Stage groups join forces for spectacular charity concert

 

* A scene from Ab Fab. Picture: Jeanette Robinson.

Using the most tuneful, colourful and downright hilarious bits from their own smash-hit shows – along with some fresh new material - all three of the town’s top stage groups are currently teaming up for the first time ever to present the brilliant Llangollen on Show at the Town Hall.

Last night’s opening performance of the history-making variety and music hall compendium was a real belter with an amazing range of talent on parade courtesy of the Operatic Society, the Twenty Club and the Collen Players.

Both the ensemble numbers and the soloists had the audience singing heartily along.   

And there’s still time to catch the second of the two shows, this evening at 7.30pm.

All proceeds will go to support the Disaster Emergency Committee in which 15 of the UK’s top charities have come together to supply a lifeline to thousands of survivors of the earthquake which devastated southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria on February 6.

* Twenty Club's First World War comedy sketch.

Kicking off the show in fine style is a strong Twenty Club cast with their take on a rather famous TV comedy show set, in this instance, during the First World War but which has meandered through various periods of history over the decades. And some cracking lines have the audience in tucks.

Next up comes for the Collen Players comes a powerful solo slot from Shea Ferron, fresh from his triumph as part of the John’s Boys male chorus on Britain’s Got Talent. His version of It’s Hard to Speak My Heart from the musical Parade has all the warmth and feeling for which this talented young performer has rapidly become noted.

* Shea Ferron.

A team from the Operatic brings us a fast-paced medley showcasing their singing and dancing expertise from the West End hit Six, which is based on the many wives of Henry VIII.

* We're Six! Picture: Jeanette Robinson.

Collen Players take the spotlight again with Phil Robinson doing the rousing Victorian music hall honours with a daring ditties entitled The Spaniard That Blighted My Life and Champagne Charlie.

With a voice that glitters as much as her costume Esme Sallnow from the Collen Players next does the high-stepping standard Putting on the Ritz.

* Top hat trio - Gethin Davies, Esme Sallnow and Phil Robinson. Picture: Jeanette Robinson.

The Operatic stay with their big show theme by filling the stage with the joyous tones of Flash Bang Wallop from Half a Sixpence before Twenty Club take take another turn with some clever jokes inspired by TV comedy show The Vicar of Dibley.  

* Flash, Bank Wallop What a Picture. 

The Operatic come back in force to round off the first act with the memorably rumbustious Master of the House from the Les Miserables musical. 

* Master of the House.

The Operatic also open act two with another sing-along number, the high-tempo Oom Pah Pah from Oliver.

Esme Sallnow returns for her second slot for the Collen Players, presenting Lili Marlene, the plaintive soldier’s song famously popular on both sides of the lines during World War Two.

* Oom Pah Pah.

Twenty Club’s next contribution is the Three Queens, a clever interplay of words between the monarchs Elizabeth 1, Victoria and Elizabeth II – with cheeky asides from the late Prince Philip – specially written for this show by Ian Wright.

We head back to good old music hall days for the second appearance by Shea Ferron for the Collen Players with the clever little piece She Was One of the Early Birds.

* Three Queens. Picture: Jeanette Robinson.

Then for something completely different – because that’s the very nature of variety – Twenty Club return with their own absolutely hilarious take on Ab Fabs.

And in another contrast of style it’s time for the dapper-suited Gethin Davies to perform two wonderfully intricate comic songs by the ingenious duo Flanders and Swann, namely Have Some Madeira M’Dear and the Hippopatamus Song.

This is followed by a second dotty sketch routine inspired by The Vicar of Dibley from the versatile Twenty Club.

* Vicar of Dibley sketch. Picture: Mike Jones.

There’s nothing like finishing on a big and breezy song-and-dance number and they don’t come much bigger and breezier than the Lambeth Walk from the musical Me and My Girl, presented with gusto by the Operatic joined by a strong contingent from their Young ‘Uns junior section.

* The Lambeth Walk.

Binding the whole show together with his witty introductions and asides in the manner of the music hall chairmen of old is the Collen Players’ founder Lee Taylor.

* Chairman Lee Taylor. Picture: Mike Jones. 

He wraps up by inviting the entire cast back on stage to lead the audience in a couple of choruses of music hall finale favourite Down at the Old Bull and Bush.

Excellent live musical accompaniment is provided by the soloists by Jayne Belton and Eulanwy Davies on piano and Steve Lloyd on percussion.

Much credit must also go to the large production team who have spent many hours ensuring the smooth running of the show. This includes Pamela Williams, Tracey Jones, Chrissie Ashworth, Caroline Anthonisz, Jayne Belton, Sian Glynne-Jones, Malcolm Potter, Mike Jones, Lee Taylor and Leigh Mason, James Barber. 

It all adds up to a fine night of entertainment offering three highly polished performances, in very differing styles, for the price of one - and in a great cause. You’ll be sorry if you miss it!

* Tickets for tonight's show, priced at £12 (no concessions) are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety, or from Courtyard Books, Llangollen, and the Llangollen Oggie Shop in Caste Street or on the door.

Local Senedd Member takes over as Plaid interim leader

* Llyr Gruffydd MS.

Llyr Gruffydd, who represents this area in the Senedd, will take over as interim leader of Plaid Cymru following the resignation of Adam Price, the BBC is reporting.

Mr Gruffydd says he will not stand in the forthcoming leadership contest.

His appointment was agreed at a meeting of the party's Senedd members on Thursday morning.

It will need to be rubber-stamped by the party's National Council on Saturday.

Mr Price quit followed months of difficulties in Plaid including allegations of a sexual assault and a toxic working culture and a week after a report found misogyny, harassment and bullying in the party.

In his resignation letter, he said he no longer had the "united support" of his colleagues.

Mr Price said he had wanted to resign in the wake of the report's findings, but was initially persuaded not to quit.

"You have my personal assurance that I will continue to serve my country, my constituents and our party with determination and enthusiasm," he said in a letter to party chairman Marc Jones.

MP says he was honoured to be Coronation guest

* Simon Baynes MP with Penny Mordaunt MP after the Coronation.

Clwyd Simon Baynes MP says he was honoured to represent his constituency at the Coronation of  King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey last Saturday, having been successful in the ballot for 25 MPs to attend.

Mr Baynes and other MPs were seated high up in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, so they did not have a direct view of the service, but television screens in the gallery enabled them to watch all the proceedings.

After the Coronation, Mr Baynes had the opportunity to speak with BBC presenter Huw Edwards who was providing commentary from a nearby location. 

He says he also had the pleasure of speaking with Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP after the service whom he, like many others, described as "magnificent" in her role as Lord President of the Council carrying the Sword of State.

Mr Baynes said: “I was deeply honoured to represent my constituency of Clwyd South at the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen on Saturday. 

"The ceremony was a magnificent and moving event with beautiful music, much of it composed for the occasion, which conveyed poignantly the deeply spiritual nature of the Coronation as King Charles III pledged to serve and protect his people.

“It was wonderful to see people from all over the country coming together to celebrate this historic moment. I am grateful to everyone involved in making this day so special and enjoyable for us all whether in the Abbey or watching on television at home. It was an experience that I will cherish for years to come.”

Find your past with your Llangollen library

Libraries around Denbighshire are giving their members the opportunity to take a look into their past through Find My Past and Ancestry. 

Access to these services is free and allow people to investigate their family background and hear the stories of generations past. 

Both services are easy to use on one of the library’s computers, and only a library card and PIN are needed to get started. The 1921 Census data is also available through the Find my Past service. 

As well as personal history, each library in the county has a section dedicated to local history books, allowing a peek into the past of the local area. 

Libraries also host meetings by local history groups, book launches and talks. 

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture & Heritage said: “This service offered by our libraries is a brilliant way for people to find out more about their personal history and family tree. It is great that our libraries can offer these family history mapping software services to their members so that they can discover more about their personal history.

"Library members can also explore the history of their local area, with a wide selection of area specific books available at many of our libraries."

* For more information on the library service, please go to: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/leisure-and-tourism/libraries/libraries.aspx

Llangollen bids to be age and dementia friendly

* Llangollen Town Hall where the film will be screened on May 18.

A group of people are pursuing official Age and Dementia Friendly status for Llangollen. 

The scheme is currently administered by Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council and local bidders say they need to meet a number of criteria to gain recognition.  

They say: "We started the process before Covid but of course everything was put on hold but we have managed to set up a working group.  

"We are open to ideas from people living with dementia or carers and would be delighted to welcome anyone who wants to contribute.

"On Thursday May 18 we are screening the documentary film The World Upside Down in the council chamber in Llangollen Town Hall in Parade Street, starting at 1.30pm.  

"It is a new innovative film about dementia and communication.  Following the film there will be tea and coffee and an opportunity for discussion of the film’s main themes."

To book a place follow bit.ly/World_Turned_Upside_Down_LLANGOLLEN_1805 or email Becky at: engagement@dvsc.co.ouk or on 01824 702441.

* If you want to know more about Age and Dementia Llangollen or advice on support with dementia, Denbighshire Social Services are organising a drop-in coffee session in the Town Hall on Friday May 19, from10.30am to 1.30pm.

 

A mean machine with a feeble name!

Honda Civic drive by Steve Rogers

This is not going to go down well with everyone but I am putting it out there anyway.

It is time to give Civic a new name.

It might have suited the family hatchback of the nineties but look at it, this is a mean machine with a feeble name. Call it something that packs a punch.

There, I’ve said it, now let’s back to the usual stuff.

Hard to believe Civic is 51 years old and this is the 11th generation. Thinking about it a good time to switch names would have been 2006 when Honda shocked the motoring world with a bold new look, the Civic with the Knight Rider headlights and space age dashboard.

The design of the new model is bang on the money but the main emphasis has changed from racey looks to hybrid engine efficiency, high end technology and more safety aids.

The new infotainment system, complete with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, is easier to use with sharper graphics, while the Garmin navigation, a bit of a pain on the old model, is now clearer and more detailed.

The real tech fest centres around the driver’s binnacle, now fully digital with a ‘pick a display’ feature. I usually switch off the lane departure alert but left it on because of the new graphics.

They amount to a tiny car sitting between two lines denoting a lane. Move outside the lane and the lines turn from green to orange as a visual warning. But the best bit is a graphic showing a car or lorry overtaking. Little things obviously please my little mind...

Tweaks to Civic’s body styling are best seen from the side. The roofline has been lowered and has a longer coupe style curve to the tailgate which is a new resin construction saving weight.

All this suggests a cramped, dark cabin, particularly in the back, yet it is anything but with generous legroom and plenty of light thanks to more glass. The lower roof is said not to affect headroom but that depends on the height of the passengers. My son is just under six feet and his head was brushing the headlining.

The roomy cabin extends to the boot, only bettered by the Skoda Octavia, so all in all Civic is a good alternative to an SUV.

Up front is classy without being overcomplicated, the standout feature a slim honeycomb grille hiding the ventilation outlets with mini joy sticks to direct the air. The textures and finishes have a quality feel and the centre console and door cards are coated in a scratch and fingerprint resistant finish. Could do with some of that on my car.

Main functions, apart from chunky switches for heating, are stored in a central nine inch touchscreen.

Civic is now hybrid only with a 2-litre petrol engine supported by two electric motors providing short stints on electric only driving at low speeds and occasionally when cruising. This should be good for an average in the mid fifties although I managed an impressive 60mpg on a 340 mile round trip. The only car to better that in the last few months is Civic’s big rival, the Toyota Corolla.

Performance is pacey with the best mid range pick up of any car in its class. Select sport mode and you will get a fake computer generated exhaust rap which some would say is silly, but brought a smile to my face and made me use it again....and again.

Matching the performance is cracking handling, well this is a watered down version of the magnificent Civic Type R so we should expect little else. Steering is nicely weighted and precise, it keeps flat through bends and the suspension, overly hard on previous Civics, is now perfectly damped making for a comfortable yet sporty ride.

The only negative note is more road rumble than expected, but that could be down to the rubber on the 18 inch low profile wheels. Things are probably a touch quieter on the entry model’s 17 inch rims.

Is this the best Civic to date? Undoubtedly yes, not the cheapest hatchback in its class, but given the generous equipment level across the range, safety features and efficiency, it is worth the money.

As for the Civic name, remember that when Honda decides to change it they got the idea from Llanblogger!

Is that a pig flying over Castell Dinas Bran...

Fast Facts

Civic e-HEV Advance

£36,470 (starts £31,040)

2-litre petrol, 184bhp

0-62mph 8.1secs; 112mph

56.6mpg combined

114g/km. 1st tax £185

Boot: 404-1187 litres

Insurance group 28

 

Llangollen Ramblers tackle Wales Coast Path

Twenty-three members of Llangollen Ramblers have spent the last week on the Wales Coast Path. 

Here they're exploring a ruined mill at Trefin, near St David's. 

Over 500 miles have been covered now. Only 300 more and they'll be at the end in Chepstow.

BGT star Shea back in spotlight for Llan charity concert

* Shea Ferron in the John’s Boys line-up on Britain's Got Talent.

* John’s Boys Male Chorus on the show.

A young singer who was part of the choir which wowed judges on Britain's Got Talent is one of the stars of a glittering charity concert in Llangollen later this week. 

Twenty-year-old Shea Ferron was in the line-up of the Rhosllanerchrugog-based John's Boys choir which sang the soulful number Biblical on the TV talent show recently. 

The stunning performance brought tears to the eyes of new judge Bruno Tonioli and led old hand Simon Cowell to declare he had never seen a choir on the show produce 'that' moment before. 

Now Shea, who is currently on BA (Hons) Performing Arts course at the ICTheatre College in Manchester and is from Ruabon, is back in the spotlight for a solo performance in Llangollen on Show, a fundraising variety and music hall show in aid of survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria earlier this year. 

To be staged over two nights at Llangollen Town Hall this Thursday and Friday, May 11 and 12, the show will make history as the first time all three of Llangollen’s most popular amateur stage groups have come together for a joint production.

Llangollen Operatic Society, Llangollen Twenty Club and The Collen Players

are combining their considerable talents for the show all proceeds from which will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee in which 15 of the UK’s top charities have come together to supply a lifeline to areas devastated by the earthquake. 

The Operatic, an all-singing and dancing outfit, will perform numbers from the smash-hit shows Hamilton, Six, Oliver Les Miserables and Half a Sixpence,  while the Twenty Club drama group will present comedy sketches – one specially written for the occasion – inspired by their own hilarious past hits. 

The Collen Players – including Shea who will sing two numbers - will provide a taste of the rip-roaring Victorian music hall shows for which they have rapidly become famous, with their founder Lee Taylor acting as chairman for the show which starts each night at 7.30pm.  

There will be a bar and prize raffle on both nights and a number of local businesses have pledged their financial support. 

* Tickets, priced at £12 (no concessions) are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety or from Courtyard Books, Llangollen, and the Llangollen Oggie Shop in Caste Street or on the door on the nights.

Tributes paid to town's British Legion chairman

* Phil Stroud.

One of the key figures in the town's ex-service community has died after a short illness.

Phil Stroud, well known locally as chairman of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, passed away at his home last week.

Mr Stroud, who was originally from Manchester and served for a number of years in the army with the King's Regiment, leaves his wife of 23 years Marie, children and grandchildren.

In a tribute to him, Llangollen Town Council says: "The Town Council were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Stroud after a sudden but short illness. 

"Originally from Manchester, he made Llangollen his home where he served as an active member of the town’s Royal British Legion for a number of years most recently in the role of chairman."

Commenting on the loss, the Town Mayor Cllr Paul Keddie said: “Phil was a well-known citizen of Llangollen and a stalwart of the Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion. 

"He worked closely with the Town Council staff to ensure that the Annual Service of Remembrance ran smoothly and his presence on the day as the chair, supporting the clergy and laying the Legion's wreath will be missed.”

Gareth Thomas, the Town Clerk, commented: “I express my sincere condolences to Phil’s family; he was a gentleman and contributed a great deal of time and effort in supporting the Legion and especially the arrangements for Remembrance Sunday. 

"I will miss his dry wit and the support that he has offered me over the years. It is truly sad news.”

* The funeral of Phil Stroud will take place at St Collen’s Church on Tuesday May 23, at 2pm.

Emergency services called to incident at Chirk Aqueduct

Leader Live is reporting that emergency services have been called to Chirk Aqueduct this afternoon (Monday, May 8).

The Welsh Ambulance Service has confirmed they are responding to an incident and the air ambulance is also in attendance.

* For the full story, see: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23508004.live-emergency-services-called-chirk-aqueduct/

Incident update....

Superintendent Jon Bowcott said "Officers from North Wales Police, along with colleagues from emergency services from both Wales and England this afternoon responded to a medical emergency in the vicinity of Chirk Aqueduct. The activity in the area has understandably created significant public interest and concern. Operations at the site have now wound down, and I would like to reassure people that there was never a threat to the wider public nor are there any ongoing issues of concern."

Talk on railway history planned for June

Llangollen Railway will be welcoming heritage specialist Fiona Gale (pictured) on the evening of Thursday June 1.

Until her retirement she was the county archaeologist in Denbighshire and has been a consultant and mentor to numerous community groups.

She has organised, led, or participated in, hundreds of events, guided tours, talks and lectures and in 2020 was was appointed an MBE for her services to heritage in Wales. 

On June 1 she will be presenting her illustrated talk on 'Denbigh, Ruthin & Corwen Railway in the Vale of Clwyd'. This will be held in the Henry Robertson Suite at Llangollen Station, with refreshments available.  

From the 1860s until the 1960s, the Vale of Clwyd was served by a railway which connected Corwen in the south to the North Wales coast line via Ruthin and Denbigh. 

Recently a project in Ruthin to refurbish a crane connected to the railway has worked as a catalyst for a wider project, collecting memories of the line, examining some of its features and researching a little of the history. The talk will explore some of this work. 

Tickets cost £5 each and are available to pre-book through Llangollen Railway's website: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/denbigh-ruthin-corwen-railway-in-the-vale-of-clwyd-an-illustrated-talk-by-fiona-gale/. 

Due to the size of the venue, only 50 tickets are available and these are being offered on a first-come-first-served basis, so organisers advise people to book now to avoid disappointment. 

Roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are:

FROM NUMBER 57 TO NUMBER 77 PENGWERN 07/05/2023 07/05/2023 Parti Stryd / Street Party, Road Closure

A539 Ponsonby Arms MILL STREET 10/07/2023 11/07/2023 NMWTRA

A539 Castle St, Llangollen CASTLE STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 15/05/23 Road Lining/stop go DCC WORKS UNIT

Market St, Llangollen MARKET STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 Gwaith Llinellu / Lining Works DCC WORKS UNIT

Wrth / Nr DALMORE ABBEY ROAD 22/05/2023 24/05/2023 Gwaith BT/ BT Works MJ QUINN (DCC)

Chapel St, Llangollen CHAPEL STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 Gwaith Llinellu / Lining Works DCC WORKS UNIT

Wrth / Nr 3 ABBEY ROAD 10/05/2023 10/05/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A542 carriageway MAESMAWR ROAD 30/05/2023 02/06/2023 Cynnal y Lon Gerbydau/ Carrigeway Maintenance AARON MACDONALD (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Parade St, llangollen PARADE STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 Gwaith Llinellu / Lining Works DCC WORKS UNIT

Bridge St, Llangollen BRIDGE STREET 16/05/2023 16/05/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement DCC WORKS UNIT Road Closure

Oak St, Llangollen OAK STREET 16/05/2023 16/05/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement DCC WORKS UNIT Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closurei

Council cash brings power to Riverside Park bandstand

Supplying power to the bandstand in Llangollen's Riverside Park has been completed thanks to cash support from the county council.

A number of projects have been undertaken across Denbighshire to enable communities to host more sustainable and cost-effective events in their areas.

Total value of the schemes supported is £128,000. Also in the programme were sound, lighting and storage improvements at Y Ganolfan, Llandrillo and an upgrade to the kitchen at Carrog Hall.

All projects have been supported by Denbighshire Council’s Community Development Team which has been on hand to offer guidance, facilitation and act as liaison with internal departments as required.  Further projects are expected to be completed by November 2023.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for community groups and event organisers to improve facilities across the county. Many of these locations are a crucial hub for community engagement and events and we’re pleased to see the funding has led to improved infrastructure in Denbighshire and we look forward to bringing the remaining projects in receipt of funding into fruition soon.”

* For support in developing a community project or idea, please get in touch with Denbighshire County Council’s Community Development Team via email: communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk

Llan artist's new exhibition to open at Dory Gallery

A new exhibition by Llangollen-based painter Edward Bell, who designed album covers for stars such as David Bowie and Elton John, opens at the town’s Dory Gallery later this month.

Edward Bell was born in 1950 and he studied at the Royal College of Art.

During the 1970s he was a freelance photographer and illustrator for Vogue, The Times and Penguin Books.

In the 1980s he was a portrait painter and album cover designer for David Bowie, Elton John, Hazel O’Connor and Kim Wilde and others.

During the 1990s he spent 10 years in Southern Ireland where he became a landscape painter and ceased producing commercial art.

In the 2000s he became an inner landscape painter, which means he doesn’t usually paint real places but the impression or idealisation of landscapes.

It's more of an abstract interpretation than realist rendering. In other words, it represents an artist’s own inner landscape.

Bell also lived in Paris and spent long periods in India, Florence and Venice. And for over a decade he has lived and worked in Llangollen, Wales.

His previous exhibitions have been in London and Shropshire.

The exhibition at The Dory Gallery in Regent Street, which runs from May 25 until August 20 and takes over from Jac Williams’s Honest Agriculture exhibition, features his new paintings are produced with oil paint on canvas or board. They explore ‘lies inspired by the photographic eye’.

He explained: “The images are chosen and stolen from Pandora’s Reticule, plucked, juxtaposed and coaxed to sing.”

Opening times for the exhibition are 10am - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday or by appointment.

The Dory Gallery, , which occupies the former National School for the Poor and was later the doctors’ surgery, officially opened in June 2021 and aims to be a creative and cultural space showcasing the best in contemporary art.

The gallery is run by Suzanne Mathieson and artist Tony Mallon.

Latest Citizens Advice column

Here's the latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: I’ve just had my bathroom retiled, but I’m not happy with the work.  

At first, things seemed to be going well, but then the tradesperson left to do another job and I had to chase them for updates. They did eventually come back and finish the job, but the work was pretty rough around the edges. They also left all the old tiles and plaster for me to dispose of, which I wasn’t expecting. I’ve now got the invoice, but I don’t think the price reflects the work done or the service I got. Can I challenge this? 

A: It’s always frustrating when you run into problems with home improvements. 

You mention that the job looked “rough round the edges”, if this is to a degree you could consider the job unfinished or unsafe, you should be able to get the tiler to come back to fix it. You could also suggest removing the old tiles might be considered as part of finishing the job.  

If the tiler considers the work complete, it’s worth knowing you’re protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which says the tiler should have completed the work with ‘reasonable care and skill’. If they haven’t done this, they’ve broken the law. The Act means you’re legally entitled to ask the tiler to fix the problem (if they provided the tiles as well as the service) or get money refunded (if they just provided the service and you bought the tiles). They should fix the problem or refund you in a reasonable amount of time, without causing too much inconvenience. As you’ve received the invoice for the work but not paid yet, now would be a good time to ask them to fix the issue or you can negotiate a lower price for the work. 

Let the tiler know you understand what you’re entitled to. Speak to them in person, or contact them in writing/over email, there are template letters on the Citizens Advice website, either way make sure you have a written copy of anything agreed. Before you contact them, it’s a good idea to take photographs to use as evidence of the problem. Make notes about what happened, including dates and times. You should also gather any paperwork and receipts - was there any prior written agreement about who would dispose of the old tiles? Was the final cost was in line with estimates or quotes given to you at the outset of the work. If not, there is advice on the Citizens Advice website about steps you can take. 

If you’re struggling to come to an agreement with the tiler, there are other steps you can take to solve your problem  these include using ‘alternative dispute resolution’, which is a way of solving disagreements without going to court. There are full details about how to do this on the Citizens Advice website.

Llangollen Youth FC Under 16s take league title

Llangollen Youth FC Under 16s Pictured) won their respective league last night (Wednesday). 

A 3-3 draw versus Borras Park Albion on Dinas Brân school pitch was the point they needed to secure the title.

A club spokesperson said: "It is a magnificent achievement by all the players, coaches and everyone involved in the youth section."

* The final scoreboard.

Quilting group takes first prize at Midlands show

* Ladies of the Block Club with their winning quilt.

A group of quilters from Llangollen have sewn themselves a place in the honours after landing a top prize at a competition in the Midlands. 

As part of her small business, Bright Quilting, Carie Mason runs a number of classes for all levels of patchwork and quilters.

She instructs everyone from beginners to the more experienced looking to try something new.

Carie's group entered into the Group Quilt category at the Quilt and Stitch Village Show at Uttoxeter Racecourse one weekend recently and were delighted to take first place.

* Their first place rosette.

Carie said: "I have completed several beginners courses and the ladies were keen to learn more. 

"I started the Block Club initially for these ladies but one or two of those with experience joined too. 

"The group has eight ladies and to show them how they can make a large quilt we start a project with the aim of entering it into a quilt show.  Many months and many blocks later we created our quilt. 

"It is made of scraps of fabric which are acquired from everyone's sewing, making what we call a Scrappy Quilt. The quilt is called Sunshine Over The Scrap Box as it was quilted with a sunshine pattern.

"We entered the competition and to our surprise and happiness we came first and received a rosette and silver plate. It was a fantastic day and it was great fun to be part of."