Fun event raises £1,000 in aid of Town Hall

* Mayor Mike Adams shares the floor with Julie Thomas and The Strictly Fun Dancers. 

A sell-out event has raised £1,000 towards the repair and refurbishment of Llangollen Town Hall.

Raising the Roof, which was staged at the Town Hall last Friday, was a supper party with music and dancing.

The evening featured Julie Thomas and The Strictly Fun Dancers, local singer Charlie Jones, who sang a sultry mix of jazz and blues, and Chris Burton with a  lively set of rock and roll from the 60s and 70s.

The event, which drew a full house, was organised by Llangollen Mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, in support of the Friends of Llangollen Town Hall, a group which is aiming to raise the funds to reroof and refurbish the building. 

Cllr Adams was particularly appreciative of support from local businesses.

He said: “I would like to thank all the businesses for their kind donations to the raffle that raised £448, and particular thanks to our two brilliant town grocers who provided the fruit bowls for the tables to complete the meal.”

Although the fabric of the building is reasonably sound, it is in need of refurbishment and a new roof and the cost of the necessary work has been estimated at £200,000.

Friday’s event was the first of several planned in the coming months to raise money for the building which is a focal point for many groups in town and a regular venue for a wide array of theatre, cinema and musical entertainment.

Village Bakery's early dough for Eisteddfod

 

* Village Bakery managing director Robin Jones, right, with Dr Rhys Davies, the chair of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

Bakery bosses have served up an early boost for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

Earlier this year the festival launched a cash appeal because the 2015 event was heading for a financial loss.

 

The appeal raised £50,000 and now long-term sponsors the Village Bakery are paying next year's sponsorship money ahead of time.

 

The Village Bakery have supported the Eisteddfod for many years and for the past two years have increased their contribution by sponsoring the Sunday night concerts, featuring Status Quo in 2014 and UB40 this year.

 

They have also agreed to sponsor next year's finalé starring Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and are making the payment in October instead of waiting until next year when the money is actually due.

 

It was music to the ears of the festival's new chairman, Dr Rhys Davies, who paid a visit to see Village Bakery managing director at their new £3 million Baking Academy and Innovation Centre on Wrexham Industrial Estate.

 

Dr Davies said: "Things are looking very positive and the appeal has raised in excess of £50,000 which is a wonderful demonstration of the popularity of the event and the affection in which it is held by so many people across the world.

 

"We’re always looking for sponsorship and we have some extremely good sponsors and some good friends like the Village Bakery who have supported us for many years.

 

"We have got out of the block very early in terms of organising the 2016 Eisteddfod as we have already announced two of the major concerts.

 

"We are kicking off this year with the popular classical singer, Katherine Jenkins, who will be singing the arias from the opera, Carmen, and Jools Holland will be the headline act for the closing concert.

 

"Next year is an extremely important milestone in the history of the Eisteddfod.

 

"Along with the Edinburgh Fringe and the Edinburgh International Festival, we are celebrating our 70th Eisteddfod after everything started from a small beginning in 1947.

 

"We are aware that we cannot and must not rest on our laurels as we are competing against all the other festivals in the world and particularly in Europe.

 

"Every organisation has to evolve and that is true of the Eisteddfod so we are reconfiguring the week.

 

"The grand parade is now going to be the centrepiece of the whole week which will make it even more colourful and more spectacular.

 

"We are moving it from the Tuesday to the Friday when we will have a greater critical mass of competitors available to take part.

 

"We really want that at the heart of the whole Eisteddfod with the competitions on either side, and each day being themed with competitions followed by an evening concert and ending up with The Choir of the World competition like we had last year which was brilliant.

 

"We’ll also have a 70^th party on the Sunday night with Jools Holland conducting the celebrations, and sponsored by the Village Bakery."

 

"Our sponsors are very important to the Eisteddfod and we are extremely grateful to companies like the Village Bakery for not only supporting the Eisteddfod by also paying the money early which is an enormous help in terms of cash flow. A friend in need is a friend indeed."

 

According to Village Bakery managing director Robin Jones, the Llangollen Eisteddfod was a unique and important part of the global cultural calendar and just as relevant now as it was when in was established to promote peace and harmony after the Second World War.

 

Mr Jones said: "The Eisteddod has been an important part of my life since I can remember.

 

"When I was a child growing up, as a family we used to accept competitors into the house and we used to put them up so even since those early years, mum and dad have taken people in as did the rest of the community.

 

"My dad has always been a keen supporter over the years and we’ve been a small sponsor for many years and then two years ago, we decided to step it up and sponsor the Sunday night. 

 

"Our customers love it, we enjoy it as a family.  It’s good for staff and it’s good for the local community.

 

"The Llangollen International Eisteddfod is a great institution and we were aware of the financial difficulties surrounding this year's event so I asked if we could pay our sponsorship fee early which has gratefully been accepted.

 

"I am delighted we can help and give something back to the community by supporting this fantastic event."

Special event at RAFA Club

Health board stays in special measures

The BBC is reporting that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will remain in special measures for two years.

They say the announcement has been made by Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething.

Betsi Cadwaladr health board's chief executive Prof Trevor Purt, suspended since June, is stepping down, adds the report.

For the full story, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-34602975

In a statement, the North Wales Health Alliance campaign group said: “Trevor Purt’s departure is an opportunity for the health board to re-engage with both staff and the general public, who have grave concerns about the way health services in the North are being run.

"His time here will be remembered as one of centralising and downgrading services and failing to be open and transparent with the community.

 

“But the problem goes much deeper than just one man or one position. The health board and Welsh Government has to accept that their direction of travel has to change or we will see further problems emerge.”

                                                              

MP calls for no change on Sunday trading

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has urged the Prime Minister to think again about changing Sunday trading hours.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions today, she quoted Government retail sector champion Kevin Hawkins who described the current laws as "a workable compromise that most people seem satisfied with most of the time".

Ms Jones (left) said: "There's a balance to be kept here - between opening hours for big stores, the rights of small shops and the rights of shop-workers and their families to enjoy family life.

"The current laws are a good compromise that most people agree with. We should stick with them."  

Church's Christmas tree festival launched

Llangollen Methodist Church has launched its annual Christmas Tree Festival.

This very popular  - and closely contested - event will be held once again starting with setting up on Friday 11th December and finishing with dismantling on Monday 4th January.

This year there will be two classes of entry plying for visitors votes – traditional trees and creative interpretations.

Church spokesman David Davies said: "You will need to supply and decorate a small tree, no taller than five feet, using an appropriate Christmas theme.

"You might like to link the decoration to your business or organisation, or just be creative.   

"Any lights must be battery operated. Hard bases are provided that you can cover with a cloth or paper as you wish. Small business cards or promotional materials can be placed at the base of the tree for visitors to pick up.

"More details later but start planning now and please register your intention to enter by Saturday 5th December at the latest by emailing:  yand.davies@btinternet.com or phoning 860557."

AM urges at-risk people to have flu jabs

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood is showing his support for Public Health Wales’s annual campaign aimed at getting more ‘at-risk’ people vaccinated to prevent them getting ill with flu, a debilitating and contagious illness that can kill.

 

Mr Isherwood (pictured) is joining the calls being made by charities and health professionals and is urging people aged 65 or over, carers, pregnant women and those with certain chronic or long-term illnesses to make an appointment with their local GP and get the free flu vaccine.

 

He said: “A major flu immunisation programme is underway throughout Wales to offer free vaccines to individuals most at risk of serious complications from flu, and my message to them is ‘Beat flu before it beats you!’

 

“Last year in Wales only half (49.3%) of those in at-risk groups under the age of 65 took up their free NHS vaccination, and we really need to significantly increase the numbers of people being vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of this largely preventable illness.”

 

Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “A free flu vaccine is available for those in at-risk groups, which includes those aged 65 or over, people who have long term health conditions which puts them at increased risk of complications if they get flu, carers, pregnant women as well as all two to six year olds.

 

“For most people influenza (or ‘the flu’) is usually a relatively minor, albeit unpleasant and inconvenient, illness. But every year vulnerable people can and do die from the flu and its many complications.”

 

* You can find out more about how to get their free vaccine by visiting www.beatflu.org or www.curwchffliw.org, or finding Beat Flu or Curwch Ffliw on twitter and facebook.