Good heavens - Llan nuns take Wrexham by storm

* Members of Llangollen Operatic Society take the chance to

rehearse their production of Sister Act in front of shoppers at Eagles Meadow.

From left, Heather Scott, Justine Bradey, Jan Bellis and Biba Baksh-Jones

 

Sassy nuns from Llangollen surprised shoppers when they broke out into song.

 

The harmonious group from the Llangollen Operatic Society was at Eagles Meadow shopping centre, in Wrexham to promote their production of the hit musical, of Sister Act.

 

They sang a heavenly 15 minute medley which included, Bless Our Show, Fabulous Baby, Sister Act, and Spread the Love Around.

 

The divine musical comedy, based on the hit 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, will be on at Llangollen Town Hall from April 21 to 25 at 7:30pm.

 

There will also be a special matinee performance at 2:30pm on Saturday April 25.

 

The 40-plus cast includes sisters, priests, altar boys and even a bishop.

 

* Nuns tune up to delight Eagles Meadow shoppers with their Sister Act selection. 

 

Though the songs are different, the plot is the same as the film, where lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier played by Whoopi Goldberg has to pretend to be a nun when her mob boss ex-boyfriend puts her on his hit list after she witnesses a murder.

 

The musical has featured on London’s West End and on Broadway in New York.

 

The Llangollen Operatic Society was one of only 50 amateur groups to be granted a special license to stage the production.

 

Tracey Rawlinson, the director of the production for the Llangollen Operatic Society, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to come to Eagles Meadow today to let people know about the show. Hopefully it will help us sell some tickets.

 

“We decided to do Sister Act because it’s just one of those films that everyone knows about. The plot is the same as in the film but the songs are different.

 

“We’ve got a great cast and we love the music. It’s quite a challenging show because normally we only have a two part harmony, but in this production there are songs where there are five part harmonies, which takes a lot of skill. There’s a lot of choreography in the show as well.

 

“We were one of only 50 amateur groups to be granted a license to do the show which is pretty prestigious.

 

“Recently a group of us went on a 10k fun run round the hills of Llangollen to raise funds for the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity. The weather was great and we raised £1,500. Half of the money will go to the charity and the other half is going to the Llangollen Operatic Society.

 

Shopper Becky Lloyd, 34, from Rhosddu, in Wrexham, watched the surprise performance with her son Rhys, 10.

 

She said: “Rhys has given it a big thumbs up. It wasn’t what we were expecting to see when we came to Eagles Meadow today. It’s a lovely surprise. They sound very professional. I think it’s brilliant – I love Sister Act. I’m hoping to go to watch it.”

 

Elen Haf Tayor, 19, from Wrexham, who is going to study at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, is playing the role of Delores.

 

She said: “I’ve had to learn to be incredibly sexy and sassy for the role. I’m wearing the Delores animal print shades. I’m really excited about the production. I think it’s going to turn some heads. We’re hoping being here at Eagles Meadow today will help us generate some ticket sales.”

 

The ex Ysgol Morgan Llwyd pupil, added: “It’s been so much fun. This is my first project with the Llangollen Operatic Society. I was very nervous to begin with but it’s been great and they have made me feel so welcome.”

 

Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley, said: “I absolutely loved Sister Act film when it came out and the musical version from Llangollen Operatic Society looks like it’s going to be fantastic.”

 

* Tickets for Sister Act cost £10 with concessions at £8. They are available at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety.

Tickets are also available at Jade’s Hair and Beauty Llangollen, and Llangollen Tourist Information Office, 01978 860 441.   

Crazy examples of ambulance 999 calls

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is reminding people not to call 999 unless it is a genuine emergency.

The service took 19,151 non-urgent calls in the last seven months just 318 of which required an ambulance.

None of those 318 callouts resulted in a patient being taken to hospital. 

They include a woman who called 999 because her athlete’s foot infection had worsened, and a man who wanted dental work for two broken teeth.

Here are some examples of those calls:

* ‘Athletes foot infection – worsened,’ August 2014, Conwy

* ‘Two cotton buds stuck in ear,’ November 2014, Cardiff

* ‘Dancing too much – sprained ankle,’ September 2014, Llandudno

* ‘Got two broken teeth – wants dental work,’ December 2014, Dolgellau

* ‘Male feeling knackered,’ September 2014, Abergele

* ‘Punched a punch machine,’ November 2014, Wrexham

Richard Lee, the Trust’s Head of Clinical Services, said: “Many of the patients we attend to as a result of a 999 call receive treatment from the ambulance service but do not end up travelling in an ambulance. They could be treated at home, referred to alternative care or might even decline treatment.

 

“The Trust is taking steps to ensure that patients only travel to hospital when absolutely necessary and are referred on to the right part of NHS Wales where this is safe and clinically appropriate.  

 

“While the majority of calls we receive via 999 are entirely appropriate, we also take some non-essential calls from people with colds, toothache, back ache and other minor conditions.

 

“Calls of this type put people's lives at risk as the ambulance attending that patient is not available for a serious road accident, heart attack or stroke.

 

“Once again, we urge the public to ‘Choose Well’ to ensure busy emergency services are available for those who need them most urgently.

 

“For advice and treatment of most illnesses, visit your GP, or call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 for confidential health advice and information. NHS Direct Wales is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

 

“Treatment for minor injuries, such as cuts, bites, stings and muscle and joint injuries, can be provided at your local Minor Injuries Unit, where there is no need for an appointment.

 

“Please remember to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency, if someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk.”

Community clean-up planned for Friday

Community Clean Up

 

Friday 17^th April

10.30am start

Meet at: Trevor Basin Car Park

Children welcome, but please make sure they are accompanied by an adult

Equipment provided

For further information,

please contact:

Ceri on 01978 292450

"Come clean on animal welfare", says Labour candidate

Susan Elan Jones, Labour candidate for Clwyd South, is urging all political parties to come clean on animal welfare issues.

Ms Jones, who is a supporter of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Many residents who live in our beautiful rural constituency of Clwyd South are strong supporters of animal welfare.

 

"People are especially concerned about the prospect of a return to the bad old days of packs of dogs being allowed to rip foxes to death, and new badger culls.

"The Conservatives and Plaid are so out of step with people in our local community on this issue. The Tories want new votes on Parliament on this issue and the Welsh Nationalists are keen to back them,

"Plaid MP Jonathan Edwards has even gone so far as to tell a national newspaper that he wanted the law in Wales to change so that packs of dogs be allowed to flush out foxes - and unbelievably, he described the Hunting Act as "a spiteful act against rural communities."

"The Tories and Welsh Nationalists may not think these issues matter, but for many of us, animal welfare is a vital concern. I am proud that a Labour Government brought in the Hunting Act and I believe that all candidates and MPs should take a proper stand against animal cruelty."

AM challenges Minister over council mergers

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has hit out at Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews AM for "steaming ahead" with Labour’s proposed council mergers regardless of the multi-million cost to frontline services.   

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, commissioned by the Welsh Local Government Association, showed that council mergers in Wales could cost as much as £268m, he points out.

 

Mr Isherwood, who has previously warned that forcing councils to merge would be "grossly irresponsible" because of the cost at a time of spending cuts, challenged the Minister over his plans in a recent meeting of the Assembly Communities, Equality and Local Government Scrutiny Committee.

 

He said: “As you’ll be aware, we’ve had evidence from a number of bodies expressing concerns about the costs of merger and how those costs would be covered, including the Welsh Local Government Association referring to the number of jobs that would be lost at all levels, with a potentially significant impact on local employment and economies, but also reference to staffing costs in the context of mergers being a big issue in terms of cost benefit and the business case for mergers. What further thought, if any, have you given to how the transition costs of the mergers might be funded, and what level of support the Welsh Government may provide?

 

He added: “I think local authorities might say that it’s a time of very severely constrained budgets for them as well, and therefore the timing of this will have an impact if additional financial support isn’t given. In that context, how do you respond to the statement to this committee by the Auditor General for Wales that local government reorganisation would not help in delivering savings in the short term, which is the period in which local authorities will be struggling, especially given their current budget constraints?”

 

The Minister replied: “It would obviously be preferable to be carrying out this process at a time when Welsh Government budgets were increasing significantly, and at a time when local government budgets were increasing significantly. However, we are in the situation that we are and, as I say, there is a significant cost to the current system.”

 

When Mr Isherwood asked him if he was flexible over the map (of proposed merging local authorities) if this “triggers, as it must, due diligence tests and cost-benefit analyses, which suggest, in parts of Wales, different configurations”, the Minister replied “I don’t think the publication of a further map is the start of the process”.

 

In February, Mr Isherwood criticised the same Minister for dismissing a newspaper reader poll on a possible merger between Wrexham and Flintshire local authorities which showed that the overwhelming majority of over 700 readers who responded said they were against them joining forces and in favour of giving people in the two counties a vote on the merger.  

Cantorion Rhos in St Collen's concert

St Collen's is hosting an Eastertide concert with Cantorion Rhos at the church next Saturday evening.

Details are in the poster below ...

llanblogger's guide to General Election candidates

llanblogger highlights the candidates contesting the local Clwyd South seat at the General Election on May 7. 

Duncan Rees Green Party

Born and brought up in Cardiff, he studied at Liverpool University, lived 20 years in London, moving to North Wales in 1995 – where he has since lived in the village of Brynteg outside Wrexham. 

He has worked for a number of organisations in the campaigning and charity field, including CND and Oxfam.

For 21 years to 2014 he worked as a membership and community officer for the Co-operative group – including 14 years in north Wales.

Mr Rees chaired the Wales Fairtrade organisation during its successful campaign to make Wales the world’s first Fairtrade Nation in 2008. 

Married with two grown up children, he  takes an active interest in local issues, and is particularly interested in environmental matters, supporting local community and co-operative development, and promoting sustainable transport solutions – such as better public transport and improved cycle routes.

He is currently chair of the Wrexham Fairtrade Coalition, and has worked as a volunteer on the Llangollen Railway for 10 years.

Bruce Roberts Liberal Democrats

Born and brought up in Wrexham, he has lived and worked in the area almost all his life.  He is married to Anna who is a local primary school teacher. His three children were all educated at Ysgol Clywedog and Yale College/Coleg Cambria.

After completing degrees in physics and philosophy and then a short spell in scientific research he trained as a chartered accountant.  He started his own business in 1997 and has provided accountancy services to small local businesses since then.

Mr Roberts was chair of governors at Victoria Infant School for a number of years and has served on two different community councils. 

He has been involved in the governance of Glyndwr University for almost 10 years and is currently chair of its audit committee.  He has also volunteered as a charity trustee and also as a business mentor for The Prince’s Trust and Careers Wales.

His particular political interests are in education and the economy (including tax policy). 

In his spare time he can be found swimming or canoeing long distances in lakes and rivers or walking in the hills.  

David Nicholls Conservative Party

Born and brought up in Ruislip in northwest London, he went to school at Haberdashers’ Aske’s in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

At Keble College, Oxford he read theology in 1996.  He then read for the Bar and was called by Lincoln’s Inn in November 2002.  He has worked as a commercial chancery barrister since that time.

Inspired by two friends who stood for Parliament in 2010, he has since been a regular campaigner, helping former Clwyd South Candidate, Boris Johnson, secure re-election as the Mayor of London in 2012 and successfully standing for election as a borough councillor in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea in 2014.

Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales

He lives with his wife and three children in Llandrillo, near Corwen.

A first language Welsh speaker, he is a lifelong campaigner for peace and equality, with most of the campaigns that he is involved with being community based.

Most recently he has been involved in the campaign to improve health services across north Wales, including the battle to prevent the closure of Llangollen Hospital and establishing the Keep Lllangollen Health Services campaign, then setting up and chairing the North Wales Health Alliance.

A school governor at Ysgol Bro Ddyfrdwy in Cynwyd, he is also a director of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru (The Welsh Language National Theatre Of Wales) and an adviser to a company specialising in dementia care and research.

Mandy Jones UK Independence Party (UKIP)

(No picture of Mandy
Jones available)

An experienced small-businesswoman with a background in the agricultural sector, she says she is passionate about animal welfare and regularly takes in rescue dogs and has previously rehabilitated birds of prey under licence.

A qualified teacher in adult education and special needs, she says she cares deeply about improving the education system.

Susan Elan Jones Labour Party

The Member of Parliament for Clwyd South since 2010, she comes from Rhosllannerchrugog and lives in Pentre Bychan.

She attended Ponciau, Grango and Ruabon schools before going on to the universities of Bristol and Cardiff.

After graduating from university, she taught English in Japan. She then spent 15 years working for charities before becoming an MP.

Ms Jones was also a councillor and deputy leader of the Labour group in Southwark.

Since October 2011, she has been a front bench member of Labour’s Parliamentary team. She is also co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Civil Society and Volunteering (Charities) and vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Wood Panel Industry.

Locally, she is a member of many different organisations – including the Brymbo Heritage Group and St David’s Church, Rhos. She is vice president of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and honorary vice president of Rhos Male Voice Choir. 

General Election 2010: Clwyd South results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Susan Jones *	13,311	38.4	-6.8
	Conservative	John Bell	10,477	30.2	+4.8
	Lin Dem	Bruce Roberts	5,965	17.2	+1.7
	Plaid Cymru	Janet Ryder	3,009	8.7	-0.8
	BNP	Sarah Hynes	1,100	3.2	+3.2
	UKIP	Nick Powell	819	2.4	+0.4
Majority			2,834	8.2
Turnout			34,681	64.5	+3.3