Fringe bosses delighted with expanding audience

DIRECTORS of the Llangollen Fringe say they are delighted with the “developing and expanding” audience that the festival is attracting.

Bosses of the annual multi-media arts event have just met to review this year’s 18^th Fringe which was held over 10 days at the end of last month.

Director Graham Timms said: “Whilst it is always a huge risk to for a small festival to invite such big stars to take part, we are delighted with the developing and expanding audience.

* The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra who
appeared at this year's Fringe. 

“This year showed yet again the wonderful support of a local audience and those who come from much further to be here in Llangollen during the festival. 

“The opportunity to see artists like 9 Bach, the Felice Brothers, Lee Scratch Perry and Lee Thompson in small intimate venues is a rare treat. 

“Analysis of the pulling power of the festival revealed a big increase in the average distance that people travelled to this year’s events.

“An average journey of 34.7 miles this year compares very favourably with a 20.9 mile average journey in 2013 and a 28 mile journey in 2014.

“We are delighted that we continue to attract people who live a long way from Llangollen who then enable the festival to make a greater effect on the economic prosperity of the town as well as adding to its rich artistic and musical life.”

Mr Timms added: “The total value of individual internet sales rose by 50 per cent on the 2013 figure, going up from an average total of £33.45 to £47.03 over just two years.

“Whilst success cannot just be measured in pounds, we are delighted that the cultural offering of the festival enabled us to have a secure financial future as we begin looking at the programme for next year.”

Fringe directors want to know what people think about the festival and say they are particularly interested in how they can develop in new ways to continue to draw more people into music and the arts for 2016.

They can be contacted by email at: contact@llangollenfringe.co.uk, or by telephoning 0800 1455 779 with any ideas or suggestions.

AM demands answers over rail bridge

Network Rail has been urged to ‘get a move on’ and open a completed footbridge funded by the Welsh Government at Chirk Station.

Assembly Member Ken Skates (pictured) has demanded answers as to why the bridge – part of a £2m project to improve access – is still closed to the public.

Mr Skates, Welsh Labour AM for Clwyd South, wrote to Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne way back in June to ask what was going on, and was told the delay was because CCTV cameras needed to be in place. 

Mr Skates said: “The company said it was ‘working hard with Arriva Trains Wales to achieve this more quickly’, but no timescale has been given.

"It’s hardly surprising that people are getting fed up with waiting – this is taking far too long.

“The Welsh Labour Government has invested £2m in Chirk Station and local residents and commuters still aren’t able to utilise the improvements we’ve paid for.”

The funding was part of a project which saw £12m injected into five stations across Wales.

At Chirk, the money has delivered a ramped footbridge, providing access for disabled people on platform one (trains travelling northbound) for the first time. The work also includes creating an accessible drop-off point, disabled car park spaces and improved signage. 

Mr Skates said: “After I wrote to Network Rail over problems with the station’s car park – which was only half-open – it was quickly resolved. I would urge the company to get a move on and show the same efficiency with this matter.”

He added: “This is an excellent project and I’m delighted that the Welsh Labour Government has been able to reward those who have campaigned hard for investment and improved access, such as the brilliant Friends of Chirk Station. It’s a shame we can’t see the results.”

Businessman Graham Greasley, who runs Gateway Heritage Tours, said he recently had to help an elderly lady and her grandson haul three huge cases up the station steps to the car park because there was no alternative.

Graham said: “They had come up from South Wales and were traveling around the UK for several weeks. She commented that it was very poor, and I had to agree.

“Here we are in the peak holiday season, with lots of visitors arriving and the bridge and ramp is still not open. And what about disabled access to the Chester platform?

“It's absolutely disgusting it’s still closed – Network Rail should get sorted.”

Operatic to stage new season social

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Ruby wedding party raises £1,000 for air ambulance

 

 
Llangollen's town crier has something to shout about after he raised £1,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance at his 40th wedding anniversary party.

Austin “Chem” and Jane Cheminais (pictured left) held their ruby celebration for relatives and friends in the Town Hall.

The party was a great success with bar profits and a collection raising £1,000 for the air ambulance.

Chem said: "Jane and I would like to thank everyone for their generosity and for making our evening really special."

* The couple pictured below  in 1975, the year they were married.

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