Young Llan chef commended in Dahlicious competition

* Competition winner Nicole Garratt of Ysgol Pendref.

A PUPIL from a Llangollen primary school was one of the young chefs from across the county who took part in the Great Denbighshire Menu Primary School Final 2016.

Rhys Penge of Ysgol y Gwernant took part in the big decider held recently at Denbigh High School. 

The competition was one of Denbighshire Education and Children’s Services’ centrepieces to mark 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl.

It took as its theme “Dahlicious” and asked children to choose their favourite Roald Dahl book to create a healthy (fictional) breakfast that could be served at school. 

Organisers say all the finalists impressed the judges and audience of parents and teachers with their culinary skills by whipping up their “dahlicious” menus. 

The aromas that filled the kitchen had everyone envious of the two lucky judges – Mark Young, Denbigh Chocolate Shop proprietor, and Teleri Owen, Head of Catering at Denbigh High School - who tasted all the mouth-watering dishes. 

The judges found this year's competition of a very high standard, with students demonstrating a wide range of culinary competencies. 

After the judges had deliberated, they congratulated all nine finalists for their great work and delicious menus. 

They said it had been a tough decision and commended them all on their efforts. 

However, they declared there could only be one winner and Nicole Garratt, Ysgol Pendref, was crowned Great Denbighshire Menu Primary School Chef 2016. 

The Great Denbighshire Menu is open to all budding young chefs across the county from seven to fifteen years of age. 

Competition categories include primary, secondary and special schools. 

Paula Roberts, Denbighshire Healthy Schools Co-ordinator, said: "Each year it is wonderful to see the children’s delight and sense of accomplishment, as well as how proud their parents and teachers are of them. 

"If you know a child with any interest in baking or cooking, this is a great opportunity for them to step up to the plate." 

And Denbighshire Education and Children’s Services has announced that in 2017 it will be launching “The Great Denbighshire Bake Off” competition for Denbighshire schools. 

To keep up to date with any news about future activities, workshops, competitions and events on www.denbighshireenrichment.com and follow us on Twitter @cyfoeth_enrich

LlanBikeFest wins backing of the town

* Supporters of LlanBikeFest 2016 line up outside the Town Hall to promote the festival.

Llangollen businesses and organisations say they are looking forward to an even bigger and better LlanBikeFest 2016 - Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival - on Saturday and Sunday July 23 and 24.

Harley-Davidson rider and Mayor of Llangollen, Mike Adams, and Town Crier Austin ‘Chem’ Cheminais will officially declare the event open, along with supporters including  Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club (LLDMC) and local TT and road race star Paul ‘Moz’ Owen.

They will be joined by guest of honour Giacomo ‘Ago’ Agostini – winner of an unbeaten 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships – who 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. 

LlanBikeFest co-organiser John Hutchinson said: “We are grateful for the fantastic support we are receiving from the town to make this a real Llangollen festival which will be enjoyed by local people as well as bikers from far and wide.”

Held at the town’s Pavilion, 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.

Twenty Club holds auditions for The Vicar of Dibley

* The TV cast of The Vicar of Dibley.

Following the recent success of Fawlty Towers and Love on the Dole,  Llangollen Twenty Club will be putting on a production of  The Vicar of Dibley this November.

The stage version of the popular BBC series starring Dawn French as the vicar of the rural parish of Dibley, sees several of the TV episodes merged together to create a show full of familiar characters and classic moments.

Roles on offer in the production include Geraldine Grainger (the vicar), Alice Tinker, David Horton and his son Hugo, Frank Pickle, Jim Trott, Owen Newitt and Letitia Cropley, as well as some smaller parts for adults and children alike.

For those who don't fancy treading the boards, there will also be lots of opportunities to be involved in the show backstage on aspects such as sound, costume, props and much more.

Open auditions will be held on July 26 at the Town Hall in Llangollen at 7.30pm.

For an audition pack or to register your interest in working on the show behind the scenes, please email director Lyn Aston, on vicarofdibley2016@hotmail.com

The show's run in Llangollen will take place from November 3-5, 2016.

* For more information, visit facebook.com/twentyclub

BBC says teenager dies after aqueduct fall

The BBC is reporting this morning that a teenager has died after falling from the Pontcysyllte aqueduct.

For the full story, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-36415232

Choir become Eisteddfod ambassadors

* The Cheshire Chord Company.

A top women’s barbershop choir from Warrington have been appointed Ambassadors to sing the praises of an iconic music festival.

The Cheshire Chords Company has been cutting a dash in the world of acapella singing for more than 20 years and now it has signed up to a scheme to bring the historic Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod to a wider audience.

The event will be held for the 70^th time this July and the Chords will be there hoping to replicate their success of 2014 when they were crowned barbershop champions after finishing third and second in the previous two years.

And now the Cheshire Chords Company has become official Llangollen Ambassadors as part of an exciting new venture in which long-time Eisteddfod supporters and regular competitors are being recruited to become honorary representatives for the event.

Anyone from their area interested in competing at the festival, or simply enjoying the legendary atmosphere as a visitor, can get in touch with the Ambassadors by e-mail to get all the inside information they need.

Cheshire Chord Company spokeswoman Janine Gilbert said: “Coming to Llangollen is a real highpoint for the choir as it’s so friendly and we get to perform on a world stage.”

The choir was formed in 1993 by a group of friends from the Warrington and Lymm areas with a passion for singing and has steadily grown in size and stature.

Most members live in and around Warrington but others travel from Liverpool, the Wirral, Preston, Blackpool, Stafford and North Wales for the choir’s regular Thursday evening rehearsal sessions at the Beaumont Academy in Warrington.

“Our musical director Jo Braham, (CORRECT) who has been with us since 2011, comes over every week from her home in Leeds,” added Janine.

“Choir members range in age from just 10 to 60-plus and we work hard to achieve very high standards while having a great deal of fun along the way, enjoying the great friendships that we share.

“As members of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS) we sing in the barbershop style and have competed very successfully in UK and European barbershop competitions over many years.

“Our last major international event was in Holland in 2013 and we’ve been national barbershop choir competition winners for seven years, the last time in 2014. 

“We pride ourselves on the quality of our singing as well as our performance skills, telling the story of the song and, where the number calls for it, adding slick choreographed moves worked out by two of our members.

“We sing songs by artists from Elbow to Barbra Streisand, the Beatles and many others, as well as well-known show and traditional barbershop songs arranged for today’s audiences with a modern twist.

“Jo has brought with her a wealth of experience, boundless energy and enthusiasm as well as a real passion for close harmony barbershop.

“We find ourselves singing to a wide range of audiences in a variety of settings, anything from the London Palladium to Golden Square Shopping Centre in Warrington.

“The types of events we sing at include competitions, private bookings, corporate, charity fundraising events and even Warrington Hospital wards to sing to the patients.

“Wherever we sing and whoever we are singing to we aim to delight our audiences and let our music and performance take them on a special journey.”

Janine explained that Cheshire Chord Company’s trio of successes at Llangollen came on their first competition appearance in 2011 when they took third place in barbershop, 2012 when they finished second and 2014 when they eventually sang their way to first place.

She said: “We’re delighted to become official Llangollen Ambassadors because we really enjoy competing at the festival and want to share it with others – competitors, performers or visitors.

“It’s always very friendly and we love to sing on such a big stage with its audience coming from around the world.

“Last time we were there in 2014 it was quite a poignant occasion for us because we had 15 new members – including myself – who had never sung in public before but it was a great place to make your performance debut – and it helped that we won.

“We’re all looking forward to coming back to Llangollen this year, especially as it’s the 70^th Eisteddfod.”

Llangollen 2016 Chairman Rhys Davies said: “We’re thrilled that Cheshire Chords have agreed to be Ambassadors for the festival to spread the word about what a wonderful event it is.

“They will be able to give people in the Warrington area an inside track on what it means to attend, where to go and what to see and even how to enter any of our competitions.

“Most of all they can tell them how friendly Llangollen is and about the fantastic carnival atmosphere as this little town welcomes the world each July.”

Ticket sales for the concerts at this year’s Eisteddfod are already going well, especially for the opening night when superstar Katherine Jenkins gets the programme off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen opposite acclaimed New York tenor Noah Stewart.

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 with West End star Kerry Ellis and classical boy band Collabro.

The great Bryn Terfel will headline the 70^th Classical Gala Concert on Thursday evening with top tenor Joseph Calleja 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 by Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

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

For all the inside information about Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, contact official Ambassadors, Cheshire Chord Company, by emailing: press@cheshirechord.co.uk

Male voice choir's free concert

Llangollen Male Voice Choir (pictured) are putting on a lunchtime concert  at St Collens from 1-2pm on Saturday June 11.

There will also be a guest soloist from RNCM at the concert which is free with a retiring collection.

A choir spokesman said: "Start your entertainment there and go on to the Llangollen Annual Fete at Plas Newydd, a short walk away.

"On the same day don't forget to look in at the Town Hall to celebrate 70 years of the wonderful Llangollen International Eisteddfod." 

AM welcomes village anti-speeding measures

Residents in a rural village near Llangollen blighted by speeding will finally see some permanent action, says their MP.

Campaigners in Pontfadog have long called for measures to reduce irresponsible driving on the B4500, and have been supported by their Assembly Member Ken Skates.

The Clwyd South AM (pictured) contacted Wrexham Council and North Wales Police last summer and urged them to do anything they could to improve road safety outside Pontfadog school and throughout the wider community, including Dolywern.

Safety vans were immediately deployed in the area, and have since been seen regularly.

Mr Skates has repeatedly pushed for further action, and this week received a response from Wrexham Council containing some welcome news.

He said: “I’m delighted that the council has now confirmed that the village of Pontfadog will be made a 20mph zone – it’s been a long time coming. I’m also pleased that the Welsh Government will fund interactive signs along the main road warning drivers about their speed.

“Residents have had to put up with these problems for far too long, so I sincerely hope this is a turning point. I would urge people to continue reporting speeding, however, as I will be more than happy to write to North Wales Police to ask that safety vans are deployed again.”

In an email to Mr Skates, Lawrence Isted, head of environment and planning at Wrexham Council, said: “I refer to your recent enquiry and previous correspondence in relation to the concerns you raise regarding the speed of traffic along B4500 as it passes through Pontfadog.

“The authority promoted the introduction of a 20mph speed limit through Pontfadog, as part of our speed limit review on all A and B roads within the county borough. I’m now able to inform you that the consultation in relation to this proposal was successful an d an order will now be placed to implement that 20mph limit within Pontfadog.

“In addition, the authority successfully bid for funding from the Welsh Government to introduce interactive signs in Pontfadog, in conjunction with our 20mph zones outside schools programme. These signs, when installed, will raise drivers’ awareness within the 20mph zone and ensure speeds are kept to a suitable level at this location.”