MP calls in on Llangollen business marking its 20th anniversary

* David Pinel, left, and Simon Baynes MP at IT Pro-Support in Llangollen.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes visited IT-Pro Support in Llangollen to meet owner David Pinel and learn about the business as they celebrate their 20^th year in operation. 

IT-Pro Support, located in the Malthouse Business Centre, provide IT support and maintenance to 80 clients across North Wales, Cheshire, and Shropshire, including businesses in Wrexham, Chirk, Mold, Queensferry, Oswestry and Ellesmere. 

Since 2003, when the business opened in the then new Malthouse Business Centre, IT-Pro Support has grown to include eight full time staff members. 

They now offer a range of services to clients, including managed security and a 24/7 hotline for client-queries, hosting for client websites, backup and recovery services and expertise in Microsoft 365.

 

During his visit, Mr Baynes and David Pinel discussed the services they offer to businesses and their plans for the future. 

These include their marketing strategy and use of social media, along with software development. Additionally, they discussed measures to improve broadband speed locally. 

Speaking after the visit, David Pinel said: “As one of the founders and owners of IT-Pro Support, I am thrilled to reach 20 years in business. This milestone is a testament to the unwavering dedication and expertise of our talented team. We believe that our care and support make a significant difference in our client’s businesses, and this accomplishment underscores our commitment to innovation and customer care.

"I extend my sincere gratitude to our hardworking team for their relentless efforts and to our valued clients and partners for their trust and collaboration. This achievement is not just ours; it reflects the collective passion and commitment that defines IT-Pro.”

Mr Baynes said: “IT-Pro Support are a fantastic local business whose work enables many other companies and businesses in North Wales and Shropshire to thrive and grow thanks to their excellent IT support.

"It was a pleasure to meet David Pinel and to learn about how IT-Pro Support have grown in the last 20 years and of their plans for continued expansion as high-quality IT-services become an ever more valued part of a business’s daily running.”

One-way system put in place on Hall Street

 

A one-way system has been put in place on Hall Street, Llangollen by Hafren Dyfrdwy, to facilitate urgent water works.

Railway and two others from Llan scoop top tourism awards

* From left, Jonathan Seldon of the sponsors, Tom Taylor, General Manager of Llangollen Railway, Phil Coles, Chairman, and Oliver Seldon. Pictures by Jane Widdowson.

Volunteers at Llangollen Railway have been hailed as tourism heroes after coming back from the brink of collapse.

The heritage attraction was  among the big winners at the prestigious Go North Wales Tourism Awards last night (Thursday).

On the night two other Llangollen businesses were also in the honours - Bearded Men Adventures and Riversdale House B&B.

The glittering annual event organised by North Wales Tourism celebrates the dedication, skill and achievements of the region’s tourism and hospitality industry.

This year the ceremony at Venue Cymru in Llandudno was hosted by ITV Wales journalist Carole Green and the headline sponsor once again was Harlech Foodservice which supplies many of the region’s hotels, guest houses and restaurants.

Llangollen Railway was named Go Attraction of the Year after staging a remarkable comeback.

The railway is now back on track after mounting debts caused by Covid disruptions forced its operating arm into receivership.

It steamed forward thanks to the dedication of the volunteers of the Llangollen Railways Trust who took over the railway’s operation.

Earlier this year the organisation achieved a long-held ambition to open the new £1.25 million station in Corwen, enabling passenger-carrying trains to return to the Denbighshire town first time in four years.

Llangollen Railway Chair Phil Coles said: “It’s been a lot of very hard work over two and a half years with an awful lot of input from visitors and staff.

“Very many people have gone over and above in their dedication to the railway and this award is the icing on the cake for us after going bust in the pandemic.”

Tom Taylor, General Manager, added: “We had to work with the rest of the tourism industry just to survive but we have taken the railway out to Corwen now and we’re already making a big difference to the town there.

“We’re looking towards National Park status now and we need to be a really polished product.

“We need to stabilise, recover and build for the future and the staff have been key to that and this award is for them.”

At the same ceremony the Go Marketing and Media Recognition Award 2023 sponsored by  Heart North and Mid Wales was won by Bearded Men Adventures of Llangollen.

Go B&B/Inn and Guest House of the Year 2023 sponsored by  Aber Falls Distillery was won by Riversdale House, Llangollen.

* Carole Green, from ITV Wales, who hosted the awards ceremony.

Jim Jones, the Chief Executive of North Wales Tourism, said: “We are grateful to Harlech Foodservice and all our other sponsors for stepping up to the plate to support the Go North Wales Tourism Awards.

“Tonight is an opportunity to celebrate the best of best in the tourism and hospitality sector.

“The sheer volume and quality of entries this year has underlined why North Wales is a truly world class destination.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners but I would also like to stress that all the nominees are playing a vital role in championing what we have to offer visitors from home and abroad. They do an exceptional job in putting North Wales on the map.

“The priority now is to try to get back up to where we were in 2019 and to increase the spend of the visitors who come here by raising the quality of what we are doing.”

David Cattrall, the Managing Director of Harlech Foodservice, said: “We are delighted to once again be the headline sponsor of this wonderful awards ceremony and it’s very much a vote of confidence in the tourism and hospitality sector which has endured such a difficult time in recent years.

“This is our opportunity to give something back and celebrate the achievements of our core customers.

“That’s also why we have launched our new Trust Our Prices campaign with over 300 popular lines having their prices cut and frozen until January 1.

“The fundamental reasons why North Wales is such an attractive place to visit are still there and will continue to be in demand in future.

“We have amazing scenery and world class facilities so I am sure the sector will go from strength to strength.

“That means that the tourism and hospitality sector can play a big role in leading the economic recovery in North Wales.”

Winners at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards 

Go Large Hotel of the Year 2023 sponsored by Castell Howell Foods Ltd and won by Rossett Hall Hotel, Wrexham 

Go Small Hotel of the Year 2023 sponsored by Carbon Zero Renewables and won by Plas Dinas Country House Hotel, Bontnewydd 

Go Self Catering of the Year 2023 sponsored by  Pario Leisure Group and won by

The Rocks at Plas Curig, Capel Curig, Betws y Coed 

Go Glamping, Camping, Caravanning and Holiday Park of the Year sponsored by  GreenWood Family Park and won by Tan y Bryn Glamping & Touring, Llandudno Junction

Go Attraction of the Year 2023 sponsored by SF Parks and won by Llangollen Railway

Go Experience of the Year 2023 sponsored by Snowdonia Hospitality & Leisure Ltd and won by Go Below Underground Adventures 

Go Best Event of the Year 2023 sponsored by Penderyn Distillery, Llandudno, and won by Always Aim High Events, Llangefni 

Go Eating Out Experience of the Year 2023 sponsored by Office Equipment Systems Ltd and won by The Lemon Tree, Wrexham 

Go Tourism Supplier of the Year 2023 sponsored by Booking.com and won by Parisella’s Ice Cream, Conwy 

Go Young Person in Tourism & Hospitality Award 2023 sponsored by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and won by  Megan Harris, Abergele Golf Club 

Go Skills Enhancement in Tourism & Hospitality Award 2023 sponsored by Wales Ambassador Scheme and won by  Rhian Jones, Conwy Tour Guide 

Go New Tourism Business of the Year 2023 sponsored by  Thornley Leisure Parks and won by Tree Tops and Train Tracks, Mold 

Go Cruise North Wales sponsored by Cruise Wales and won by Wales Best Guides 

Go Pet Friendly Award 2023 sponsored by  Holidaycottages.co.uk Travel Chapter and won by Rivercatcher, Corwen 

Go Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Award 2023 sponsored by Development Bank of Wales and won by Llandudno Bay Hotel 

Go Resilience and Innovation Award 2023 sponsored by  Plas Dinas Country House Hotel and won by Go Below Underground Adventures 

Go North Wales Service to Tourism Award 2023 sponsored by  Tir Prince Leisure Group Llandudno Pier Trading and won by Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay 

 

Former Dinas Bran student nominated for top music industry award

* Eluned Ashwood has worked with a wide range of celebrities and is now in the running for an industry award.

A young stage technician who went to school in Llangollen and went on to work with stars such as Ed Sheeran and Lionel Ritchie has been nominated for a prestigious industry award.

Eluned Ashwood, 28, grew up in Trevor and went to school in Garth and Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Her first live sound experience was on a week’s work experience from school with Wigwam Sound Crew during the Llangollen Eisteddfod and she continued to do this as a volunteer for the next few years.

Eluned did sound and backstage work for productions by Llangollen Operatic Society and its Young ‘Uns’ junior section and also gained more experience during the Focus Wales festival in Wrexham.

After initially considering a career in science, she switched to doing a Live Sound course in Manchester.

Since then her career has blossomed, starting with a Lionel Ritchie tour she has gone on to work with celebs as diverse as Anton du Beke and Ed Sheeran, Pete Tong, and done orchestras and festivals including Isle of Wight and the Capital FM Summertime Ball.

* The 2023 Eurovision in Liverpool is one of the events for which she has been nominated.

Eluned has also worked behind the scenes at events in venues such as Buckingham Palace and Wembley.

She has now been nominated in the stage technician category of the Women in Live Music Awards for her work on the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool and The National's UK/EU tour. The presentation evening is in London on December 12.

Eluned’s proud mum, Sally Ashwood, said: “Women working in the live music scene is still a minority, so she has done extremely well to reach the position she has in her career.

“Llangollen, considering it’s a small town, has nurtured many successful techs in the creative industries and Eluned is one of them.”

* You can still vote for Eluned in the awards by going to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VF3JRF2

Scroll to category 29, Stage Technician, look down the list for her name and then check the box.

Entertainment programmes for tomorrow's Christmas Festival

This year's Llangollen Christmas Festival takes place tomorrow (Saturday).

It features:

* Free parking

* Market from 10am

* Parade at 1pm

* Sion Corn's Grotto

* Market stalls, crafts and street food

* Balloon sculpture and face painting

* Grand raffle

* Live bands, choirs and circus performers

* Fairground rides

* Punch and Judy 

* Bouncy play

* Christmas lights switch-on

* Fireworks display sponsored by The Wild Pheasant, Llangollen 

Eisteddfod aims to bring Llangollen community together again

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will be holding another community meeting on Monday December 4 at St Collen’s Community Hall at 7pm. 

The hybrid session will be an opportunity to provide an update on the 2024 concert programme, answer questions about their plans for next summer, and to invite residents to join the growing team of volunteers.  

It will take place on the same day the Eisteddfod announces its evening concerts for the core Eisteddfod week, which takes place from Tuesday to Sunday July 2-7.  

The Eisteddfod has been one of the highlights of Wales' busy cultural calendar since it was launched in 1947 to promote peace through song and dance. This is the third community meeting since the summer providing information to the local community. 

Since the Eisteddfod announced the partnership with Cuffe & Taylor, they have announced numerous gigs before and after the core Eisteddfod week, which will see the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Suede, Paloma Faith, Nile Rodgers, Jess Glynne and Kaiser Chiefs heading to North Wales next summer. 

Organisers will announce their full concert series for 2024 on Monday December 4, before bringing the community together for the public meeting.

Vice Chair Chris Adams said: "It is vital for us to communicate at every level with Llangollen and wider community.  

"There is a real sense of excitement about next year's Eisteddfod so why not bring our community together on the day we announce our concert programme.  

"The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has promoted peace through music and dance since 1947.  

"Like any other Eisteddfod, we have had to adapt to challenges and that is why we are delighted to be working in partnership with Cuffe and Taylor.  The aims and ethos of our unique Eisteddfod remain and we can't wait for the Summer.  

"It is important to us that residents have the chance to ask us questions and take advantage of their chance to jump the queue to buy the hottest tickets in North Wales this summer."

Talk on the history of St Collen's at the museum next Wednesday

Llangollen Museum presents ‘A History of St Collen’s Church’. an illustrated talk by Suzanne Evans, at 7.30pm on Wednesday November 29.

Llangollen-based Archaeologist Suzanne will give a presentation looking at both the history and the future of St Collen’s Church. 

She will examine the fascinating history and archaeology of the church building, as well as explaining the planned research and changes that will result from the St Collen’s Genesis programme that she is managing for the church.

In legend, St Collen, after whom our town is named, established his cell or church in Llangollen. Whether that original cell was on the same site as the church that stands today is not known. 

The surviving architecture of the present building points to a stone church of 13th century date, with changes in the 15th or early 16th centuries and other major alterations in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Entrance is £3 which includes refreshments.

Judy, 78, runs up a total of £1,105 from Great South Run

* Judy Smith in Portsmouth after completing the Great South Run at 78.

A Llangollen woman has raised over £1,100 for a cancer charity by completing a half-marathon at the age of 78.   

Judy Smith strode to success in last month's Great South Run in Portsmouth in memory of her late friend and well-known former local vet Sandra Woodhall with whom she founded and organised the famous Llangollen Round Challenge which has raised many thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK since it began in 2012. 

Judy's first estimate of the amount her run had raised for the same charity was just over £450.

But the final tally after her fundraising page closed is a magnificent £1,105.  

Judy had originally planned to compete in the Great North Run but a broken wrist put paid to that and instead she began training for the less demanding southern event of "only" ten miles rather than 13. 

Now she says: "I would like to say a very big thank you to all those who supported my efforts on the Great South Run in memory of Sandra Woodhall. 

"The total raised was £1,105, a fitting tribute to a remarkable and much-loved person, and Cancer Research UK will be very grateful for every penny of it.  Thank you!

"I had to change my plan to take part in the Great North Run but, unfortunately, I managed to break my wrist falling over at the Erddig Parkrun a few months earlier and had it in plaster, so the Great North Run would not have been a good idea. I therefore switched my entry to the Great South Run in Portsmouth.

“I manage to complete the run and, in truth, it was quite good fun and I actually enjoyed myself.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, with 25,000 runners, lots of bands playing, and cheering people lining the streets make you feel good and keep you going - even if you can't quite manage four miles an hour. I wouldn't have wanted to do it again next day though.”

British birds and wildlife exhibition at Llangollen Museum.

 

Local artist Trish Neil currently has an exhibition of her prints, cards and coasters of  British birds and wildlife at Llangollen Museum. All are for sale in the gallery.

New Dot Cinema brings down the curtain after eight years

The organisers of New Dot Cinema have announced that they will be winding down the cinema with immediate effect. 

A post on Facebook said: "This has been a difficult decision that we have spent several months pondering, but ultimately we no longer have the volunteer power for the show to go on.

 

"New Dot was set up in 2015 by Simon and Jen, and went from strength to strength over the years. At our height we were screening two films a month and regularly welcoming up to a hundred people to Llangollen Town Hall.  

"We’ve loved every moment spent watching acclaimed Oscar winners, obscure indie films, doing the Time Warp and cheering on Buster Keaton with you."

Joanna Stallard to stand for Parliament at general election

* Joanna Stallard is standing for Parliament in Dwyfor Meirionnydd.   

The daughter of two well-known members of the clergy who was brought up in Llangollen is to stand as an MP at the next general election.

Joanna Stallard, whose mother, Mary Stallard, was one of the first women priests in Wales and is now Bishop of Llandaff, and father, Andrew Sully, was Vicar of St Collen's until 2018, has been chosen as Labour candidate for the Plaid Cymru-held seat of Dwyfor Meirionnydd.  

She grew up in Llangollen from 2006, attending Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant and Ysgol Dinas Brân, and lived here until the family moved to Llandudno, where her father became vicar. He is now interim head of Christian Aid Wales.

From 2015, Joanna attended the University of Exeter where she studied History and German BA, including a year abroad in Würzburg, Germany, before moving to London in 2019 to work for the then Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones, as her Parliamentary Researcher in Westminster. 

Since then she has worked as a recruiter and project manager for Just Eat Takeaway from 2020-2022, and as a recruitment manager responsible for UK and Germany hiring across the business for a company called Atheneum, which she’s done since April 2022.

Growing up, Joanna was a Youth Representative on Llangollen Town Council, a member of the Denbighshire Youth Council as well as being one of the Denbighshire Representatives at the Welsh Youth Parliament, formerly known as Funky Dragon. 

It was through the Welsh Youth Parliament that she had the opportunity in 2014 to speak as one of two Welsh elected speakers during the Live Televised Youth Debate in Westminster.

There she met Speaker John Bercow and gave a commemorative speech at the dispatch box about the North Walian hero, Hedd Wyn, during which she used the opportunity to introduce herself through Welsh. 

* The clip can be found (40:00 minutes in): https://www.c-span.org/video/?322762-1/annual-british-youth-parliament-100th-anniversary-world-war

Joanna says is grateful to her school history teacher Richard Evans who encouraged her from a young age to consider a career in politics. 

Through school and the local Ectarc she had the opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg and to go on a cultural exchange trip to Estonia. 

She was also able to use her school work experience to do placements with Susan Elan Jones and Ken Skates MS which resulted in her completing a month's internship with Susan again during her university years. 

As well as being interested in politics, Joanna was involved annually in local productions of Llangollen Operatic Society and the Operatic’s Young Uns, highlights of which she says were playing Mr Toad in The Adventures of Mr Toad when she was 12, and Nancy in Oliver! when she was 17.

Joanna says she is very excited at the prospect of standing as the Labour Party candidate in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, which neighbours her hometown of Llangollen. 

The seat has been held since 2015 by Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts who had a majority of 4,740 at the 2019 general election.

Joanna says she already has experience of having campaigned in part of the constituency including Corwen, Cynwyd and Llandrillo, when it was formerly part of Clwyd South. 

On the day of the 2019 election, Joanna was responsible for covering that particular ward of the constituency and says she is very excited to return there to canvas, as well as to getting on the campaign trail in general across the vast constituency.

Eisteddfod's floral team make seasonal wreaths for festival

Ladies of the floral committee at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod spent hours yesterday in St Collen's Community Hall creating colourful Christmas wreaths which they'll be selling on behalf of festival funds from their stall in Market Street during this Saturday's Llangollen Christmas Festival.

Also on sale will be a selection of tree ornaments in the shape of small, snow-covered wooden buildings, 200 of which have been lovingly made by committee member Ceinwen Clark with the help of her husband Ron. They can be bought separately or as a whole village from the stall.      

* Ceinwen Clark with her tree decorations.

Smiling man with white beard to volunteer at Eisteddfod's Snowman concerts

* Chem, pictured on Llangollen Bridge, is staying tight lipped over his involvement with the Christmas Peace concerts.

Llangollen town crier Austin “Chem” Cheminais has confirmed he will be volunteering at the Snowman Concerts to be hosted by the Eisteddfod and NEW Sinfonia at the town’s International Pavilion Hall on December 23.  

As a former town mayor Chem is a familiar face around Llangollen and is also a close associate of Sion Corn (Father Christmas) in his long-time role as chairman of the Llangollen Christmas Festival committee.  

He remains tight lipped about his involvement with the concerts other than to say he will be playing a “leading role” in the glittering seasonal affairs. 

The concerts, organised by North Wales orchestra NEW Sinfonia, in partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, will raise money for the Eisteddfod charity as well as a local refugee cause.  

Organisers have promised that the two concerts, at 12.30pm and 3.30pm, will be a musical highlight of the festive season and the “best Christmas family event this side of the North Pole!”  

The shows will feature a selection of popular seasonal songs and carols sung by NEW Voices, the inspirational community choir, who will be joined by refugees from Ukraine, who will conduct, sing and play with NEW Sinfonia.   

Both concerts will culminate with a showing of iconic Christmas film “The Snowman” whose magical soundtrack will be brought to life by NEW Sinfonia.  

Chem, who is currently busy with his team organising this Saturday's Llangollen Christmas Festival, said: "Everyone knows that Christmas is my favourite time of the year. The Snowman events at Llangollen Pavilion will be an amazing family experience.  

“I can't wait to join the festivities but I have been sworn to secrecy over my exact involvement other than that I will be saying ‘ho, ho, ho’ regularly during both concerts." 

Organisers of the event have reported brisk ticket sales and are encouraging anyone who hasn’t yet done so to buy theirs as soon as possible. Residents can get tickets online at newsinfonia.org.uk or by visiting the Llangollen Tourist Information Office. 

John Gambles, a trustee of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod said: "Chem is a well-known character in Llangollen and we're delighted that he will joining us for our Christmas events.  

“We are so pleased to again be partnering with NEW Sinfonia to present these two extra-special Christmas concerts. They represent everything that the Eisteddfod is all about as we promote peace at Christmas."

Father Lee to appear on Netflix ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’

* Father Lee Taylor is contestant number 123 on Squid Game: The Challenge.

Father Lee Taylor, priest-in-charge of St Collen's Church in Llangollen, will compete as contestant #123 on the new record-breaking reality TV series: Squid Game: The Challenge which will premiere on Netflix tomorrow, November 22.

The 10-episode competition, dubbed ‘The biggest Netflix show ever’ on the trailer, will have the largest number of players ever to compete in the history of reality television. 

Father Lee was approached by Studio Lambert, an independent television production company known for producing Gogglebox, The Traitors, Race Across the World, The Circle and Four in a Bed, back in 2022 and asked if he would consider being one of 456 players from around the world to enter the competition show in pursuit of a record-setting cash prize of $4.56 million.

Squid Game: The Challenge is spawned from the original Netflix smash hit series 'Squid Game', a South Korean distopian drama which became Netflix's most-watched series, attracting 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first four weeks. 

Through a series of games, such as 'Red Light, Green Light', 'Sugar Honeycombs', and 'Tug of War', each player will be pushed to their limits and forced to ask themselves just how far they’ll go to win, with opportunistic alliances, cutthroat strategies and timely betrayals to follow. 

Father Lee says he was taken by surprise when Studio Lambert contacted him in August last year to encourage him to take part in the show. 

They urged him to watch the whole of the original series and gave him the reassurance that all contestants for Squid Game: The Challenge would leave ‘unscathed.’

* Squid Game: The Challenge will premiere on Netflix on November 22. 

Stunning Seal EV makes BYD for UK market stardom

BYD Seal launch drive by Steve Rogers

Wow. No, make that a double wow.

This is the Seal, a stunning showstopper from Chinese electric car builder BYD.

The company is new to Europe and the UK launching Atto 3, a mid sized electric SUV, in March followed by the Dolphin family hatchback, reviewed here last month. With Seal the company has its sights set on the premium market and if this anything to go by then the likes of BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar have a serious new rival to worry about.

We might not have heard about BYD (Build Your Dreams) but it has been building cars for nearly 20 years, using its expertise as a battery maker to produce everything needed for an electric car including semi conductors, the little electronic gizzmo that brought the car industry to a standstill during the Covid outbreak because there were hardly any around.

A fifth of the world’s supply of semi conductors comes from BYD so there will always be plenty on the shelf for their cars.

It has also developed an ingenious battery pack that is part of the car’s construction and contributes to its safety cell. The slimline pack is long, sitting between the axles, and super safe, apparently, because it is composed of cobalt free lithium iron-phosphate which is less likely to catch fire and lasts longer than the lithium-ion batteries used by everyone else.

For all that it is the Seal’s sleek outline that catches the eye and that is thanks to former Alfa Romeo designer Wolfgang Egger.

Like Dolphin the stunning Seal has design elements inspired by the ocean so I would direct you to the front running lights and rolling design of the dashboard to see if it conjures up waves and sea swells. The dashboard did it for me.

The wafer thin battery pack enables the car to sit lower to the ground enhancing its profile but might pose a challenge getting in and out if you are six feet odd and advancing in years. Yet there is no such problem with headroom, back or front, thanks to the low, flat floor. There is plenty of legroom as well.

There is no doubt the Seal’s cabin has an upmarket luxurious look and feel. The leather seats, standard on both models, are superbly cushioned while the cabin trim is undoubtedly premium quality and well thought out.

The bazooka blow has to be the 15.65in central touchpad that has the novelty of rotating from landscape to portrait either by a straightforward voice request, or by pressing a button on the steering wheel.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Is the super looking Seal all style and no substance? Get behind the wheel and the answer is a definite no. My driving partner and I thought we were taking off in the all wheel drive and threw it around a bit on some very wet, challenging Lake District roads. Grip and balance were impressive, even more impressive when we found it was actually the rear wheel drive model.

The all wheel drive, with its four drive modes, was equally impressive and lost none of the comfort in spite of stifferdamping.

The big difference between two and four wheel drive is a huge lump of extra horsepower for the latter. This is the Excellence model and its twin motors dish out a hefty 521bhp throwing you back in the seat as the car hits sixty in under four seconds. Maximum range is 323 miles and 354 miles for the 307bhp rear wheel drive Design which retails at £45,695, £3,000 less than the Excellence.

As with any new company breaking into the market, pricing is ultra competitive as is the specification so you are spoilt for goodies on both models. Safety is also high on the agenda with dozens of driver aids.

As a saloon Seal will not win any awards for boot space but is acceptable, although the aperture is a bit shallow so check before buying bulky items as they might not fit through the gap. There is also a useful 53 litre box under the bonnet.

Seal verdict: Without question my Car of the Year.

Fast facts

Seal Excellence AWD

£48,695

Twin electric motors 521bhp

0-62mph 3.8secs; 112mph

Range 323 miles

Fast 80 per cent charge: 26 mins

Zero emissions. 1st tax £0

Boot: 400 litres

Christmas Festival Group get First Aid training

* Above and below, members of the group are put through their paces by TNR Outdoors.

Last Thursday members of the Christmas Festival Group undertook First Aid training in preparation for next Saturday's event.  

The 12 people who successfully completed the course say they are now much better equipped to provide help and First Aid support if anyone should become injured or unwell during the festival.

Chair of the Christmas Festival Group Austin Cheminais said: "The training was provided free of charge by TNR Outdoors and trainer Tom Robinson did an excellent job in developing the skills and confidence of those who attended. The course was very practical and hands on and the day was both engaging and fun.

"It was a very successful day and I’d like to explore the possibility of organising First Aid training for others who might be interested in becoming Community First Aiders.”

MP praises 'treasure trove' of Llangollen Motor Museum

* Owner Geoff Owen (left) and Simon Baynes MP with a 1926 Vauxhall 14/40 at Llangollen Motor Museum.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes visited Llangollen Motor Museum.

Located in Pentrefelin Works, it houses a large collection of vintage and antique cars and motorcycles as well as numerous items of motoring memorabilia. 

Mr Baynes was provided with a tour by its owner, Geoff Owen, who talked about the vehicles on display and the conservation work of the museum. 

These vehicles included a 1920s Morgan, a 1930s caravan, a 1935 Standard, a BMW Isetta from the 1960s, a 1924 Citroen and a 1926 Vauxhall 14/40.

The museum was established in 1985 by the Broadhurst family at the site of their former sheet metal factory on the outskirts of Llangollen. 

It was then purchased by Gwilym Owen in 1997, before it subsequently passed down to his son and current owner, Geoff. 

In addition to running the museum with his wife Barbara and son Kyle, Geoff also runs a car restoration business.

The museum is open for the first week of every month, with footfall of approximately 4,000 people a year. 

Visitors include car and motorcycle clubs from across the UK, school groups, and tourists. 

More information can be found at: https://www.llangollenmotormuseum.co.uk/

Speaking after the visit, owner of the museum, Geoff Owen, said: “Our classic car museum is not just a collection of vehicles, it's a journey through time that brings back nostalgia and memories. We also inspire and educate children. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Llangollen into the future.”

Mr Baynes said: "I would like to thank Geoff and Barbara for providing me with a wonderful tour of the Llangollen Motor Museum. 

"Their passion and dedication to conserving and showcasing their fine collection of historic vehicles is evident in the numerous vintage and antique cars and motorcycles on display. It is a fantastic treasure-trove and one of Llangollen’s most popular tourist attractions.”