Dee becomes raging torrent as rain continues

* A raging River Dee this afternoon (Monday).

High winds and rain have turned the River Dee through Llangollen into a raging torrent today (Monday).

Natural Resources Wales has issued a flood alert on the Lower Dee Valley from Llan to Trevalyn Meadows, which was last updated at 2.50pm.

Forecasters say persistent rain will clear during the early hours.

Things will become drier and clearer thereafter with scattered showers, possibly wintry over higher ground.

It will turn colder throughout the night and stay windy.

Railway's festive services go steaming ahead

*Santa with his special steam engine on arrival back at Llangollen station.

With the season of Santa Special trains coming to an end on Christmas Eve, Llangollen Railway is preparing for the running of daily services throughout the festive season, up to and including New Year.

The railway reports an excellent pre-Christmas season with full loadings on many days of the Santa Special trains which have taken families to see Santa in Lapland at Carrog.

Of the 42 Santa Special trains which have operated since November 30, most were fully booked weeks ago.

Family groups have come to Llangollen to see Santa on the steam train from the railway’s 50 mile catchment area drawing people in from a wide segment of England, as well as North Wales, and the visitors provide a welcome boost to the town in mid winter.

Mince Pie Specials Next

For those who missed out on a chance to meet Santa on the steam train, a series of Mince Pie Special trains will operate on the Dee Valley Line from December 26 to January 1.

Running three times a day, departing Llangollen at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, the steam trains will take visitors into a winter wonderland on the journey through to Carrog when mince pies and mulled wine are served to passengers as festive cheer.

George Jones, for Llangollen Railway, said: “A ride on the train followed by a brisk walk in the country from one of the railway’s stations is an ideal way work off any excessive eating or may be blow away the post Christmas blues!

"There are several short walks from all three stations along the line which provide easy opportunities to get out and enjoy the area of outstanding natural beauty which is the Dee Valley.

“Once again the Llangollen Railway will be providing the only steam hauled standard gauge train service in North Wales, and beyond, on December 26 when much of the National Network remains closed. 

"It is thanks to all our volunteers that these trains run and we can provide festive entertainment for those who wish to sample a ride on a preserved railway beginning from within the World Heritage site at Llangollen.”

12 tips for a healthy Christmas from NHS Direct

Christmas Day might only days away now but it is never too late to protect your family’s health, says NHS Direct Wales.

It has published its 12 top tips for enjoying a healthy Christmas.

 1. Plan AheadIf you take regular medication, make sure you have enough to see you through the Christmas period. Contact your GP before they close for Christmas for further advice.

If you are spending the festive season away from home, make sure you pack enough medication. It is important to find out what health services, including GP out-of-hours, are available in the area you are visiting.

If you are travelling abroad, make sure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). To apply for a free EHIC, call 0300 3301350.

2. Get Your Flu Jab
Last year flu led to more than a hundred deaths in the UK, claiming 107 lives and affecting thousands more. If you are over 65 and have a long-term health condition, or are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person, you can get your flu jab from your GP.

3. Stock Up
Do you have a first aid box to manage minor wounds? Do you know what needs to be in it? For more information, visit our interactive first aid box.

It is worth checking that you have enough basic medicines at home to manage common ailments, such as coughs, colds, headaches, indigestion, upset stomach and diarrhoea. Visit our medicine cabinet to find out what should be in your cabinet.

You can buy a number of medicines over the counter at your local pharmacy, but remember to check the recommended dosage before taking any medicines.

If you use home oxygen therapy, check that you have enough oxygen supply for the Christmas period. If you are going away make sure you make arrangements for any oxygen you need.

4. List Useful Contact Details
It is worth making a note of all your useful contact numbers, like your ICE contact (In Case of an Emergency), dentist, GP and other useful local health services, especially if you are visiting an area you are not familiar with.

For details of pharmacies that are open during the Christmas period, click here or call NHS Direct Wales 0845 46 47.

5. Stay SafeCheck the weather forecast on the Met Office website if you are visiting friends or relatives, and visit the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website to ensure you are prepared for the drive.

If you go out keep your drink with you at all times, and avoid walking home on your own. Check how much alcohol is in your drinks by using our Units Calculator.

You should never drink and drive. Remember that you could be over the legal limit many hours after your last drink, even if it is the morning after. Sleep, coffee and cold showers do not help to sober you up. Time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system. Visit THINK for more details.

Do not forget to check on vulnerable neighbours and friends during the winter period.

6. Keep Well
If you are in pain or are worried about a condition then make an appointment with your GP before the Christmas holidays. Check your GP opening times over Christmas in case you need to contact them in an emergency.

Visit the dentist if experiencing toothache, or visit our Dental Symptom Checker for further advice and information.

If you are feeling unwell and are unsure what to do, NHS Direct Wales is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 0845 46 47 or visiting NHS Direct Wales.

7. Keep ActiveSafe and enjoyable exercise is essential to a healthy lifestyle. It may be harder to exercise in the colder weather but do try and keep active as much as you can.

8. Keep WarmAs energy bills soar, more people are afraid to turn up the thermostat, but Age UK has good advice on keeping warm.

Wear several thin layers, rather than one thick layer and go for clothes made from wool, cotton or fleecy fabrics. A lot of heat is lost through the head and neck, so if you are chilly indoors try wearing a hat and scarf. Wear warm clothes in bed, and when it is really cold, wear thermal underwear, bed socks and even a hat.

Draw your curtains as soon as it gets dark to stop the heat escaping and the draughts coming in, and keep any windows and internal doors closed when it is cold.

Your body keeps warm by burning food you have eaten, so make sure you have regular hot meals that contain carbohydrates, like potatoes, pasta, bread and rice. Try porridge with hot milk for breakfast and soups and stews for lunch and dinner.

If you are sitting down, a shawl or blanket will provide extra warmth. You should also try to keep your feet up, because air is cooler at ground level.

9. Food Safety
To help protect your family from food poisoning, remember to wash your hands before preparing food and cook your food correctly.

Meat is cooked properly when you cut into the deepest part and there is no pinkness left and any juices run clear.

Visit the Food Standards Agency website for more information.

10. Do A Good Deed
Pop into a neighbour and cheer them up by having a chat or ask if you can help them in any way.

Donate to charity, or donate a food item to a food bank.

11. Choose Well
Support NHS Wales’ Choose Well campaign to ensure busy emergency services are available for those who need them most urgently.

For advice and treatment of most illnesses, visit your GP, or call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 for confidential health advice and information.

Treatment for minor injuries, such as cuts, bites, stings and muscle and joint injuries, can be provided at your local Minor Injuries Unit, where there is no need for an appointment.

Only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency, if someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk.

Click here for more information on the Choose Well campaign.

12. Have a Merry Christmas!Read our 12 steps to a healthy Christmas in full here.

Horseshoe Pass gets its own lifesaving machine

* Representatives of the Welsh Ambulance Service, including Public Access Defibrillation

officer Gerard Rothwell (front, centre) and trainer Claire Hurford (third from left) with representatives of North Wales Police, including Chief Superintendent

Jeremy Vaughan (far left) at the Ponderosa Cafe on the Horseshoe Pass.

ONE of North Wales’ premier beauty spots has taken delivery of a life-saving defibrillator.

The Horseshoe Pass in Denbighshire, a mountain pass popular year-round with motorcyclists, now boasts an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), as part of the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Public Access Defibrillator programme.

There are approximately 8,000 sudden cardiac arrests annually in Wales. A cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body.

The person may suffer permanent damage to the brain and other organs unless someone starts cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or delivers an electric shock through the chest wall, using a defibrillator.

Staffs at the Ponderosa Cafe were given training on the new device recently.

Claire Hurford, who delivered the training on behalf of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Once someone suffers a cardiac arrest every minute counts. They need immediate CPR from those around them, who will often be family members or passers-by. As well as good-quality CPR the patient needs to be treated with a defibrillator.

“An ambulance will obviously try and reach a seriously ill or injured patient as quickly as possible, but this defibrillator can be used in the minutes it takes for an ambulance to arrive. 

“The Horseshoe Pass is popular 365 days a year, and not just with bikers but with walkers and tourists too. Having a defibrillator nearby means people’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are vastly improved.”

Also there last Friday was North Wales Police Chief Superintendent Jeremy Vaughan, who was promoting the force’s Bikesafe scheme, which aims to drive down the number of bikers being hurt on the roads.

Mr Vaughan said: "North Wales Police and Bikesafe are proud to support the Welsh Ambulance Service with the instalment of the new defibrillator at the Ponderosa Cafe, which is a very popular spot with bikers.

"Bikesafe is a police-led motorcycle project that is run by most forces in the UK with the main aim being to reduce the number of bikers being hurt on the roads. FBoS courses (First Bike on Scene) are also provided which allows riders to receive training in motorcycle-related first aid.

“The installation of the defibrillator at this popular spot now also means Bikesafe trained volunteers will have an additional tool to provide life-saving treatment."

The defibrillator on the Horseshoe Pass follows an initiative launched last year to install Public Access Defibrillators (PAD) in churches across Wales.

The Welsh Ambulance Service joined forces with the British Heart Foundation and The Church in Wales to make defibrillators available for remote communities across Wales.

St James’ Church in Wick, Vale of Glamorgan, was the first church in Wales to install a PAD on a church building. Defibrillators are also found in train stations, museums and shopping centres, and even down the Big Pit mining museum and on the summit of Snowdon.

The Welsh Ambulance Service works in partnership with other organisations, including Welsh Government, to provide equipment and training on the use of defibrillators under the Public Access Defibrillator Scheme (PADS). So far it has trained more than 5,000 volunteers in the use of AED.

If you are interested in establishing a PADS site or joining an existing team, call the PADS office on 02920 932917.

Council urges people to keep an eye on the weather

Denbighshire County Council is this afternoon (Friday) urging people to monitor weather forecasts as warnings for severe weather have been issued.

An area of heavy rain along with strong to gale force winds is expected to cross the UK from Friday afternoon and into Saturday.

This will bring some locally large accumulations, particularly on hills.  Following previous wet weather, may lead to some localised flooding.  

Further stormy weather is forecast for early next week.

Council staff will continue to monitor the weather situation and people are advised to keep up to date with the latest weather forecasts online, on television and radio, or visit the Met Office's website: www.metoffice.gov.uk

Advice on dealing with severe weather can also be  found on www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Legendary rockers Status Quo are heading for Llan

* Status Quo will headline the closing concert of LIME 2014. Picture courtesy of Dave Coulson.

 

The band that opened Live Aid in 1985 with ‘Rockin’ all Over the World have been unveiled as the headline act at the closing concert at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod next July.

Lead singer and guitarist  Francis Rossi OBE can't wait to perform on the pavilion stage after being told by Jools Holland - one the stars at this year's event - about the magic of the Eisteddfod.

He said: "Jools told me he did the Eisteddfod and what a brilliant place and atmosphere it was. He also explained about the event’s history and that excites me."

Organisers are thrilled the band, that's sold nearly 120 million records and has had 64 Top Ten hits, are joining an already stellar line-up.

Other headline acts include opera superstar Bryn Terfel and the Dutch jazz sensation, Caro Emerald.

 

The acclaimed bass baritone will be playing the lead in a special production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street featuring an all-Welsh cast.

In addition, there will be a world premiere of a new work by top composer Karl Jenkins and an appearance by the chart-topping singing brothers, Richard and Adam Johnson, from Holywell, in Flintshire.

 

Meanwhile, the Spirit of Unity concert will feature the Cape Town Opera, Africa’s premiere opera company, and the Wales Millennium Centre Only Kidz Aloud Chorus under the baton of celebrity conductor Tim Rhys Evans.

 

The Eisteddfod office will be closed over the Christmas holidays but tickets for all the concerts can be bought online via the website  www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths was thrilled he'd been able to sign up Status Quo to bring the 2014 event to a "fantastic climax".

 

He said: "Status Ouo are true rock legends and they are the final piece in the jigsaw for what promises to be one of the best Eisteddfod's ever.

 

"I am very excited by the galaxy of stars we have lined up - and by the end of the week we are going to be Rockin' All Over the World."

 

It was a sentiment echoed by the award-winning Village Bakery - recently named as Wales's fastest growing company - who are sponsoring the Status Quo concert.

 

Managing Director Robin Jones said: "As a locally based family firm, we are proud to have supported the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for a number of years.

 

"Status Quo have rocked all over the world and now the world will be able to rock with them in Llangollen. It promises to be an absolutely fantastic night."

 

After performing at more than 6,500 lives shows in front of 25 million people, the Quo frontman Francis Rossi, now 64, can't wait to make his Llangollen Eisteddfod debut after five decades in the business.

Rossi formed The Scorpions, which became The Spectres, with fellow schoolboy Alan Lancaster way back in 1962.

And after a number of line-up changes they became The Status Quo in 1967, although they dropped The becoming simply Status Quo two years later.

By 1967 rhythm guitarist Rick Parfitt, now 65, joined the line-up, just as the band’s first hit, Pictures of Matchstick Men, was climbing the charts, and he forged a close friendship with Rossi which lasts to this day.

Original bass guitarist Alan Lancaster left in 1987 to be replaced by John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, now 60, while keyboard player and rhythm guitarist Andy Brown, 67, joined in 1976. 

This year Leon Cave, at just 35, took over as the band’s permanent drummer, the fourth since John Coghlan put away his sticks in 1981, although Coghlan did appear in early 2013 along with the rest of the band’s original line-up for a one-off mini tour.

In 2009 Rossi and Parfitt were recognised for their services to Music and Charity and were awarded OBE’s in the New Year’s Honours List.

When  Status Quo, take to the Llangollen stage Rossi is determined not to repeat the  mistake he made a few years ago when appearing at Llandudno.

He said: “How could I have been so dumb? We had just returned from a gruelling tour of Japan or Australia and I wasn’t at my best. Now I know, if the name of the town begins with double LL then the chances are, you’re in Wales.

“However, I just forgot where I was for a few seconds and in between songs announced how thrilled we were to be back in England. That was a lesson in how to lose an audience, at least for a while. I’ve never heard booing like it! I didn’t realise how passionate the Welsh are about Wales.

“But I know Llangollen is going to be amazing and I’m determined to enjoy it and make it special. Status Quo might be a lot different to Pavarotti but we are established and I hope, accepted.”
 
STATUS QUO FACTFILE

In September 1991 Status Quo entered the Guinness Book of Records after playing four British shows in 11 hours 11 minutes. The Rock ‘Til You Drop event saw Quo play sellout shows at Sheffield Arena, Glasgow, Birmingham NEC and Wembley Arena.

Rock ‘Til You Drop raised £2m for children’s charities. The marathon took a year to organise and involved 60 drums, 200 amplifiers, 62 guitars, 165 cymbals, 12 miles of cable, 50 cameras, 25,000 lights, 250 crew, eight helicopters, five jets and 16 police escorts.

Status Quo have recorded 64 British hit singles – more than any other band – 22 of which have been top 10 hits.

The band made 106 BBC TV Top of the Pop appearances – more than any other band.
In 1988 Quo played a record-breaking series of 14 sell-out shows to more than 300,000 people in Moscow’s Olympic Stadium.

In 1992 Quo performed at the prestigious Last Tattoo in Berlin in the presence of HM The Queen.

2005 was the band’s 40^th year.

In February 2013 the ‘Bula Quo!’ movie premiered at the Berlinale Film Festival in Germany.
Francis Rossi’s preferred guitar is still the 1957 green Fender Telecaster he bought in 1968 for £70.   

Over the Christmas holidays tickets for all the concerts can be bought online via the website  www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk
 

Silver Band has Christmas concert tonight

Llangollen Silver Band's annual Christmas Gala Concert, which is now in its fifth year, will be held at the Town Hall this evening (Friday), starting at 7pm.

* A young band member practices for the concert.

Described as a real traditional celebration of Christmas, the evening will see the Senior Band playing seasonal tunes and there will be sing-a-long carols with word sheets are provided.

The gala will showcase not only the Christmas programme that the senior and youth bands have been working very hard on, but also the varied musical talents of the band’s players both young and old.

Pick up a ticket for just £5 from Honeypots, the Town Council office in Parade Street, or from any band member.

The cost of the ticket includes a mince pie, a glass of mulled wine and a generous helping of Christmas spirit.