Authors present cheques to three local groups

 

* Simon Collinge, left, and Andrew Gale on the back row with cheque

recipients from the various organisations. 

 

Cheques for £100 each were recently presented to representatives from Llangollen Welfare House, the Methodist Hall and St Collen’s Community Centre to celebrate 12 months since the Llangollen Community Book was published.

 

The book's authors, Andrew Gale and Simon Collinge, pledged that £1 from each copy sold would be donated to local community venues where most of the photographs it features were taken.

 

Simon Collinge said: “We were really grateful for the use of their venues to take group photographs and we were pleased to be able to give a £100 donation, as promised, to each of the three groups. 

 

"We are now endeavouring to further increase sales and hoping that more people featured in the book will purchase a copy, again putting more money back into the community.

 

"Over 300 copies have been sold but we still need to sell at least another 300 to break even on our original investment.”

The Llangollen Community Book features over 100 clubs, groups and societies and can be viewed at www.llangollencommunity.co.uk or purchased in Llangollen at Courtyard Books, Gales, Llangollen Museum and the Tourist Information Centre.

Historic railcar Daisy heads for Llangollen

* A Class 101 railcar known as Daisy.

A railcar which was once a famous celebrity in North Wales is to return for a gala at Llangollen Railway over the weekend of June 21/22.

The two-car set, known in its later days as “Daisy”, gained celebrity status in 1994 when it was repainted in historic British Railways green for services on the Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog line.

It remained in service until the last day of heritage railcar operation in December 2003, following which it was bought for preservation.

It later spent brief periods at both the Elsecar and the Chasewater Railways before moving to the Midland Railway in 2009 for contract restoration.

Since then both vehicles have been extensively rebuilt but Daisy has not yet seen public service.

She will arrive in Llangollen in late May where she will be used for driver experience and a photographic charter in the week before the gala, but she will see passenger service at Llangollen for the one weekend only. 

The annual Llangollen Gala has established a reputation as being one of the foremost events of its type and features up to 16 departures each way per day with the units working in two, four and six car formations.

This year trains will also travel as far as Bonwm on the new Corwen extension. 

As well as Daisy, four of the home fleet of diesel railcars will be in service each day and the line’s DMU Group will be exhibiting their partly-restored Class 105 trailer (made in Sheffield) and its Class 104 power car (made in Birmingham) at Llangollen station where visitors will see the extent of work required in the restoration of trains of this type.

There will be sales stalls as well as the customary Saturday evening social function, which will this year take place at Glyndyfrdwy Station, with a special train operating to the site.

In response to requests, Llangollen station’s buffet is to open specially early at 8.30am for breakfast on each day of the event and all the line’s intermediate stations will also be offering refreshments.

The Class 101 units were built by Metro-Cammell in Birmingham with production starting in 1955.

They were at one time one of the most numerous of the first-generation railcars and six of the type survived to the last day of operation in December 2003.

The oldest of Daisy’s coaches dates from 1956.

Chairman of Llangollen Railcars Evan Green-Hughes said: "We are delighted that Daisy’s owner has chosen to bring her back into service at our event and we are sure that there will be many people who will welcome her back to Wales where she is remembered with so much affection.

“Daisy was brought to Wales because railcars of this era had a unique design which allows passengers to see right through into the driver’s cabs, thus giving them an unparalleled view of the line and scenery ahead – just as the driver sees it.

"I am sure that many people will want to enjoy the view of the Dee Valley in just the same way when she visits us in June.”

Road closed after man seen on roof

A stretch of the A5 through Llangollen was cordoned off by police this afternoon (Wednesday) after a man was spotted on to the roof of a property in Regent Street.

A number of police cars along with two ambulances were at the scene for over two hours.

The incident seemed to have drawn to a close by around 6.45pm when the man could no longer be seen. He is believed to have been unhurt.
 

The ambulances left soon afterwards but the road remained closed for some time.   

Traffic travelling along the A5 in both directions suffered considerable disruption.

* Police cars cordon off a section of the A5 in Regent Street.

Journalists take a steam train ride

* The group of visiting journalists at Llangollen Station. Picture: George Jones.

A group of eight journalists took a steam train trip aboard the Llangollen Railway yesterday(Tuesday).

The writers, from publications including the Daily Mail, Lancaster Guardian, Dorset Echo, Outdoor Adventure Magazine and Great Outdoors Magazine, had been invited to the area as part of an activity press visit organised by North Wales Tourism and commissioned by Denbighshire County Council.

After arriving in Corwen they were taken on to Pen Y Pigyn and then a tour of the 17th century Rug Chapel.

The visit concluded with a trip on a steam train on Llangollen Railway through the stunning Dee Valley.

Golden occasion for flower arrangement society

* Don Billington talks to members of Llangollen Flower Arrangement Society.

It was a big day for Llangollen Flower Arrangement Society yesterday (Tuesday) when members celebrated its 50th anniversary with a demonstration by Don Billington in the Denbigh Room at the Hand Hotel.

He took as his theme "One L of a Do".

Anniversary cake was served along with tea and there was also a raffle.

Llan Operatic casts professional singer as Nanki-Poo

 

* Professional opera singer Christopher Diffey.

* The full cast of the Mikado in rehearsals. Picture: Barrie Potter.

 

* From left, Helen Belton (Yum Yum), Jim Allen (Pooh Bah)

and Jo Potts and Karen Davies (Yum Yum’s friends). Picture: Barrie Potter.

LLANGOLLEN Operatic Society has chosen a rising young professional singing star for one of the leading roles in its forthcoming production of The Mikado.

Australian-born Christopher Diffey, who is widely acknowledged to be one of this generation’s up and coming tenors and has performed throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, will play Nanki-Poo in an updated interpretation of the classic Gilbert & Sullivan operetta which runs at Llangollen Town Hall from May 14-17.

And, according to the society’s artistic director Chrissie Ashworth, the role will hold no surprises for 33-year-old Christopher who has played Nanki-Poo twice recently for renowned touring company Opera Della Luna.

She said: “I’m sure our audiences will be delighted that we have been fortunate enough to secure the services of Christopher who is undoubtedly one of the best young professional opera stars in the country at the moment.

“It’s also a huge asset that he comes to us fresh from having played Nanki-Poo to great acclaim for Opera Della Luna, in Aberystwyth and Oxford, only in March.    

“I know that everyone who sees it is going to just love the show, which is an updated version of The Mikado set in the 1970s, complete with mini-skirts, flared trousers and dodgy hairstyles.

“Christopher is guaranteed to bring his own touch of class to the role of Nanki-Poo and I’m positive he will fit in perfectly with the rest of our cast – many of whom are also seasoned veterans of playing in The Mikado – and can look forward to receiving a warm welcome from our audiences old and new.”

After relocating from Melbourne in Australia, Christopher Diffey graduated from the Royal Academy of Music Opera Course before making his London debut at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields with the London Pro Arte Orchestra and the East London Chorus.

He performed Triplet 1 in James MacMillan’s Clemency for Scottish Opera at the Edinburgh International Festival, before returning to London to create the role of Karl in the new crime thriller opera The Face at London’s Gray’s Inn.

In 2011 he played Fenton in Verdi’s masterpiece Falstaff at the Longborough Festival and performed in two world premier pieces at the Tête à Tête Opera Festival.

 

Christopher’s stage work includes playing Rodolfo in OperaUpClose’s Olivier Award winning production of La Bohème, Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville with Opera Brava and Colonel Fairfax in Yeoman of the Guard at the Buxton International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival where he received rave reviews.

 

Appearing opposite Christopher in Llangollen’s The Mikado will be Helen Belton as his beloved Yum Yum, whose two friends are played by Jo Potts and Karen Davies.

The demanding role of Katisha will be taken by Justine Bradey, while society stalwarts Dave Short and Jim Allen are The Mikado and Pooh Bah respectively and Richard Mascarenhas is Koko, the Lord High Executioner. Kieran Davie takes the role of Pish Tush.

Musical director is Owen Roberts and some of the memorable songs featured in the show include A Wandering Minstrel and Three Little Maids. Co-director/choreographer is Pamela Williams.

·        Tickets, priced at £9 and £7.50 concessions, are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre in Castle Street (01978 860828), Jades Hair & Beauty in Oak Street and Stella Bond (01978 860441).  

Council steps up major events strategy

Denbighshire is stepping up its efforts to promote the county as an ideal location to host major events.

The Denbighshire Events Strategy, which was agreed by Denbighshire County Council's Cabinet today (Tuesday), sets out how the council intends to ensure that events have a meaningful contribution to the local economy, provides the highest quality events possible for residents and visitors, and enhances the county's reputation for hosting and attracting new events to the county.

The strategy also looks at raising the profile of Denbighshire as a destination that welcomes and supports events with professionalism and to increase the economic impact of events that are supported by the council, which are key aspects of the council's Economic and Community Ambition Strategy.

Councillor Hugh Irving, Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, said: "Over the past year, the county has hosted a number of high profile events such as Etape Cymru, Tour of Britain and Wales Rally GB, as well as its own varied programme of events.

"We want to build on that success and increase the quality and quantity of events held in the county, to offer memorable experiences which have a lasting impact.

"This strategy will provide the council with direction and confidence in its approach to managing events over the coming years;  it will help to stimulate new events and enhance existing events.

"It will also develop expertise and jobs in the creative and events support sectors, as well as in the more traditional retail, tourism and leisure businesses. We also recognise the need for events to have a positive impact on the lives of people living and working in Denbighshire."