Air Ambulance gets new helicopters

* WAAC chief executive Angela Hughes and charity chairman Dave Gilbert with the H145 model at Bond Air Services.

Wales Air Ambulance is to introduce a new fleet of custom-made aircraft which will significantly enhance its operations, the charity has announced.

Three new helicopters will be launched in January 2017 after a competitive tender process which drew international interest for Wales.

Helicopter operator Bond, a Babcock International Group company, secured the winning bid to lease three Airbus H145 aircraft. The company currently supplies the charity with three EC135 models.

Wales Air Ambulance Charity will become only the third HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) operation in the UK to use the new H145 aircraft.

Equipped for night flights, the upgrade to H145s will move the charity a step closer to its goal of providing a 24-hour air ambulance service.

The new aircraft will also have a larger cabin and more powerful engines, meaning there is extra room for treatments in-flight and the helicopters can fly for longer without refueling.

For the first time, the air ambulance crew will be able to send critical information about patients to medics waiting at hospitals via an on-board high-speed internet connection.

Angela Hughes, chief executive of the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Our new lease of helicopters will help us continue to provide one of the most modern HEMS services in Europe.

“It is hugely exciting that the Wales Air Ambulance Charity has had such interest from around the world. It demonstrates that what we are doing is truly pioneering, and we continue to lead the way in developing an advanced air ambulance service.

“Crucially, though, it is what the people of Wales are doing which is making all the difference. It is thanks to their support that we have been able to secure such advanced aircraft for Wales, and we need their help to keep the new helicopters in the air.”

She added: “Our new contract with Bond is fantastic news for the charity and a great way to mark our 15^th year providing lifesaving emergency care.”

The new deal will see Bond provide pilots, engineers and three brand-new custom-configured aircraft.

Wales Air Ambulance Charity will continue to operate its fleet of EC135 helicopters until the new aircraft begin operating next year.

Tim Shattock, Bond managing director, said: “This new contract will allow the Wales Air Ambulance Charity to bring a truly landmark air ambulance service for everyone in Wales. As part of Babcock, and through working closely with the charity we have been able to offer a really innovative service, bringing new aircraft, new technologies and new ways of working to this critical and lifesaving service.

“I am pleased we will continue to provide the Wales Air Ambulance Charity with the vital operations that are so important for the people of Wales.”

The three aircraft will operate from Wales Air Ambulance Charity bases in Welshpool, Caernarfon and its new headquarters in Llanelli.

Founding father's son to be Eisteddfod special guest

 

* Selwyn Tudor with memorabilia from the International Eisteddfod.

THE son of the founding father of the iconic festival will be a guest of honour at the 70^th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod this summer.

And Selwyn Tudor has recalled the occasion when his late father, Harold, gained his initial inspiration to create the event which has become a symbol of worldwide peace and understanding.

In the late 1940s renowned Welsh journalist Harold Tudor had a vision of creating a grand cultural gathering in Llangollen to help heal the scars left by World War Two.

And, according to his youngest son Selwyn, now 81 and living in Birmingham, that dream took shape one morning when he and his father were taking a Sunday morning cycle ride in the hills near their home in Coedpoeth.

He said: “We used to love going out riding on the country lanes and one Sunday in late 1945 or 1946 we were out there when we saw a young lad of about 11 or 12 – the same age as I was then – walking towards us over the crest of a hill singing at the top of his voice.

“He carried on straight past us and we watched him until he was out of sight.

“It was seeing this lad making himself so happy by singing that gave Dad the idea to start the Eisteddfod to create something that would foster the idea of peace amongst nations through music.”

Harold Tudor was originally from Tanyfron, near Coedpoeth, and after attending Grove Park School in Wrexham started work at the Wrexham Leader and later became a sub-editor on the Post and Echo newspapers in Liverpool.

During the Second World War he also became a member of the British Council, an organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities.

This role brought him in contact with representatives of exiled foreign governments staying in Britain.

After coming up with the idea of starting an international event in the small Denbighshire tourist town of Llangollen, he won the crucial support for his brainchild from local teacher George Northing, the first chairman of the Eisteddfod, and from others including W S Gwynn Williams, a leading figure in Welsh music who lived in the town.

The scheme gathered momentum and the first Eisteddfod was staged on a field in the town in June 1947 with Harold becoming honorary director of publicity.

Over the years he became less involved with the festival after he took a job as a sub-editor with the Post and Mail in Birmingham and moved there with his family. After a full career he died at the age of 79 in 1986.

Selwyn Tudor, the second of Harold’s two sons, was born while the family was still living in Liverpool. His elder brother, Peter, who now lives in Staffordshire, is also to attend in July.

To escape the horrors of the Liverpool Blitz early in the Second World War Harold Tudor moved his family to his home area of Coedpoeth and Selwyn started secondary school at the former Grove Park Grammar in Wrexham.

His first job after leaving school was as a sales assistant at the old Lloyd Williams department store in the town for a short time before the family moved to Birmingham to follow Harold’s newspaper career.

After working for some time in retail, Selwyn eventually started his own business as a cabinet maker and antiques restorer, the role from which he retired at the age of 65.

He and his wife Ann, who live in the West Heath area of Birmingham, have two daughters, Susan and Debi and four granddaughters, aged from 15 to 25.

Selwyn said: “My dad was a very clever, kind and generous man.

“After the war ended he was searching for an idea to help promote international harmony and how to progress it, and he always said that the encounter with the young lad singing up in the hills above Llangollen is what really inspired him to start the Eisteddfod.

“I also recall that he used to take his motorcycle over the top of the hills through World’s End and down into Llangollen to speak to people about the arrangements for the first festivals.

“After a few years when we moved down to Birmingham he lost touch with the Eisteddfod but there’s no doubt that he was its founder, which is something I’ve always been very proud of.

“To some extent I think his involvement has been a little forgotten over the years but they did put up a plaque to his memory above Coedpoeth Library some years ago. There’s also a special commemorative plaque on his grave in the cemetery in Coedpoeth.”

Eisteddfod Chairman Rhys Davies said: “It will be wonderful to see Selwyn at the festival again this year – his father has left a wonderful and lasting legacy in this great event.

“Harold Tudor was a man of great vision and the Eisteddfod and people not just in Llangollen but all over the world have a great deal to thank him for.”

Selwyn added: “Unfortunately, I was too young to attend the first Eisteddfod in 1947 but I did start going regularly in 2004 and since then my wife and I have only missed going once, which was last year when Ann was ill.

“The first year I went to Llangollen we were invited up on stage to take part in a little celebration of the start of the Eisteddfod and I remember well Gethin Davies, who was festival chairman, tapping me on the shoulder and saying, ‘Your father was a wonderful man’.

“What my wife and I love about the Eisteddfod is the atmosphere as you walk through the field, meeting and having wonderful conversations with people from all over the world.

“We also love all the music and dancing and try to see as many things as we can during the course of the week.

“We’ve already arranged our accommodation and are very much looking forward to being at this year’s Eisteddfod, particularly at it’s the 70^th one.

“I will also be remembering my father whom I can never forget for all he achieved.”

This year’s Eisteddfod begins on Tuesday, July 5, and the opening concert will see superstar Katherine Jenkins get the programme off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen.

Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition while the evening will feature the Voices of Musical Theatre.

The great Bryn Terfel will headline the 70^th Classical Gala Concert on Thursday evening while the day will see the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World.

Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be a feast of music and dance from the best of the Eisteddfod’s international competitors with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax at the evening concert.

It will open with a Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza, followed by the International Peace message delivered by Theatr yr Ifanc, Rhosllannerchrugog.

In a change of the scheduling Friday will also see the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, switched from Tuesday in anticipation of bigger crowds and more competitors being present.

Saturday is dedicated to the top choirs and concludes with the Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy while Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

* To book tickets and for more details on the 2016 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Hills get a covering of snow

A covering of snow could be seen on the hills above town this morning as Storm Jake swept in.

Ice, snow and high winds were affecting much of northern England and northern Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

Silver band youngsters in honours at Oswestry

* Front left to right: Taya Castley, Elizabeth Mwale, Gabriel Tranmer and Millie Turner.

 

Four talented young members of Llangollen Silver Band won trophies at the Oswestry Youth Music Festival.

 

This year's event, held from February 25-28, featured over 400 young musicians from the local area.

Baritone player Elizabeth Mwale claimed the Oswestry Cattle Auctions Shield for soloists under 15 years old, with her performance of Donegal Bay by Paul Lovatt Cooper.

 

* Elizabeth Mwale with the Oswestry Cattle Auctions Shield. 

This also qualified her for a place in Sunday's Winner Finals, where she again finished in first place, earning her Oswestry Town Council's Junior Cup ( The Gull Award).

 

The Ysgol Morgan Llwyd student also received high praise from the competition's adjudicator, who commented that her moving performance made "the hairs on the back of my neck stand up."

 

Also winning their respective competitions were the following band members:

 

Cornet player Taya Castley, 13, and Elizabeth Mwale won The Melody and Metal Cup for Duets under 15 years, playing Pleasant Moments by George Hawkins.

 

Cornet player Millie Turner, 12, won The Vernon Carter Memorial Trophy for soloists 12 years and under, playing Over the Rainbow by Arlen.

 

Tuba player Gabriel Tranmer, 15,won The Bernard Mitchell Trophy for soloists 21 years and under, playing Andante and Rondo by Cappuzzi.

Llangollen Silver Band conductor, Trevor Williams, said: "Well done to all of our young players for putting in some wonderful performances against some tough competition. You did us proud!"

Meanwhile, band spokesman, Robert Stock, explained: "This is another fantastic set of results for our young players and is testament to the hard work they have put in preparing for this festival. We are extremely proud of all their achievements and they highlight just how bright a future the band has."

Skates demands action on Allt-y-Badi potholes

* From left, residents Andy Beech, Richard Rudkin, Jan Deeprose, Edwina Hart and Shirley Marriott with Ken Skates AM at Allt-y-Badi.

 

Assembly Member Ken Skates has called on Denbighshire County Council to address pothole problems in Llangollen as a matter of urgency.

The Clwyd South AM has been contacted by constituents living off Allt-y-Badi who are fed up with waiting for action to repair what they say is worsening damage to their deteriorating road, primarily caused by off-road vehicles and bikes.

Labour AM Mr Skates, who is based in Llangollen, said: “These people have been ignored for too long – it’s time something was done.

“One resident told me they’d been neglected for years. They pay their taxes like everyone else, so they should be able to expect the same level of service.

“One of my constituents recently counted 12 deep potholes and 29 in total on the 150-yard stretch to the properties. They are causing damage to vehicles, and it’s even unsafe to walk along the road when it’s dark.

“I have written to the council to ask when the residents can expect to see some action.”

Mr Skates is also supporting residents’ calls for speed restriction signs near their homes to deter irresponsible drivers who he says "hammer down the road" on a regular basis.

Candidates' messages for St David's Day

Welsh Conservatives

Simon Baynes, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Candidate for Clwyd South, strongly supports the introduction of a St David’s Day Bank Holiday.

The Welsh Conservatives have pledged to work constructively with the UK Government in the hope of utilising public holidays more effectively for the people of Wales.

 

Mr Baynes says that despite claiming to back Welsh Conservative calls for its designation as a Bank Holiday, Labour Ministers in Wales have done "very little" to press for change.

 

"To date, the Welsh Government has evaded responding to a question asking how many meetings the First Minister has had concerning St David's Day’s possible designation as a Bank Holiday - despite a response being due back on February 25, raising further questions in relation to their inaction," he said.

 

“A St David’s Day Bank Holiday would be very good for Wales and would provide people across the country with a unique opportunity to celebrate our identity.

 

"There is a strong level of support across Wales for a St David's Day Bank Holiday and the move has been repeatedly endorsed by Welsh Conservatives.

 

"Scotland already has a bank holiday for its Patron Saint, St. Andrew, and Northern Ireland has a bank holiday for St Patrick.

 

"I am surprised that the Welsh Labour government has not supported the idea more strongly but we will continue to campaign hard for its introduction so that the people of Wales can celebrate the amazing heritage and history of Wales with this special St David’s Day Bank Holiday.”

Plaid Cyrmu

People have been encouraged to look beyond their immediate circles and consider the needs of others who might not be as visible in their community, in an annual St David’s Day message by Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales’ Mabon ap Gwynfor.

 

The Clwyd South Assembly candidate referred to St David’s miracle, said to be making the ground rise beneath his feat in order to make him seen and heard by the crowd.

 

In his address, Mr ap Gwynfor said: “As we look towards Wales’ General Election on May 5, we should heed the lesson from St David’s miracle, and rise above the din of those who are able to make their voices heard, and look for those who are not so fortunate. Because our responsibility is to the whole not just the fortunate few.”

 

He published his message at the same time as launching a crowd funding campaign for his candidacy.

 

He said: “St David’s Day is an annual reminder that we have a responsibility towards our neighbours and communities. Wales after all is a community of communities, interconnected and interdependent.

 

"The Assembly election in May is about Wales, our communities and all who choose to live here. I’m asking people to think who’s best placed to come up with solutions for our problems here in Wales.

 

“The crowd funding campaign allows people to make a contribution to my election campaign and start to build Wales up again, and invest in our health services by training and recruiting more doctors and nurses, invest in north Wales and not just one region of south Wales; and introduce free care for all three year-olds and the elderly.”

 

Anybody wishing to contribute can do so by visiting www.crowdfunder.co.uk/mabon

MP furious over bank transactions letter

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones MP has slammed as "total nonsense" a claim by HSBC Regional Director Jonathan Byrne that giving information about the number of transactions undertaken at Chirk and Ruabon HSBC bank branches would be "commercially sensitive" and that bank was unable to do this.

 

In an earlier letter (dated 18th January), the Clwyd South Labour MP (pictured) asked the HSBC Director:

 

"Can you provide numbers that show that transactions have fallen? Can you provide information on how many accounts are held at both branches? Following the closures of Cefn Mawr, Llangollen and Rhosllannerchrugog branches, how many accounts were served by these two branches and will those accounts now all be transferred to Wrexham? Please provide figures to show why you consider Ruabon and Chirk branches to be no longer commercially viable."

 

Ms Jones said: "Local residents will be as furious as I am with this. Not only is HSBC about to close two local bank branches in Chirk and Ruabon, but they won't give us any objective evidence why they're doing it.

 

"In the last few weeks, I've visited 124 local businesses in Chirk, Ruabon, Cefn, Johnstown and Rhos. There's no doubt that the two bank closures will have a big impact on most of these businesses. The same is true too for the many individual customers who have loyally stayed with HSBC.

 

"The problems we are witnessing with bank closures are part of a UK-wide phenomenon - and this is why I am determined to press on in Parliament with this issue.

 

"I have now had my call accepted for a national inquiry. The Government used to talk about keeping the last bank open in every community, but all we're seeing is banks being closed. This doesn't happen in the same way in most other countries. We need UK Government action and a better approach here." 

 

The HSBC letter appears below: