Llan Youth Choir tuning up for Christmas

Llangollen Youth Choir are looking forward to Christmas already.

They are working hard with Elen Roberts on their festive repertoire, some classic pieces and some requests from the singers too.

With new recruits having joined at the last September rehearsal there are more places available for singers in school years 5,6,7 & 8. 

Monthly Saturday morning rehearsals at Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Please email singing@llangollenyouthchoir.com for any information and find all news on www.llangollenyouthchoir.com and the Facebook page: Llangollen-youth-choir – which is managed by Ceylon Orton-Jones, a year 8 singer.

Board game group has first meeting

A new Llangollen board game group has its first meeting at the town’s RAFA Club this Friday evening.


Running between 7 and 10pm, it’s masterminded by local man Kenny Goodman who said: “This is the first time I've done it and this is the only board game night in Llangollen.


“There will be a good mix of board games including Splendor, Pixel Tactics, Scrabble, Cludo, Pokemon Master and people are welcome to bring their own board games.


“I'm looking to create a family and enthusiast-friendly group.”


Kenny added: “Donations towards the RAFA Club charity and the board game group are much appreciated as this is a free event.  All donations to either goes towards keeping it going.”


* For more details, see:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LLBGG/


https://www.facebook.com/events/1763059597315157/

Louisa gets back on her bike for a great cause

* Louisa Jones is ready to climb back into the

saddle for a marathon charity challenge.

AN INTREPID Llangollen Operatic Society member is getting back on her bike for another marathon charity challenge.

Back in 2012 Louisa Jones, 37, took part in a gruelling 260-mile cycling expedition through India in aid of three women’s cancer causes, raising over 3,000 along the way.

Now she’s planning to climb back into the saddle for the same three charities - Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

From February 6-17 next year she will be joining a group of 70 women to cycle 450km (280 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

* Louisa on her Indian challenge in 2012.

Louisa, who works as a project manager and lives in Chirk, said:  “This is the second time I have taken on such a challenge, having successfully undertaken the Women V Cancer Cycle India event in November 2012, which took a group of us across rural Rajasthan in aid of the same three causes.

“Although fairly fit, I am not a cyclist so the event will require me to undertake quite some training in order to get to the level of fitness and stamina needed to complete six days of cycling in a very different climate and terrain.

“It will be no easy task but I believe it will be extremely rewarding both personally and in terms of the benefit to the charities and the excellent work that they do in the areas of research and support. Without the generosity of donors, they simply could not continue.

“Through sponsorship and fundraising activities, I am aiming to raise at least £1,700, 100% of which will go directly to the charities. I will be paying all tour and administrative costs of about £1,500 myself.”

* To sponsor Louisa, go to her fundraising page at:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Louisa-Jones9

llanblogger notches up £200 from Memory Walk

* Phil at the finishing line with his medal.

llanblogger raised £200 to help in the battle against dementia when he strode out in the Alzheimers Society's first ever Memory Walk in Delamere Forest on Saturday morning.

Phil Robinson joined around 3,500 fellow trekkers in the big event, which was part of the current season of walks being held across Britain with the aim of raising £6.4 million to help finance research into the distressing condition which affects 225,000 people in the UK each year.

Phil chose to walk the route around the lake in memory of two close members of his family who suffered from dementia.

He said: "It was a fantastic day which saw upwards of 3,500 people gathering on the car park at Delamere to take part in the first Memory Walk to be held there.

"There was a real carnival atmosphere, with a Zumba warm-up session before we all headed off into the forest, where we found a drum band in a clearing who were helping to set the pace for us.

"On the walk it was amazing to see the little cards attached to people's official teeshirts describing who they were remembering as they marched on - parents, grandparents and spouses.

"There were people of all ages, from tiny tots to more mature walkers and, as they went along they were sharing their stories about why they had decided to get involved.

* Thousands of people gather before the start of the Memory Walk.

"Almost as numerous as the human trekkers were the dogs people had brought along with them - some proudly wearing their Memory Walk teeshirts or Alzheimers Society scarves."

* Out on the trail.

* A four-legged walker proudly wears the official Memory Walk teeshirt. 

He added: "The whole thing was brilliantly organised with walk marshalls dotted along the route to make sure everyone was ok and didn't get themselves lost.

"I understand that the current season of walks will involve around 100,000 across Britain, and if they have as much fun as I did it's something they'll never forget.

* A drum band helps set the pace for walkers.  

"I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored me, enabling me to comfortably hit and then better my fundraising target of £150 to make £200 for this extremely worthwhile cause."

* See Phil's Justgiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Philip-Robinson8

Balloons take flight again ...

Another balloon flight this morning ...

   ... and last night's fireworks ...

Bring homes back into use, says county

Owners of empty homes across Denbighshire are being encouraged to return their properties to use to provide extra housing and deter antisocial behaviour.

There are a number of financial incentives available to assist empty home owners in bringing their properties back into use, from Welsh Government interest free loans to local authority assistance. 

The council can also help with project managing the works and give advice on how to get a reduction on VAT for renovation works to empty properties.

Currently there are around 700 long term empty properties in the county and an Empty Homes Officer has been allocated to help home owners with the process of returning their empty properties back to use.

Councillor Barbara Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Modernisation and Housing, said: “Long term empty properties are a cause for concern and homes left empty for more than six months are a wasted resource in an area of high housing demand, they can attract crime, vandalism and antisocial behaviour as well as being a financial burden on owners."

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for the Public Realm, said: “We understand that the prospect can be stressful and overwhelming so Denbighshire County Council have allocated an Empty Homes Officer who is available to offer tailored advice and support for anyone returning their property to use. 

"This includes advice on how to make the most of your property, renovation advice, financial advice and advice on selling your property, with all advice and assistance tailored to individual circumstances. An empty home needs to be looked after as much as one which is lived in, it makes financial sense to put your vacant property to use.”

Additional benefits can be gained by bringing a property back to use, including giving the owners a financial return, removing the burden and worry of being responsible for a vacant property and also provide extra homes in the County without the need for new builds.

Denbighshire County Council is keen to assist owners in returning their properties to use, however in circumstances where the property is considered to be having a detrimental effect on the neighbourhood and local amenities and all offers of voluntary assistance have been rejected, the council says it will consider taking enforcement action which could involve issuing an improvement notice to make the owner to bring their property up to current housing standards, enforcing the sale of the property or serving a demolition order.

For home owners wanting to find out more on this service or if you would like to have a discussion regarding your empty property, contact the Empty Homes Officer on:

Empty Homes Officer, 
Built Environment Team,
Caledfryn,
Smithfield Road,
Denbigh,
Denbighshire,
LL16 3RJ

Or you can email: built.environment@denbighshire.gov.uk / 01824 706717.

Balloon festival provides spectacular sight

* One of the balloons heads from the field and across town.

* A member of the Red Devils display team in action.

* Another of the balloons reaches for the sky.

* A third balloon gets airborne.

Llangollen Balloon Festival provided a thrilling display for scores of people waiting on the bridge and across town earlier this evening.

Around half a dozen colourful balloons launched from the International Pavilion field around teatime to drift slowly towards Regent Street.

Shortly afterwards there was another spectacular sight as members of the Red Devils Parachute Display Team went through their paces hundreds of feet above the town.

Still to come this evening:

* 8pm Evening Glow

* 8pm Firework Display

And programme for tomorrow (Sunday) is:

7am Gates open for early morning ascent.
10am Main show begins with balloon display in main arena.
11am Galloping Acrobats
12pm Cheshire Falconry
1pm Balloon Display
2pm Llangollen Motorcycle Club
3pm Galloping Acrobats
4pm Cheshire Falconry
5pm British Ironworks Balloon Race