Health centre's latest statement on vaccinations

Llangollen Health Centre has this morning (Tuesday) put out a statement on its vaccination programme, which says: 

"We have been made aware of an issue with the automatic appointment system used by the Local Vaccination Centre at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.  

"Patients who received their first dose vaccine at Plas Madoc on Thursday 29th April may have received a letter over the weekend inviting them to another appointment later this week.  Please ignore this letter, it is incorrect.

"Second doses will be administered 10-12 weeks after the first dose and you will be contacted about your second dose appointment in due course.

"You do not need to take any further action.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

Entertainer Shea is to make his TV acting debut

 

* Shea Ferron is making his TV acting debut.

Talented teenage entertainer Shea Ferron, who has rapidly proved himself as an impressive singer, has now turned his hand to TV acting.

Shea has been rapidly building up a useful portfolio of acting and singing appearances in the area for a number of years.

He has joined the cast of numerous shows, with Llangollen Operatic Society, its junior section the Young ‘Uns, and the Collen Players music hall group, winning a number of amateur stage awards into the bargain.

There have also been numerous solo performances in St Collen’s Church and his own church in Ruabon.

But Shea has really came into his own during the pandemic when by singing his way through a series of self-arranged open-air gigs to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

Now he’s delighted about landing his first paid acting job but because of the nature of the business he’s been sworn to secrecy about the details.

All he could reveal on his social media page was: “Confirmed for a TV series opportunity filming in North Wales.”

He added: “It was my first acting job having joined JZee Leeming Model and Casting Agency back in March 2020.

“It was a supporting actor role in an upcoming TV series that I think is airing later this year.

“I can’t give too much detail away as I would get into trouble.”

Roadworks alert for Queen Street

 

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Queen Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 06 May — 10 May   Delays possible - Some carriageway incursion   Works location: O/S 2 WALTON HOUSE   Works description: ISOLATE GAS SUPPLY FOR SAFETY 1M PUBLIC   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities Ltd   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: XY254008000163913

Time to cast your vote in two elections this Thursday

Instead of casting their votes in the town hall as usual, Llangollen electors are being asked to use ballot boxes set up in the International Pavilion when they make their choice in this Thursday's two elections.

The change has come about due to the pandemic, with the pavilion being judged to provide more space for the necessary social distancing.

As another anti-Covid measure voters are also being encouraged to bring along their own pen or pencil to make their marks on the ballot papers for the Senedd and the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.

The polling station will be open from 7am-10pm.

There are seven candidates lining up to contest the Clwyd South Senedd seat which has been held by Welsh Labour's Ken Skates since 2011. His majority has been 13% in the last two Senedd elections.

The full list of candidates is:

Jeanette Stefani Bassford-Barton, UKIP

Leena Farhat, Lib Dems

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales

Jonathon Andrew Harrington, Abolish The Welsh Assembly Party

Barbara Hughes, Conservatives

Mandy Jones, Reform UK

Ken Skates, Labour

The remaining 20 Senedd Members for North Wales are made up from the five larger Welsh Senedd voting regions which elect four MSs each in a proportional vote system – taking into account the number of constituencies already won in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner election

The election for the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner will also be held this Thursday.

Here is the list of declared candidates in the election, in alphabetical order by surname:

• Pat Astbury - Conservative

• Andy Dunbobbin - Labour

• Ann Griffith - Plaid Cymru

• Lisa Wilkins - Liberal Democrat

• Mark Young - Independent

Among the COVID-19 measures set to be in place at polling stations will be:

• Separate entrances and exits where possible
• At some polling stations, a door manager will be in attendance to ensure that social distancing can be maintained at all times
• Altered layouts to allow for social distancing when waiting to vote and when completing a ballot paper, but still ensuring electors can cast their vote in secret
• Polling station staff wearing PPE
• Voters encouraged to bring their own pen or pencil
• Polling booths regularly sanitised.
• In addition, voters are asked to wear a face covering and ensure that only two voters enter a polling station at a time, while maintaining a safe distance throughout their visit.

Roadworks planned for Market Street

 

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Market Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 05 May — 11 May   Delays unlikely - No carriageway incursion   Works location: New Column, Junction With Castle Street...   Works description: Installation of new electricity supply to street furniture including the excavation and reinstatement   Responsibility for works: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: QR30100037663

Family of eisteddfod journalist raise £8,000 for NHS

* With Kevin’s wife Sally and eldest son Andy Hughes are ICU senior sisters Jayne Galante, left, and Joanne Richards. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

The family of a former journalist who covered the Llangollen Eisteddfod and died of Covid-19 have presented a cheque for £8,000 to the hospital which cared for him in his final days.

While in intensive care at Wrexham Maelor Hospital Kevin Hughes, 63, from Gwernymynydd, near Mold, who was also a Flintshire councillor, pleaded passionately with people to stick to the rules to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

But the father-of-three, a former police officer and weekly newspaper editor, died on January 8.

Son Andy – often accompanied by brothers Chris and Steve – raised £7,767 for the unit by walking 5k a day until the funeral.

Andy and his mum, Kevin’s wife, Sally, visited the hospital to hand of the cheque to staff.

He said: “We’re hoping that not many more families will have to go through what we have had to.

“I messaged my dad on December 15 to say that as he was on the mend I was going to do a 5k walk every day to raise money for the hospital until he was fit enough to walk with me.

“Sadly, that never happened but I carried on walking with my brothers until after our dad’s funeral on January 22 – it was to reward the fantastic team at the ICU at the Maelor Hospital.

“We simply can’t thank them enough for the support they gave him. They’ve been fantastic and tried every last thing.”

The cheque was presented to ICU Senior Sisters Jayne Galante and Joanne Richards and Jayne said: “Kevin was very passionate about Covid and was interviewed on TV while he was with us.

“He very much wanted to keep people safe and the need for them to obey the Government guidelines and stay at home.

“It’s a very cruel disease. You think people are improving and suddenly they deteriorate very quickly.

“It has now reduced a lot compared to earlier in the year. It’s calmer on the ward now but still very intense.”

Kevin and Sally were married for over 40 years and had seven grandchildren and she said: “This is part of what Kevin would have wanted us to do.

“The staff at the Maelor Hospital did such a wonderful job and every time I spoke to Kevin he would talk about the fantastic job they were doing.”

Andy intends to carry on fund-raising in memory of his dad who had a remarkable career as police officer, including as a police diver, and after leaving Cheshire Constabulary he worked as head diver at the Blue Planet aquarium at Ellesmere Port.

He then tried his hand at journalism and quickly rose to be editor of the Flintshire Chronicle and then worked as a freelance for Public Relations company Ceidiog Communication and stood as a Flintshire councillor and won the Gwernymynydd and Nercwys Ward.

While with Ceidiog Communication he covered Llangollen Eisteddfod for news outlets across the world.

He was a keen football fan, for his native Chester and latterly as a season ticket holder at Premier League Aston Villa.

The family’s fund-raising efforts are due to continue with the three brothers planning a long-distance walk from Mold to Aston Villa’s Villa Park ground in Birmingham and back.

Andy, who is stand for his father’s seat on Flintshire County Council, added: “We have had messages of support from all over the world, including Hawaii, the USA and Holland and a lovely personal letter from Dean Smith, the Aston Villa manager whose own father died from Covid.

“Dad’s season ticket was close to the dugout so Dean Smith must have heard from him quite often over the last couple of seasons.”

Roadworks alert for Berwyn Street

 

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Berwyn Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 03 May — 21 May   Delays likely - Traffic control (two-way signals)   Works location: A5, Near Cambrian House, Berwyn Street, Llangollen   Works description: Refurbishment of Traffic Signal - Replacement of Traffic Signal Poles, Tactile Paving & White Lining   Responsibility for works: Welsh Government   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: PD50121111153826438

 

Eisteddfod advertises for an executive producer

* The job advertisement in Arts Job Finder.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is looking for an executive producer.

An advertisement for the £45,000-a-year post has just appeared online in the Arts Jobs Finder.

The person appointed, it says, will work closely with the board and “our fantastic team to help us achieve our potential and grow our impact and reach”.

The ad explains: “The Executive Producer is the creative and executive lead for the organisation, shaping its programme, connecting with audiences and partners, supporting and developing the staff team and ensuring the vitality, diversity, sustainability and impact of the Eisteddfod as major annual international event.

“As Chief Executive the Executive Producer is also the lead decision-maker, responsible for the strategic planning and financial sustainability of the company.

“They model a working culture that inspires and supports staff, trustees and contractors.

“They have the confidence of the trustees, volunteers and key stakeholders. They are the face of a world-class programme that attracts a broad audience from North Wales, the North West of England and beyond.

“We want our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and we actively welcome candidates who are currently underrepresented in the arts.

“We are seeking an inspiring individual who values creative ambition, inclusivity and internationalism.”

The post is full-time on a three-year fixed-term contract starting this summer. It requires post-holder to be based within a commutable distance from the Llangollen area.

Closing date for applications is June 1 and more details can be found on the Arts Jobs Finder website at: https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/jobs/premium/llangollen-international-musical-eisteddfod/executive-producer

Last week the eisteddfod management revealed that, as part of a restructuring exercise, four redundancies had been made from the festival’s six permanent staff.

The impact of the pandemic was blamed.

As part of the same exercise two roles have been created and filled by existing staff from the team of six.

A statement added that a further post was due to be advertised shortly, and this is clearly that of the new executive producer.

Due to the pandemic the 2020 eisteddfod had to be cancelled and replaced with a series of online events.

This year’s festival has also fallen victim to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and has been postponed until next year. A similar programme of alternative events is being planned.

No waiting order proposed for Hall Street and Willow Street

Denbighshire County Council is proposing to make an order prohibiting the waiting of vehicles at any time on stretches of Hall Street and Willow Street, Llangollen.

According to the schedule of a public notice, on Hall Street the order would cover a section on the north side from a point 27 metres west of the projected kerbline of the unnamed road linking Hall Street to Berwyn Street for a distance of 27 metres in a westerly direction.

On Willow Street, the order would cover an area, on the west side, from the projected southerly kerbline of Hall Street for a distance of 45 metres in a southerly direction and, on the east side, from the projected southern kerbline of Hall Street for a distance of 51 metres in a southerly direction.

Exceptions to the order would be made for the purposes of alighting, boarding, loading and unloading and works of maintenance, repair and so on.

There would also be exceptions for vehicles displaying both a Disabled Person's Badge and a Disabled Person's Parking Disc to wait for a period not exceeding three hours.

Objections to the order can be made via the Denbighshire County Council website, under the County Conversation portal, or by sending a written statement to: Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ, no later than May 21st, 2021.     

Health board's latest vaccination update issued

The Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, which covers Llangollen, has put out its latest update about the vaccination situation.

Aimed mainly at younger people it says: "This update is to help explain the changes that have been made to the BCU COVID-19 vaccination delivery plan as a result of new national guidance and the impact this has had on the availability of vaccines in North Wales. 

AstraZeneca vaccine advice

·        We are following the latest guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advising that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine should now not be routinely used in those under 30 years of age.

·        This means that two groups of Cohort 10 will run concurrently - those adults aged between 30 and 50 who will now generally receive the AstraZeneca, and those adults aged under 30 who will receive the Pfizer vaccine.

·        Those aged under 30 years that have already had a first of AstraZeneca will have the second dose of the vaccine to complete their course.We want to use vaccine supplies as quickly as it is received, so that they provide benefit, and this will inevitably mean inviting some under 30s before having completed the 30 to 50 year old age group.

·       The only way to avoid this would be to hold back supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, which would be an unjustifiable risk.

·         More information can be found on the BCU website here

Who we are currently vaccinating and how they will be contacted

This week we are continuing to provide vaccination to the following groups, with invitations made by letter, text message and phone call:

·         People in Priority Groups 1-9 who were unable to receive their vaccination when it was first offered. This includes people aged 50+; people aged 16-64 with certain underlying health conditions; unpaid carers; and those living with people who are immunosuppressed

·         People aged 18-49 years (Priority Group 10)

Asking employers to support their staff

We are appealing to employers across the region to be sympathetic to requests for their staff to take time off to attend their vaccination appointments. Vaccination provides the best protection from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 and is our best route out of the pandemic. It will also help to reduce staff sickness.

MP praises facelift work at Town Hall

* From left, Charlie Jones, Facilities Officer, Katherine Susanthan, professional upholsterer, and Simon Baynes MP in the balcony at Llangollen Town Hall.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes made a socially distanced visit to see some of the recent improvements to Llangollen Town Hall. 

He met with Charlie Jones, Facilities Officer, and Katherine Susanthan, who are currently reupholstering the seats in the balcony.

Since Charlie became the Facilities Officer of the Town Hall in 2018, she and volunteers, supported by the Friends of Llangollen Town Hall, have been undertaking restoration work in the building, including replacing the stage curtains, cleaning the lead pane windows, repainting the lobby and cleaning its chandelier. 

The current project of reupholstering the balcony seats will take two months and the skills of local professional upholsterer Katherine Susanthan, assisted by Charlie, are making a welcome transformation of the look and comfort of the balcony seats.

Charlie said: “Ysgol Dinas Bran gave us their old curtains and thanks to them we were able to re-make and up-cycle them for the stage. 

"We had donations of pretty vintage china that we use instead of plastic or paper which reduces waste and looks nice. 

"Our old Town Hall chairs were dated and uncomfortable and a school in Ruthin were throwing them away, so a volunteer brought them from Ruthin in a trailer and a group of volunteers from the groups who use the Town Hall cleaned and painted them.

"The old Town Hall chairs have been up-cycled with chalk paint to show what can be done with them and they would be great as spare chairs.

“We’re always looking for volunteers and welcome any contribution they can make, however small because it all makes a difference to the community we live in. 

"Each of us has something to give, and the work our volunteers have done is a gift to the community that makes a real difference. I can’t thank them enough.”

Simon Baynes said: “It was a pleasure to meet Charlie and Katherine and see the great improvements they are making to the balcony seating. 

"This project along with the other improvements that Charlie has overseen are hugely important to securing the future of Llangollen’s much-loved Town Hall and its central role in the heritage and culture of the town. 

"I look forward to visiting again soon and supporting them in their work in the future.”

National Park plan for this area branded as "bonkers"

The Daily Post is reporting that moves to create a new national park in north east Wales, which would include Llangollen, have been labelled “bonkers”.

Local councillors say the plans for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley are likely to meet stiff opposition from farmers and rural businesses worried about extra rules and costs.

* For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/this-not-play-area-backlash-20478439.amp?IYA-reg=0d2d6eb8-e36a-4762-9154-3d29efdd3c91

Board reports some positive news for railway's future

The Trust board of Llangollen Railway has this morning (Wednesday) issued a statement which is hopeful for the future of the heritage attraction.

In March 1 the railway's Public Limited Company went into receivership with debts of around £350,000.

Since then the assets of the railway have been put up for online auction, which culminates on May 12.

In the meantime, the separate Trust Board, which remains completely solvent, has been battling to raise enough money to buy as many of the assets as possible and get the railway back on track. 

Today's statement from the board says: "The Trust is delighted to announce it has completed a deal with the administrators of Llangollen Railway plc, Cowgill Holloway Business Recovery LLP, for an undisclosed sum, to purchase certain assets belonging to the railway along with the right to use the railway line. 

"This was the first key step towards recovery and thoughts now turn fully to the task of preparing for reopening as we continue on our journey to protect and preserve this beautiful part of our heritage.

"Talks have been initiated meanwhile with the Welsh Government, Business Wales, Denbighshire County Council and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, all of which have been positive. 

"The Safety Management System will have to be rewritten to some degree and fresh approval sought from the Office of Rail & Road.  

"Liz Parkes of North York Moors Railway has been helping us in this regard and we are very appreciative of her support. 

"We have been very encouraged and gratified by all the support received in our fundraising efforts and thank everyone who has contributed.  

"Including promises, funds raised to date are approximately £85,000. This should enable us to submit a competitive bid in the auction on 12 May for key items, such as at least one carriagewith accessible adaptation, function coach, road railer, telehandler and 12t crane.

"Looking ahead to the preparation for re-opening phase, £100,000 approximately is needed to cover necessary overheads, for which we hope to attract at least some grant funding.  

"It remains too soon to speculate when re-opening might be but we are targeting the end of July or early August currently.

"We would also like to acknowledge the continuing support of the media, without which our need for funds would not have reached so wide an audience.

"Please donate if you can: Online at https://llangollenrailway.enthuse.com and click the Donate button, or via our Facebook page. For taxpayers, the Railway can apply for 25% Gift Aid.Alternatively, supporters are invited to send cheques payable to Llangollen Railway Trust Ltd to The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen LL20 8SN."    

Widow of Dai Davies backs hospice's balloon appeal

* Lois Wynne of Ifor Williams Trailers, Sarah Povey, community and event fundraiser at Nightingale House and Judy Davies.            

* Dai and Judy Davies on their wedding day.

The widow of legendary Welsh goalkeeper Dai Davies has made a moving appeal for people to support the hospice that cared for him in his final months.

Former Wales international Dai died in February at the age of 72 from pancreatic cancer at his home in Llangollen, having received palliative care and rehabilitation at Nightingale House in Wrexham.

His wife Judy has voiced her gratitude for the help the hospice gave to Dai and is backing its fundraising Build a Balloon campaign, praising supporters and corporate sponsors including Ifor Williams Trailers.

Fundraising activities for Nightingale House that provides specialist palliative care services for people with life-limiting illnesses have been badly hit by the pandemic.

The annual running costs of the hospice are £3.4 million and 80 per cent of it has come from fundraising.

Judy said: “I so appreciate the support Ifor Williams Trailers and all the other wonderful sponsors give the hospice.

“The hospice is largely reliant on fundraising and donations to carry out its work and I have seen first-hand whilst Dai was supported at Nightingale House exactly how important this work is.

“It would be wonderful if people could put their support behind the Build A Balloon appeal as this week is the final week of the campaign before the balloon goes into production in Spain.”

Judy saw at first hand the quality of the care at Nightingale House when they cared for former Everton and Wrexham goalkeeper Dai before he was transferred from the Royal Liverpool Hospital last year after spending several weeks in hospital and without any visitors due to the pandemic.

Dai’s transfer to the hospice enabled him to be reunited with his family and receive the physiotherapy that saw him learn to walk again.

Judy said: “Dai’s days at Nightingale House and the wonderful care and support we both received when he was a Day Patient too, totally enhanced his quality of life during his final months.

“I also feel that it actually helped to prolong the precious time we had left together and I will be forever grateful to everyone at Nightingale House for the care he received.

"Nothing was too much trouble for example, when he arrived somebody had kindly put a small vase of fresh sweet peas from the hospice garden on his bedside table.

"Dai had been in hospital for several weeks, so coming to Nightingale House felt like a five-star hotel for him.

“It was wonderful to have him home eventually and that experience was made possible by the care and attention given to us all as a family by the team at Nightingale House."

During his distinguished career, Dai was capped 52 times by Wales and kept goal for clubs including Swansea City, Tranmere Rovers and Bangor City. 

After playing top-fight football with Everton, he joined Wrexham in 1977 and helped them win the Third Division title in 1977-78.

He went on to work as a football pundit and was also a popular figure away from the sport, with the proud Welsh speaker running a natural health clinic in Llangollen and being admitted to the prestigious Gorsedd of the Bards at the National Eisteddfod in 1978.

Judy and Dai were together for over 25 years. She hopes her experience will make people appreciate exactly what Nightingale House Hospice has to offer.

"Dai so appreciated the support he received and he would want anybody in a similar situation to reach out to the Nightingale House team.

"People often seem to think that a hospice is just where someone goes at the very end of their life, but it is so much more than that.

"The hospice did so much to help Dai and nothing was too much trouble."

Dai had three children and three step-children and 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

His death was met with an outpouring of grief across Wales and from fans of the clubs he played for.

"Dai had worked extensively on television promoting football through the medium of Welsh,” said Judy.

"He was a loving family man and we all miss him greatly. However, it is comforting to know how much he meant to people and that was clear from the wonderful tributes paid to him."

Nightingale House is marking its 25^th birthday by running its Build a Balloon fundraising campaign, which will see a hot air balloon take to the skies complete with sponsored panels.

Ifor Williams Trailers has regularly supported the hospice and is throwing its weight behind the Build a Balloon campaign by serving as a corporate sponsor.

As she returned to Nightingale House to show her support for the campaign, Judy met with Lois Wynne from Ifor Williams Trailers.

Lois conveyed the strong relationship that has been developed between the two organisations.

She said: "Nightingale House is such a lovely and important cause that we have been supporting for several years.

"The balloon campaign is again something we are very happy to support and we would encourage anybody who is able to get involved to do so.

"It has been a pleasure to meet with Judy and it is nice to hear how much she appreciates what the hospice did for her husband, Dai.

"The hospice does a lot of very important work and we at Ifor Williams Trailers are keen to do whatever we can to support it." 

Sarah Povey, community and event fundraiser at Nightingale House, expressed her thanks for the company's sponsorship.

She said: "We are very grateful for the support we receive from our corporate sponsors, including Ifor Williams Trailers.

"We have enjoyed a good relationship with Ifor Williams Trailers for many years and the support they provide makes a massive difference to us.

"The last year has been very challenging as we have not been able to hold some fundraising events, meaning we have lost out on a substantial amount of income.

"The Build a Balloon campaign is therefore very important and we appreciate the support we have received. Every donation to the hospice is gratefully accepted.

"We are also grateful for the kind words Judy has said about the hospice. At Nightingale House we seek to go to great lengths to help our patients as much as we possibly can."

* For more information about Nightingale House and how to donate visit www.nightingalehouse.co.uk