Llan author roots out a jubilee mystery

llanblogger book review

*  Why was Coed Uchaf planted?

It has been said that the beech tree is a symbol for the written word, the innate wisdom contained within it and for ancient learning.

And all can be applied to the latest edition of the book Coed Uchaf by Llangollen author Simon Collinge.

As with the first edition, this centres on a copse of around 100 trees – mainly beech – in the Upper Conwy Valley.

Contained within its 40 pages of stunning, high quality photographs and sparse yet highly descriptive text is the mystery of why the wood, known as Coed Uchaf, came to be planted on a lonely hilltop overlooking the town of Pentrefoelas.

Tradition has it that some individual trees or small clumps of Scots pine – popularly called ‘Charley Trees’ - are the survivors of those planted in Wales after 1745 by supporters of Bonny Prince Charlie to commemorate the Jacobite Rising.

Another tradition is that pine trees were deliberately planted in prominent places in order to mark the line of the ancient routes along which the drovers of old led their cattle out of Wales to the markets in England.

But, appropriately for this year of Elizabeth II’s celebration of 60 years on the throne, the author suggests the answer to the mystery could relate to a jubilee occasion, albeit the jubilee of an earlier monarch.  

In the first edition, he concluded that Coed Uchaf could not have been planted to mark the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 because a 1906 postcard he saw showed trees overlooking Pentrefeolas and, quite simply, he believed Coed Uchaf could not have grown so quickly.  

However, after further research, he discovered beech trees can grow rapidly, at the rate of up to 10 metres in 20 years.

This fact, he believes, makes it distinctly possible the wood was actually established in 1887.

The latest incarnation of Coed Uchaf itself may have only appeared just years ago, but Collinge believes it is one of many small woods whose roots grow deep in the rich soil of our region’s past.

The Upper Conwy valley is rich in history, a key route between England and the North Wales Coast, and some earlier version of Coed Uchaf could have been a lookout post as the Iberians, Celts, Romans, the Medieval Welsh, kings and queens who all passed by.

The author says, quite rightly, that with his book one can “experience the visual power and unique atmosphere and remember the brief moment, when you see a world which has long existed and will remain after you have departed”.

Simon Collinge is a freelance media producer with over 35 years media production and teaching experience.

Assistant director of media at Yale College, Wrexham until 2008, he trained as a graphic designer. and then taught animation, film and TV production, graphic design and photography.

He also works as an educational consultant for Edexcel, ESTYN and Protocol National.

This is the first in a series of projects by him exploring identity and space.

All photographs are available as prints of various sizes.

The book is available from Courtyard Books in Llangollen, hardback at £29, or direct from

http://www.blurb.co.uk/bookstore/detail/3682502, where there is a choice of a cheaper soft cover version at £23.

"Growing concerns" over new waste service, says council

Denbighshire County Council has just issued a statement about problems with the new  x2 waste and recycling service which was introduced in a number of areas including Llangollen this week.

It reads: "Concerns have been growing among members of the public regarding the changes to their waste collection and recycling services but Denbighshire would like to reassure people that the roll out is almost complete.

"Cabinet Lead member for Public Realm, Councillor David Smith. said: 'The expansion of the service is the largest we have ever carried out in one go and we would like to thank people for their patience during this time.

'We know there have been problems in several areas, where deliveries of wheeled bins have not coincided with the new collection timetable and we apologise to anyone who has been inconvenienced in any way by this.

'Our teams are working flat out to rectify any problems as well as finishing off setting up the new service.'

'Some older people are contacting us with concerns about moving the wheeled bins and we are trying to resolve their concerns as quickly as possible. They may be able to get assisted collections and I urge them to contact us. Customer Service Centre 01824 706101 (English) 01824 706100 (Welsh)

'Officers are out now meeting residents of all ages and trying to resolve issues and we are getting to these people as quickly as we can.'

'I would also ask anyone experiencing any problems to contact Denbighshire's Customer Services Centre so their issues can be properly logged and resolved.'"

Avoid travelling says Assembly Member

Heavy rain and high winds across the North have caused mayhem for travellers and people going about their everyday business.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s Assembly Member for the North, said: “It’s been an awful day of weather and anyone who can avoid travelling should do so.

 

"My thoughts are with those who have been affected by the flooding and let’s hope emergency defences are sufficient to deal with any problems.”

Road impassable due to flooding

The A55 is currently impassable due to flooding between J11 and J12 in both directions. The A5 is also blocked between Llandygai and Bethesda. Due to the heavy rain and winds roads in the surrounding area have also been affected.

Traffic Officers, working with North Wales Police and the North Wales Traffic Management Centre, have closed the A55 between J11 (eastbound) and J18 (westbound) (at the Conwy tunnel). Diversions are being organised by the North& Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency (NMWTRA) - the main diversion route (the A5) is also blocked therefore local routes will undoubtedly become very busy. NMWTRA/North Wales Police are working on this and will be positioned on the A5 at Betws y Coed. North Wales Police are warning the public not to travel unless absolutely necessary and to monitor local radio stations and the Traffic Wales website/information line for updates.

New police boss wants more bobbies on the beat

New North Wales commissioner Winston Roddick says getting more officers on the streets is his priority, the BBC reports on its local news website.

And the story contrasts the different approaches to policing by taken by the comissioners who all started in their new positions today (Thursday) following last week's elections. 

The commissioners have the power to set policing priorities and force budgets, and also to hire and fire chief constables.

Speaking to BBC Wales before taking up his new office, Mr Roddick said he had pledged to get more officers on the beat and he would be sticking to that priority.

He said: "The important thing is to ensure there are enough police officers on the streets, so they are able to cope with the crimes taking place."

Mr Roddick stood as an independent candidate for the north Wales post, and was the Welsh government's former top legal officer, as well as being a senior judge.

The BBC story goes on to say he will be working with Mark Polin, the chief constable of North Wales Police, who warned the outgoing police authority this week that his force had already been stretched dealing with a series of major incidents.

Mr Roddick's (pictured right with Alun Michael, left) counterpart in south Wales, the former Labour MP and ex-Home Office minister Alun Michael, has also been setting out his priorities.

In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, he accepted that the south Wales force faced major funding challenges.

"There is a massive reduction in the finance from central government," he said.

"That's having a dramatic effect, though I think the South Wales Police and the previous police authority have responded pretty well in the way they have dealt with an unacceptable situation.

"We have to get the finances right."

He also rejected the comments from Mr Roddick about more police on the streets.

"It's too crude. People don't want people on the beat just for the sake of seeing them," he argued.

"The public are more sophisticated than just asking for bobbies on the beat."

Town councillors object to Sainsbury's plan changes

Members of Llangollen Town Council have recorded their objections to a list of changes proposed by the developer to conditions imposed on the planned new Sainsbury’s supermarket in the town.

At their meeting on Tuesday, they were asked to comment on the conditions before they are formally considered by the county council.

The list includes conditions covering:

·        An in-store café, which the developers wish to see deleted.

·        Permitted noise emissions, which they want to see varied.

·        Changes to the timing of a submission of a BREEAM certificate relating to the store’s compliance with design and assessment methods for sustainable buildings.

·        A revision in the wording relating to the provision of an additional pedestrian access into the site, referring to a revised or additional pedestrian access.

 

Cllr Phil Thane opposed all of the conditions, starting with the one relating to a an on-site café, which he said had been imposed at the request of Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies at the time planning permission was granted for the store as a way of safeguarding the café in the nearby Riverside Park.

Cllr Tony Baker said a café would provide extra permanent jobs for the town.

Councillors voted to object to all the conditions, but with some members voting against making objections.   

However, they voted unanimously against the final condition in the list relating to additional pedestrian access to the site.

The mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, said access to the site was seen as essential and had been an important part of the original planning application.  

 

Twenty Club hoping for smash hit with Glass Menagerie

Fresh from their success with the iconic British comedy Fawlty Towers, Llangollen’s Twenty Club’s will next present the American classic, The Glass Menagerie.

This memory play is seen as the most touching, tender and painful of Tennessee Williams’ works and is the gripping portrayal of a post-depression family in crisis.

And the Twenty Club is now seeking people to take on a number of demanding roles, which are:

Tom, 21, the narrator and character of the play. He desires to become a writer and escape, but is tied down to his family because he has a sister with a physical defect and a mother whom is dependent on his income. The characters are trapped in a menagerie of Tom’s memories.

Laura, 23, is a painfully shy character of pure compassion. She has largely withdrawn herself from the outside world; her fragility resembles her glass menagerie which she so lovingly devotes herself to. A childhood illness has left her crippled, one leg slightly shorter than the other and kept in a brace.

Amanda, in her 40s and Laura and Tom’s mother, she is a woman who is frantically clinging on to memories of a vanished and genteel past. She is admirable, charming and laughable.

Jim, 23, an old acquaintance of Tom and who works with him at the warehouse selling shoes, he is the potential suitor for Laura and plays an important role in the climax of the play.

Open auditions for the play will be held on December 4, at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber, Llangollen. Readings will be done from material provided.

The Glass Menagerie is scheduled to be performed on March 7, 8 and 9 next year in the Town Hall, Llangollen.

For further details, contact Noreen Turner on 01978 810623, or Natalie Evans on 07970 924543, e-mail: nxe04rb124247@hotmail.com

llanblogger's recent review of the Twenty Club's production of Fawlty Towers can be seen at:  http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7125418539113091547#editor/target=post;postID=6398787778084259218