Llan chamber donates to Ruthin flood victims

* Flood-hit houses in Ruthin.

Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism is making a £200 donation to the Mayor of Ruthin’s appeal for the town’s flood-hit families.

At their meeting at the Hand Hotel on Monday night, chamber members were told by the chair John Palmer: “I suggest we donate £200 to the appeal. I believe it would be a nice act of solidarity for those poor people affected by the flooding.”

Members agreed to go ahead with the donation.

+ Denbighshire County Council has received requests from members of the public on where they can leave financial donations following last week's flooding.

The council is reminding people that they can make a donation to the Ruthin Mayor's Appeal Fund or the St Asaph Mayor's Flood Relief Fund.

To donate to the St Asaph Mayor's Flood Relief Fund, make cheques payable to: “The Mayor's Charity Account" and cheques can be dropped off at the Cathedral Diocesan Office in St Asaph.

To donate to the Ruthin Mayor's Fund, make cheques payable to “Cyngor Tref Rhuthun” or “Ruthin Town Council”. The account number is 20788929, sort code: 202576 and money can be deposited at Barclays Bank on St Peter's Square, Ruthin.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: "We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity and it's humbling to see communities pull together at a time when co-operation is needed the most.

"Receiving and distributing goods as a result of all this goodwill has become un-coordinated and we don't want to be in a position where goods don't get to people quickly. That is why we are now calling on people to donate financially instead.

"The council is extremely grateful for this co-operation."

Art and craft show comes to Town Hall

An art and craft fair will be held at Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday, December 8, from 10am-3pm.

It will feature ceramics, textiles, cards, jewellery, teddy bears, silk scarves, painting on ceramics, feltwork, glass painting, soaps, make-up, paintings, woodwork, knitting, decorated boxes and Christmas wreaths.

Also on sale will be quirky Christmas gifts and decorations.

Refreshments will be available.

A spokesperson for the organisers said: "Come along and take a look at the unique and gorgeous array of hand-made designs and crafts.

"You will be delighted by the stylish mixture of art and craft on display. That elusive Christmas present could be waiting for you to buy."

Dog fouling problem highlighted

* Llangollen's own anti dog fouling poster. 

The Daily Post has a story today that will interest people in Llangollen where the amount of dog fouling is a cause for concern.

The paper says that in the past eight years councils in North Wales have received more than 9,250 fouling complaints.

Denbighshire has handled over 1,000 complaints since 2008, it adds.

See the report at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/12/03/north-wales-councils-receive-well-over-9-250-complaints-about-dog-fouling-55578-32350299/

Classic car rally stops off in Llan

 

 

* The Hand car park is a hive of mechanical activity as entrants prepare for the next gruelling leg.

 

* A gleaming Mini Cooper is ready for the off.

* Robert and Susan McClean prepare their 1962 Rover 100 for the road.

* A rally-seasoned Porsche from Belgium.

* A BMW roars off from the Hand car park.

* A Porsche needs a little coaxing as it heads away from Llangollen.

A host of magnificent metal filled the car park of the Hand Hotel when entrants in a prestige classic car endurance rally spent the night in Llangollen.

Le Jog 2012, the 18th Land's End to John O'Groats Reliability & Touring Trial, which takes place over four days, has been described as the toughest event of its kind in Europe due to the severe weather drivers taking part often encounter along the route.

One team taking part, Robert and Susan McClean from Barrow-in-Furness, said they had encountered snow on the way to Llangollen from South Wales on Saturday evening.

However, they said they had managed to avoid the worst of it in their rally-seasoned 1962 Rover 100.

Organised by HERO – Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation – Le Jog is open to cars built before 1984 and attracts entries from across Europe.

In the Hand car park was a cavalcade of vehicles from various parts of Europe, including Germany, Belgium and Holland.

After setting off from Land’s End early on Saturday morning, the rally took a direct line to the Severn Bridge before heading to South Wales and weaving its way north to Llangollen.

After breakfast drivers travelled on through Cheshire and Lancashire, Northumbria and into Scotland.

Snow on the hills above town

* Snow on the hills overlooking Llan.

Although there was none of the white stuff in town, a dusting of snow was visible on the hills overlooking the town this morning (Sunday).

On social media sites there were reports of a light covering of snow overnight in places like Coedpoeth, Bwlchgwyn and Ponciau.

Llan Railway announces its 2013 programme



* Llan Railway has a packed programme for 2013.



 

Everything from a steam gala to murder mystery trains and from real ale evenings to a teddy bears’ picnic feature in next year’s packed programme of special events at Llangollen Railway. 

Supplies of next year’s brochure (pictured below) including the timetable were available for visitors at Llangollen station on the first day of the Santa season yesterday (Saturday). 

 

Key events in the pipeline for 2013 are: 

·       9 & 10 and 15-17 February - Day Out with Thomas ( note Sat/Sun plus Fri/Sat/Sun 

·       23 March - Diesel day 

·       13 April - Real Ale train evening 

·       19-21 April - Spring Steam gala with return of the steam Railmotor 93 and newly restored Auto Trailer 92 

·       11 May - Murder Mystery 

·       19 May - Teddy Bears Picnic 

·       1 & 2 June - Day Out with Thomas weekend 

·       8 June - Real Ale train evening 

·       22 & 23 June - Heritage Railcar Gala 

·       6 & 7 July - Classic Transport Weekend 

·       13 July - Murder Mystery evening 

·       27 & 28 July - 1960s weekend 

·       3 & 4 with 8-11 August - Day Out With Thomas 

·       30 & 31 August with 1 Sept - Steam gala 

·       14 Sept - Murder Mystery evening 

·       21 Sept - Diesel Day 

·       12 Oct - Real Ale Train evening 

·       19 & 20 plus 26 & 27 October - Day Out with Thomas weekends 

·       31 Oct - Ghost Train evening 

·       2 November - Murder Mystery evening 

·       3 November - Ride the Rocket evening 

·       9 & 10 November - Remembrance Weekend 

·       30 November - Santa Specials followed by 1, 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 20-24 December

·       7 December - Real Ale Train evening 

·       26-31 December & 1 January - Mince Pie Specials. 

The weekday daily running seasons dates from Monday 25 March through to Friday 4 October and a further spell for half term 21 Oct to Friday 8 November. 

There is no train service from 2 January to 1 February and weekends only from Monday 4 February through to Friday 22 March (apart from half term week 11-16 February). 

Train fares are: 

Standard Return fares for one return trip on day of purchase: £12 Adult, £10 Senior, Child £6, Family 2+2 £30. 

All day Rover tickets are available for unlimited travel on day of purchase: Adult £14, Senior £12, Child £7 Family £36. 

On board dining is also promoted with options for cream teas and picnic baskets or children's party bookable at 72 hours notice. 

A new section in the brochure entitled Along the line promotes the attractions of all four stations as a means of giving visitors a better appreciation of the Railway and what it offers for a whole day out, plus a more detailed map of the Railway's route from Llangollen through to Corwen.

Santa Special ready to roll at Llan Station

              * Llangollen Railway apprentice Sam Ellis, from Hope,

fixes the Santa Special head-board to steam locomotive

No. 7822, Foxcote Manor, ready for the first departure.

Tickets for the popular Santa Special at Llangollen Railway in the run-up to Christmas are selling well.

Many of the trains are already completely sold out. 

A total of 44 trains are scheduled to run through the Dee valley, starting today, Satureday, December 1, and going through to Christmas Eve. 

Over 7,600 seats have been on offer, but the unsold places are currently clustered around the early trains this weekend and on the mid-week trains for Thursday/Friday, December 20/21.  

The weekends of December 8/9 and December 15/16 have proved particularly popular with families keen to experience the annual meeting with Santa on the steam train at Llangollen. 

A railway spokesperson said that anyone wishing to book now will need to have a range of options for times and dates if they are to be accommodated for a pre-Christmas ride on the train.