Fringe Festival programme launched

THE programme for the 2014 Llangollen Fringe Festival had its official launch at the town’s International Pavilion on Monday evening.

* Victoria Coren Mitchell.

Announcing the varied line-up for the 17^th annual festival, Sara Roberts, a member of the organisation team, described it as a “big hitter” which would offer events to cater for a wide range of tastes ranging over 11 days from July 17-27.

Among those she singled out to illustrate this was Dylan Thomas in Llangollen, a drama by actor Peter Read specially commissioned to mark the centenary of the legendary Welsh poet on Wednesday July 23,  and the Blues Steam Train trip along the Llangollen Railway on Sunday, July 20.

Sara added: “Sometimes we take a risk to do more interesting things and present things you wouldn’t see anywhere else.
“One of those things we are doing this year is a screening of the film The Extremist, on Sunday July 20.

“It stars Llangollen actor Dyfed Thomas, who is a good friend of the Fringe, and tells the story of the Welsh nationalist terrorists who mounted a bombing campaign in the late 1960s in the run-up to the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.”

*Glenn Tilbrook.

Headliners at the festival include stand-up comedian Paul Sinha on Thursday July 17,  an evening with TV presenter and writer Victoria Coren Mitchell on Tuesday July 22 and a performance by former Squeeze frontman Glenn Tilbrook on Thursday July 24.  

Llangollen Mayor Bob Lube, who was among guests at the launch evening, said: “The council is always very happy to be associated with the Fringe, which has become one of the main cultural events of the town whose reputation has spread far and wide.

“Although it is organised by a dedicated band of amateurs it is by no means amateurish.”

Festival Programme 2014 highlights:

Thursday 17th July - Stand-up Comedy

The Fringe Comedy Night Double Bill presents two well-known names from the comedy circuit, Paul Sinha and Gary Delaney.

Friday 18th July - Shakespeare’s As You Like It
Indulge yourself and let Taking Flight entangle you in this tale of sibling rivalry, love, lust and mistaken identity.

Friday 18th July - Gruff Rhys

Through nine albums with Super Furry Animals, two with Neon Neon and handful of solo LPs, Gruff Rhys has distinctively documented the lives of others.

Saturday 19th July - Fringe Acoustica

Fringe Acoustica is back for another orgy of unplugged aural delights.

Saturday 19th July - The Neville Staple Band

Former singer with The Specials and Fun Boy Three Neville Staple will get you skanking to ska and Two Tone hits plus some reworked Jamaican ska classics and brand new original material.

Sunday 20th July - Band For A Day

Band for a Day will give you the opportunity to develop your musical ensemble skills.

Sunday 20th July - Blues Steam Train

5.45pm departure from Llangollen Steam Railway Station.  Get into the right frame of mind listening to a live blues band on the platform before boarding your steam train.

Sunday 20th July - The Extremist - A Film by Paul Ferris

The much-acclaimed, highly controversial film deals with the symbolic bombing campaign which took place in Wales during the 1960’s leading up to the investiture of Charles as the Prince of Wales.

Sunday 20th July - Jon Ronson's Frank Story

Jon Ronson presents a one-man show - Frank - telling the true story behind a new, soon to be released movie co-written by him and starring Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Domhnall Gleeson and directed by Lenny Abrahamson. Part funny memoir, part movie diary, this is a tribute to outsider artists too wonderfully strange to ever make it in the mainstream.

Monday 21st July - Band For A Day Concert

Band For A Day participants show off their new skills in a concert on the main Llangollen Fringe stage in front of a live audience.

Tuesday 22nd July - Victoria Coren Mitchell

Victoria reads from a selection her acclaimed works and talks about her life and career. Followed by an opportunity for audience members to ask their own questions.

Wednesday 23rd July - Dylan in Llangollen

To celebrate the Dylan Thomas centenary a new drama featuring renowned actor Peter Read.

Wednesday 23rd July - East India Youth

East India Youth - who is responsible for the love-lorn synth pop of 'Looking For Someone' and the chemically-dazed rapture of 'Heaven, How Long' from the stunning 'Hostel EP' - is actually one young man. William Doyle, a 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Bournemouth, cut his teeth in an indie group called The Fourfathers while still a teenager.

Thursday 24th July - Glenn Tilbrook

Former Squeeze frontman, Glenn Tilbrook, reputed for his considerable song writing talent and irrepressible sense of humour, brings his totally stripped down solo acoustic show to the Fringe.

Friday 25th July - Transglobal Underground

WOMEX headliner Transglobal Underground make a welcome return visit to the Llangollen Fringe this year. Their sell-out performance in Llangollen in 2004 was one of the great all-time nights of Fringe history. They specialise in a fusion of western, oriental and African music styles (sometimes labelled world fusion and ethno techno) and their infectious music and huge stage presence will make this a great night to remember for another decade.

Saturday 26th July - Musical Narrowboat Cruise

A rare opportunity to enjoy a journey on the Llangollen Canal cruising along our own World Heritage Site with musical accompaniment from a clarinet quartet (clarinet, violin, viola and cello) playing as you travel through the beautiful Dee Valley.

Saturday 26th July - Souvenirs

Survivors of torture helped write, create and are performing in a groundbreaking new verbatim theatre play about their experiences of torture.

Saturday 26th July - Osibisa

Known as ‘The Godfathers of World Music', Osibisa exploded onto the music world in 1971 with a pulsating and vibrant sound that was to engulf the tired post 60’s rock scene. Translated from Ghanaian Osibisa means ‘criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness’.

Sunday 27th July - Spanish Wine & Music

An intimate afternoon of Spanish music, wine and tapas in the wood panelled surroundings of Gales Wine Bar

Sunday 27th July - MuOM

Harmonic Chant and Diphonic Singing, is a vocal technique in which each singer emits two notes at once. 

Festival Tickets are now on sale, in limited numbers.

For £80 you can get into all the evening concerts.

·        See more at: http://www.llangollenfringe.co.uk/index.php/en/festival-2014/main-festival-events#sthash.o0NujFsV.dpuf

Girl band Paradise's heavenly Urdd performance

* Members of the all-girl band Paradwys.

Paradwys (Paradise), a  five-piece Welsh language all-girl Band based in Llangollen, took a second place at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Bala last week.

The girls were on the rock stage performing one of the many songs penned by themselves and entitled Deud Dim. 

The band was formed more than two years ago when the girls were pupils of Ysgol Gwernant in Llangollen.

They are now pupils of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham and still love writing and singing their Welsh lyrics to the music they compose themselves.

The band will be performing a set during Picnic in the Garden at Plas Newydd on Saturday, June 28.

This concert is being organised by Llangollen Silver Band in aid of Llangollen Christmas Lights.

There will be more details for you on Llanblogger about that  event during the coming weeks but in the meantime more details are available via  Llangollensilverband.org.uk, or by calling 07981966465.

Councillor Huw Jones, Denbighshire County Council's cabinet lead member with responsibility for culture, said: "Yet again we have seen Denbighshire pupils and students showcasing their creative skills on a national stage. 

"They have shown they are amongst the most talented children and young people in the whole of wales.  They are true ambassadors for Denbighshire.

"Hundreds of pupils have been involved in local and county heats and they are to be congratulated for their success. not forgetting the teachers and parents that have given their time and commitment over recent months.  

"The successes this week clearly show that Welsh culture is alive and kicking in Denbighshire."

Police launch summer road safety campaign

The national All Wales Summer Anti Drink/Drug Drive Campaign 2014, backed by all four Welsh Police Forces, has now begun.

 

Led by South Wales Police, the month-long campaign throughout June will see forces increase the pressure and focus on those drivers who drink and drive or drive under the influence of drugs.

 

There will be increased stop checks to catch those breaking the law, reinforce the message and educate drivers.

 

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing, from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit, said: “With the summer season now upon us, more people may be tempted to have a few drinks especially at barbecues or whilst drinking in beer gardens during the afternoons, and may drive without thinking of the consequences.

 

“The World Cup is also two weeks away and that will no doubt see an increase in the number of people watching some of the games in the pub.

 

He added: “Think before you go out, watch what you drink and plan how you will get home.”

 

North Wales Police has a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are drink and drug driving, dangerous driving including unnecessary risk taking, speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone whilst driving.

 

Chief Inspector Wareing explained: “We are committed to assisting in reducing the risk of becoming a casualty on the road through the use of targeted operations around high risk groups of people and locations while enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences.”

 

“If you drink and drive you will potentially not only ruin your life, but the lives of others innocently associated with you and your actions. There is absolutely no excuse for drinking and driving and the consequences can be devastating.

 

“You not only risk killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else, but you will end up in court and could face a fine, lose your licence or receive a jail sentence. You will have a criminal record and you could lose your job.”

 

Anyone with information regarding individuals who are believed to drive whilst over the legal limit or under the influence of drugs, can contact North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Campaigners still want beds at new health centre

* An artist's impression of the new Llangollen health centre.

Campaigners have restated their calls for hospital beds to be included in the plans for a new health centre in Llangollen.

 

The Welsh Government last week announced that it will provide £5 million of funding for the development on the site of the derelict River Lodge.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of the Keep Llangollen Health Services campaign group, said: “They’ve been dragging their feet for far too long. The hospital closed its doors a year and a half ago, and since then Llangollen and the Dee Valley has had to suffer a second class health service, with patients having to travel to Deeside or Mold for hospital beds.

 

“Of course, a £5 million investment is to be welcomed, but this shouldn’t distract us from the fact that, even with the new centre health, services in the area will have been diminished.

 

“We have raised questions about the suitability of the placing of the new centre for some time. Road safety and ease of access is a huge concern as well, which are as yet unresolved.”

 

According to Mabon ap Gwynfor, people in Llangollen shared these concerns.

 

Pat Jeffares, Councillor for the nearby Llangollen Rural ward, said: “Llangollen hospital beds are a must, as it served my ward Llangollen rural for respite care down the years. It also reduced bed blocking at Wrexham hospital, which is now causing major problem at Wrexham hospital.” 

 

Former nurse, Mrs P McBroom said: “It would really benefit the community in Llangollen to have some beds available in the health centre. It would free up beds in the Maelor hospital and provide care for patients who just need further convalescence before being discharged, especially people living on their own. It would also allow terminally-ill patients to be nearer home and their friends.

 

“As a former nurse I find it very sad to see these community hospitals closing down and the already over stretched Hospitals having to cope."

 

Jacqueline Lewis said: “Yes, I do feel that we need beds in Llangollen and I also think Llangollen hospital should never have closed. You can see the impact that it has had on Wrexham Maelor Hospital.”

 

Eve Slawson said: “(Having hospital beds) absolutely would definitely benefit our community and whole heartedly support your cause to have hospital beds in Llangollen. “

 

Carole Jones said: “I definitely agree we need hospital beds  in the new Llangollen Heath Centre.”

 

David Roberts said: “Hospital beds should be included in Llangollen health centre. It’s much better for elderly people to convalesce in their own town and so lessen bed blocking at Wrexham Maelor.”

 

Helen Roberts said: “Definitely, hospital beds should be included in the new Llangollen Health Centre. It’s essential to ease the burden on Wrexham Maelor and to ease visiting for friends and family.”

 

Gillian Thomas said: “Yes, I do think there should be beds in the new health centre and I am surprised they have not been included in the plans.”

 

Paul Roberts said: “I certainly believe that hospital beds should be included in the new Llangollen Centre. Apart from the obvious and reasons, you could argue that it is another devaluation of local services in one of the county's major tourist and popular family location. People still have to take time from work here as the surgery has no weekend or after-hours.”

 

Mary Connolly said: “Absolutely. The centre should have plenty of room for hospital beds, and also a proper outpatients for emergency/run of the mill mishaps. There will be a lot less need for people to fill up A&E in Wrexham if they can get local treatment, as was available in the old Llangollen Cottage Hospital. We sorely miss it.” 

 

Kathy Davies said: “I strongly agree that there is a need for hospital beds in Llangollen as there are many residents in Llangollen struggle to go to visit relatives in hospital especially when they are sent as far away as Deeside and also think there should be an accident and emergency unit here too, why should we have to travel all the way to Wrexham to be seen.”

Horror crash in Flintshire

The Daily Post website is reporting today (Sunday) on a serious road traffic accident in nearby Flintshire.

See the full story at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/penyffordd-crash-two-bikers-killed-7199763

Well-known couple renew wedding vows

A former Mayor and Mayoress of Llangollen, George and Barbara Hughes, renewed their wedding vows in St Collen's Church this morning (Sunday) in thanks for 40 years of marriage. Mike Connolly kindly supplied this picture.

Local roadworks bulletin

Denbighshire County Council has given details of the following local roadworks:

Berwyn Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights to allow retaining wall works from June 2-6.

A5 Regent Street, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights to allow retaining wall works fromJune 9-13.

A5 near canoe centre Berwyn Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights to allow water works  from June 26-July 2.