Trading Standards teams across North Wales are aware that some residents have received a letter claiming they have won a large sum of money e.g. £750,000 from ‘Euro Millions FIFA World Cup Super Lottery.’
They are warning people that if they receive a letter like this, not to respond and instead to report it to Action Fraud immediately.
Kevin Jones, Wrexham's Principal Manager for Trading Standards and Chair of the North Wales Heads of Trading Standards group, said: “This type of scam isn’t new, there have been many similar examples. However, when someone receives a letter through the door which claims to be linked to the World Cup it can be very convincing.
"The letter includes many logos which attempt to give the letter some validity and asks the recipient to make contact with the Foreign Service Manager. It is likely that people who do ring the number will be asked to provide personal and banking details. I would advise very strongly that residents do not provide this information because of the danger of their bank accounts being emptied of cash.”
Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire’s Public Protection Manager and part of the North Wales' Heads of Public Protection Group, said: “We have a duty to protect our residents from such scams and we will take all necessary action to warn the community and liaise with various other enforcement agencies because this type of scam is often based abroad." P
People should remember these points to protect themselves against lottery fraud:
· Never respond to any such communication. If you haven’t entered a lottery then you can’t have won it.
· Official lotteries in other countries operate in much the same way as the UK’s National Lotto. No official lotteries that we know of contact people to tell them of their win.
· We don’t know of any official lottery operators who ask for fees to collect winnings. Any request for a fee payment is a good indication that someone is trying to defraud you.
· Never, ever disclose your bank details or pay fees in advance.
· If the contact details include email addresses such as @hotmail.com or @yahoo.com, or numbers beginning with 07, then be very suspicious because these are free to get hold of.
· Genuine lotteries thrive on publicity. If they ask you to keep your win a secret it’s likely to be a fraud.
· Many fraudulent lotteries have bad spelling and grammar – see this as a warning that fraudsters are at work.
· Do some research – if you have access to the internet then use search engines to check other people’s experiences. Check with friends and family.
* Residents wanting advice and guidance on any consumer issue should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or 08454 04 05 05 for the Welsh language service (www.adviceguide.org.uk ). Potential scams should be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (www.actionfraud.police.uk)
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Man airlifted to hospital after quarry fall
The BBC news website is reporting today (Wednesday) that a man was airlifted to hospital after falling in a flooded quarry near Llangollen.
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 7.31pm last night, Tuesday June 10, to reports a man had fallen at the Blue Lagoon quarry, near Horseshoe Pass.
"A Community First Responder attended together with paramedics in two rapid response cars, a crew in an emergency ambulance and an RAF helicopter, and a man in his 30s was airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in a serious condition.”
See the BBC story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-27790758
This update from the Daily Post came earlier this afternoon:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mans-fight-life-after-200ft-7250154
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 7.31pm last night, Tuesday June 10, to reports a man had fallen at the Blue Lagoon quarry, near Horseshoe Pass.
"A Community First Responder attended together with paramedics in two rapid response cars, a crew in an emergency ambulance and an RAF helicopter, and a man in his 30s was airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in a serious condition.”
See the BBC story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-27790758
This update from the Daily Post came earlier this afternoon:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mans-fight-life-after-200ft-7250154
Care home residents tune up for the Eisteddfod
* Pendine Park residents will collaborate with the Halle on a musical workshop.
A group of talented care home residents are teaming up with a world class orchestra to perform at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
The melodious group from Pendine Park care organisation, Wrexham, will be collaborating in a musical workshop with the renowned Hallé at the festival on Tuesday, July 8.
The night before Pendine Park is sponsoring a special performance at the Eisteddfod pavilion of Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street starring opera superstar Bryn Terfel.
Bryn, who earned rave reviews when he did Sweeney Todd on Broadway with Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, will be sharing the Llangollen stage with top tenor Wynne Evans, the star of the Go Compare TV ads.
Preparations for the workshop are well underway as Pendine Park artist in residence Sarah Edwards explained: “Each of the homes will get a country as a theme, and they will then produce artwork, poetry, musical pieces, to tie that theme together.
“I’m really excited about the workshop at the Llangollen Eisteddfod. We can’t wait and feel privileged to be a part of such a renowned festival.
"The work we do with the Hallé is an integral part of our enrichment programme and also has a key role in our personal training and staff development.
"Unlocking the creativity within our staff can also help them do the same with our residents."
Marian Williams, 93, a resident at Gwern Alyn care home, said: “I’ve been getting involved and by conducting and moving my arms a lot. The musicians from the Halle are very talented. They come here often and I like that. I enjoy the conducting and getting involved with the music.”
Steve Pickett, Education Director of the Hallé, said: “We’ve worked with the residents at Pendine Park for a number of years and having the opportunity to then showcase that activity to the public and to show what these people can do, not to concentrate on what they can’t do, I think is a really brilliant.
“The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is renowned worldwide and for Pendine to have its spot on that is an opportunity not to be missed so we are going to be putting as much into that as we possibly can. It’s a very exciting prospect.”
The three Hallé maestros working with the residents were violinist, Caroline Abbott, oboe/keyboard player Hugh McKenna, a former army man who is also an Ironman Triathlon athlete who has competed in New Zealand, and cellist, David Petri.
David, a regular visitor to Pendine Park, said: “Pendine Park has helped buy some instruments for the residents to use in the sessions. Music is a very powerful memory tool.
Someone who cannot talk can still express themselves through music, even if it is just moving their hands or fingers.
“This is one of the best things we do, it’s very rewarding.”
Sarah added: “The Hallé are amazing. They’re world class musicians and they treat our residents with dignity and respect. They’ve got such brilliant manners and we just couldn’t ask for better.
“It makes a huge difference to residents to be able to enjoy such fantastic music.
“You can see a visible difference in them. Some of them respond when they haven’t previously responded to anything because it helps evoke memories.
“It helps to relax them and it’s invaluable to our enrichment programme at Pendine where we would like to make a difference to people’s lives and this is a way of doing that.
“We’re able to see and note changes in people and you can’t quantify that really. Changes like lifts in moods, people get more responsive, they’re generally happier, they engage more, and that’s invaluable to a person’s quality of life.
“What we are keen to work to is provide the best quality of life for our residents, and the Hallé project exactly fits in with that ethos.”
The curtain raiser for this year's Eisteddfod will mark the return of opera superstar Bryn Terfel to Llangollen.
The acclaimed bass baritone will be playing the lead in a special English-language production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The show will also star top tenor Wynne Evans, otherwise known as Gio Compario in the Go Compare TV ads.
This year's will also feature concerts by Dutch jazz sensation Caro Emerald and veteran British rockers Status Quo as well as a world premiere of a new work, Adiemus Colores, by top composer Karl Jenkins.
He will conduct his Latin American themed work with American tenor Noah Stewart, Venezuelan trumpeter Pacho Flores and Latvian accordion player Ksenija Sidorova to the accompaniment of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Orchestra.
The Friday night concert, Spirit of Unity, will feature the Cape Town Opera, Africa’s premiere opera company, famed for their "vibrant vocalism and high-octane stage performances".
Appearing with them will be Wales’ representative in Cardiff Singer of the World, Gary Griffiths, the Wales Millennium Centre Only Kids Aloud Chorus under the baton of celebrity conductor Tim Rhys Evans and British Sinfonietta, one of the UK's leading independent professional orchestras.
The Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy on the Saturday night is the blue riband event of the week-long festival which will close with a Sunday night concert by Status Quo.
To book tickets and for more details about the urban dance competition go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Skates becomes Rhos Choir vice-president
Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates declared himself ‘delighted and honoured’ after being named the newest vice-president of one of Wales’ leading male vocal groups.
Labour AM Mr Skates was voted into the honorary role with Rhos Male Voice Choir on Monday June 2 after being approached by the committee last month.
He said: “I was delighted and honoured to receive the email asking me to consider becoming a vice-president of the fantastic Rhos Male Voice Choir. The answer was, of course, yes. I’d like to thank the committee for thinking of me and for then voting in favour of accepting me into the role.
“Music, and particularly choral singing, has always played a huge role in Rhos. I have long been a supporter of the choir as well as a fan, and I look forward to continuing to promoting its work in a more formal role in any way I can.”
The choir rehearses at 7.15pm on Monday evenings at the Hafod Social Club and in the Stiwt Theatre at 7.15pm on Thursdays.
Its upcoming dates include shows at St Asaph Cathedral in aid of Arthritis UK on Friday, June 20; an Armed Forces Day event in Queens Square, Wrexham, the following lunchtime and a performance to mark the 80th anniversary of the Gresford Disaster at Wrexham Museum on Saturday, September 20.
Labour AM Mr Skates was voted into the honorary role with Rhos Male Voice Choir on Monday June 2 after being approached by the committee last month.
He said: “I was delighted and honoured to receive the email asking me to consider becoming a vice-president of the fantastic Rhos Male Voice Choir. The answer was, of course, yes. I’d like to thank the committee for thinking of me and for then voting in favour of accepting me into the role.
“Music, and particularly choral singing, has always played a huge role in Rhos. I have long been a supporter of the choir as well as a fan, and I look forward to continuing to promoting its work in a more formal role in any way I can.”
The choir rehearses at 7.15pm on Monday evenings at the Hafod Social Club and in the Stiwt Theatre at 7.15pm on Thursdays.
Its upcoming dates include shows at St Asaph Cathedral in aid of Arthritis UK on Friday, June 20; an Armed Forces Day event in Queens Square, Wrexham, the following lunchtime and a performance to mark the 80th anniversary of the Gresford Disaster at Wrexham Museum on Saturday, September 20.
Appeal for witnesses to Llandegla collision
Officers investigating a serious collision involving a motorbike on the A5104 on Sunday, June 8, are appealing for witnesses and information.
Two people sustained serious injuries as a result of the incident which occurred before 5.53pm and involved one motorbike – a green coloured Kawasaki on the A5104 Llandegla.
The rider of the bike, a man, and a female pillion passenger both sustained serious injuries.
Both were taken by Ambulance to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
The rider, a man in his 20s, was later transferred to Stoke Hospital with injuries which are described as life threatening.
The injuries sustained by the pillion passenger are not believed to be life threatening.
The road was closed for a time and re-opened at around 10.10pm.
* Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has information is urged to contact Sgt 1633 Davies or his colleagues at the Roads Policing Unit based at Deeside on 101 quoting reference number R085730.
Call goes out to young entrepreneurs
* Susan Elan Jones MP and Ken Skates AM.
YOUNG entrepreneurs are being encouraged to bid for a chance to bring their ideas to life by their Assembly Member and MP.
Clwyd South Labour politicians Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones are urging students and recent graduates to enter a competition launched by Lloyds Bank.
The company’s 2014 Enterprise Awards aim to search for Britain’s young entrepreneurial talent and ‘celebrate and recognise the top businesses of tomorrow’.
AM Mr Skates said: “The Enterprise Awards are open to entrepreneurs currently studying at universities across Britain or those who have graduated within the past five years and have been trading for more than 12 months.
“This is a great chance for young business brains with big ideas, with some fantastic prizes and help from experts on offer. I would encourage anyone who fits the bill in Clwyd South to enter and seize this fantastic opportunity.”
The winners of the heats in the Best Start-up, Best Digital and Best Enterprise categories will get one-to-one business mentoring as well as prizes of up to £5,000, while there will be awards of up to £50,000 and time with leading industry experts on offer at the grand final on October 15.
MP Ms Elan Jones said: “Small businesses and business innovation are so important to an area like ours, and this is a great opportunity for young people to really make their mark.
“The average start-up owner in our area is 40 years of age, but there are students and graduates who are bringing forward real innovation and flying the flag for North East Wales. I hope some will take this opportunity to put themselves forward, and I wish them the very best of luck.”
Applications close on July 23. Visit www.lloydsbank.com/enterpriseawards.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Few places left on free first aid course
There are only a handful of places left on a free first aid course organised by Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates.
Labour AM Mr Skates is teaming up with St John Wales so 15 people can attend a two-hour session which could help them save a life.
The event will be held in a private room at the Wynnstay Arms pub in Ruabon from 1.30pm-3.30pm on Friday, June 27, and places – which must be booked in advance – can be reserved now, though there are less than five left.
Mr Skates said: “St John Wales approached me about putting on the training, and I think it’s fantastic idea which I’m happy to be able to extend to my constituents. There will be a fully qualified first aid trainer present and it’s a great opportunity.
“The session is open to anyone aged over 18. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had no first aid training before or you’re just looking to brush up – everyone is welcome. It should be a fun afternoon, and more importantly you will go away with the knowledge and skills that could save someone’s life one day.”
If you would like to take part, email ken.skates@wales.gov.uk or call his constituency office on 01978 869058.
Labour AM Mr Skates is teaming up with St John Wales so 15 people can attend a two-hour session which could help them save a life.
The event will be held in a private room at the Wynnstay Arms pub in Ruabon from 1.30pm-3.30pm on Friday, June 27, and places – which must be booked in advance – can be reserved now, though there are less than five left.
Mr Skates said: “St John Wales approached me about putting on the training, and I think it’s fantastic idea which I’m happy to be able to extend to my constituents. There will be a fully qualified first aid trainer present and it’s a great opportunity.
“The session is open to anyone aged over 18. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had no first aid training before or you’re just looking to brush up – everyone is welcome. It should be a fun afternoon, and more importantly you will go away with the knowledge and skills that could save someone’s life one day.”
If you would like to take part, email ken.skates@wales.gov.uk or call his constituency office on 01978 869058.
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