Santa's busy season ahead on Llan Railway

Santa is going to be busier than ever when he flies into Llangollen Station this year.

Because the grand old man will be hosting 11 days of Santa Trains on weekends from December 1s right through until Christmas Eve on December 24.

That’s a frantic four trains a day or a total of 44 for the entire Christmas season.

Festive travellers can join Santa and his elves aboard the steam Specials as they set out from Llangollen Station to head through the beautiful Dee Valley on a crisp winter’s day towards Carrog Station, which will be temporarily renamed Lapland to make Santa and his retinue feel at home.

There will plenty of opportunities for travellers to have their photograph taken with Santa and the elves on his sleigh.

Each boy and girl climbing aboard the trains will receive a special gift and accompanying adults be given a mince pie and some mulled wine.

Tickets are £14 with under-ones travelling free.
 

 Santa Special timetable: 

Day & Date			Times
Sat 1st Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Sun 2nd Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Sat 8th Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Sun 9th Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Sat 15th Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Sun 16th Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Thurs 20th Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Fri 21st Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Sat 22nd Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Sun 23rd Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430
Mon 24th Dec	1100	1155	1335	1430

Book online at: www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Travelling Troupe's big date on the coast

* The Travelling Troupe are in Barmouth next weekend. 

Llangollen Operatic Society has chosen the evergreen Cole Porter musical Anything Goes for its next production.

A talented cast from the society will present the feel-good show, with both words and music by Porter, at the Town Hall from Tuesday-Saturday, April 16-20 next year.

It will be the second time in 14 years they have staged the musical, the last time being to great acclaim in 1999.

Set in the carefree days of the early 1930s, Anything Goes tells the story of the madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London.

Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.

Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy Number 13 Moonface Martin aid Billy in his quest to win Hope.

The musical introduced such memorable songs as Anything Goes, You’re the Top, I Get a Kick Out of You and It’s De-Lovely.

Since its 1934 debut on Broadway the musical has been revived several times in the United States and Britain and has been filmed twice.

The society has arranged a get-together on the evening of Tuesday, September 18 in the Operatic Building, at the end of the passageway which runs alongside Maxine’s off Castle Street, when the show will be introduced and prospective new members are welcome.

·        The society’s Travelling Troupe is currently rehearsing hard for one of its most important gigs to date which comes up next weekend.

On Friday, September 7 they will be in Barmouth where they have been invited to give an exclusive performance at the town’s Dragon Theatre as part of Barmouth Arts Festival.

Tickets are still available for another big troupe occasion – their two showcase evenings entitled Lost in Music at Llan Town Hall on Friday and Saturday, September 14 and 15.

It will feature a myriad of medleys and numbers, ranging from opera to rock.

Tickets for Lost in Music are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre or Jades Hair & Beauty at £8 and £5 concessions, or by e-mailing Troupe@llangollen-operatic.co.uk 

Taste of Hungary bound for Llan

* Katalin Halmosi Clews.

A love of home cooking has given two Hungarian friends a tasty new business venture.

A Little Taste of Hungary will roll into Hamper 2012 the Llangollen Food Festival on October 20 and 21.

Katalin Halmosi Clews, married to Russell Clews whose family are one of only two remaining British motorcycling manufacturers in the UK, started her mobile catering business last year, with fellow Hungarian Andrea Balogh.

“We both enjoy cooking and we thought we would like to introduce Hungarian food to the UK,” said Katalin, 34, who arrived in the UK in 2001 to learn English.

She and Russell live in Whittle-le-Woods between Chorley and Preston, but used to live in Gresford near Wrexham. Partner Andrea lives with her Hungarian chef husband Peter, at Flint Road, Saltney Ferry.

They are looking forward to their first ever visit to Hamper Llangollen 2012, one of the UK’s top food festivals, as a springboard for their business venture.

This year’s festival is being upported by the rural development agency, Cadwyn Clwyd.

Cadwyn Clwyd’s contribution came via the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

Robert Price, Cadwyn Clwyd’s agri-food project officer, said: ” “In addition to many favourites, we have lots of new exhibitors like A Little Taste of Hungary coming this year.

“As well as providing a showcase for our fine indigenous producers there will also be an international flavour to this year’s event.”

Andrea said: “I came to the UK in 2006 to learn English. I had a job as an accountant in Hungary but I did not speak any English. I became an au pair in Chester from 2006 to 2007 ansd then I got a job as a caretaker in a lovely little school in Eccleston.

“One of my favourite things in Hungary was chimney cakes and I thought I could sell them over here, but no one had ever heard of chimney cakes. I love cooking,” said Andrea.

Although the food venture is part-time, mainly involving food festivals, Katalin and Andrea are hoping it will be the first step to owning their own restaurant. “That is a very, very big dream for us,” said Andrea.

“Food festivals like Llangollen are the best way for us to succeed. They attract people with an interest in speciality foods so they are the perfect venue to make people aware of Hungarian food.”

A graduate and qualified primary school teacher, Katalin also worked as an au pair to a family in Leeds when she arrived in the UK which is where she met Russell, then a student in Leeds University.

The pair married in Hungary in 2005 and went to live in Gresford while Russell worked for a financial adviser. When Russell was offered a job in the family’s CCM motorcycle business, based in Bolton, the commuting from North Wales convinced the couple to move back up north.

Katalin. a trained dancer, one-time model, teacher, interpreter, nursery nurse, also worked as a bar manager in Rossett and became friends with Andrea. Today Katalin works full-time as a teaching assistant in a Blackpool school for children with special needs.

“Andrea and I wanted to do something together and we both liked cooking. I used to cook for the family back home and was quite passionate about it, my mother taught me a lot. Hungarian cuisine also includes styles from Austria and Slovenia

“In Hungary we have different eating habits because after breakfast we have our main meal at lunchtime, probably a soup and then mains, and in the evening we have something light.”

The kind of food served from the van – including the famous chimney cakes - can be found on the website www.alittletasteofhungary.com

“There are not many Hungarian restaurants in the UK and we would like to try to raise enough money to be able to open our own restaurant,” said Katalin.

Clewes Competition Machines, CCM Motorcycles, was started in 1969 by Russell’s father who bought the entire BSA stock when the company ceased trading and he set about making motorcycles by modifying the BSA engines.

Over the last three years the company has just completed an order for 2,000 motorcycles for the Afghan police force.

In January alone the Vale Street factory in Bolton turned out 400 motorcycles. It has also made motorcycles for the Jordanian, Canadian and British armies, apart from producing enduro competition motorcycles.

Also starring at Hamper Llangollen 2012 will be a trio of Wales’s top chefs.

Graham Tinsley, the star of ITV’s Taste the Nation and a former captain of the Welsh Culinary Team, will be joined in the show kitchen by S4C favourite Dudley Newberry.

Completing the hat-trick will be the ever popular Dai Chef, who is returning to the event after an absence of several years

Robert Price added: “Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

“The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular – I can’t imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting.”

Llan throws open its historical doors

Some of Llangollen’s most historic buildings will throw open their doors to the public next weekend.

Open Doors is a free event which happens every September and is Wales’ biggest celebration of architecture and heritage.

It also features a programme of guided walks, tours but pre-booking may be necessary as organisers say space is often limited. 

Highlights from the programme next week are: 

Saturday and Sunday 

St Collen’s Church

10.30am-4pm Saturday and 1.30pm-4pm

on Sunday.

Booking: booking not required.

Access: fully accessible.

Guides will be available throughout the day to

talk about the oldest established institution in

Llangollen.

* St Collen's Church.

 Plas Newydd Talks

Time: 11am and 2pm. Talk lasts about one hour.

Booking: pre-booking required.

Access: accessible to ground floor.

Talks on the gardens, the carvings, the history of

the Ladies of Llangollen and Plas Newydd since

the time of the Ladies. Casual visitors will be

charged an entry fee. 

* Plas Newydd.

Llangollen Steam Railway Engineering Works

Time: 11am and 2pm both days.

Booking: pre-booking required.

Access: fully accessible

Since the reopening of the Llangollen Railway

in 1975 the organisation has built up a fully

functioning Engineering Workshop. Meet at

works entrance on Abbey Road adjacent to St.

John’s Church. 

Valle Crucis Abbey Guided Tours

Time: 11.30am and 2.30pm both days.

Booking: not required.

Access: accessible to ground floor.

Costumed guided tours by the custodian. The

Abbey will be open to casual visitors from

10am-5pm 

The Castle in the Air – Dinas Brân in

fact and fantas

Time: 12 noon-2pm.

Booking: not required.

Access: not accessible, steep climbs and good

walking shoes required.

Come and experience the history, myth and

magic that is Dinas Brân, the wonderful hill fort

and ruined castle which stands above Llangollen.

Sarah Pevely, community archaeologist and Ruth

Moore Williams, singer, musician, storyteller and

historical comedian will take you on a journey

back through time in the place where it all

happened

The event will be cancelled in severe weather

conditions. If the weather is poor please ring

01978 861958 by 10am to check if it’s happening. 

The Old Lock Up

Time: 12 noon-4.30pm.

Booking: pre-booking of sessions required.

Access: low step (2 inch), accessible to standard

width wheelchairs.

Owner, Sue Hargreaves, will give a talk and lead
sessions on researching the history of your

house at 3pm each day (please pre-book). She

will also show visitors around and there will be

an exhibition of the history of The Old Lock Up.

* The Old Lock Up.

Canal Pump House

Time: open 2pm-4pm.

Booking: not required.

Access: not accessible.

British Waterways will explain the history and

workings of the pump house which controls the

flow of water at the Horseshoe Falls into the

canal. Free parking at Llantysilio Green. NGR

SJ19500 43214. 

Saturday only 

A History Tour of Llangollen with

“Sarah Ponsonby”

Time: 10.30am, tour takes approx 90 mins.

Booking: not required.

Access: accessible – this is a street tour.

Meet at the Museum, Parade Street 

Wildlife Walk

Time: 1.30pm, walk takes approx two hours.

Booking: pre-booking required.

Access: good walking shoes recommended.

A walk with Rhun Jones, Denbighshire’s Senior

Countryside Warden, taking in Dinas Brân and

the Dee Valley. Meet outside the Tourist

Information Centre, Y Capel. 

History of Llangollen Pottery - Town Hall

Time: 2pm, talk takes about 45 minutes.

Booking: not required.

Access: there is a lift to the exhibition area.

An illustrated talk on the history of Llangollen

studio pottery. 

Motor Museum Tour

Time: 4pm (Saturday only).

Booking: pre-booking required.

Access: fully accessible with parking.

With more than 60 vehicles from cars to invalid

carriages and pedal cars, a 50s village garage

scene complete with owners quarters, the cars

that Granddad used to drive and a small exhibition

showing the history and development of our

canal network.

The museum is one mile out of

Llangollen on the road leading to the Horseshoe

Pass. NGR SJ20629 43588. 

Sunday only 

The Archaeology of Llangollen

Time: 10.30am and 1.30pm. Tour takes approx

two hours.

Booking: pre-booking required.

Access: accessible – this is a street tour.

A walk through Llangollen with Fiona Gale,

County Archaeologist, exploring Llangollen’s

history through its buildings. Meet outside the

Tourist Information Centre, Y Capel. 

For more information, call: 01824 706778, e-mail: heritageinitiative@denbighshire.gov.uk,
or wrie to: Open Doors Coordinator, Caledfryn, Smithfield Road, Denbigh LL16 3RJ

 

Two shows to tune into ...

* Martin Crumtpon, left, is interviewed recently by ITV's Adrian Masters. 

Llanblogger now has some more information on the story be brought you recently about an ITV Wales crew filming in Llan.

We were on hand to record the action ourselves when the station’s political editor Adrian Masters interviewed Martin Crumpton who, as founder member of the group Llangollen Protest, has been campaigning against the proposed closure of the town’s Cottage Hospital.

At the time we brought you the story we only knew that the filming was for the political programme the Sharp End.

But now ITV Wales producer Greg Lewis, who was also there on the day, has been in touch to tell us: “We were actually filming for a special edition of Wales This Week which will be broadcast at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 25.

“Themes raised in the programme will then be put to politicians in a studio discussion for Sharp End, broadcast Thursday, September 27.”

·        Here at llanblogger we believe it would be good if as many people as possible could tune in for these two shows as the hospital closure plan is one of the hottest topics in the town for some time.

Councils hit waste targets a year early

The Environment Minister has congratulated Wales’ local authorities - including Denbighshire - for collectively achieving their 2013 target to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill a year early.

The Landfill Allowances Scheme helps Wales to meet its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive.

The Directive aims to reduce the pollution potential from waste by capping the amount of biodegradable municipal waste Welsh councils can send to landfill at 50 per cent of the amount produced in 1995 by 2013, and 35 per cent of the 1995 figure by 2020.

Exceeding these allowances can lead to severe financial penalties.

The report, released by Environment Agency Wales, shows that between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012 all Wales’ 22 local authorities achieved their individual 2011-12 targets and also collectively hit the 2013 target a year early.
Between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012 local authorities sent 389,738 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill, which was twenty nine per cent less than the allowance for 2011/12. Collectively, Welsh councils also cut the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill by 560,262 tonnes against the 1995 figure, resulting in a reduction of fifty nine per cent.
As well as saving councils money, reducing the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill also cuts greenhouse gas emissions and helps reduce climate change.
Methane produced by the breakdown of biodegradable waste – such as paper, cardboard and kitchen scraps - in a landfill can have 25 times more impact on global temperature than carbon dioxide.
As a result, food waste is a key priority in Wales’ waste strategy Towards Zero Waste and every council in Wales runs a kerbside food waste collection service, which covers nine out of ten households.
The food waste collected is then composted or treated using anaerobic digestion to create biogas which can be used as a fuel.
Welcoming the report, Environment Minister, John Griffiths, said: “Today’s report is great news. I congratulate Welsh councils and residents for all their hard work and efforts to separate out the valuable recyclable materials and substantially reduce the amount of biodegradable waste disposed of in landfill.
“The figures show that councils are making significant progress in changing the way we deal with our waste. Burying all our rubbish in the ground and leaving it to rot is no longer an option – it uses up our precious land and damages our environment - and so it is essential that we to build on this progress and continue to meet the challenging EU targets right up to 2020.”
Councillor Neil Rogers (Wrexham), WLGA spokesperson for Environment, Sustainable Development and Waste said: “With councils facing the threat of substantial fines we hope people will continue to make the most of their local recycling facilities, as it is only through their participation that local councils will be able to meet the increasingly ambitious waste targets of the future.”