MP battles 80mph speed limit plan

Susan Elan Jones MP is calling on all Conservative candidates in North Wales to disown an election pledge in their party's  Assembly election manifesto to consult on increasing speed limits to 80 mph on the M4 and A55.

The Clwyd South Labour MP won cross-party support to introduce a bill to Parliament that sought to review sentencing for unlicensed or uninsured drivers who kill or seriously injure people.

In 2015, she was awarded 2015 Parliamentarian of the Year by national road safety charity Brake.

Susan Elan Jones MP said: "Far too many people have been injured and killed on our roads for us to give up the fight for road safety. From the community in Overton who campaigned for and got a 40 mph buffer zone to communities both sides of the border who are campaigning for a dual carriage on the A483/A5, road safety is a big issue in our area.

"We must continue with our campaigning and we must all work together cross-party. However we really can't do this when speeding is trivialised. I really hope that Conservative candidates in this election will make it quite clear that they do not support a 80 mph speed limit on any road. It is a very bad idea."

Brake spokesman Jack Kushner said: "We urge the government to reject needless proposals to increase speed limits to 80mph.

"We're disappointed it is being considered. Evidence from previous consultations made it clear that an increase would not only be dangerous - potentially 25 more deaths and 100 more serious injuries each year - but also highly damaging to the environment and economy."

Silver band teams with schoolchildren for enjoyable concert

* Llangollen Silver band play at the Methodist Church last night. 

LLANGOLLEN Silver band joined forces with the children of Ysgol Bryn Collen to present a Spring Concert at the town’s Methodist Church yesterday (Saturday) evening.

The band played more than a dozen numbers in three sets, ranging from stirring marches such as the Welsh-themed Arms Park to themes from films like The Mission and Singing in the Rain.

The children presented two sets of songs which included selections from their forthcoming production of the musical Cinderella Rockerfeller and numbers from the musicals Annie and Sound of Music.

Loud applause from a packed and appreciative audience persuaded the band to play two encore numbers to round off a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment.  

Legendary racer to star at Llan Bike Fest

Living legend Giacomo Agostini, widely acknowledged as the greatest motorcycle racer in history, will be guest of honour at the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival - LlanBikeFest 2016 - on Saturday July 23 and Sunday July 24.

* Giacomo Agostini will star at Llan Bike Fest 2016.

With an unbeaten record of 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships titles, Ago is flying in especially from his Italian home to spend the weekend at the Festival meeting fans, judging competitions and providing opportunities for autographs and photos.

Agostini’s appearance at LlanBikeFest follows news that top British racers Ian Hutchinson and John McGuinness are unable make it to the event because of changes in their commitments.

LlanBikeFest co-organiser John Hutchinson said: “We are sorry that McGuinness and Hutchinson have had to bow out – but that can happen during a busy racing season. We trust that the opportunity to meet Ago will more than make up for any disappointment.”

Ago commented: “I am looking forward to being at LlanBikeFest in July – a real festival of motorcycling for everyone who loves bikes, in a beautiful part of the world.”

LlanBikeFest 2016 will build on the successful Festival last year, which starred Carl Fogarty and Mick Grant, and attracted more than 6,000 visitors.

It is being held again at the town’s Pavilion set amid some of Britain’s best biking roads - at the foot of the Horseshoe Pass and its famously bike-friendly Ponderosa Café, and on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park.

On-site attractions will include hundreds of bikes, displays, stunts, demonstrations, trade and club stands, plus beer, bands and evening entertainment in Llangollen Town. There will also be a charity raffle in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.

Follow the event on Twitter at @llanbikefest and Facebook at Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival.

Day tickets are £10 on the gate or online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk with concessions, or contact the Festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free.

Railway steams back to Victorian times

Llangollen Railway will be stepping back in time to the Victorian era over the weekend of May 14 and 15 with a steam-filled historical experience for all the family.

At Llangollen station, look out for the visiting steam traction engine, Punch & Judy shows, live music and a railwayana exhibition, before embarking on a steam-hauled trip down memory lane.

Berwyn, the station in the gorge, has been transformed back to its original Victorian appearance, complete with period posters and traditional coal fires.

Celebration is in the air with the bunting flying and the band playing on the platform in case of a surprise royal visit. At Glyndyfrdwy, you can visit the vintage Victorian fairground, or marvel at the sights of a traditional sheepdog trials taking place next to the station. There will be a dedicated Victorian railway exhibition at Llangollen over the weekend, featuring many historic drawings, documents and railwayana relating to the former Ruabon to Barmouth line dating back to the 1850s. Many of these have never been publically displayed before and offer an insight into the early days of the line from over 150 years ago.

For full details, download the commemorative programme (designed in the style of the traditional 1860s railway timetables of the Great Western Railway) for free from our website: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/victorian-weekend-14th-may/ 

Whilst it is not essential, the Llangollen Railway invites our visitors to consider entering into the spirit of the occasion by wearing a suitable Victorian attire.

Visitors can take advantage of discounted fares by booking in advance for this event.

Museum plans attic sale

Llan Methodist Church's musical event

Versatile Philip turns his hand to very different production

The man who took a prominent role and came up with many of the costumes for Llangollen’s Operatic Society’s last smash-hit show has turned his hand to a gripping new play at Theatr Clwyd.

Versatile Philip Main was a key supporting actor and also created a number of the Nazi era costumes in The Producers which finished a sell-out run at Llangollen Town Hall last weekend.

But at the same as being involved with the musical comedy, Philip (pictured) was also working on the costumes for a very different kind of stage production, Deep Cut at the theatre in Mold.

The play, by Philip Ralph, concerns the death of Private Cheryl James, of Llangollen, one of four trainee soldiers who died of gunshot wounds at Deep Cut Barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002.

Cheryl’s parents refused to accept the official verdict of suicide, and the play’s dialogue is based on verbatim transcriptions from the subsequent inquiry.

Philip said: “I spent so many weeks researching, sewing, and making period correct costumes for The Producers.

“Out of necessity I looked at images of the Hitler Youth, Hitler himself, Bavarians and Stalin  as well as various productions of the musical to make sure that everything looked right, with a little bit of artistic licence.

“As well as that I was also rehearsing my own role within the production. 

“All the while I was also doing research for my next job, to provide costumes and a specific firearm for the production of Deep Cut at Theatr Clwyd.

“I have gone from the war and the 1960s to the 1990s and of course the new review of all that happened at Deep Cut Barracks.

“Next I have to have ready some Shakespearian costumes for a photo shoot for a Shakespeare 400 event also at Theatr Clwyd in June, in which I am also singing a couple of period songs.  Life is never dull as a costumier!”

Deep Cut opens tonight (Friday) in the Emlyn Williams Theatre at 8pm and there are also performances tomorrow at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are £9.50 with concessions at £7.50.

See more at: https://www.theatrclwyd.com/en/whats-on/deep-cut/#sthash.MfFuNJow.5OXMyhYz.dpuf