Mark's shoestring garden reaps awards hat-trick

* Award-winning gardener Mark Jones. Picture by Mandy Jones 

A gardener has scooped a hat-trick of awards after transforming his once-neglected courtyard into a stunning Italian-inspired haven – on a shoestring budget.

Mark Jones, 42, who works as deputy head gardener at the Pendine Park care organisation, spent six years creating the Mediterranean-style retreat at his Pontcysyllte home, using reclaimed materials, bargain finds and even free plants.

The dad-of-one, helped throughout by his daughter Lilly, 11, was crowned the overall winner of the Llangollen Rural Communities Best Kept Garden Awards, also taking home titles for Best Containers and Best Courtyard Garden.

* The Mediterranean-style garden which landed him the awards. 

Mark, who joined Pendine Park four years ago after working in factories, says turning his lifelong passion into a career has been a “dream come true”.

He now oversees a team caring for the outdoor spaces across Pendine Park’s nine care homes and is studying for an NVQ to further his skills.

Mark said: “To make gardening my career is amazing. I love being creative and can picture how I want something to look and can find a way to make it happen.

“I didn’t see how I could make it my job and ended up working in various factory roles, but I built up my skills and knowledge which improved my confidence and I started looking for gardening work and I have never looked back. I am very lucky to do my hobby for a job.

“Being outdoors makes me happy and it is what I have always loved doing. Growing up I remember my dad didn’t enjoy gardening but I was always digging around in soil and my love for gardening work grew from there.

“Working at Pendine is very rewarding, especially when you see residents enjoying the outdoor spaces we have created.

* Mark's award certificates from Llangollen Rural Community Council.

“Being outdoors in nice surroundings is one of the best things for your mental health and I feel very proud to be responsible for keeping their outdoor spaces nice and tidy.”

Mark’s wife Naomi entered him into the competition for the garden he describes as his “pride and joy”.

He said: “ I was completely shocked to win. I didn’t even know my wife had entered the competition for me so I really wasn’t expecting it. I was absolutely lost for words when they said my name.”

Mark’s inspiration for his Tuscan style garden came trips to visit family in Italy which led to hours and hours of web-based research to make his vision a reality.

The six-year labour of love saw Mark trawl the internet on the hunt for bargains and free items.

He said: “It should have cost thousands to do but I have managed to get it all done for just a few pounds except the shed and the table and chairs. The plants are all from cuttings so they have all been free.

“My daughter Lilly has been a huge help. She was only little when I bought the house so she has learned so much with me doing various jobs. Now she helps out with things like pruning and cutting and she loves it as much as I do.

Sarah Edwards, Pendine’s artist-in-residence, said: “Mark is a wonderful gardener and we are all so proud of him for winning these awards.

“He is a very humble man so it is lovely he has got this recognition for his talents. We are so fortunate to have Mark and our team of gardeners on board here at Pendine. Their work makes a huge difference to our wellbeing and helps to enrich the lives of our residents through having access to green spaces and nature.

“The outdoor spaces in our care homes mean so much to residents, family and staff, and they bring a lot of joy for us all. All of the homes are surrounded by gorgeous gardens which is a big part of what we do to improve the quality of life for our residents and staff alike.

“As well as ensuring the arts are part of everyday life, creating a beautiful environment is a golden thread that runs through everything we do at Pendine.”

Stage groups come up with something marvellous for Sarah

* A lively Abba routine was the fitting end to a marvellous night of entertainment.

Many of the people she helped put on a show came together to celebrate the life and talent of Sarah Marshall in fine style at the Town Hall last night (Saturday).

Performers from Llangollen Operatic Society, their junior section the Young 'Uns and Llangollen Pantomime Group, ably assisted by the Julie Thomas dancers, presented a lavish programme of entertainment marking how well Sarah choreographed a cavalcade of their productions in the years before her untimely death exactly 12 months ago.

And the resulting concert, "Something for Sarah" was rewarded with a full-house audience who lapped up every minute of the the programme of song and dance, which included brief tastes of their previous musicals and pantos plus a fun quiz and a prize raffle which brought the house down.

Providing the first-rate musical accompaniment was the Elen Mair Roberts band. 

The night also raised funds for two of the charities closest to Sarah's heart - Nightingale House Hospice, whose care she received in her final days, and Friends of the Earth.  

As one of the evening's comperes Chrissie Ashworth said: "Sarah worked tirelessly, weaving her magic into everything she did, the results of which were bright, inspired and managed to make the least confident look confident and polished, such was her talent."

The show was stylishly produced by Tracey Kempster-Jones. 

* The opening numbers from the Operatic ladies.

* The show was in memory of Sarah Marshall.

* More Operatic Society magic.

*An all-action zumba sequence from Julie's Thomas's group.

* Recreated scenes from the Young 'Uns smash-hit version of Oliver (above and below).

 

* Part of compere Robin Crowley's nautical presentation.  

* In the Navy with a Village People routine from the Operatic and the Panto Group.

* Echoes of a past panto, Old King Cole.

* Compere Chrissie Ashworth.

* Nightingale House trustee Chris Burgoyne explains the work of the hospice.

* More from the Operatic ladies.

* Julie Thomas, up on stage, teaches some line dance steps to willing audience members.

* Masterminding the stand-up quiz from the stage.

Why did A5 temporary lights stay long after work ended?

* The traffic build-up on Regent Street on Friday afternoon.

Llangollen people are asking why they have had to put up with traffic congestion caused by roadworks with no work taking place.

Gas works at the junction of Regent Street, Hill Street and Chapel Street began on October 6  - except they didn't as, despite barriers being erected and lights being switched on, no ground appeared to have been broken on the blocked-off pavement or carriageway until a few days later.

Three trenches were eventually dug in the road. But these were filled in and the road surface restored by last Thursday.

Although the works were due to continue until Saturday, there was a hope that they might be removed on Friday, before the usual weekend traffic build-up began.

But they remained firmly in place causing queues backing up well past Birch Hill by mid-afternoon. And it was virtually the same story in the opposite direction.

* Unnecessary congestion on Regent Street on Friday.

It is understood that the lights will now be removed later today (Saturday), with the usual lights at the Castle Street junction being restored.

People are now asking why this situation was allowed to occur on a key trunk route with all its attendant pollution and frustration for local drivers and through-traffic alike.

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards described the situation as "unacceptable" and said she was raising the matter with Denbighshire officers.

* A perfectly clear road the other side of the traffic lights as queues formed at either end.

Denbighshire appoints new chief executive

* New chief executive Helen White

Denbighshire County Council has today (Friday, 24 October) announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive.

Helen White, who joins Denbighshire from Taff Housing Association, has been appointed to the role.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council said: “This is an excellent appointment for Denbighshire and I would like to congratulate and welcome Helen to this new role on behalf of our staff, elected members and residents throughout the county.

“The selection process has been very rigorous and we had a number of strong contenders in the running who all performed to an extremely high standard.

“As a top performing council in Wales which was praised as ‘well-run’ in its Panel Performance Assessment at the end of 2024, Denbighshire has a strong senior team in place and we are now looking forward to working with our.new Chief Executive to.lead this.team and to continue that success into the.future."

A Welsh speaker who was raised in Henllan, Helen has been Chief Executive Officer with Taff Housing since 2019.  Having started her career in housing and community development, Helen has over 20 years’ experience working across the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Following her appointment, Helen said, "I'm honoured to be taking on the role of Chief Executive. I know it is a challenging time for so many in our communities, I am looking forward to working alongside dedicated colleagues to help make a positive impact in the county I was born and raised in.

"I want to thank the Leader of the Council and all of the other Elected Members for putting their faith in me as a new Chief Executive."

Tom Grennan heads for Live at Llangollen show next summer

* Tom Grennan will appear at Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday July 5.

Multi-platinum-selling artist Tom Grennan will bring his electrifying live show to Llangollen next summer as part of a run of headline dates. 

The chart-topping BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated star will head to TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday July 5.

 

Friends of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod can access pre-sale tickets from 10 am on Tuesday October 28 via llangollen.net and tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday October 31. 

Today's announcement follows a period of immense success for Tom Grennan who celebrated landing his third consecutive UK No. 1 album in August with the release of Everywhere I Went Led Me To Where I Didn't Want To Be. His unstoppable ascent has seen him sell more than 120,000 tickets in the last 12 months including his recent sold-out Grennan '25 arena tour.

Grennan burst onto the music scene in 2016 as the guest vocalist on the Chase & Status track All Goes Wrong, before stepping into the spotlight with his gold-certified debut album Lighting Matches, in 2018. Since then, he’s delivered a string of fan favourites, including Little Bit of Love, By Your Side, Lionheart, Found What I’ve Been Looking For, Let’s Go Home Together (with Ella Henderson), and How Does It Feel.

His breakthrough came in 2021 with Evering Road — a UK Number One album packed with platinum hits and Top 10 singles – which he followed up with 2023’s chart-topping What Ifs & Maybes.

With more than 1.5 million album sales, 2.5 billion streams, an MTV Award for Best UK Act, and a sold-out 25,000-capacity headline show at Gunnersbury Park, Grennan’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Last year, his festive single It Can’t Be Christmas became a seasonal hit, reaching Number 3 in the UK charts.

 

Tom Grennan joins Billy Ocean, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics and David Gray among the first headline announcements for TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026, which is presented as part of an ongoing partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

 

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Dave Danford said: “Our line-up for next summer just keeps getting better and better! We’re so excited to welcome Tom Grennan to the iconic Llangollen Pavilion as part of his tour. There’s nowhere quite like Llangollen surrounded by mountains, music, and magic - this is going to be an unforgettable night! Tickets will fly for this one!”

 

* For more information go to llangollen.net 

 

 

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Twenty Club ready to go over the top with Blackadder

* A scene in the dugout from Blackadder Goes Forth. All pictures by Helen Belton assisted by AI.

Llangollen Twenty Club's are getting ready to go over the top with their production of Blackadder Goes Forth.

Spanning World War 1 and life in the trenches, the play to be staged at Llangollen Town Hall from Wednesday - Saturday November 12/15 with a matinee, incudes episodes encapsulating the valiant efforts Blackadder makes to get himself away from the front line and out of danger.

His dry wit and cynical outlook on the various situations he finds himself in are to be brought ably to life by an enthusiastic and talented cast.

With the stark reality of what WW1 was all about, the final episode is set to be a real tear jerker.

A spokesperson for the production said: "We've been fortunate enough to source a company that deals with authentic WW1 costumes, so we're very excited about that."

* Tickets are available at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollentwentyclub

* General Melchett.

* Captain Darling.

                                                 * Lord Flashheart.

Hospice fundraisers to sell Christmas cards outside Town Hall

* A previous year's Christmas card sale by the local Nightingale House group.

The Llangollen Nightingale House Fundraising Group will be outside the Town Hall on Tuesday October 28, from 10am until 1pm, with a large selection of Christmas cards. 

Said an organiser: "Please come and have a browse."

Volunteers needed to help with railway's 'ghost' tunnel safety exercise

* David Hennigan, Trust Manager at Llangollen Railway, Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager at Llangollen Railway, Arron Jones, Locality Manager from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Mike Williams, a member of the Railway’s Operations Team at Llangollen Railway.

Llangollen Railway is inviting members of the public to take part in a major safety exercise in partnership with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service on Tuesday 11 November.

The Berwyn Tunnel Evacuation Exercise will simulate an emergency, giving railway staff, volunteers and emergency services the chance to test their joint response procedures in a realistic setting. 

To make the exercise as effective as possible, the Railway is looking for around 60 volunteers from Llangollen and the surrounding areas to take part. Participants will play the role of passengers and help staff and emergency services practise a full evacuation from the train inside Berwyn Tunnel.

 

“This is a rare opportunity for members of the community to get involved behind the scenes at Llangollen Railway,” said Mike Williams, a member of the Railway’s Operations Team. 

* The interior of the impressive 689-yard-long Berwyn Tunnel, built in the 1860’s and viewed from the cab of a locomotive earlier this year. It is not unusual for the weather conditions to be completely different at either end, which often leads to ghostly mists rising out of the portals. There are also tales of ghost sightings when it was restored in the early 1990’s by volunteers, who finally reopened the railway all the way back to a brand-new station at Corwen in 2023.

“Our volunteers and staff take passenger safety extremely seriously, and this joint exercise will help ensure we are fully prepared for any eventuality. We’re keen for local people to join us and see the teamwork and professionalism that goes into keeping our railway safe. 

"Built in the 1860’s, Berwyn tunnel is 689 yards long and the longest single bore tunnel on a UK heritage railway. It is narrow, curved and in a remote location with very limited road access. It therefore offers a great and fascinating challenge for a rescue training exercise.”

 

Arron Jones, Locality Manager from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, added: “Working closely with partners like Llangollen Railway helps us ensure that our crews are ready to respond quickly and effectively to any incident. Exercises like this are vital for testing communication, co-ordination and safety procedures, and they also demonstrate how seriously we all take the safety of the public.”

 

Volunteers should be available to meet at Llangollen Station at 5.30pm for a short safety briefing before the train departs at 6.30pm. The exercise will conclude at around 9.30pm.

 

* To register your interest, please call 01978 860 979 or email info@llangollen-railway.co.uk. You can also sign up online at: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/news/berwyn-tunnel-evacuation-exercise/

 

Emeli Sandé to star in bespoke Eisteddfod concert

* Emeli Sandé will appear at Llangollen Pavilion on Friday July 10.

In a world-exclusive, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is set to shine in 2026 with a one-night-only orchestral spectacular starring global music icon Emeli Sandé.

On Friday July 10 the powerhouse performer will take centre stage in a bespoke concert created exclusively for the historic festival.

Making her highly anticipated Llangollen debut, the multi-award-winning artist will reimagine her greatest hits and fan favourites in brand-new symphonic arrangements, performed live with The Absolute Orchestra.

The Scottish superstar is the first headline act announced for next summer’s festival, leading a fully seated, specially curated show that continues Llangollen’s tradition of world-class artistic innovation.

It follows the success of 2025’s orchestral collaboration between KT Tunstall and the Absolute Orchestra — a standout moment of the summer that sparked a new Eisteddfod tradition of bold, genre-defying symphonic performances.

Further announcements will follow soon.

Friends of Llangollen can access pre-sale tickets from 10 am tomorrow via llangollen.net and tickets go on sale at 9am on Saturday.  

Emeli Sandé burst onto the music scene in 2012 with her debut album Our Version of Events, which featured timeless hits such as Next to Me, Read All About It (Part III), and Clown. 

The record became the UK’s biggest-selling album of the year, earning critical acclaim and praise from legendary artists such as Madonna and Alicia Keys.

Since then, Sandé has continued to evolve artistically, with her acclaimed albums Let’s Say For Instance (2022) and How Were We to Know (2023) highlighting her emotional depth and musical versatility.

Raised in rural Aberdeenshire by a Zambian father and working-class Cumbrian mother, Sandé grew from a shy teenager into one of the UK’s most influential and celebrated voices. 

Her emotionally charged performances and soaring vocals have earned her multiple BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello Award, and an MBE for services to music — securing her place among Britain’s most decorated musical talents.

Joining her on stage in Llangollen will be The Absolute Orchestra, conducted and arranged by the Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford. 

Renowned for pushing creative boundaries and pioneering cross-genre collaborations with artists such as KT Tunstall and Kosheen, the orchestra will blend soul, pop, and symphonic brilliance into a truly unforgettable night of live music

On her upcoming Llangollen debut, Emeli Sandé said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be performing at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for the very first time next summer. It’s such a unique and powerful celebration of music. I can't wait to perform with the incredibly talented musicians of The Absolute Orchestra, which makes the occasion even more special!”

Artistic Director of the festival, Dave Danford added: “We’re thrilled that Emeli is coming to perform in Llangollen next summer. She’s a hugely popular artist, and very much at the top of her game right now. 

"We’re particularly excited that this show will be a bespoke one-off performance with orchestra, and that we’re presenting something that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Following a record-breaking 2025, organisers anticipate 2026 to be the festival’s biggest and most exciting year yet. 

With a recent landmark expansion in dance categories and a more diverse programme than ever before, the Eisteddfod is set to reaffirm its status as one of the world’s most inclusive and dynamic international arts festivals.

* For more information and to purchase tickets go to llangollen.net

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Inner Wheel to host whist drive and supper

 

A Suzuki Vitara - but not as (w)e know it

Suzuki e Vitara launch drive

The name is familiar, very familiar, but this is a Suzuki Vitara unlike anything that has gone before.

Vitara has been the cornerstone of Suzuki for the best part of four decades, but this is not just a model update. It is new from the ground up, built on a purpose built electric platform and instead of a petrol engine it has an electric motor. Yes, Suzuki has finally given us an electric car and I am going to tell you whether it has been worth the wait.

Meet the e Vitara and the new face of Suzuki. It is fitting the company has kept the name, after all Suzuki is Vitara rather than the other way round, but first let’s get the essentials nailed down.

Two battery options, 49kWh or 61kWh, with ranges of 214 miles and 264 miles respectively, two models, Motion and Ultra, all wheel drive, which is rare in this segment, and with a competitive starting pricing.

Pricing: £26,249 will secure a pearlescent white 49kWh Motion. Metallic colours are £650 extra or £950 for two tone. Top of the range Ultra is £32,049 and £34,049 for Allgrip.

We have waited a while for Vitara to join the smart set and here it is. A compact SUV, no surprises there, with a smart, modern interior, by that I mean a bang up to date digital displays rather than outdated dials, and contrasting tan trim around the cabin but only on two body colours. I always felt Suzuki lagged behind on interior quality, too much hard black plastic, so this is a decent step forward.

The tan dashboard finish breaks things up with a 10.3in digital driver’s binnacle and 10.1in central touchscreen for navigation, infotainment, etc but separate physical switches for heating, and hooray for that. The splash of colour is carried over to the door trim and seats on the two tone Ultra model.

That pushes you to the top end of the price scale but I would be looking at the entry Motion with the option of the 49 or 61kWh battery because the spec level is generous and includes reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, smartphone connectivity, keyless entry, navigation and a heat pump which preserves driving range. It is not unusual to see 25-30 miles disappear on a frosty morning with the heating going full blast so a useful addition.

Add in a suite of safety features, with front collision braking and rear cross traffic alert, and this is looking like a substantial package.

The higher battery output Motion also throws in heated front seats and heated steering wheel. Does anyone really need a heated steering wheel?

Additional features for Ultra are wireless phone charger, adaptive auto dipping headlights, higher grade sound system, 360 degree camera, glass roof panel and powered driver’s seat. The upgraded Allgrip model gets hill descent control and trail mode and is surprisingly good at keeping you on the straight and narrow in challenging conditions.

Cabin space is good and there is loads of backseat legroom room while the sliding back seat is a useful addition. The 310 litres of boot space is down on some rivals who are topping 400 litres but it will take three good sized suitcases. If the children have grown out of pushchairs and the like it might not be important.

Performance from the 61kWh battery is adequate, some rivals are quicker off the mark but surely slamming foot to the floor does not match with driving an electric car. The ride favours comfort although there should be no complaints of intrusive body roll on twisting roads.

Vitara can take a maximum charge of 150kW so away from home a top up to 80 percent takes 45 minutes, a bit longer than rivals which can do the job in under 30 minutes. You will save a heap of money charging at home which will take between six and nine hours depending on battery size.

A worthwhile new feature for Suzuki is an extended 10 year car and battery warranty (the industry standard for the battery is eight years) activated after three years but you must have the car serviced at a Suzuki dealer. And private buyers get a free wall charger.

Suzuki has been lagging behind on the electric front but given its solid reputation for reliability and exceptional value should put e Vitara on an equal footing with its rivals.

Fast facts

e Vitara Ultra 174bhp

£32,049

Battery: 61kWh

0-62mph 8.7secs; 93mph

E consumption: 4.2 miles/kWh

Boot: 310-562 litres

1st VED £10

Insurance group 23 

Funeral details given of well-known Llangollen people

* St Collen's Church where all the funerals will be held.

Three well-known Llangollen people have their funerals at St Collen's Church over the next week or so.

Because many people are likely o want to attend details of them have been posted on the Facebook page of the Llangollen Group of Anglican Churches.

* The funeral of former Llangollen own clerk Ian Parry will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday October 29

* Jane Edwards, a much loved and respected figure in the town, will have her funeral at 11am on Tuesday November 4

* The funeral of Llangollen Operatic Society president Stella Bond will take place a 11.30am on Friday November 7.

The funeral of Siegfret (‘Fred’) Horaczek will also take place on October 29, at 10am.