Methodists enjoy New Year gathering

FORTY-TWO members of Llangollen Methodist Church enjoyed a New Year gathering at the White Water Hotel in the town recently.

A carvery meal was followed by a quiz organised by John and Gill Newbrook, which was won by Sue Smith and Laura Davies.

* Church members tuck into their lunch.

 

 

* Quiz winners Sue Smith and Laura Davies with, centre, Gill Newbrook.

Hospital beds question under discussion

North Wales has nearly 400 fewer hospital beds and 350 fewer nurses than five years ago, according to new figures obtained by Plaid Cymru – the Party Of Wales.

The figures, released following a series of Freedom of Information requests, shows that in October 2009 the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board had 2677 in-patient beds and employed 6276 nurses. By October 2014 the figures were 2284 in-patient beds, a 15% fall, and 5907 nurses, a 6% drop.

Wrexham Maelor Hospital saw a drop of 50 beds coupled with the closure of Flint and Llangollen community hospitals during that period (1).

At the same time, the number of inpatient cases in North Wales rose from 80,867 to 86,249 – a 6.7% rise. But in Wrexham Maelor the rise in the past year alone has been 15% - from 26331 to 30409.

Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said that such a reduction in beds and nursing staff was contributing to the difficulties the NHS was facing in terms of coping with a growing elderly population and ensuring there were beds for those brought in by ambulance to A&E.

Mr Gruffydd said: “Closing wards such as the Acton ward in the Wrexham Maelor , coupled with the loss of many community hospitals, help explain why we are seeing long queues of ambulances outside our main hospitals and why people waiting so long for operations.

“The health board claims that nurse recruitment is the problem but nurses tell us they’ve applied to work Bank shifts and not heard back from the board. Instead, we’re seeing expensive agency nurses being recruited when we need longer-term planning in terms of workforce recruitment and retention.”

He was also critical of the health board’s claims that care was now focussed in the community: “These cuts in hospital services would be easier to stomach if we had seen an equivalent increase in funding for community care and GPs, but the truth is that we are facing a looming crisis in GP and primary-care services. I fear GP shortages will be the ‘health story’ of 2015, unless something drastic is done about it.

 “Care at a hospital might be an out-dated concept for health bosses who want to see more care delivered at home but, until the structure and provisions are in place to ensure that home-care is functioning properly and can be delivered within budget, then there is a real danger that the system will fail if they reduce the number of beds and nurses.

 “In recent years, Labour has underfunded the NHS in Wales and, as a result, we have seen a health service struggling to meet demand, which is rising with every new medical breakthrough and with a population that is living longer. The Cardiff Labour Government is presiding over an NHS that employs fewer nurses and has fewer facilities than it did five years ago – that’s a huge indictment of their misrule.”

* See the statistics at:  

1     https://statswales.wales.gov.uk/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Activity/NHS-Beds/NHSBeds-by-Organisation-Site

* In a related story local health services campaigner Martin Crumpton has contacted llanblogger to say:

“The current BBC website story in which an emergency medicine consultant has blamed a drop in his hospital's performance on a lack of capacity in parts of the region shows that at last, somebody with a voice they can’t ignored has told them what I’ve been saying all along, but studiously ignored. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30863360

“As llanblogger readers will know, this confirms everything I’ve been campaigning against since our Cottage Hospital and others were closed. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written to the Board of Betsi Cadwaladr urging them to reopen our hospital and others in North Wales so misguidedly, reprehensibly and disastrously shut in the now-infamous `North Wales Health Is Changing’ debacle.

“Blaming this on internecine political wars between the Welsh and English NHS authorities is nothing short of ludicrous and is procrastination instead of action. Last week, I watched the Parliamentary Select Committee in which it was made crystal clear that the NHS cannot un-knot itself from the bed shortage without a sharp and immediate increase in bed capacity – well, the capacity was there all along until the bean counters of the loathed Mary Burrows regime decided they could spreadsheet their way to major savings.

“And it’s going to get worse because of the same ill-thought-out policy: When the GP practice and the chemist move to the wholly-unnecessary new and bedless Health Centre at the far edge of Llangollen, are going to react instinctively and dial 999 if they develop worrying symptoms or their children sustain deep cuts. It’s human nature, especially where children are involved. Ambulances DO NOT take people to clinics or Minor Injury Units, only to hospital A&E.

“Llangollen is an elderly town with a high proportion of residents without private transport. For the majority, it’s relatively quick and easy to get to the Regent Street Health Centre for worries and minor injuries. Anyone’s understanding of human nature and physical capability will know that the River Lodge site is beyond reach if you don’t have a car, and you’ll certainly think twice about leaving blood or vomit all over a taxi, if you can afford one – if you can risk waiting for one, as they’re not bound by NHS target times to arrive.

“Something I find genuinely disturbing is the silence coming from the doctors at the Regent Street Health Centre. To date they’ve only given one statement  - they opposed the closure of the Cottage Hospital.

“I ask the doctors to reconsider moving to the new health centre, and to put their weight into helping the campaign to have the Cottage Hospital re-opened. There cannot be a better outcome for us and North Wales at this time.”

Step out in Llan's walking festival this May

* The beautiful countryside around Llangollen where some of the walks will be held.

PEOPLE are being invited to step out in the annual Llangollen Walking Festival, which takes place in and around the town this May.

Organiser Mike Smart, of Summerhill-based walking guides company Treksmart, said: “We’re inviting people to come and join us in this beautiful Victorian town where walkers are welcome, for short, medium and long walks all within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Programme for the festival, which takes place over three days on May 2, 3 and 4, is:

Saturday May 2

• UNESCO World Heritage Site walk (easy walk of 4.5 miles)

• Llangollen town history walk (easy)

• Castle, cliff top, valley and fantastic views (moderate walk of eight miles)

• Ponderosa, World's End, High Moors, Cliff Top, castle and fantastic views (strenuous walk of 12 miles)

• Evening entertainment, with local food and drink, Welsh folk tale storytelling (in English), music and song

Sunday May 3

• Food and drink walk (easy 3.5 miles)

• Steam train ride and walk (moderate walk of eight miles)

• Steam train ride and walk and high moors and wilderness trek (strenuous walk of 15 miles)

Monday May 4

• History in the landscape walk (3.5 miles)

• Photography walk (easy)

• Chirk Castle, two aqueducts, Offa's Dyke, battle site and Pilgrims Way (strenuous walk of 12 miles) 

• Nordic walking for beginners

• Nordic walk advanced level

Mike Smart added: “Apart from all this we’ll also have free Welsh beer for the over-18s and other free refreshments on some walks.”

 

* For more information go to: http://www.llangollenwalkingfestival.co.uk/ or e-mail to hello@treksmart.net. The festival is also on Facebook. 

Town awakes to covering of snow

* Castell Dinas Bran with a covering of snow this morning.

Llangollen awoke to a covering of snow this morning (Sunday).

The forecast for the rest ofSunday is that it will be another cold day across the country with some sunny spells and also a wintry mix of showers, especially across western and northern parts.

Snow showers will mainly over the hills in these parts.

Young 'Uns to stage Half a Sixpence

* The full cast of Half a Sixpence line up. (Pictures by Barrie Potter).

LLANGOLLEN Operatic Society’s junior section, The Young ‘Uns, are busy with final preparations for their 26th annual show, Half a Sixpence. 

This is a sparkling new version of the smash-hit musical, based on the novel by H G Wells, which toured across the UK in 2007/2008.

It has all the familiar storylines and characters of the original show and the 1967 film starring Tommy Steele but has been re-imagined for today’s audience with additional scenes, bigger roles for some of the supporting characters, more pace and more humour.

The chorus has as much if not more involvement than in the original show and there are many new minor roles which have given the Young ‘Uns chorus members an opportunity to shine.

Charlie Hackforth (pictured below left) plays the part of Kipps, the oldest draper apprentice in the business. 


Joanna Stallard (pictured above left) is Anne, his long term sweetheart despite Kipps’ short-lived engagement to Helen Walsingham, played by Amy Jones. 

Cassius Hackforth plays Chitterlow, an eccentric actor/playwright who discovers Kipps and shows him he has inherited ‘a fortune’. 

Luke Haynes plays Young Walsingham, who becomes Kipps’ financial adviser and speculates his fortune away, and Beth Evans plays Mrs Walsingham, their mother.

Audiences can expect plenty of singing and dancing from cast members ranging in age from six to 18.

Producer Pamela Williams also provides choreography, Chrissie Ashworth is the artistic director, Dee Smith is assistant producer and Julian Cattley has joined as musical director.

The show will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 5, 6 and 7, at 7.30 p.m. On the Saturday there will also be a matinee performance at 2.30pm.

* Tickets, priced at £8 for adults and £5 concessions, are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre, Jades Hair and Beauty, Gwyn Davies Butcher or Stella Bond on 01978 860441.    

 

The day last the last train ran through Llan 50 years ago

* Llangollen GP Dr Rhys Davies, as a young boy, waits to board the final passenger train to run through Llangollen 50 years ago.

* Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, the fireman on the last

 train through Llangollen, returned the station to meet the crew

of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

 

To mark the 50th anniversary today (Friday) of the day the last passenger train ran through Llangollen before the service fell victim to Dr Beeching's axe, llanblogger brings you this special feature prepared with the help of Llangollen Railway's George Jones ... 

THE last train through Llangollen on the Ruabon to Barmouth line ran on January 16, 1965.

And to mark the 50^th anniversary of the momentous event George Jones of Llangollen Railway, who remembers it very well, has been looking back to when Dr Beeching’s infamous axe fell on the passenger service.    

He recalled: “The Ruabon to Morfa Mawddach/Barmouth line was listed for closure in a report published by the British Railways Board (BRB) in 1963, entitled The Reshaping of British Railways.

“This was at a time when Dr Richard Beeching was chairman of the BRB having been brought in from ICI by the Minister for Transport, Ernest Marples.

“The decision to appoint him followed a statement by Harold McMillan, the then Prime Minister, in March 1960 to the House of Commons, when he said: `First the industry (i.e. railways) must be of a size and pattern suited to modern conditions and prospects. In particular, the railway system must be remodelled to meet current needs, and the modernisation plan must be adapted to this new shape.’

“This was at a time when the British Railways operating deficit had reached £86.9m rising to £135.9m when interest and other charges were added and was causing popular national concern.

“The report and its conclusions were handwritten by Dr Beeching, with financial information added, but nowhere does his name appear in the document. Despite this it is popularly known as The Beeching Report.

“Whilst Dr Beeching might be seen as the ‘axeman’ in the eyes of the public and the popular press, it is generally accepted now that the ideas set out in the report to reshape British Railways were sound, even if some of the individual line closures were questionable on the basis of the limited information available on which to make the decisions.

“A continuing criticism of the report is that it gave no consideration to future population growth and economic expansion of certain areas.

“The estimated annual loss for keeping the line open, as quoted at the TUCC Objectors meeting, was - operating cost £152k less revenue £47k - £105k a year plus £93k for track renewals in future years.

“The original date for closure was set as November 23, 1964 but delayed due to the need for Crosville to arrange the bus service.”

George added: “Objections to line closures were to be made to the Transport Users Consultative Committees and would only be accepted for cases of hardship resulting from the closure.

“Due to the absence of other public transport along the length of the line west of Llangollen, the objections of hardship were accepted and recommended to the Minister.

“However, the result was to arrange for the Crosville bus company to provide a rail replacement bus service along the line of route to allow for its closure. This was delayed until such time as Crosville could acquire the additional vehicles to operate the new route as the X94 from Wrexham through to Barmouth.

“When the vehicles were available the line’s closure was set for January 18, 1965, effective from Saturday, January 16, the last day of trains to Llangollen and Barmouth to Bala – the service between had been suspended due to flooding in December 1964.

“It was soon recorded that the X94 route was the biggest loss making bus route in Wales.

“Whilst the passenger service was withdrawn in January 1965, the line to Llangollen remained open but only for goods traffic to the yard west of the station until final closure in April 1968.

“This situation was maintained despite the town pleading for excursions to be operated to the station during Eisteddfod week.

“The railway was then dismantled in its entirety and Llangollen station became derelict for the want of agreement for it to be redeveloped.

“It was only after 10 years disuse that the preservation scheme took hold and returned it to use from 1975. Without the railway venture taking off the site would likely have been cleared and a notable feature of the Llangollen scenery would have disappeared.

“Many people who come to the heritage railway today to enjoy the heritage line and lament the line’s closure say it should have been kept open.

“Had it been retained the line would have been severely rationalised and probably only the main stations – Llangollen, Corwen, Bala, Dolgelley - would remain.

“In today’s world it would be operated by Arriva Trains Wales with a minimal diesel service, not unlike that provided on the Central Wales line.

“There would be no aspects of the steam age heritage as have been recreated by the Llangollen Railway which is what a lot of people come to experience and enjoy as elements of a bygone age.

“As someone once said, Dr Beeching did us a favour in closing the line as it gave us, the volunteers, a reason for recreating it – even if it has taken 40 years to achieve the dream of rebuilding 10 miles from Llangollen to Corwen – with a bit still to do.”

Christopher Magner, a rail enthusiast who travelled from Wirral to record the final day, said: “I was very sad when I travelled on the last train  from Llangollen. It was so frustrating that all the efforts  to keep the route open had come to nothing in the face of officialdom."

How the press recorded the occasion

Under the headline “The Beeching axe fell on the Barmouth line on Saturday night,” this how the Leader of the day recorded the closure.

“Hundreds of people waited at stations to watch the last trains go by.

“Scores bought tickets for momemtos, while others made the trip.

“Yesterday, (Monday 18 Jan) the Wrexham-Barmouth bus service, replacing the train came into operation.

“The first bus left Wrexham at 7.25 was empty. The first fare was picked up at Llangollen.

“Business in the opposite direction was much better.

“The last train from Ruabon left at 5-50pm on Saturday (16 Jan). Normally, only a handful of people travel on it. On Saturday 40 passengers, some with tape-recoding equipment to catch the last hoots, whistles, etc, were aboard. Flashbulbs popped. It was more like an opening than a closure.

“Railway enthusiasts, some having travelled from the South of France, the Midlands and Merseyside had a bitter pill to swallow when the train reached Llangollen.

“Recent floods had closed the Llangollen-Bala section of the line and the rail passengers had to leave the train and travel that section by bus.

“About 100 people were on Llangollen station to see it chug in and unload. It turned round at 7-15 and went back to Ruabon.

“At Bala about 70 people were on the train for Barmouth. Once more, people crowded the station platform which was bare of lamps, seats and other fittings which had been bought mostly by the 70-odd station staff.”

llanblogger helps unearth rare picture

llanblogger has helped the town’s heritage railway unearth a rare picture of the last British Rail train to run through the local station.

We put out the call to our readers and swiftly received a reply from well-known local GP, Dr Rhys Davies.

He sent in an atmospheric black and white picture – thought to be one of only a few in existence – showing himself as a boy along with a group of other travellers gathering by the final train into the station.

Dr Davies said: “The picture is of the last train into Llangollen in January 1965. I'd gone on it with my mother and one of my brothers.

“I am the little lad in the duffle coat looking at the engine after we'd got off. I kept the ticket, but I think it's long gone!”

Railway spokesman George Jones said: “The picture is excellent. The locomotive number looks right – 46509.

“Our expert Chris Magner has studied it and says it is a notable find after all these years.

“The loco is an Ivatt 2 Class as used in the latter days of the line and known as a Mickey Mouse.

“The last train, with driver Fred Taylor and fireman Elwyn Jones, both of Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham, was an historic occasion and a bitter end to a battle to retain train services to the town.”

“As there is no train service planned in January 2015 beyond the 4th, Llangollen Railway will not recreate the event as such on the anniversary date.

“However, finding this picture is very significant as I had been unaware of any photo of the last train leaving Llangollen.” 

Llanblogger editor Phil Robinson said: “I am delighted our news website has been able to help the railway in this way. My thanks to Dr Davies for getting in touch.

“The last British Rail train out of the station was a landmark occasion in the history of our town.”

Last fireman returns to the station

The man who was the fireman on the last British rail passenger train through the station 50 years ago made a sentimental journey back to Llangollen last weekend.

Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, was on the footplate of the 7.15pm from Llangollen on January 16, 1965.

Mr Jones returned the station last Saturday to meet the crew of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

Speaking about the occasion 50 years ago, he said: “My abiding memory of the occasion was thinking. `this will be the last time I do this here’, as I put the water hose into the engine's tender to top up the water level for the journey back to Ruabon.” 

Skates welcomes funding boost for disadvantaged areas

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates has welcomed Welsh Government funding of more than £30m to help people in some of the country’s most disadvantaged areas.

The £31.7m boost was announced recently as part of the Communities First programme and will benefit areas close to Llangollen.

Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates, a member of the Welsh Government, said: “This investment will benefit 52 areas, known as ‘clusters’, and support some of the most vulnerable people in Wales by combating poverty and promoting education, health and economic prosperity.

“These areas will benefit from the funding between April 2015 and March 2016. The announcement includes £1.25m being split between two clusters in the Wrexham County Borough Council area.

“As well as the Caia Park/Hightown patch in my colleague Lesley Griffiths AM’s constituency, the Urban Villages Wrexham cluster in – which includes Pant, Penycae, Plas Madoc, Gwenfro and areas of Brymbo and Cefn Mawr – will also benefit from further Welsh Government support.

“The funding is another boost from the Welsh Government for its work to support Wales’ most vulnerable communities and narrow the economic, education and health gaps between our most deprived and affluent areas.”