Pam seeks posthumous pardon for hanged man

* Pam Williams-Hughes is seeking a posthumous pardon for a man she believes was wrongly hanged in 1883.

A LLANGOLLEN woman is trying to clear the name of a young Welshman hanged for  murder more than a century ago.

Pam Williams-Hughes was featured in the Leader last summer when at the age of 69 she gained a 2:1 BA Honours in History at Glyndwr University after battling against a brain tumour and lifelong dyslexia.   

It was during her history studies that she came across the fascinating case of 24-year-old Abraham Thomas who was executed at Manchester’s Strangeways Prison in 1883 after being found guilty of murdering a fellow staff member in the house where he worked as a butler.

After a long study of the case Pam, whose speciality subject is Victorian crime, is convinced of his innocence and that he should be granted a posthumous pardon.

Abraham was born in Henllan, near Denbigh, in 1859 and, as a well-educated youngster, was apprenticed to a shoe shop in Denbigh before moving with his twin sister Martha to the Manchester area sometime between 1876 and 1880.

After working as a hotel waiter he secured the position of butler in a well-to-do household at Kearsley, near Bolton, in 1882.

There was disagreement amongst staff members which came to a tragic head between Christmas and New Year 1882/83 when housekeeper Christina Leigh died in the house as the result of being shot by 26 pellets from a rifle known as fowling piece on January 4, 1883.

Abraham was immediately alleged to have killed her despite there being no witnesses to the shooting and no-one heard the shot.

In just over a month the young man had been tried and found guilty of the murder and faced the hangman at Strangeways.

Pam said: “I was researching another matter when I came across details of this case and have been fascinated by it ever since.

“It was the subject of the dissertation I did for my history degree.

“There were grave doubts whether Abraham actually did pull the trigger so I firmly believe there was a miscarriage of justice.

“The evidence and his trial at Manchester Assizes appeared to be loaded against him and the more you unravel things the more questions you are left with.

“That is why I am now trying to get Abraham a posthumous pardon.”

She added: “In the next few weeks I will be contacting the Home Office to enquire about the process.

“I shall also be trying to organise a petition to support the call for a pardon.

“Some of Abraham’s supporters, including the vicar of Henllan at the time, called for him to be allowed an appeal before he was hanged but nothing came of it.

“I am also writing a book on the subject in which I am reconstructing the lives of the people involved together with the crime and its outcome.

“I would like to hear from anyone who knows anything about Abraham or has a picture of him.”    

Pam, who is originally from Birmingham, moved to Llangollen about two years ago after spending her working life first in the Royal Air Force and then with local authorities.

She was diagnosed with a brain tumour before she started as a mature student on a fine art degree course at Glyndwr in 2007.

But a brain scan in September 2008 revealed the devastating news that the tumour on her pituitary gland had tripled in size in just three months.

Pam had to undergo a life-saving operation at a neurological hospital in Liverpool, which saw the tumour successfully removed.

Despite being given the welcome news the growth had not been malignant, her sight was affected.

This meant she was not able to continue with her fine art studies but she was to transfer to a history degree.

At her graduation ceremony last Pam was also presented with an award for being an outstanding student in humanities.

She will be giving a talk on the case at the Memorial Hall in Llangollen in September on a date yet to be arranged which will be open to interested members of the public at a small fee.

* Anyone with information about Abraham Thomas can email Pam at mailto:chimrea@yahoo.co.uk

New crime commissioner seeks deputy

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick has launched a search for a Deputy to support his role.
           
The Deputy Commissioner will work alongside Mr Roddick to deliver the vision set out in the Police and Crime Plan.

They will also share some of the Commissioner’s core functions, including scrutinising the performance of the police force, seeking the views of the public on police and crime issues, and engaging with partners and stakeholders.
           
Mr Roddick said: “Over the past six months I have come to fully understand the scope of the functions that I, as Commissioner, must carry out. I have come to the conclusion that the role of the Deputy is essential in assisting me to undertake what is a massive workload.
            
“I am confident that a Deputy Commissioner will add value by increasing engagement with the communities I serve, supporting my work in holding the Police to account, and ultimately assisting in tackling crime and making North Wales a safer place.
            
“I am looking for an individual who has experience of strategic planning who can also assist to oversee a multi-million pound budget, but who is also a good listener and communicator. Most importantly, I am looking to appoint someone in whose reliability, integrity and good judgement I can have the utmost confidence, and who shares my vision for the policing and criminal justice of the area. Given the prominence of the Welsh language in many parts of North Wales, the Deputy must also be bilingual."
            
Mr Roddick added: “Police and Crime Commissioners are not legally required to follow a formal recruitment process when appointing a Deputy. I believe, however, that it is of utmost importance that every appointment made by me, is made based on an open, transparent and inclusive decision-making process.
           
“That is why I am inviting applications from all suitable candidates from across North Wales. These applications will be assessed upon merit, and not upon any political or personal affiliations.” 
           
Applications are requested by email to OPCC@nthwales.pnn.police.uk by 12.00noon on 30 May 2013 or posted to OPCC, Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay LL29 8AW. The application process is by CV and covering letter. Full details can be found below.
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More traveller sites needed in North Wales, says council chief

The BBC North East Wales news website is reporting today (Sunday) that a leading councillor has said more official sites for Gypsies and travellers are needed in North Wales.

Bernie Attridge, deputy leader of Flintshire council, said 95% of legal sites are in his county and Wrexham.

And he claimed a lack of facilities elsewhere was leading to problems with illegal settlements and accused the local authorities of "burying their heads".

Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd and Anglesey are said to be looking into the issue.

See the full story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22397277

AM raises questions on A55/A483 junction improvements

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has questioned the Economy Minister over improvement works to the A55/A483  junction serving Wrexham.

 

The plans involve reducing congestion and journey times by widening the A55 eastbound exit slip road and parts of the circulatory carriageway as well as installing traffic signals to the A483 southbound approach.

 

The programme of works is set to cost £8,000,000 and is due to start – and finish – in 2014.

 

Mr Isherwood welcomes the works, but is concerned the 2006 evaluation report that recommended the improvements made no reference to floods or flooding within it.

 

Questioning the Economy Minister on the matter in the Assembly this week he said:  “Last October, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, announced the plans for the scheme focused on the junction with the A483.

 

"That junction serves Wrexham, therefore, clearly, you as Minister are very entitled to have a view on this.

 

"However, the 2006 evaluation report that recommended those improvements to reduce congestion and journey times has no reference to floods or flooding within it.

 

"Therefore, I would be grateful if you could ensure that the UK Minister is made aware of that and perhaps give advice on what further information on flooding, if any, they might have received.”

The Minister agreed to take up the matter “via my officials.”

10,000 youngsters still unprotected against measles

More than 10 000 children and young people under the age of 18 in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area, which includes Llangollen, are still unprotected from measles, according to Public Health Wales.

 

Children aged between 10 and 18 are now being targeted in a schools immunisation campaign, as this has been the commonest hit age group in the current Swansea epidemic area.

 

Over 7000 children in North Wales in this age group are currently unprotected against measles. Since the beginning of November, 1,257 people in the area have come forward catch up vaccinations. Of these, only 605 were aged between 10 and 18.

 

There have now been 1,039 cases of measles in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Hywel Dda and Powys health board areas – an increase of 28 since Tuesday – and 85 people have been hospitalised. Across the whole of Wales the total is 1,170.  There have been 58 notified cases in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area this year, of these; four have been confirmed by laboratory testing 

 

Andrew Jones, Director of Public Health for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “The simple, safe and effective way to stop measles is to have two MMR jabs.

 

“The number vaccinated in the last month has been very encouraging.

 

“But there is still much to do and those in the 10 to18 year age group are a particular concern. Young people of this age are most likely to have missed the MMR jabs when they were young. They are most vulnerable to measles and we need to see a better response to the catch-up now being offered by the NHS.

 

“Vaccination sessions are continuing in schools across the area and I urge pupils and their parents to take advantage of these.  The dates & consent forms can be found on www.bcu.wales.nhs.uk. Should parents have missed their schools session they are being encouraged to contact their GP to arrange vaccination

 

“We have seen that measles can be potentially fatal and no one should be complacent about its severity. 

 

“Those not vaccinated are more likely to catch measles, which is highly infectious. It is just a matter of time before a child is left with serious and permanent complications such as eye disorders, deafness or brain damage, or dies.”

 

North Wales is not within the current epidemic area. At present, the advice to parents of children aged under ten in North Wales is that they should ensure that their children receive their MMR vaccination in accordance with the normal schedule, with the first dose given between 12-13 months old and the second dose at 3 years and four months old, but there is no need to bring these dates forward.   

 

If children have not received the MMR vaccine by these dates they should contact their GP to arrange immunisation.

 

Adults who were born before 1970 are presumed to have immunity and do not need the MMR. Those born between 1970 and 1995 when the MMR was introduced are not currently being called for vaccination but if they plan to travel to the epidemic area in South Wales they are advised to contact their GP surgery for further advice.  Health staff who are in direct patient contact, and especially those who work with children are now being offered the MMR vaccine.

 

The MMR vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization, UK Department of Health and Public Health Wales as the most effective and safe way to protect children against measles 

 

To prevent the spread of the illness, Public Health Wales has issued the following advice:

 

• If your child is unvaccinated make immediate arrangements with your GP for them to receive the MMR jab. This is even more important if your child has had contact with someone with measles.
• If your child is unwell and you suspect it is measles you should contact your GP. Your child should not attend school or nursery for four days after the rash starts.
• Telephone your GP surgery to inform them you or your child has a rash illness before attending, so that arrangements can be made in advance for minimising contact with other vulnerable patients.
• Avoid going to A&E unless you are seriously ill, and if you do attend, telephone ahead to let them know you or your child may have measles.
• Avoid contact with pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and babies who are too young to be vaccinated, as they are more vulnerable to infection and there are very few treatments available to help them if they do catch measles.
• If any family members are pregnant, receiving chemotherapy, or aged under one, it is vital to ensure that all other family members are up to date with their MMR vaccination.     
• Maternity wards, midwives and health visitors are being asked to share information with parents to encourage them to check the vaccination status of all children in the family to avoid further household spread amongst vulnerable groups.

 

Further information on measles, including a link to a video testimony from a mother whose three year old unvaccinated daughter contracted measles, is available at: http://www.publichealthwales.org/measles

 

The latest data on the measles outbreak – including cases by health board area, vaccination uptake data and numbers of unvaccinated children in Wales – can be found at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/66389

Website urges more to tuck into school meals

A new website encouraging a greater take-up of school meals in Denbighshire has gone live.

The website: www.denbighshireschoolmeals.co.uk includes menus for individual schools, details of special promotions, details on the cashless payment systems in high schools, policy on buying ingredients, free school meals, frequently asked questions and a regular newsletter.

There is also an educational game section where children can play whilst learning about nutrition and making healthy choices.
 
Ian Kemp, Denbighshire's Catering Manager, said: "This is a great opportunity to raise the profile of school meals in Denbighshire and provide Pupils, parents and guardians with a one stop shop where their questions can be answered at the touch of a button.

"In Denbighshire, we provide plenty of options for healthy school meals and we know that eating a proper lunch has positive benefits for children's concentration in the classroom. We hope the website gives parents and guardians some food for thought and encourages them to look at the tasty options available on our menus."

There will also be a link on the site to the County Council's job vacancy page. 

Llangollen Railway steams into a busy May

* Loco no 80072, British Railways Standard class 4 tank engine, which has recently returned to Lllangollen after a spell out on hireat other railways. It will be a main player on trains at Llangollen this summer season.

 

May will be another busy month at Llangollen Railway.

This weekend, train services will run at hourly intervals from the station, starting at 10.15, and continue until 4pm. 

Saturday will feature steam and diesel locomotives and Sunday and Monday will see two steam locos running - the British Railways Standard Tank 80072 and Great Western freight 3802. 

Next special event on the heritage railway is the Teddy Bears Picnic on Sunday, May 19. 

Saturday, May 11 sees the latest in the railway’s popular series of murder mysteries.