Town's festival is a real Christmas cracker

THE festive season officially arrived in Llangollen today (Saturday) as the town staged its annual Christmas Festival.

The day started with a grand parade led by Santa – in Welsh Sion Corn – and ended with a grand firework display and a red-hot performance by a circus-style fire artist.

The parade, watched by hundreds of people packing the main Castle Street, began at 1pm from Mill Street and wended its way through the town centre to the Town Hall where Santa took up residence in his grotto with his elf helpers and was visited by scores of youngsters over the next few hours.

There were fairground rides in a closed-off Oak Street and throughout the afternoon there was a full programme of entertainment both on the Capel steps outside the library and inside the Town Hall where there was also a host of craft stalls.

Amongst the outdoor performers were the choirs from the two local schools, Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol y Gwernant, Llangollen Male Voice Choir, Llangollen Silver Band, the musical group Radiant Events and Dragonsong, a community youth choir from Wrexham.

On stage inside the Town Hall were The Smiths Blues Singers, the Manic Monday Choir and Chris Burton.

As darkness fell the group of local residents who staged a series of events throughout the year to raise cash for extra Christmas lights along Castle Street were invited to perform the official switch-on by Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Lube.

A fitting finale to the day’s events came with a firework spectacular firework and a firey display from a circus performer on the Capel steps.

All proceeds of the festival will go to Wales Air Ambulance.

 

* Santa - Sion Corn - and his helpers lead the Christmas parade.

 

* Llangollen Male Voice Choir performs on the library steps.

* A climbing frame attracts the crowds in Oak Street. 

* Dragonsong from Wrexham sings for the crowds in Castle Street.

* Llangollen Silver band hits the right seasonal note.

* Santa leads the parade into Market Street.

* One of the gleaming classic cars in the parade.

* An open-topped veteran car heads over the bridge.

* Morris dancers were a colourful feature of the opening parade.

* One of the young stars of the festival arrives aboard her Christmas conveyance.

* A horse-drawn dray wagon from Llangollen Brewery pleases the crowds.

* A magic roundabout attracts the kids in Oak Street.

* Charlie, Shirley, Karen and Rebecca, who staged various events to raise cash for extra Christmas lights in the town centre, were invited to switch on the display just after 5pm. 

* A grand fireworks display rounds off the festival.

* A circus performer does tricks with fire.

Town to stage Small Business Saturday

Organisers have asked llanblogger to carry the poster below for the forthcoming Small Business Saturday event in the town:

Rhys tops the bill at Llan Christmas cracker

International star tenor Rhys Meirion will top the bill at a special Christmas Carol Concert to raise a Santa’s sackful of cash to help hard-up competitors take part in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Every year the Eisteddfod turns Father Christmas by providing over £20,000 of travel and accommodation for competition entrants from as far afield as the Philippines and South America as well as Africa and Eastern Europe.

The Christmas Carol Concert at the Royal International Pavilion, which takes place this year on Sunday, December 14, plays a vital part in that fund-raising effort.

Rhys Meirion (pictured right), who lives in Pwllglas near Ruthin with his wife, Nia, and three children Osian, 18, Elan, 15 and Erin, 13, says he’s delighted to have the opportunity to help support young international competitors dreaming of travelling to North Wales to compete.

The schoolteacher turned opera star made his New York Carnegie Hall debut earlier this year in the premiere of Karl Jenkins’ The Bards of Wales, said it’s vital to support one of the world’s best international competitions.

Rhys, one of Wales’s very own Three Tenors – the others are Aled Hall and Alun Rhys-Jenkins, said: “Llangollen is such a special event which has so much tradition associated with it. I was in Budapest recently and speaking to people there it’s clear the economic climate remains difficult to bring choirs of young people over to Wales to compete.

“Air fares alone are astronomical so this concert to support the Bursary Scheme for international competitors from developing countries is a great idea.

“I always look forward to visiting the International Eisteddfod as a performer or a visitor. It’s a magical event and gives young people in particular an experience they will never forget.”

The Llangollen December concert will cap a busy year for Rhys in which he has just published his autobiography, Stopio’r Byd Am Funud Fach (Stop the World for a Minute).

In the book he tells of his anguish at his younger sister Elen’s tragic death following a fall, the effect it had on his family and his determination to honour Elen Meirion’s memory by raising awareness of the importance of organ donation.

He said: “We were very close and I treasure the time we had together as brother and sister. It’s important to me that I campaign as much as I can to raise awareness of organ transplants.

“It was what Elen wanted and we take great comfort from the fact as many as five people benefitted after receiving Elen’s organs following her death.

“Of course I am still affected by Elen’s death but losing her also gives me strength in many ways as I always feel she is there on stage with me.

“I know people who have been in a similar position to me and have lost someone close and they say they feel the same way. It’s something you can’t explain, that feeling that someone is there with you. You can feel their presence.”

He added: “My sister’s passing also taught me another important lesson in life and that’s to make the most of every day. The fact is, every day is a special gift.”

And Rhys is always looking for ways to boost his fundraising efforts for the Elen Meirion Fund which supports people in Wales who are in need of an organ transplant as well as other good causes. 

On Wednesday, December 10, he’s performing at the Gates Art Centre, Cardiff for the Cardiff Sinfonietta’s 10^th anniversary concert in aid of Elen’s fund and Velindre Cancer Care and the following night he is presenting An Evening with Rhys Meirion, again in Cardiff, in aid of Kidney Wales.

It’s a Christmas concert with soprano Ellen Williams, the Pendyrus ,Male Voice Choir and Lucie Jones, of X-Factor fame who has now gone on to star in musical theatre.”

Back in Llangollen on December 14 Rhys will be joined on stage by teenage sensation Dewi Wykes, the schoolboy from Gellifor, near Ruthin, who came through auditions to make a huge impression alongside Bryn Terfel in the International Eisteddfod’s acclaimed Sweeney Todd in July.

Rhys said: “It’s going to be an amazing evening. I’m going to sing some carols and a few classical pieces accompanied by pianist Annette Bryn Parri. I have worked with Annette, who is unbelievably talented, many times over the years.

“Dewi Wykes, the boy selected to star in Sweeney Todd alongside Bryn Terfel and Sian Cothi at Llangollen in July is also appearing and, hopefully, fingers crossed, we will do a little something together.

“Add to that the Llangollen Silver Band, the choir of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, who won the Eisteddfod’s Show Choir event in July, and the children of Mountain Lane Primary School and we are going to have a wonderful Christmas concert.

“It’s always a pleasure to perform at Llangollen as the audience is so knowledgeable. There is a level of expectancy, they really do know, understand and love their music.”

And once Christmas is over 2015 promises to be another busy year for Rhys with radio and television commitments for the former schoolteacher who took the plunge in 1997 and gave up his job as head of Ysgol Pentrecelyn, near Ruthin, for a life in music.

He said: “Regrets? The answer has to be no, not at all. As much as I enjoyed working in a classroom it doesn’t quite feel as good as walking out in front of an expectant audience knowing you have to deliver. That’s my workplace now and it’s something I really do enjoy.”

Christmas at Llangollen 2014, organised by the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod’s Music and Staging Committee, will take place on Sunday, December 14, at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced £10 (£8 concessions), are available from the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod office at the Royal International Pavilion, Gwyn Davies, Butchers, Castle Street, Llangollen and Jades Hair and Beauty, Oak St, Llangollen.

For more information about the 2015 Llangollen International Music Festival visit www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

For more information about Rhys Meirion and for details on where to buy his autobiography, Stopio'r Byd Am Funud Fach, £9.95, visit www.rhysmeirion.com

New health centre now has roof in place

llanblogger's correspondent in the area, Phil Meyers, has sent us in the latest pictures showing progress on the new health centre currently under construction on the site of the old River Lodge.

Large sections of the roof are now clearly in place.

Public asked to help draw up policing blueprint

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner is seeking the public's help to draw up a new blueprint for policing the area.

Mr Winston Roddick CB QC (pictured left) says he wants to ensure that all communities, groups and representative bodies have a stronger voice in telling the police what they think is most important and what they are most worried about.

The Commissioner is updating his Police and Crime Plan and is keen for as many people as possible to be involved in the process.

According to Mr Roddick, the interests of victims and community safety will be at the heart of the new strategy.

He is proposing an integrated victims’ strategy incorporating the key themes of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Roddick said: "North Wales is one of safest places to live, work and visit in the UK. We want to have strategies that keep it that way.

 

"Crime in the area has been reduced in recent years and as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, my job is to ensure this continues.

 

"My overriding objective, where I start from, is that people should feel secure at home and safe in public places and that the police should be visible and available when needed most.

 

“There is an open invitation to all parts of the community to share their views.

 

“As the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, I have statutory duty to consult local people on policing priorities.

 

“In consultation with the force, I draft an annual Police and Crime Plan and in order to do that the police and I need to be aware what local people believe  the policing priorities should be.

 

"My aim is to ensure that the views, needs and expectations of all parts of our communities are reflected in the plan.

 

“I am accountable to the people when it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour so it is vitally important for me to find out what people think about how the region should be policed.

 

“The updated Police and Crime Plan will set out in plain English and Welsh the level of service people can expect to receive from their local police force.

 

"I recently commissioned a detailed report to provide an independent assessment of the current victims’ support services within North Wales.

 

"As a result of this I have decided to develop an integrated victims’ strategy incorporating the key themes of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime and anti-social behaviour, with the emphasis on providing a comprehensive service to victims.

 

"The plan will also focus on the rehabilitation of offenders with the aim reducing crime which will in turn mean there are fewer victims of crime.

 

“The purpose of the Police and Crime Plan is to ensure the force is paying specific attention to those points which have been identified as crucial by the public, me and indeed by the force itself.

 

“An important part of my role as Commissioner will be to monitor the force’s compliance with the plan and I will be rigorous in holding them to account on behalf of the people of North Wales."

 

Anybody wanting to contribute ideas can do so via the Commissioner's website www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or they u can e-mail the Commissioner’s office OPCC@nthwales.pnn.police.uk  or write to the Commissioner at Glan-Y-Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW.  The deadline for submissions is December 18 the revised plan will be submitted to the Police and Crime Panel on January 19, 2015.  

Work starts on Chain Bridge

The BBC is reporting this afternoon (Wednesday) that work has started on the restoration of the world famous Chain Bridge.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30205556

Mike guides the guides around town

* Mike Smart (second from right) outside The Hand Hotel, Llangollen with some of the Guides. 

OFFICIAL guide Mike Smart spent some time last weekend guiding other guides around Llangollen.

Mike, who is local North East Wales Tourism Ambassador and Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB guide, led a group of 20 Green Badge Guides on a tour of the town.

Mike, who is also part of TREKsmart.net Guided Walking, said: "The Green Badge Guides had just completed their three years of studying to become the higher level Blue Badge Guides.

 

"The Blue Badge Guides course is overseen by Coleg Llandrillo and requires a huge in-depth knowledge of history, heritage, people and landscape, culminating in an intense week of activity and exams.

 

"My job at the weekend was to guide the guides around Llangollen and share my local knowledge of the Dee Valley, the AONB and its protected landscapes, the UNESCO Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site along with other places to visit when these guides re-visit with tour groups in the future.

 

"Tourism is hugely important to the area and we should help encourage it in any way we can."

 

Mike's TREKsmart organisation is arranging a walking festival in Llangollen on May 2, 3 and 4 next year.

This will take in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and Pontcysyllte UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

He added: "Come and join us for short, medium and long walks.

 

"Two of the walks include a steam train ride, and there will also be wilderness walks, history walks with a Blue Badge Guide, food and drink walk, Nordic walking, photography walk and talk plus evening entertainment with Welsh folk storytelling music and songs."

 

* For more details, go to www.llangollenwalkingfestival.co.uk/ and on Facebook. Email: hello@treksmart.net