Wildwater canoeing back on the Dee

WILDWATER canoeing returns to the River Dee this weekend.
Competitors from across the UK are expected to descend on Llangollen for the English and Welsh Open Championship on Saturday and Sunday.

Races include the classic course from Horseshoe Falls near the Chainbridge Hotel down to the town centre, sprint race, team races and a wavehopper race with the Llangollen Cup being presented to the overall winner.

Paddlers from the armed forces are also taking to the water for the Inter-services Championships.

Great Britain Wildwater Canoeing, whose chairman Peter Schofield is father of London 2012 bronze medallist Jonnie, is running the weekend.

Chester paddlers Colin Cartwright, Simon Goulding, Dave Bradburn and Brian McNulty are among those expected to take part.

Racing starts at noon and spectators can watch the action from the riverside for free.

John takes the plunge to boost Christmas festival

* John Palmer braves the freezing cold River Dee.

 

 

 

* John Palmer, left, and Ken Skates AM on the first leg of the

challenge – a six-mile run.

AN INTREPID Llangollen grandad has braved the wild waters of the River Dee to raise cash for the town’s Christmas festivities.

For the second year running, 65-year-old John Palmer, a former outdoor pursuits instructor who chairs Llangollen Chamber of Tourism and Trade, decided to take on a tough physical challenge to support the festival, which will take place this year on Saturday, November 24. 

Last year at around this time, he swam two miles through challenging white water from the Chain Bridge to the centre of Llangollen, raising £400 for the seasonal event.  

But this year John decided to make it even tougher by first doing a six-mile run from Corwen to Glyndyfrdwy and then swimming the remaining six miles to the Horseshoe Falls just outside town. 

Doing the challenge alongside him was supposed to be Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates, himself quite a seasoned runner.   

However, that’s not quite how it turned out on the day of the challenge, which was  Friday of last week. 

Because, despite setting out together, only John completed the course 

He said: “Although misty and cloudy all week, Friday dawned bright, clear and much, much colder.  

“The running section of the challenge passed without incident, although the climb out of Carrog took its toll and on reaching Glyndyfrdwy, we were able to catch our breath, take a drink and prepare for the next stage.  

“But then an urgent meeting meant that Ken diverted back to Llangollen by bike while I carried on down the river as originally planned.” 

John added: “Plunging into the cold river was quite a shock and, as the river was quite low it made the current quite sluggish on the flat bits and very bumpy through the rapids. 

“By 6pm the Horseshoe Falls were finally in view and as I got out of the water I remember thinking that was the daftest thing I had ever done.  

“I don’t think that I have ever been so cold in my life.  

“Bearing in mind that was a relatively short swim I have huge respect for those people who swim the channel or huge distances down rivers.” 

So far, the sponsored challenge has raised over £400 for the Llangollen Christmas Festival, which will begin at 1pm with Santa’s parade through the town centre and feature Santa’s grotto, market stalls, children’s entertainers, live bands, craft stalls, morris dancers and a hog roast. 

The festival, all proceeds of which will go to Hope House Hospice, ends on a high note as the Christmas lights are switched on at 5.30pm. 

John and Ken would like to thank ProAdventure and Mr Iwan Davies of Coed-Y-Glyn Farm in Glyndyfrwdy for their generous help and Austin Cheminais for his support.

 

 

 

* Ken Skates gets on his bike as

duty calls.

 

More human remains found

The BBC's North Wales news website was reporting just a few minutes ago (4.49pm, Friday)

that North Wales Police, who are investigating the murder of Flintshire vet Catherine Gowing, say more human remains have been found on the banks of the River Dee in Cheshire.

The remains were found at Ferry Lane, Higher Ferry, Chester by an off duty Cheshire police officer at 14:15 GMT on Friday.

A post mortem examination will be carried out.

On Thursday, remains were discovered in a pool at Sealand in Flintshire.

Miss Gowing disappeared on 12 October. A man, 46, has been charged with her murder.

Councils sign waste digestion contract

The North Wales Consortium of Denbighshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council and Flintshire County Council has announced it has signed a 15-year contract with Biogen, the anaerobic digestion (AD) specialist, to treat the food waste the three councils’ collect.

Subject to planning permission, Biogen will construct and operate a new 22,500 tonnes per annum AD facility at Waen, St Asaph in early spring 2013. The facility expected to be fully operational by April 2014.

The contract has been approved by the Welsh Government which is committed to contributing towards the build costs and the annual operating costs over the 15-year contract.

The plant at the Waen will process the food waste to generate 8000 MWh/yr of renewable energy for the national grid, and produce a biofertiliser for local farmlands. The power generated from this plant will be sufficient to power 1,500 homes continually for one year.

This type of technology is a recognised solution to the UK Government’s stated objectives in complying with both EU landfill targets and de-carbonising the UK electricity market and the electricity generated will benefit from premium selling prices through the Feed-in Tariff scheme.

Chair of the project's management board, Cllr Mike Priestley, said: "We're delighted to have reached financial close with Biogen. The anaerobic digestion facility will be a vital piece in the jigsaw to enable us to increase our recycling rates and to divert more waste away from landfill than ever before."

Councillor David Smith, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “We are delighted to make this announcement. This new AD facility will be good for the environment, because it will generate electricity from the food waste that people have thrown away. BiogenGreenfinch have a proven track record in delivering AD facilities.”

Richard Barker, CEO of Biogen, said: "We are delighted to be moving ahead with this exciting and environmentally important project and look forward to becoming part of the community.”

New book recalls Llangollen's bards

* The cover of the new book.

A FORGOTTEN father of the modern eisteddfod is recalled in a new book produced by a history group in Llangollen. 

More than two centuries ago, Jonathan Hughes was a keen competitor and supporter of local eisteddfods, winning the chair at the King’s Head – now the Royal Hotel – in the town in January 1789.

He later became a prime mover behind the expansion and wider promotion of the eisteddfod concept and its evolution into the major cultural event it has now become.

Despite this major contribution he has been largely forgotten.

But now Hanes – Llangollen – History has gone some way to setting the historical record straight by including Hughes in its new book, Remembering the Bards  - Cofio’r Beirdd.  

The 96-page bilingual book by Nia Rhosier features Hughes along with two other Llangollen poets, Taliesin o Eifion and Gwilym Ceiriog, who are all included on the Bards’ Memorial in the grounds of local mansion and home of the famous Ladies of Llangollen, Plas Newydd.

Gill Thomas, secretary of Hanes – Llangollen – History, said: “Our aim is to make the story of their lives and work more accessible to local people, visitors and Welsh learners and, by providing an introduction to the bards and their poetry, we hope the reader will be encouraged to explore further this important aspect of our cultural heritage, which is sometimes forgotten.

“Interest in the project arose when one of our members mentioned that there was a mystery surrounding the grave of Jonathan Hughes, who was buried in St Collen’s church yard, Llangollen in 1805.

“Our first reaction was, ‘who was Jonathan Hughes?’

“Once we realised that, in his day, he was a famous local poet and caroller who was important in the history of the modern eisteddfod, there was no stopping us.

                                                                                                                                     * Taliesin o Eifion.

“There was quite a bit of information in Welsh  - but very little in English - including a book published in 1951, Beirdd y Gofeb, by Daniel Williams, which covered the lives and work of the three Llangollen poets referred to above. 

“Their lives spanned nearly two hundred years, from 1721 to 1919, and all three had been awarded bardic chairs.”

Research for the new book revealed  Jonathan Hughes  was one of only four poets who competed in the 1789 Llangollen eisteddfod - although the situation was not helped by deep snow and a frozen River Dee.

Afterwards, he wrote to the Gwyneddigion , a cultural society of expatriates from north Wales, based in London, asking for their support and promotion of Welsh literature.

It was after this that, under the auspices of the Gwyneddigion, the format was changed and more competitions were introduced, encouraging an increase in interest of both competitors and the public, leading to the modern eisteddfod.

The book also shows that Taliesin o Eifion won the first ‘black chair’ – after his death - at the National Eisteddfod held in Wrexham in 1876, while Gwilym Ceiriog won several chairs, including one at the National Eisteddfod, Carmarthen, 1911 and an eisteddfod in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States.

Gill Thomas added:  “We felt these poets were so important that information about them should be available to everyone, and a bilingual book would be the best way to achieve this.

 

           * Jonathan Hughes                                                                            * Below: Gwilym Ceiriog.

“The research and writing took 12 months, and we are grateful to Nia Rhosier for coming to our rescue when it looked as if the project was going to flounder when our first author was unable to start the work. 

“Sadly, we have still not found Jonathan Hughes’s grave or gravestone, which it seems was removed when the church was altered in the 19^th century, but it is on our list of projects and perhaps we will be successful one day. “

As the book, which features colour and black and white illustrations, is a not for profit publication, it has been priced at £4.95 to cover costs and is available in Courtyard Books, Llangollen Museum, Plas Newydd, Llangollen Motor Museum, Passers Buy Antiques, Siop y Siswrn (Wrexham and Mold) or by post price £5.95. For more information visit: www.hanes.llangollen.co.uk

Advice service helps 2,500 gain extra benefits

Latest figures show that Denbighshire County Council-funded Welfare Rights Advice Services have helped 2,500 local people gain an extra £4.7 million in social security benefits and tax credits during the six months to October 2012.

This brings the running total to the major milestone of £101 million over the past 16 ½ years since the start of Denbighshire County Council.

A council spokesperson said: “This extra money is really good news for local people, the local economy and the council services when we are all living with the effects of the recession and welfare reform.

"Securing this extra income helps people who work on low incomes, reduces hardship for those that can’t and helps with essential outgoings like Council Tax, rent and mortgage payments.

"More claims for benefits like Pension Guarantee Credit and Disability Benefits can result in a larger grant to the Council from the Welsh Government. 

"These extra millions if spent locally on goods and services will have generated and sustained many jobs. Evaluation questionnaires returned from people who used the service showed how it has improved their independence, health and reduced their need to see a doctor.

“These results reflect the dedicated work of Advisers in independent and quality marked services: Denbighshire’s Citizens Advice Bureau, Rhyl Benefits Advice Shop and the Council’s Welfare Rights Team."

Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Inland Revenue figures show that an estimated £26m in benefit and tax credits are unclaimed and £3m underpaid each year in Denbighshire alone. 

Help to claim this extra income will lessen the effect of the UK Government’s Welfare Reforms which will result in an estimated loss of £14m per year in Denbighshire.

Denbighshire residents who want independent advice or help with benefit and tax credit claims, disputes and appeals can contact the Council’s Welfare Rights Helpline on Freephone 0800 1696625 on weekdays between 10am and 4pm. 

All calls are free and confidential. More information on Council funded advice can be found under Welfare Rights on the A to Z of the DCC website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Human remains found by missing vet search teams

Officers from the North Wales Police Search Teams and the Regional Underwater Search Team deployed in Sealand, Flintshire in the ongoing search for missing Mold vet Catherine Gowing have discovered human remains.

Senior Investigating Officer DCI Mark Pierce said: “Following information received by members of the public, recent searches have focused on fields in Manor Road, Sealand. Yesterday search team officers discovered human remains in a shallow pool within the field known locally as the “Lum”.

“At this time those remains have yet to be formally identified as this will require medical as well as forensic examination. A post mortem is planned for later today (Thursday 1^st November).

 

"At this time we are not able to comment further however Catherine Gowing’s family have been informed of this distressing development and clearly our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time. I would ask that they be allowed privacy to come to terms with this news.”

Catherine Gowing has not been seen since approximately 8.40pm on Friday 12^th October 2012 when she was sighted on CCTV leaving Asda Supermarket in Queensferry. Since that time 46 year old Clive Sharp has been charged with her murder.

Anyone one with information about sightings or any suspicious activity in the Sealand area is asked to call North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.