Louisa's first update from her Indian challenge ...

* The charity challenge cyclists in front of the Taj Mahal.

Llanblogger has just received the first update from Llangollen Operatic star Louisa Jones who is currently taking part in a marathon 220-mile charity ride through India.

Louisa, 33, has joined the Action for Charity’s Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge to raise cash for three women’s cancer charities.

She flew out to the sub-continent last Friday and after a short period of acclimatisation has just completed the first day of the gruelling challenge which will take her and around 90 other intrepid women cyclists from across the UK from the city of Agra – home of the iconic Taj Mahal - through the rural state of Rajasthan in north-west India to the capital, Jaipur.

Along the way Lousia and her fellow cyclists will have to contend with pothole-strewn roads and soaring temperatures.

In his first e-mail report from India, Louisa (pictured right) says: “Up at 5 this morning to transfer from Agra to the village where we started.

“We set off at about 9.30am. The scenes as we cycled along were amazing.

“We went through rural communities where people were visibly very poor, living in single room dwellings alongside their animals.

“People gathered by the roadside as we passed by shouting greetings in English and the local language.

“It was a strange feeling...as if we were somehow celebrities. Ninety women on bikes must have made for quite a sight though.

“What struck me was how [happy] people were. Clearly they didn't have much but everyone smiled at you.

“The roads weren't too bad and the terrain was fairly flat. Temp was about 30 today.

“We are at a camp tonight in tents. Currently sitting having a beer and discussing the day with my companions.

“More tomorrow signal permitting.”

Louisa  

To maintain their tight schedule the group, ranging in age from their twenties to sixties, will need to average around 40 miles a day.

The route followed will be far removed from the usual tourist trails and will be both on and off road.

In advance of her trip to the sub-continent Louisa has been raising the cash necessary to guarantee her a place on the ride.

Thanks to strong support from family, friends and work colleagues she managed to burst through the £2,800 qualifying barrier some months ago and pledges are still coming in.

She also plans to made a personal contribution of £500 towards her fundraising total, which will be distributed between Breast Cancer Care, Jo’ Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

+ To make a contribution towards Louisa’s challenge go to http://www.justgiving.com/louisa-jones2012/eurl.axd/5805f2ef88f5e749aa33e11e94dbaeb7 

Letter to llanblogger over Sainsbury's plan

Your High Street:

Sainsbury's have got their planning permission to build an out of town store on the print works site. Both supporters and objectors and the developer accepted that the new store would do harm to our existing small businesses in the high street. The only debate was, how much harm? Everyone, including Sainsbury supporters agreed that if permission was to be granted, then conditions should be applied to ensure that our existing traders did not get put out of business by a retail giant like Sainsbury.

Well, we now know what conditions have been imposed, and because of ambiguous wording in the conditions, despite all the noble words of those who spoke up in defence of our existing businesses, we find that Sainsbury can have its own in-house butcher, and its own delicatessen. Oh, and by the way; they have submitted another planning application to try to get permission for a cafe; which they failed to get first time around.

I have two questions. Who neglected their duty in failing to ensure that the resolution of the planning committee was not translated into conditions that would properly protect the traders in our town centre? Perhaps they would care to respond  to explain why at a time when every high street in Britain is under threat, they have chosen not to to use established planning policies to protect ours?

Phil Jones

Tyn Dwr

 

Ysgol Dinas Bran group enjoys a trip to Catalonia

* The Dinas Bran group who travelled to Catalonia.

A group of 32 pupils from Years 10, 11 and 12, accompanied by Mrs Jones, Mrs De Court, Mr Evans and Mr Prescott, recently set out on a 28 hour bus journey bound for Catalonia in north eastern Spain.

After an early evening ferry to Calais, followed by an overnight journey through France, the tired group arrived at the 4* Hotel Top Calella Palace, one hour ahead of schedule, the following day. 

Following check in and familiarisation with the hotel, pupils then had three hours free time to explore the resort of Calella.  

Staff were able to find a traditional tapas bar to enjoy some of the local delicacies whilst pupils managed to locate the local Burger King to sample dishes of a more North American nature. 

Friday’s excursion took the group to the Port Aventura Theme Park in Salou, home of both Europe’s highest roller coaster (Shambhala) and also the fastest (Furius Baco).  

Whilst the daredevils amongst the group knew precisely where to head, the less adventurous were nonetheless also well catered for and a fantastic day was had by all. 

Saturday’s itinerary to Barcelona was jam packed and there was much to get through during the long day.  

It included three hours free time around the famous La Rambla area to shop, eat and take in the world famous street performers, a whistle stop walk around the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, a visit to the Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona, and an evening visit to the Magic Fountains in Plaça Espanya, where several pupils in the group managed to get slightly wetter than they had perhaps anticipated.

Whilst staff thought that the frenetic nature of the day may have taken its toll on pupils’ energy levels, such assumptions were soon quashed when the evening disco at the hotel began, with an extremely large Dinas Brân contingent dancing along to tunes both old and new. 

On Sunday morning, after another early start, the group was soon on the road once more back to Spain’s second city.  

Following a quick visit to the Olympic Stadium en route, the morning was spent in Poble Espanyol, a huge estate with areas representing the different regions of Spain. 

Shopping was the principle focus of the morning before the group headed into the city for further free time in Barcelona.  

Late afternoon the group made their final stop of the tour in Parc Guell - an Andoni Gaudi inspired park in the hills overlooking the city. 

Following dinner the group was taken to the local pub to play pool and also to indulge in

a spot of karaoke.  

Following a later start on Monday, pupils were given three hours free time to do some last minute shopping and to visit the beach ahead of the long journey home which began at three in the afternoon.

After an overnight coach ride through France and an earlier than expected ferry crossing, the Dinas Brân group arrived safely back at the Pavilion car park at 4.30 Tuesday evening.

AM calls for Hillsborough-style abuse probe

A Hillsborough-style inquiry should be held to get at the real truth about institutionalised abuse in Great Britain.

That was the suggestion from Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates during a TV interview earlier today (Sunday).

Mr Skates (pictured right) was one of three AMs who took part in a discussion about the fallout from allegations of abuse at the former Bryn Estyn children’s home in Wrexham, which eventually led to the resignation of BBC director general George Entwistle on Saturday evening.

Asked for his opinion on the week’s unfolding story Mr Skates, himself a former journalist, said he feared what had happened at the BBC in the wake of false accusations against a prominent Conservative figure on the Newsnight programme might lead to “more timid” journalism but added it was essential that journalists treated witnesses to child abuse with much more care in the future.

He also said he thought it was important that two inquiries into child abuse ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron earlier in the week should go ahead as it was essential that the truth be discovered.

As the local member for the area around Bryn Estyn, Mr Skates was asked by the presenter what local reaction to the week’s events had been.

He said feelings had been “running incredibly high” and that local people simply wanted the truth to come out.

Going further, he called for a Hillsborough-style review into the whole question of “institutionalised abuse” in the country.

Mr Skates also spoke of his work with the colleagues in the Labour-led Welsh Government to ensure that the rights of young people in care went beyond the ages of 18 or 21. 

Town solemnly remembers the war dead

llanblogger picture special

 

 

 

* A veteran stands before the Castle Street war memorial.

 

 

* Youth organisations join the parade. 

 

 

 

*Veterans and army cadets march through the town centre after the ceremony. 

 

 

 

* Llangollen Silver Band head up the parade.

 

 

 

* The Rev Andrew Sully leads the service of remembrance at the war memorial.

 

 

 

* The service attracted many young people. 

 

 

* Army cadets parade before the service.

LLANGOLLEN came to a standstill this morning (Sunday) as hundreds of people packed the town centre to remember the war dead.

Roads leading into Castle Street were closed off  by police to allow the traditional parade and ceremony around the war memorial to go ahead.

Llangollen Silver Band began the proceedings by leading a procession of army cadets and veterans’ organisations to the memorial where they assembled, standards proudly fluttering.

The service of remembrance then began, led by the Rev Andrew Sully of  St Collen’s parish church.

After opening prayers, the sounding of The Last Post heralded the observance of the two minutes silence.

Following the exhortation, a large number of local organisations were called to lay poppy wreaths at the base of the memorial and nearby plaque commemorating the fallen of two world wars and other conflicts.

As the wreath-layers came forward the names of the dead were solemnly read out.

Following the singing of the hymn O God Our Help in Ages Past, prayers and the blessing by the Rev Sully, Reveille was sounded by a bugler to conclude the service.

Local organisations then marched in a parade, again led by the silver band, around the town centre to the applause of the large poppy-wearing crowd.

A further service was held shortly afterwards in St Collen’s Church. 

Poignant letters home from WWI soldier go on show

* Royal Welch Fusiliers in World War One.

To coincide with Remembrance Day, Denbighshire Archives has a small exhibition commemorating the sacrifices made in the First World War.

It is a celebration of the life of Private Henry (Harry) Jones 8481, 2^nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, based on surviving letters held at the archives in Ruthin Gaol.
 

* Royal Welch Fusiliers badge.

Pvt Jones was baptised in the parish of Llanfwrog in 1887, married Elizabeth Williams in 1910, and had three children, the youngest of whom was named ‘Mons’after the battle in which his father was fighting when he was born in December 1914.

His letters home are plain, with some rather unique spelling, but are also very touching - the letters of a simple man, who was obviously missing his family and finding life in the trenches grim.

His letters to Elizabeth talk about how cold and wet it is at night. He mentions receiving a parcel from Mrs Dowell with a scarfe [sic] and tobacco and says how it will be very warm for his neck. In the same letter he tells her that Mons is a very nice name for the baby and that he likes it very much. In a letter dated 17^th December 1914 he writes: “Dear Wife we are getting very bad weather hear raneing [sic] every day and cold. Dear Wife I hope it will be over very soon it is very cold in the trenches this is worser [sic] than carrying the hod with little dan.” 

He asks for cakes and sweets to be sent to him instead of tobacco and cigarettes and says that he is going to sing in the trenches for the Germens [sic].

In his last letter dated 23 February 1915 Harry asks after his father who seems to be in poor health. 

He wants Elizabeth to feed him up well with soup and oxo. 

Part of this letter reads: “Well my Dear pleas rember [sic] me to father and give him my best love and tell him to cheer up and tell him the war will be over very soon now and I will be able to see him again…” 

It is in this letter that he asks Elizabeth to send him a photo of her and the children, even telling her that she can get them “very cheep [sic] on a post card.”

Pvt Jones was killed on 1^st March, 1915 - St David’s Day - before the photograph could have reached him.
Opening hours at Denbighshire Archives are: Monday (closed), Tuesday                             9.30 - 16.30, Wednesday 9.30 - 16.30, Thursday 9.30 - 16.30, Friday                                 9.30 - 16.30.

Fawlty Towers is Twenty Club triumph

llanblogger's review of Fawlty Towers by the Twenty Club at Llangollen Town Hall

THEY made only a dozen episodes back in the mid-seventies but Fawlty Towers rapidly grabbed a place in the TV hall of fame as possibly the funniest show ever to come out of Britain.

And Llangollen Twenty Club’s interpretation of this comedy icon is also likely to go down in local history as one of its best ever productions.

Those lucky enough to have seen it at the Town Hall – there wasn’t a ticket to be had for the sell-out Friday and Saturday performances but a few seats were available for the rare Saturday matinee – will testify to just how hilarious it was.

But then they could hardly go wrong when the man taking the lead role of Basil Fawlty was the very personification of the lanky lunatic who runs the county’s most dysfunctional hotel with his bone-idle and domineering wife Sybil.

Despite his tender years,  Ally Goodman has already impressed in a number of Twenty Club productions but Fawlty is surely his finest hour to date.

Not only did he look uncannily like the super-rude and outrageously ham-fisted mine host but he also captured his manic mannerisms and sardonic speech patterns to a tee.

He shone in the first two parts of this three-episode homage to the great show, The Hotel Inspectors and A Touch of Class, but positively – and quite literally - burst into flames in the final act based on that unforgettable episode when a group of Germans come to stay at the Newquay hotel and Basil, still reeling from the concussion he sustained from a runaway extinguisher when a blaze breaks out in the kitchen but determined not to mention the war, unintentionally fires off a salvo of Nazi-related insults as he takes their lunch orders.

Every offensive phrase gets him deeper in the mire, from his “Eva Braun cocktail” to his “hors d’oevres must be obeyed”.

But in the end it’s his unabashed goose-stepping Hitler impersonation which brings the medics dashing into the hotel to cart him back to hospital where he belongs.

If no decent Fawlty Towers interpretation could function without a brilliant Basil then it must also have a marvellous Manuel – the bumbling waiter from Barcelona of whom his vicious boss says it would have been easier to train a monkey.

Here fate  and some great casting provided the Twenty Club with another delicious dead ringer in the shape of  Richard Mascarenhas

From his hangdog look and droopy moustache to his baggy trousers and duck-like walk he was every inch the hapless Spaniard who is tortured almost as much by the vaguries of the English language as the insults and slaps of Fawlty.

Manuel would have dominated every scene he was in if his overbearing nemesis Basil hadn’t been on stage at the same time to give him a real run for his comedic money.

Fawlty’s wife Sybil is such a little baggage that she ought to be able to keep her monstrous husband in check but not even her own insufferability is enough and, in fact, only serves to make him even worse.

Portraying all this with suitable nuance is quite a task but one Twenty Club first-timer Helen Belton was perfectly up to.  She was understated yet still formidable in the role.

The rest of the cast shone too, from Bill Large as the drunken buffoon Major Gowen to Anna Turner as Polly the maid who is possibly the only completely sane member of the hotel’s surreal staff  team.

In all there were about 20 of them on stage at various times and  where they were and what they were supposed to be doing at any given moment in the madhouse that was Fawlty Towers was a herculean logistical task which director Chrissie Ashworth managed as competently as any wartime general.

Sorry, I forgot, don’t mention the war!