Pip joins elite bubbly club

 

* Pip Gale (left) and Colin Loughlin.

 

A wine expert will be adding sparkle to a food festival after being honoured by an elite club of the finest champagne makers.

 

Pip Gale, a director of Gale's Wine Bar in Llangollen, has become one of just 250 members of the prestigious L'Academie du Champagne (Champagne Academy).

 

He was enrolled after successfully completing a week-long course in France's Champagne region.

 

It involved sampling more than 130 different champagnes - including one that costs £500 a bottle - and eating in Michelin starred restaurants.

 

According to Pip, he was honoured to be invited by the Academie to take part in the prestigious course.

 

He plans to use his expertise to bring some of the fine champagnes he discovered to the Hamper Llangollen food festival on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20.

 

Hamper Llangollen was recently recognised as one of the top 10 food festivals in the UK.

Pip was one of a 16-strong hand-picked group selected by the leading Grand Marque Houses to attend the course.

 

The academy was founded in 1956 to promote the premium product in Britain and Ireland – the second biggest market for champagne after France.

 

Pip said: "It was a huge honour to be accepted by the Academie because there are only around 250 members worldwide.

 

“You won't be surprised to learn that I enjoyed the experience immensely. We had amazing meals in family homes, and went to two star Michelin restaurants.

 

“They’ve got some eye-wateringly priced bottles - £50,000 a case for one of them.

 

“It was just fabulous fun, and the people that were on it were really lovely people.

 

“The people who run the champagne houses are clearly very passionate about their product and what it means. It was lovely.

 

“I always have been a pretty good advocate of champagne but what I've learned will help me be an even more effective ambassador.

 

“I had this straight view of this is how champagne was made, and I didn’t quite see the styles. I thought they were all pretty much the same, and it’s not true at all.

 

“We had to blind tasting exams, where you had to go and pick out the grapes and so on.

 

“They break the course down. So on the first day you learn about the history of champagne. The next day it was the vines and then you go on to the picking of grapes and then the wine making.

 

“After that you go on to the packaging and marketing aspects of the champagne business.

 

"It was a really hectic schedule which involved about two and a half hours on each of the subjects and then followed by an exam on each of the different aspects.

 

Pip can’t wait for the Hamper Llangollen where once again Gale's will have a stand.

This year he will be showcasing some of the champagnes he discovered on his travels.

 

He said: “The festival is certainly a very big deal for us. Obviously we’re local to Llangollen. It is an excellent way to talk to customers and show them something really interesting.

 

“Llangollen is very lucky to have such wonderful events like the food festival and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. They really put the town on the map.”

 

This year's festival is being supported by the rural development agency, Cadwyn Clwyd.

Cadwyn Clwyd’s contribution came via the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

 

Hamper Llangollen Chairman Colin Loughlin is mightily impressed by Pip's achievement.

 

He said: “It’s a great honour for Pip and for the food festival. Pip’s is extremely knowledgeable on the subject of wine in general and champagne in particular.

 

“And the poor man must have suffered. But as I say, somebody’s got to do it.” added Colin with a wry smile.

 

Gales, thought to be the first wine bar in Wales, was opened by Pip’s parents, Richard and Gillie Gale, in 1977 after narrowly obtaining planning permission following much public protest. It has since become a part of the town’s fabric.

 

Pip said:  “It was a revolutionary idea in those days. We had people protesting, and we only got through by the slimmest of margins on the planning because people didn’t understand wine.

 

“It was a really quite tricky concept back then. All of the pubs complained and everybody gave us a month before we called time on the new venture - and now we’re the oldest licence in town.”

 

Colin Loughlin added this year's festival was shaping up to be one of the best ever.

 

He said: "This year Graham Tinsley, the star of ITV's Taste the Nation and a former captain of the Welsh Culinary Team, will be joined in the show kitchen at the festival by the ever popular Dai Chef.

 

"We have a wonderful array of fantastic food producers clustered in the area and the festival is the perfect shop window for them.

 

"Hamper Llangollen is celebrating its 16th anniversary this year and is firmly and rightly established as a major highlight in the UK's culinary calendar."

 

Robert Price, Cadwyn Clwyd's agri-food project officer, said: "In addition to many favourites, we have lots of new food producers wanting to come this year.

 

"The location of the Pavilion is absolutely  spectacular - I can't imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting.

 

"It's also brilliant news for the local economy. If you buy from a local producer, all that money is recycled through the local economy and that sustains employment in our rural areas."

 

For more information about Hamper Llangollen 2013 go to: www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Methodists stage their annual harvest auction

Members of Llangollen Methodist Church held their annual Harvest Festival auction on Monday evening.

 

After enjoying a harvest supper prepared and served by people in the congregation, bids were invited for produce and flowers donated in church the previous Sunday.

 

The healthy proceeds of the auction were donated to the local Leonard Cheshire Home.  

 

 

 

* A table groaning with produce.

 

 

* An array of flowers ready for bids.

 

* A giant marrow is offered up for auction.

Dragon plan still ready to take flight says creator

* An artist's impression of the dragon scheme.

The man behind the £4 million plan to build an 80ft tall bronze Welsh dragon and cultural centre near Chirk is offering people a chance to buy into the scheme. 

Simon Wingett is launching a loyalty card scheme giving investors a lifetime of discounts for a one-off fee of £95. 

Mr Wingett says he has had to scale down the ambitious project, earmarked for land off the Halton roundabout, to fit in with the “risk adverse” nature of financing during the the credit crunch. 

The Erbistock-based art dealer officially unveiled his Waking the Dragon project on St David’s Day in 2011. 

His aim has been to create a Welsh cultural icon on one of the main gateways to the country close to the A5. 

Mr Wingett believes his brainchild will create up to 80 jobs and attract visitors from across the globe.

It is also planned as a lasting tribute to his late father, well-known local businessman Frank Wingett, who died from throat cancer in 1988, and raise £1 million a year, with all entrance fees going to the Frank Wingett Cancer Appeal. 

Soon after its launch the project took a major leap forward when Wrexham Council agreed to grant an option on the land at Chirk Park to the Frank Wingett Cancer Appeal. 

Mr Wingett had envisaged the entire cost of the project would be raised from commercial sponsorship and charging people £2,000 for a personal dedication on each of 416 steps inside the structure.

But he now reveals the tough financial climate hoas forced him to scale back the scheme.

Mr Wingett said: “I am launching a loyalty card scheme based on Brewdog of Scotland’s highly successful Venture (Equity for Punks). 

“This will offer for £95 a lifetime of discounts across the food, drink, event, merchandising and more.

“Based on crowd funding, this innovate scheme will help raise the minimum of 50 per cent private equity and investment needed to unlock Visit Wales finance (SME Fund) and high street bank funding to realise the scheme.”

Mr Wingett says that integral to the plans are a Welsh centre of excellence, farm shop, cosmopolitan café bar, art gallery and tourism and business hub. 

He added: “This one-time donation will not only help us secure this astonishing landmark but create a most exciting and significant UK tourist destination and signpost.   

“By helping the project people will also help cancer sufferers across Wales. 

“A small car park charge will in perpetuity go to Marie Curie giving every person help towards the right and dignity to die at home. 

“The colossal statue will stand majestically astride a 50ft hill looking across England and beyond. 

“Accessible by a double helix pathway up to a viewing platform and the dragon’s talons,  the dragon will be surrounded at the base by 11 stone monoliths creating one of the first standing stones in Wales for thousands of years. 

“Each monolith will represent one of the 11 stories in one of the world’s most famous fairytale collections, The Mabinogion.   

The landscaped gardens will also be home to a large covered amphitheatre to stage education, theatre and other workshops. 

“They will be home to a sculpture park showcasing national and international works  unseen in Wales before.  

“When the project is underway 80 full-time jobs will be created.  There will be many more construction jobs utilising some of the most skilled labour force in Britain. 

“Two hundred thousand visitors will pump much-needed revenues into the local economy. 

“Waking the Dragon will complement the area’s rich and diverse culture and heritage, including the World Heritage site at Poncysllte Aqueduct, Chirk Castle and Erddig, acting as a beacon to strengthen its national identity based on its roots. “  

For more information on the scheme, go to www.thewelshdragon.co.uk, contact Moneypenny on 0845 371 2422, or email: infro@thewelshdragon.co.uk 

Appeal follows fatal collision on A5 past Corwen

An appeal for information and witnesses is being made following a fatal collision on the A5 Maerdy, Corwen today (Monday, September 23).

 

The Ambulance Service alerted officers to the incident involving a motorbike and an Iveco Tipper lorry at 1.56pm.

 

Police attended and the rider of the motorbike, who is believed to be a man in his 60s, was taken by helimed to the Maelor Hospital in Wrexham with serious injuries.

 

The motorcyclist later died at the hospital.

 

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information is urged to contact Sgt 1043 Thomas at Deeside Roads Policing Unit or officers on 101.

 

Diversions are currently still in place and a section of the A5 road is expected to remain closed until around 6pm today.

Llan young farmers are netball champions

* Llangollen Young Farmers Club were the winners of the U26 netball competition

staged as part of the annual Young Farmers sports day at Ruthin Leisure Centre. 

 

Tips to stay safe during firefighters' strike

The Chief Fire Officer of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public across the region to take extra care in terms of fire safety in the home and road safety during strike action planned by firefighters.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced that firefighters in England and Wales intend to take industrial action on Wednesday 25^th September between midday and 4.00pm.

The number of firefighters from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service who are expected to make a protest by striking is high.

This will mean a reduction in the resources that the fire and rescue service has at its disposal and, as a consequence, the Service will not be able to provide the same high level of response to fires and other emergencies that it normally would. The priority will be to respond to life critical incidents.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith reassured the public: "North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has arrangements in place to continue to provide a service during strike action" but warned that, "because of the circumstances, services may be limited.

"The Service's business continuity arrangements will ensure a speedy and safe return to normal services on conclusion of any period of industrial action."

He added: "Unlike the dispute in 2002/3 support from the military in the form of Green Goddesses is no longer available to North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and our ability to provide a service to the public will be challenging.

"However, we will continue to respond to emergency calls by prioritising the deployment of the available resources at our disposal and focussing on the protection of life."

What you can do to keep safe from fire?

Here are some useful fire safety tips:

Smoke Alarms - Install a smoke alarm on every floor of your home and test them regularly. Batteries should be checked once a week and changed at least once a year.

Cooking -Take special care when cooking. Never leave cooking unattended. Do not fill a chip pan more than one-third full. Never put food in a chip pan if the oil begins to smoke - turn off the heat and leave to cool. Never cook under the influence of alcohol.

Candles - Do not use candles too close to curtains. Never leave candles unattended. Always ensure that candles are extinguished properly.

Matches - Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.

Smoking Materials - Always use a proper ashtray. Extinguish smoking materials properly. Never smoke in bed.

Escape Plan - Plan your escape route with everyone, always include children and the elderly. Close all doors at night and switch off at the plug any electrical appliances not in use.

Open Fires -Guard all open fires. Do not dry clothes too close to an open fire.

Electrical - Replace worn or damaged leads. Use correct fuses for household appliances.
Test electric blankets annually. Do not overload sockets.

Business fire safety during industrial action:

Business owners should firstly undertake a review of their Fire Risk Assessment and if any changes are needed, implement those as a matter of importance. 

Precautions should also be made to prevent the occurrence of a fire.  This might be as simple as walking around the building at the end of the working day to ensure that there are no combustible materials in the vicinity of the property.

Owners will also need to ensure that procedures for reducing the chances of a fire starting are well understood by all members of staff and that everybody remains alert to the dangers from fire. What each owner will need to do is dependant on their own Fire Risk Assessment.

Local MP welcomes Bedroom Tax scrap pledge

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has warmly welcomed Labour leader Ed Miliband's pledge that an incoming Labour Government would scrap the Bedroom Tax.

"David Cameron's Bedroom Tax is both unfair and unworkable, and it is costing many local families dearly," said Ms Jones.

"This tax affects disabled people and their carers; people who would have gladly down-graded to one bedroom properties but no such properties existed; families with children serving in the armed forces and many more.

"The Bedroom Tax is a policy that could only have been dreamt up by a Government stuffed full of millionaires.   

"A Labour Government would have very different values. If Labour is elected at the next general election, I am pleased to say that the Bedroom Tax will be scrapped." 

Ed Miliband yesterday (Friday) said the policy would be funded by scrapping a tax break for hedge funds and the Treasury's new shares-for-rights scheme.