New school wins AM’s praise

Assembly Member Ken Skates has paid tribute to a head teacher and her staff after a new school’s first Estyn report was published.

Welsh-medium Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy in Cynwyd, near Corwen, was established in 2013 following the merger of Ysgol Maes Hyfryd and Ysgol Llandrillo.

Estyn inspectors visited the school – based at the old Maes Hyfryd site – in June and published their report this week, rating both current performance and prospects for improvement as ‘good’.

Mr Skates, Labour AM for Clwyd South, (pictured left) praised the work done by head teacher Eirian Owain, who was previously head at Maes Hyfryd, and her team.

He said: “This is an extremely encouraging first report, which highlights a high standard of teaching and the school’s excellent leadership and management over the past two and a half years. It’s also very pleasing to see the inspectors note the care and support the children receive every day.

“Mrs Owain and her staff have overseen great changes and have still managed to ensure the children receive a high quality education. I’m sure the parents will be delighted with this.”

The Estyn report notes that:

* Nearly all pupils make good progress in their learning and produce work of a good standard

* The vast majority concentrate well in lessons and show interest and pride in their work

* Most pupils use language effectively and confidently 

* The children’s behaviour is praiseworthy and they are extremely respectful

* Teachers lead effective and interesting lessons that motivate pupils to learn 

* The school provides thoroughly for pupils who have additional learning needs 

Inspectors also said ‘there is a very strong feeling of teamwork among the staff’ and that ‘members of the governing body have a strong commitment to their responsibilities and contribute consistently to setting a strategic direction for the life and work of the school’.

Mr Skates added: “It’s brilliant to see so many key strengths identified by the inspectors and the future looks bright for Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy and the children of Cynwyd. It’s a fantastic report.”

Cycling vicar raises £3,500 for chosen charity

* The Rev Andrew Sully at the signpost at
John O'Groats
with his godson Ioan Hegarty and
 Ioan's mother, Liza Tercero,
who also took part in the cycling marathon. 

LLANGOLLEN’S cycling vicar has just pedalled his way to a £3,500 bonus for his chosen charity.

Over the past few years the Rev Andrew Sully of St Collen’s Church has done a number of fundraising rides for good causes.

His latest challenge was the gruelling 10-day LEJOG marathon from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of Action Duchenne, a charity which supports parents of sons with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy as well as lobbying for greater investment in research to find a genetic cure for the condition usually only affecting males.

Mr Sully took on the tough test alongside 18 other cyclist from around the country and together they raised a total of £80,000 – his share of which is £3,500 and possibly £4,000.

He said: “Starting at a very wet and blustery Land's End on Sunday July 26, the route took us west through Cornwall and  Devon then north through Somerset, Wiltshire,  Avon and Bristol, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Cheshire.

“On the fourth day we arrived in Wigan before continuing north through Lancaster, Carlisle and Penrith and then further north to Gretna Green and south Lanarkshire.

“After bypassing Glasgow, we continued up Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Inverness, then north into the highlands before reaching Thurso and John O'Groats on Tuesday August 4.”

Mr Sully added: “It was a real challenge with the first four days particularly long ones when we arrived at journey's end as late as 9.30, 8.30 and 7.45pm.

“Thereafter we learned not to 'faff about' so much at stops along the way and became more disciplined as the miles slipped away and we learned to get 50 miles in before lunch so that we had broken the back of the cycling in the morning and early afternoon.

“It was encouraging to learn of the total raised at the start , £70 000, which was increased every day by £1,000, so that by the end we had raised over £80 000.

“My own personal fundraising currently stands at £3,500.

“I'm hoping to be able to raise £4,000 before the closing date for sponsorship money at the end of September.”

* Mr Sully’s Justgiving charity page is: www.justgiving/andrew-sully1

New Dot Cinema attracts another big audience

* Cinema-goers queue for popcorn in the interval.

Llangollen's new community cinema attracted another full house for its second film-show staged at the Town Hall last night (Friday).

New Dot Cinema was set up earlier this year by a group of film buff friends to re-create the fun of the town's old Dorothy Cinema in Castle Street which screened its final movie back in 1963 before bringing down the final curtain.

New Dot - the name was chosen in homage to the original flicks - had its smash-hit debut performance with French-made 2011 Oscar-winner The Artist last month.

And it stayed with the Gallic influence to put on its latest offering, PlayTime, by French comedy master Jacques Tati and dating from 1967.

It's an enchanting piece of cinema in which Monsieur Hulot becomes increasingly perplexed by the intimidating complexity of a gadget-filled Paris.

Few who know nothing about French cinema of that era will have ever seen anything quite like it before.

* Low lighting helps create the right atmosphere.

Ahead of the main feature came a couple of shorts, one of which had legendary American newsman Walter Cronkite narrating a fascinating little piece which gave some mid-1960s impressions on how the home might develop thanks to a series of incredible gadgets by the year 2001.

But who can ever imagine being able to sit at a device which brings you the latest news, weather, TV guide and share prices at the touch of button without ever having to leave the comfort of your kitchen?

New Dot not only shows classic films but also strives to bring a touch of the 40/50s bijou cinema experience to Llan.

On top of the usual dim lights, sofas, popcorn and delicious cakes on offer there was also a definite French flavour to last night's session, with wine and cheese from the country being sold at the bar and a number of cinema-goers dressing in chic French 60s style.

Next month, on Friday September 11, sees New Dot bringing to the Town Hall's silver screen another French offering, Wonderland Special: The Science of Sleep, a 2006 Michel Gondry film celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

October 9's screening will be a Halloween special entitled Carnival of Souls, from the USA and dating from 1962.

November 13 sees Northern Soul, a 2015 British movie telling the sweat-soaked story of a youth culture said to have changed a generation.

Tickets for New Dot - £8 and £5 concessions - are available on the door on the night or from Bailey's Deli and Lottie's Bespoke Vintage in the town or online at newdotcinema.org

More details of rope swing fall drama

The Daily Post website has a story this afternoon giving more details about how quick-thinking canoeists rescued a woman who had suffered a fall from a rope swing near the Horseshoe Falls.

For the full story see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llangollen-canoe-rescue-rope-swing--9856211

Railway's gala weekend marks three big dates

 

* Llangollen's own ex-GWR Large Prairie 2-6-2T No.5199

will be a star of the Along Branch Lines gala weekend.

 

This year sees three major anniversaries for the Llangollen Railway.

 

It's now been 150 years since the line between Llangollen and Corwen officially opened, 50 years since it closed and 40 years since the preservation society was first formed. 

 

The heritage railway’s Along Branch Lines weekend not only aims to celebrate these major milestones, but also to stir up memories of the way the region’s railways once looked by running a mixture of unusual trains, ranging from short pick-up goods trains to four and five coach passenger trains in authentic liveries.

The three-day weekend event, from September 11-13, is steam operated with an intensive timetable featuring a variety of different types of trains, including an ‘auto train’.

 

This is the train most often associated with Great Western branch line services and would usually consist of just one or two coaches worked in push-pull mode by a small steam engine.

 

Two special guest locomotives will be in attendance for the event, GWR Small Prairie' type 2-6-2T loco No.5542 visiting from the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway and LMS Jinty type 0-6-0T loco No.47406 from the Great Central Railway at Loughborough.

 

These will join the home fleet, drawn from ex-GWR Large Prairie 2-6-2T No.5199, GWR Heavy Freight 2-8-0 No.3802 and GWR Pannier Tank No.6430.

 

Another feature will be the recreation of a pick-up goods train, which were regular sights on many lines up until the 1960s.

 

These ambled along from station to station, collecting and delivering a wide variety of goods wagons as they went.   

 

A new feature for the Along Branch Lines gala will be the opening of a permanent line-side viewing area near to Berwyn Tunnel.

 

A temporary area enabling visitors and photographers to experience the sight of steam locomotives working hard up the 1 in 80 Berwyn Bank proved popular during the line's Steel, Steam & Stars IV gala earlier in the year.

 

Tickets are now on sale through the Llangollen Railway's website at discounted rates.

 

Another year of excellent A Level results at Dinas Bran

* Dinas Bran pupils jump for joy after receiving their A Level results.

It was another year of excellent results at Ygol Dinas Brân today as Year 13 students celebrated.

97% achieved the benchmark level 3 threshold, with well over half the grades awarded to students at A*-B.

Many students achieved terrific individual success.   

Among them were Joanna Stallard who was awarded one A*grade in English Literature, two A grades in RE and History and a B grade in French.  

Joanna will now go on study History at Exeter University.   

Joanna McHugh gained an A* in Mathematics and A grades in Further Maths and Spanish. 

She will now continue her studies at Bath University reading International Management and Modern Languages. 

Madeline Brown achieved three A grades in Religious Education, English Literature, History and  B grades in English Language and Drama. 

Maddy will now go on to study English at York University. 

Steven Hughes achieved three A grades in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics and a B grade in Physics.   Steven will now study Chemical Physics at Bristol University in 2016.

Other students who achieved particularly highly included:

Hannah Gallimore   one A* grade one A grade one B grade

Samantha Viney   one A* grade 2 B grades

Ben Larwood   2 A grades 2 B grades

Bethan Phillips   one  A* grade 2 B grades

Will Hawkes   two A grades, one B grade, one D grade

Headteacher Martyn Froggett said:  “A big well done to all our students.  They have worked hard and deserve their success.  We wish them all the best for the future.  I would like to thank too all the staff for the support they have given the students and the parents too."

 

Groups urged to bid for seized crime cash

* Police and Crime Commissioner, Winston Rodick , PACT Chairman

David Williams, assistant chief constable of North Wales

Police Richard Debicki and Julian Sandham, the

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales.

Community groups across North Wales are being urged to bid for a pot of money seized from criminals in a move described as "poetic justice" by a crime tsar.

 

Up for grabs is a total of £42,000 for the successful organisations who pledge to run projects to tackle anti-social behaviour and combat crime and disorder.

 

Two groups from each of the region's six counties will receive £3,000 apiece and £6,000 is available for a group that operates across North Wales.

 

The winning candidates will be chosen by a public vote later this year.

 

The ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ scheme has been launched by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC and Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki  in partnership with the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).

 

It is being jointly funded by money recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, using cash confiscated from offenders, and the Commissioner’s Fund.

 

Community groups are being urged to apply between September 1 and October 2.

 

Application packs can be found on the websites of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police.

 

A shortlist of applicants will be chosen by a special panel and from November 1 members of the public will decide which groups to support with a vote via the two websites and a dedicated email address.

 

Voting will then take place between October 26 and November 27.

 

Commissioner Roddick said: "It’s an outstanding idea. Not only does it go to worthy causes but it has the sound of justice all around it.

 

"This is poetic justice at work because we're confiscating the ill-gotten gains of villains and redistributing the money where it’s needed.

 

"It will be used by groups and organisations, all of whom will be doing something to combat crime and disorder or anti-social behaviour and that is very appropriate.

 

"The money is going where it’s going to make a difference in reducing crime and in improving the quality of the communities which suffer the crime."

 

It was a sentiment echoed by Assistant Chief Constable Debicki.

 

He said: "It is a very good thing for community groups to be able to access pots of money in order to be able to reduce crime and disorder within their communities and improve the quality of life for the community in their area.

 

"It sends a really positive message that money taken from the pockets of criminals is being recycled. This is turning bad money into good money that's being used for a constructive purpose.

 

"We really value our relationships with the public and we recognise that we can’t reduce crime and disorder on our own.  It’s a partnership and a joint effort with other agencies but absolutely crucial and critically is the public themselves.

 

"The public often are the ones who know what the things are that will work best in their area and for them to be able to bid into a pot of money is a really positive thing."

 

According to PACT chairman David Williams, it was also a very democratic process because the public will be able to decide who gets the money.

 

Mr Williams said: "One of the real pluses of the scheme is that ultimately it’s the public who has the voice and who will say which projects will go forward and are worthy of this important money.

 

"And very appropriately, one of the conditions is that the people who apply for this money have to be doing something that combats anti-social behaviour or addresses crime and disorder in some way.

 

"The aims Your Community, Your Choice scheme also coincide with the objectives of the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan so it creates a virtuous circle."

 

The opening date is September 1 and completed applications must be returned via email to participatorybudgetfund@nthwales.pnn.police.uk by the closing date on October 2. For more information ring 01745 588516 or go to www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or www.north-wales.police.uk
 

Here's where the money went last year:

 

Anglesey (£3,000 each) – Bodedern Friends, sports training for children aged five-18, and Frindiau Parc Rhosybol, new play area.

 

Conwy (£3,000 each) – Llanfairfechan Town FC, community facility at football ground, and Llandudno Neighbourhood Watch Drop-in Centre, crime prevention initiative.

 

Denbighshire (£3,000 each) – Prestatyn and Meliden Community Action Group, activities for young teens and pensioners, and Dragon Riders, Rhyl, community bike riding project.

 

Flintshire (£3,000 each) - WEA Cymru in partnership with Clwyd Alyn Supported Living Project, art focused workshops for young people, and Groundwork North Wales, volunteering and learning opportunities for young people.

 

Gwynedd (£,3000 each) – Welsh Institute of Therapeutic Horsemanship, horse-based therapy for disadvantaged young people, and Gisa Mentro Mlaen Project, Caernarfon, independent living for vulnerable people.

 

Wrexham (£3,000 each) – Caia Park Partnership, outdoor pursuits courses for young people, and The Warehouse Project, help for young homeless people.

 

Pan-North Wales project (£6,000) – Dangerpoint, Talacre, Flintshire, education and life skills for young people.