Iron animals to star at Hamper Llangollen

 

* Two by two...Colin Loughlin (right) and Phil Davies (centre), from Hamper

Llangollen food festival, with Clive Knowles, from the British Ironworks Centre.

 

Forget the Russell Crowe film blockbuster Noah - an array of iron animals is set to take pride and place at a top food festival.

 

Around 30 sculptures created by the British Ironworks Centre, Oswestry, will make their way to Hamper Llangollen later this year on October 18-19.

 

These will include a flock of iron sheep, chickens, a giant boar and a giant ostrich.

The event, hailed as one of the Top 10 food festivals in the UK, is supported by the rural development agency, Cadwyn Clwyd.

 

Cadwyn Clwyd’s contribution comes via the Rural Development Plan 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 asked the creative metal workers to support the event after spotting a three and a half tonne Uri Geller-inspired gorilla made from spoons at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

Colin, who is delighted that the British Ironworks Centre has chosen to sponsor the festival, said: “If you go down to the British Ironworks Centre and just go down the drive it looks like a giant safari park, with all sorts of exotic animals all over the place – it’s incredible.

 

“It came about because they sponsored the Llangollen Eisteddfod. I asked if they could provide us with some tables and chairs like they’d done for the Eisteddfod and they said that they’d go one better and bring along some iron animals as well.

 

“The animals will reflect what is happening at Hamper Llangollen. For example there is going to be a stall there that sells ostrich meat and wild boar. It's going to be a bit like an iron version of Noah's Ark - minus Russell Crowe!"

 

Clive Knowles, Managing Director of the British Ironworks Centre, added: “It’s to add drama and theatre to the event.

 

“I’ve never been to Hamper Llangollen and I’m really looking forward to it. I really love Welsh lamb so I’ll be looking for a bit of lamb shank while I’m there.

 

“Colin said they had a lot of natural and free range things going on so we want to reflect that with the sculptures we bring to Hamper Llangollen.

 

“We’re going to bring around 20 small pieces and about 10 large ones. The large ones can weigh up to three tonnes.

 

“Hamper Llangollen is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase what we can do.

 

“We’re going to be opening our own café at the British Ironworks Centre so it’s also an opportunity for us to source local produce. Sourcing local produce is incredibly important and it’s something that people are looking for more and more these days because it’s good quality and people want to support their community.”

 

A quartet of Wales’s best chefs will have a starring role at the festival. Graham Tinsley, executive chef at Carden Park in Cheshire and Conwy’s Castle Hotel, will be cooking up a Welsh feast with Mike Evans, hospitality lecturer at Coleg Llandrillo, Rhos on Sea, and Dion Jones, one of Europe’s finest young chefs.

 

The ever popular Dai Chef, now the resident chef at Bodnant Welsh Food, the centre of excellence for Welsh food in the Conwy Valley will be there too.

 

Robert Didier, a baker who trained with culinary legend Raymond Blanc will also unveil the UK’s most expensive loaf – made with champagne and 24 carat gold, at the event.

Cadwyn Clwyd’s Agri Food Officer, Robert Price, believes this year’s festival is going to be one of the best ever.

 

He said: “Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies like Orchard Pigs, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

 

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

 

“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.”

 

For more information about Hamper Llangollen 2014 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Skates slams "despicable" attacks on churches

POLICE in North Wales have recorded more than 300 incidents of vandalism at churches and thefts from religious buildings, including Llangollen, over the past three years, new figures have revealed.

The data, obtained by Assembly Member Ken Skates under the Freedom of Information Act, shows Wrexham as the county with the highest number of incidents (79), while Anglesey was targeted least (17).

The figures cover the period from April 1, 2011, to the same date this year and reveal a total of 334 thefts and vandalism offences over 36 months.

There were more than 60 incidents in Conwy and more than 50 each in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Gwynedd.

At least two incidents were recorded in Llangollen in June last year – first at St Collen’s where the lock on the church gate was glued shut and the second when lead was stolen from the roof of St John the Baptist.

Mr Skates, the Labour AM Clwyd South, said: “These incidents include charity collection boxes being stolen, dozens of thefts of lead and other metals and also handbags, purses and wallets being taken.

“The police have also had reports of windows being smashed, break-ins and fires being started. I don’t know what types of people would commit such crimes. Some of them would be sickening at the best of times, but when they take place in buildings that mean so much to so many people they’re nothing short of despicable.”

However, Mr Skates said he was ‘encouraged’ to see the figure falling from 132 in 2012-13 to 83 last year, and said he believed the additional 500 Police Community Support Officer roles created by the Welsh Government earlier this year were playing their part in reducing crime across North Wales.

He added: “I recently spent an afternoon on the beat in my constituency with one of our PCSOs, who are now a vital part of modern-day policing. They play an important role in solving crimes and ensuring people feel safe, and they are already making a difference in our communities throughout North Wales.”

 

GCSE celebration time at Ysgol Dinas Bran

* Jubilant scenes at Ysgol Dinas Bran this morning.

There were scenes of great jubilation at the school this morning as delighted students received their GCSE results.

All in all 99% achieved a level 2 pass (five GCSE grades or equivalent at C or above) and 60% achieved the level  2+ (five grades at C or above including English and Maths).  The last figure is a 5% improvement on 2013.

Excellent results were achieved across many subject areas with several having a 100% rate of higher grade passes (see below).

There were some significant student achievements. 

Joshua Jones, from Chirk, gained an incredible eight A* grades and an A grade.  Nadine Evans, from Trevor, also performed outstandingly well in securing six A* grades, three As,  a B grade and a Distinction in Further Maths.  Helen Newbrook, from Glyn Ceiriog, did similarly well with six A* grades, three As and a B grade.

Other high achieving students include:

Bethan Williams (Trevor) five A* grades, six A grades, Merit in further Maths, Ross Litchfield Briscoe (Chirk) four A* grades, four A grades, one B grade, Lowri Bates (Glyn Ceiriog) three A* grades, seven A grades, one B grade, Distinction in Further Maths, Morgan Jones (Glyn Ceiriog)   three A* grades, three A grades, two B grades and a Distinction in Further Maths, Tomos  Morris  (Chirk)  two A* grades, four A grades, three B grades and a Distinction in Performing Arts,
Abigail Claybrook  (Llangollen) two A* grades, two A grades, three B grades and Distinction* in Dance.

Kirsty Prescott  (Chirk) two A* grades, two A grades, five B grades, Meuryn Hughes (Pentredwr)   two A* grades, one A grade, four B grades, Amber Griffiths (Chirk Bank)  nine A grades, one B grade, Merit in further Maths, Ceri O’Connell  (Llangollen)  seven A grades, one B grade,
Olivia Holgate (Chirk) one A* grade, six A grades, two B grades, Merit in further Maths, Luke Andrews (Chirk) one A* grade, four A grades, one B grade, Distinction* in Media, Rhys Kynaston (Chirk) one A* grade, five A grades, two B grades, Merit in Further Maths.

Across the whole range of students a huge number achieved good grades , sometimes in challenging circumstances.

Headteacher Martyn Froggett said: “The students have worked extremely hard and fully deserve their results.  To achieve a 99% pass rate at level 2 is a phenomenal achievement.  They have excelled themselves – well done to all of them. 

"Many thanks to all the staff and parents who have supported them whole-heartedly in their journey.  It is a record summer of success and, on top of really good A levels last week, an excellent year for the school.”

Denbighshire County Council says early indications show that approximately 89% of students in the county have achieved 5 A*-C or equivalent.

The council says Denbighshire schools have also seen an improvement in the number of students achieving 5 A*-C or equivalent, including Welsh or English and maths and that there have been some outstanding personal successes.

Councillor Eryl Williams, Cabinet Lead Member for Lifelong Learning, said: “These results are fantastic and I would like to congratulate all students who have achieved the grades needed to further their education with support from their teachers. The results this year really are excellent and show that Denbighshire is continuing to improve.  “We are committed to improving standards in education. We can see the results of everyone's hard work to improve education in Denbighshire and I am delighted that these huge efforts are making a real difference to our young people.” 

* Pictured below: Various students celebrate their GCSE results ...

Health centre foundations taking shape

llanblogger reader Mike Connolly has sent in this picture of the foundations of the town's new health centre which is being built on the site of the old Woodlands Hotel in Mill Street.

Mike says: "The photo which looks like Llan's very own Roman excavations actually shows how fast things are progressing with the new health centre."

Read Construction has its own Facebook page containing the latest information on the development, which you can see at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Llangollen-Health-Centre/652361501479939?fref=ts

This gives a schedule of works showing:

Completion of Demolition Works – 8th August 2014
Commencement of Substructure Foundation Works –11th August 2014
Commencement of Superstructure Works – 13th October 2014
Completion of Roofing Works – 27th February 2015
Completion of Internal Fit Out Works – 5th June 2015
Building Completion – 12th June 2015

There's also a development website at: http://www.readconstruction.co.uk/listings/view/llangollen_health_centre/

* Below, a picture from the site shows concrete being poured into the foundations.

Help shape the future of Pen y Coed Wood

The Woodland Trust is hosting a special event in Llangollen to help shape the future of Pen y Coed Wood.

People engagement officer Jane craven said: “We would like to meet with you and give you the opportunity to share your stories of Pen y Coed wood, let us know what you think of the wood and help us improve it for the future.

“Join us on Friday, August 29, between 2pm and 4pm, at the community hall, St Collen’s.

“There will be fun craft activities and wildlife art for children and free refreshments. Everyone is welcome. Your opinion counts.”

Faery Festival takes off in a big way

* A little fairy at the event.

What happens if you get people from Cornwall, Kent, Northumbria, Cardiff and the Fylde coast, plus the Midlands and the Wirral all interested in myth and magic, and put them in a big tent in Wales for the weekend? 

The second annual Legendary Llangollen Faery Festival, that’s what.

People from all over Britain came to enjoy what is fast becoming one of the major fairy events in the UK.

Over 200 craft workers, healers, fortune tellers, live-action role players, musicians and speakers descended upon us last weekend, all with a mind to have a good time, sell their wares and enjoy everything fairy. 

They pitched tents and stalls and some set up inside the huge tented arena of the Llangollen Pavilion, and all this with the threat of the tail end of Hurricane Bertha looming and poised to strike.

Saturday dawned fair and a glorious day was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors.  

Wishes were posted on the wishing line for the fairies to collect and grant, and the wing and wand making workshops were spectacularly busy. 

Circus skills were taught, the mystery of how to play a didgeridoo was revealed and live music and wonderful food was enjoyed. The stallholders did a cracking trade and the little, (and large), ones had their faces painted and were told some amazing tales by expert storytellers.

Author and co-organiser, Fiona Maher was promoting her novel. 

She said: “My book, The Last Changeling, is hardly fairy friendly and I never thought people who really believe that fairies are sweet creatures would like what I’ve written.

“Luckily, they are only interested in fairies and fey culture being promoted, so if I just happen to be the conduit for that, then they are inclined to forgive me.  Actually some of them prefer their fairies to be less sugary.”  

She added: “The threatened rain arrived at teatime just as the daytime events concluded, and most of the outside stalls moved inside the arena for the next day. We only had the vintage funfair and three stalls go home - all vowing to return next year.  

“That night we all danced at The Grand Faery Ball, so no-one much cared what the weather was doing outside!  

“Fervent spells were cast for good weather for the Sunday. After a rain lashed night, the water stopped pouring from the sky just eight minutes after the event opened again.  There were a few squalls in the afternoon, one huge gust of wind, and that was Bertha's last farewell.  

“We all survived and are already planning for 2015.”

* Pictures courtesy of Alan Potts

 * Activity inside the Pavilion.

 

 

* Stylish dance routine.

 

 

* Fairy with owl.

 

 

* Outside on the field.

ABBA Solution to play Bank Holiday show in Llan

* ABBA Solution in action.

 

A tribute band will be making a triumphant return to Llangollen this Bank Holiday Weekend.

Following sell-out shows in the town last year, including one as part of the Llangollen Fringe Festival, ABBA Solution will be bringing their 100% live tribute to the Swedish super-group to the Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday 24th August.

The show features Steph Babington as Agnetha and Jo Potts as Anni-Frid, backed by a highly polished six piece band. Celebrating the bands most popular hits, from 'Waterloo' to 'Dancing Queen', ABBA Solution also perform some of their more obscure and musically challenging numbers including 'The Eagle', which features twin lead guitar solos from Dan Morris and Ross Anderson.

The event has been organised by Llangollen based Radiant Events, who also run regular comedy nights in the town. Director Paul Brown says, "The music of ABBA has won plenty of new fans in the past few years following the success of the Mamma Mia film. There are plenty of tribute bands out there, but ABBA Solution are the real deal. There are no backing tracks and no autotune - just a 100% live musical spectacular. It's a great way to round off a fantastic summer in Llangollen."

Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced at £10, are available online at www.radiantevents.co.uk or can be bought in person at the Llangollen Pavilion and Gales of Llangollen.

* Steph Babington as Agnetha.