016 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Joint choir concert hits high note

AN audience of local people and tourists enjoyed a joint concert by Llangollen Male Voice Choir, Great Bowden Community Choir and Great Bowden Flute Choir at St Collen’s Church recently.

The Great Bowden musical director said she was "blown away" by LMV's rendition of Gwahoddiad in particular, adding that although she didn't understand a word she totally got the sentiment.

A spokesman for LMV said: “We were thrilled to help start the visiting choirs’ tour of North Wales on a high and raise money for the local charity, Dynamic.”

Tenant could be found for Llan's ghost supermarket, says report

* Llangollen's empty supermarket.

The Daily Post is reporting today that a deal to find a tenant for Llangollen's "ghost" supermarket is on the verge of being done.

The story says that discount chain Aldi has said it does want to open in Llangollen but was considering more than one site in the town.

For the full story, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/llangollen-ghost-supermarket-finally-verge-11297969

Historic railbus heading for Llangollen

Llangollen Railway's annual Railcar Gala will take place on the weekend of June 11 and 12.

Alongside the resident fleet of DMUs, the special guest to the gala will be a diminutive 1958-built railbus, No.79960, visiting from its current base at the Ribble Steam Railway.

Railbus 79960 was built in Germany by Waggon Und Maschinenbau more than half a century ago as an experiment for British Railways to see if more traffic could be drawn to little used lines by the use of lightweight vehicles – a move that had been very successful in mainland Europe.

Introduced to service in 1958 the tiny train (pictured below), one of the smallest to operate in the UK, was used in East Anglia and in the North East before being laid aside as the lines for which it had been intended were closed under the Beeching programme.

Preserved as long ago as 1968 the train served the North Norfolk Railway for 44 years before moving on to the Ribble Steam Railway near Preston.

A detailed history and photos can be found at: http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/79960.html

The Railbus will be in operation for one weekend only and will be joining another historic survivor from East Anglian branch line services, the sole-surviving Class 109 Wickham DMU.

Full use will be made of the Llangollen Railway's unique collection of 1950s and 1960s railcar trains, with the weekend featuring a very intensive timetable. Departures from Llangollen and Carrog will be at half-hourly intervals and from Corwen every hour.

Prior to the event on the Friday evening there will be a photographic evening featuring the railbus during which will stop at various locations along the valley.

On the Saturday evening there will be a social event and barbecue, as well as the ever popular driver experience runs.


* Tickets for the event will be available on the day but can also be purchased in advance and at a discount by going to http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/events/.  More details can be found by visiting www.llangollenrailcars.co.uk or www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Plaid's Arfon Jones is new police and crime boss

Plaid Cymru's Arfon Jones has been elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.

Following the count at Coleg Cambria in Deeside this afternoon (Sunday), the 60-year-old Wrexham councillor and former police officer said he was "overjoyed and overwhelmed" to win.

Bacharach cartoon up for auction in aid of Eisteddfod

* Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head by musical legend Burt Bacharach.

A signed cartoon by legendary singer-songwriter Burt Bacharach of his hit song Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head is to be auctioned for Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The 87-year-old American superstar (pictured right) penned the cartoon on a blank postcard for the iconic festival, writing the first bar of music on one side with some raindrops and then signing the other side.

The Oscar-winning song was originally written by Bacharach and Hal David for 1969 film classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and sold over two million copies for singer B J Thomas.

Bacharach performed it at Llangollen and it has become a standard over the years, recorded by artists from Johnny Mathis and Sacha Distel to the Manic Street Preachers.

* Going for a song: Louisa Jones models a rugby shirt signed by Status Quo watched by Llangollen International Eisteddfod’s Gareth Edwards and Ian Lebbon who will auction it and other items later this month.

The autographed cartoon is one of several lots being auctioned at Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday, May 21, at 7.30pm at an Eisteddfod fundraiser of Cheese, Wine and Musical Crackers in collaboration with local show choir, Stage 2 Stage.

Also going under the hammer is a watercolour painting of the stage at last year’s Eisteddfod by acclaimed local artist Ian Wildgoose as well as more cartoons by a range of those who performed last year including Rufus Wainwright and his sister, Lucy, Royal composer Paul Mealor, harpist Catrin Finch, West End star Sophie Evans, the nation’s favourite choirmaster, Gareth Malone and others.

One of those is a sketch of Go Compare’s TV advertising star Gio Compario by the man who plays him, top Welsh tenor Wynne Evans, and among the signed items are Welsh rugby shirts autographed by veteran British rockers Status Quo and Britain’s Got Talent star Jonathan Antoine and a guitar signed by reggae maestros UB40.

The full list of lots to be auctioned is online at http://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Auction-Catalogue.pdf with information on how to bid.

Eisteddfod Committee men Gareth Edwards and Adrian Farrell came up with the brainwave for the auction and collected most of the items though volunteer Louise Morris suggested the cartoons which were gathered by Eisteddfod Events Co-ordinator Sue McEvoy who said: “We had these blank postcards and it seemed a good idea to ask the artists to draw something.

“They were delighted to do so and there are some really good cartoons. Rufus Wainwright has done a dragon and his sister, Lucy, has done two, one a picture of a barge on the canal.

“Burt did the first bar of music for Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, complete with raindrops, Wynne Evans drew Gio Compario with his frizzy hair and moustaches and some musical notes while Catrin Finch has done a finch sitting on a treble clef.”

The event organisers are expecting plenty of interest and bids can be registered ahead of the event by ringing 01978 862001.

The Ian Wildgoose painting has a reserve of £1,000 while the postcards are being auctioned in groups with a reserve of just £30 while the Status Quo-signed rugby shirt has a minimum of £200.

The auctioneer will be Ian Lebbon, Chairman of the Eisteddfod’s Marketing Committee, and the organiser has been Eisteddfod Volunteer Team member Louisa Jones, a member of local show choir Stage 2 Stage.

They will perform a two-set programme of popular songs from musical theatre and screen, accompanied by a five-piece band, and including hits from Les Misérables, Evita and West Side Story and medleys from Chicago and Guys and Dolls.

Colin Roberts, secretary of the Eisteddfod's Grounds Committee and member of the singing group said: “One of Stage 2 Stage's main objectives is to support local organisations in their fundraising activities by providing high quality, affordable entertainment.

* The Stage 2 Stage Choir will perform at the Eisteddfod fundraiser.

“Several of us have close connections with Llangollen Eisteddfod, therefore it seems only natural that we would give our support to an event which we hope will generate a good sum for Eisteddfod funds.”

Tickets for Cheese, Wine and Musical Crackers are priced at £12 and include a glass of wine on arrival and cheese and biscuits during the interval.

They can be purchased directly from the Eisteddfod Office, by phone on 01978 862001 or from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

Bids for the lots can be made by phone to the Eisteddfod Office on 01978 862001, by e‐mail info@international‐eisteddfod.co.uk, or by post to Eisteddfod Office: FAO: Mikala Bennion, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, Llangollen, Denbighsire LL20 8SW.

Bidders must give Name, Address, Telephone Number and/or E‐mail address, plus the Lot number, including a short description, with a starting bid and maximum bid in Pounds Sterling. All bids received via phone, e‐mail or post will be treated as strictly confidential.

All bids must be received by 5pm on Wednesday, May 18.

Campaigners send out leaflets over Vicarage Road plan

Campaigners are distributing 500 copies of a leaflet setting out the case against a plan to build 99 homes in Llangollen's Vicarage Road.

Castlemead Homes recently submitted an application to the county council for the development, which includes a mixture of two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached properties.

But the scheme has sparked fears amongst people in the area that local roads will not be able to cope with the extra traffic it will generate both during construction and when the new homes are occupied.

Planning permission to build 54 houses on land adjacent to Vicarage Road was granted on appeal by Denbighshire back in 2001.

Attached to the original application was a Section 106 agreement under which the developer was legally bound to build a new access road to the site before the scheme was started.

The field above the main site has since been included in the Local Development Plan at the request of the Planning Inspectorate to encourage the building of more houses to meet local demand.

And Castlemead  recently submitted a new application to build a further 45 homes, making a total of 99 houses on four parcels of land.

A statement issued on behalf of the company by planning consultants in support of the application says it would not be economic to build the access road before construction work starts on the houses and suggests it should be put in place by the time the 31^st dwelling has been occupied.

Transport consultants acting on behalf of the company say in their submission to the county council: “It has been demonstrated that the development traffic can comfortably be accommodated within the highways assessed indicating that the development will not materially impact upon the operation of the local highway network.” 

But an action group, started through Facebook, has expressed concerns about the impact of the development on local roads. 

It's latest step is to distribute door to door  500 copies of a leaflet setting out the facts as it sees them and encouraging people to make their views known to the county council ahead of its planning committee discussing the application.

In the leaflet, campaigners say: "The affect on traffic congestion and road safety will be immense and detrimental."  

Skates retains Clwyd South for Labour

Ken Skates (pictured) held on to the Clwyd South seat with 7,862 votes for Labour in yesterday's Welsh Assembly elections.

The party has retained all five of its seats in North East Wales and appears set to keep control of the assembly.

For more details, see the BBC coverage at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-wales-36207414

Full result:

* Ken Skates (Welsh Labour) 7,862

Simon Baynes (Welsh Conservatives) 4,846

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru) 3,861

Mandy Jones (Welsh UKIP) 2,827

Aled Roberts (Welsh Lib Dems) 2,289

Duncan Rees (Welsh Greens) 474

We're taking a short break

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in about a week's time ...

Llan represented in contest for young cooks

Nine top cooks from primary school across the county, including Ysgol Y Gwernant in Llangollen,  will gather at Denbigh High School for the grand final of this year’s Great Denbighshire Menu competition in May 2016. 

As one of Denbighshire Education and Children’s Services’ centrepieces to mark 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl, this year’s Great Denbighshire Menu Primary School Competition takes as its theme “Dahlicious” and asks children to choose their favourite Roald Dahl book to create a healthy (fictional) breakfast that could be served at school. 

Now in its second year, the Great Denbighshire Menu competition is a successful collaboration between Denbighshire Healthy Schools and Curriculum Enrichment initiatives. 

The competition encourages children to learn how to cook by using local ingredients to prepare healthy meals, while, at the same time, teaches them about the importance of food preparation. 

Healthy Schools Co-ordinator Paula Roberts said: “The copmpetition raises awareness about healthy eating and why it is important.  Your food choices each day affect your health — how you feel today, tomorrow, and in the future."

Curriculum Enrichment Co-ordinator, Sarah Dixon, said: “In the build up to the launch of the competition in February, students had been busily learning new skills in the kitchen and mastering their techniques.  We’re very proud of all these students for what they have achieved."

The young cooks endured rigorous school-based and regional heats to reach the Grand Final. 

The nine finalists from Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog, Ysgol Pendref, Ysgol y Llys, Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Ysgol Bro Famau and Ysgol y Gwernant will now go head to head in the final.

* You can follow the competition on Twitter @cyfoeth_enrich and keep up to date with any news on www.denbighshireenrichment.com

MP battles 80mph speed limit plan

Susan Elan Jones MP is calling on all Conservative candidates in North Wales to disown an election pledge in their party's  Assembly election manifesto to consult on increasing speed limits to 80 mph on the M4 and A55.

The Clwyd South Labour MP won cross-party support to introduce a bill to Parliament that sought to review sentencing for unlicensed or uninsured drivers who kill or seriously injure people.

In 2015, she was awarded 2015 Parliamentarian of the Year by national road safety charity Brake.

Susan Elan Jones MP said: "Far too many people have been injured and killed on our roads for us to give up the fight for road safety. From the community in Overton who campaigned for and got a 40 mph buffer zone to communities both sides of the border who are campaigning for a dual carriage on the A483/A5, road safety is a big issue in our area.

"We must continue with our campaigning and we must all work together cross-party. However we really can't do this when speeding is trivialised. I really hope that Conservative candidates in this election will make it quite clear that they do not support a 80 mph speed limit on any road. It is a very bad idea."

Brake spokesman Jack Kushner said: "We urge the government to reject needless proposals to increase speed limits to 80mph.

"We're disappointed it is being considered. Evidence from previous consultations made it clear that an increase would not only be dangerous - potentially 25 more deaths and 100 more serious injuries each year - but also highly damaging to the environment and economy."

Silver band teams with schoolchildren for enjoyable concert

* Llangollen Silver band play at the Methodist Church last night. 

LLANGOLLEN Silver band joined forces with the children of Ysgol Bryn Collen to present a Spring Concert at the town’s Methodist Church yesterday (Saturday) evening.

The band played more than a dozen numbers in three sets, ranging from stirring marches such as the Welsh-themed Arms Park to themes from films like The Mission and Singing in the Rain.

The children presented two sets of songs which included selections from their forthcoming production of the musical Cinderella Rockerfeller and numbers from the musicals Annie and Sound of Music.

Loud applause from a packed and appreciative audience persuaded the band to play two encore numbers to round off a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment.  

Legendary racer to star at Llan Bike Fest

Living legend Giacomo Agostini, widely acknowledged as the greatest motorcycle racer in history, will be guest of honour at the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival - LlanBikeFest 2016 - on Saturday July 23 and Sunday July 24.

* Giacomo Agostini will star at Llan Bike Fest 2016.

With an unbeaten record of 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships titles, Ago is flying in especially from his Italian home to spend the weekend at the Festival meeting fans, judging competitions and providing opportunities for autographs and photos.

Agostini’s appearance at LlanBikeFest follows news that top British racers Ian Hutchinson and John McGuinness are unable make it to the event because of changes in their commitments.

LlanBikeFest co-organiser John Hutchinson said: “We are sorry that McGuinness and Hutchinson have had to bow out – but that can happen during a busy racing season. We trust that the opportunity to meet Ago will more than make up for any disappointment.”

Ago commented: “I am looking forward to being at LlanBikeFest in July – a real festival of motorcycling for everyone who loves bikes, in a beautiful part of the world.”

LlanBikeFest 2016 will build on the successful Festival last year, which starred Carl Fogarty and Mick Grant, and attracted more than 6,000 visitors.

It is being held again at the town’s Pavilion set amid some of Britain’s best biking roads - at the foot of the Horseshoe Pass and its famously bike-friendly Ponderosa Café, and on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park.

On-site attractions will include hundreds of bikes, displays, stunts, demonstrations, trade and club stands, plus beer, bands and evening entertainment in Llangollen Town. There will also be a charity raffle in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.

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

Day tickets are £10 on the gate or online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk with concessions, or contact the Festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free.

Railway steams back to Victorian times

Llangollen Railway will be stepping back in time to the Victorian era over the weekend of May 14 and 15 with a steam-filled historical experience for all the family.

At Llangollen station, look out for the visiting steam traction engine, Punch & Judy shows, live music and a railwayana exhibition, before embarking on a steam-hauled trip down memory lane.

Berwyn, the station in the gorge, has been transformed back to its original Victorian appearance, complete with period posters and traditional coal fires.

Celebration is in the air with the bunting flying and the band playing on the platform in case of a surprise royal visit. At Glyndyfrdwy, you can visit the vintage Victorian fairground, or marvel at the sights of a traditional sheepdog trials taking place next to the station. There will be a dedicated Victorian railway exhibition at Llangollen over the weekend, featuring many historic drawings, documents and railwayana relating to the former Ruabon to Barmouth line dating back to the 1850s. Many of these have never been publically displayed before and offer an insight into the early days of the line from over 150 years ago.

For full details, download the commemorative programme (designed in the style of the traditional 1860s railway timetables of the Great Western Railway) for free from our website: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/victorian-weekend-14th-may/ 

Whilst it is not essential, the Llangollen Railway invites our visitors to consider entering into the spirit of the occasion by wearing a suitable Victorian attire.

Visitors can take advantage of discounted fares by booking in advance for this event.

Museum plans attic sale

Llan Methodist Church's musical event

Versatile Philip turns his hand to very different production

The man who took a prominent role and came up with many of the costumes for Llangollen’s Operatic Society’s last smash-hit show has turned his hand to a gripping new play at Theatr Clwyd.

Versatile Philip Main was a key supporting actor and also created a number of the Nazi era costumes in The Producers which finished a sell-out run at Llangollen Town Hall last weekend.

But at the same as being involved with the musical comedy, Philip (pictured) was also working on the costumes for a very different kind of stage production, Deep Cut at the theatre in Mold.

The play, by Philip Ralph, concerns the death of Private Cheryl James, of Llangollen, one of four trainee soldiers who died of gunshot wounds at Deep Cut Barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002.

Cheryl’s parents refused to accept the official verdict of suicide, and the play’s dialogue is based on verbatim transcriptions from the subsequent inquiry.

Philip said: “I spent so many weeks researching, sewing, and making period correct costumes for The Producers.

“Out of necessity I looked at images of the Hitler Youth, Hitler himself, Bavarians and Stalin  as well as various productions of the musical to make sure that everything looked right, with a little bit of artistic licence.

“As well as that I was also rehearsing my own role within the production. 

“All the while I was also doing research for my next job, to provide costumes and a specific firearm for the production of Deep Cut at Theatr Clwyd.

“I have gone from the war and the 1960s to the 1990s and of course the new review of all that happened at Deep Cut Barracks.

“Next I have to have ready some Shakespearian costumes for a photo shoot for a Shakespeare 400 event also at Theatr Clwyd in June, in which I am also singing a couple of period songs.  Life is never dull as a costumier!”

Deep Cut opens tonight (Friday) in the Emlyn Williams Theatre at 8pm and there are also performances tomorrow at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are £9.50 with concessions at £7.50.

See more at: https://www.theatrclwyd.com/en/whats-on/deep-cut/#sthash.MfFuNJow.5OXMyhYz.dpuf

Joan helps people with hearing problems

* Dr Sarah Bent, Suzanne Tyson, Chair for Hearing

Aid, and Jane Wild, Head of Adult Audiology

Service, with volunteers, seated, Dylan Williams,

Derek Griffiths and Joan Fisher.

A former school meals supervisor has found a new role - helping people with hearing problems in Llangollen.

Pensioner Joan Fisher, 77, from Wrexham, is one of the volunteers who provide assistance and advice to hearing aid users at drop-in sessions and in their own homes.

The volunteers’ work is helping audiology departments reach out to more people  by carrying out routine checks and maintenance on hearing devices in the community.

Joan has worn a hearing aid for the past seven years and has now volunteers at drop-in sessions at Llangollen and Penycae.

She said: “The clients really love the service as it saves them having to make a trip to the hospital. And it’s not a clinical environment which some elderly people find difficult.

“I know we save so much time for audiologists even though we are only doing the basics like checking batteries and re-tubing a device. The response we get is fantastic and makes it all worthwhile. You actually feel you’ve done some good.”

She added: “The best words you can hear, after you’ve carried out some simple basic maintenance on a device, is when you ask the client can they hear OK and they tell you to stop shouting! It means a lot.

“I really enjoy the role. I run drop-in sessions at Llangollen Library and another at a community centre in Penycae.”

Joan was among the volunteers from across the region who attended a special celebration event at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

They were welcomed by Jane Wild, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s head of adult audiology.

Thanking volunteers for the support they provide to many hearing aid users she said: “We really welcome the additional support our volunteers are able to provide to our service users.

“Many of our volunteers are themselves hearing aid users, or have a family member who is, and so understand firsthand the difficulties they may be experiencing.

“They go out to drop-in sessions or visit patients in their own homes and are trained to re-tube hearing aids and carry out basic device maintenance.

“They also provide advice and encouragement, referring back to audiology or on to other support organisations when they feel that this will help.”

“The service they provide means audiologists can focus on delivering the parts of the service that require a qualified audiologists.

“Without our volunteers we would have to spend more time re-tubing hearing aids, checking batteries are fitted properly and carrying out other simple maintenance tasks.”

Volunteer Dylan Williams, 74, of Wrexham, who uses a hearing aid himself, helps run a drop-in session at Penley every third Monday of the month and also visits hearing aid users in their own homes if requested to do so.

According to Sarah Bent, a clinical scientist with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s audiology service, the work volunteers do means patients, many of whom are elderly, don’t have to travel to hospital when their hearing aids need basic maintenance.

She said: “The work of our volunteers certainly helps a great deal so audiologists can work in clinic with the patients most in need of their help.

“And the volunteers really add value. They can speak about their own experiences and so offer something that professionals cannot.”

Suzanne Tyson, chair of the charity Hearing Aid, who works with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Hearing Aid Volunteer Service in the Glan Clwyd area said: “The volunteer service was operated by Action on Hearing Loss, formerly called the RNID, through their Hear to Help project which was lottery funded and ran across the whole of Wales.

“That project has now come to an end and the volunteer service has been taken over by the health board. I’m so pleased and proud to be involved with the service and delighted with its obvious success.”

“The work the volunteers do is vital and amazing. Each and every volunteer puts so much work in and the value to our patients and therefore Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board should not be underestimated.”  

Welsh Tories unveil "new deal" for older people

* At the launch of the new welsh Conservatives' policy at Glyn Wylfa.

Simon Baynes, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Candidate for Clwyd South, launched his party's new deal for older people at the Glyn Wylfa social enterprise centre in Chirk.

Mark Isherwood and Suzy Davies, Welsh Conservative Assembly Members in the last Assembly term, presented the new deal to an audience of local residents.

They outlined the Welsh Conservatives' plans to implement a £400 weekly cap on residential care costs and to protect £100,000 of assets of those in residential care, providing dignity and ensuring people do not lose their life savings to care costs.

Mark Isherwood said: "We will support older people across Wales to remain active members of the family, community and society, while providing security for the future with clear action on residential care costs. Welsh Conservatives will also put an end to age discrimination and promote and protect older people’s rights."

Simon Baynes said: "I have a strong interest in care for older people through my work running the charity Concertina - Music for the Elderly http://www.concertinamusic.org.uk/ which provides musical entertainment for older people to combat loneliness and reawaken happy memories from the past.

"The Welsh Conservatives believe that old age is something to be celebrated. We believe that older people deserve dignity and respect as well as independence and the freedom to make decisions about their lives."