Happy New Year from llanblogger

Wild Pheasant's new lease of life

The Leader is reporting that Llangollen's Wild Pheasant hotel has re-opened after a major facelift.

For the full story, see:

http://leaderlive.co.uk/news/170806/wild-pheasant-hotel-in-llangollen-is-back-in-business.aspx

Railway gala steams in next March

Llangollen Railway’s Along Birkenhead Lines Gala will take place over three days from Friday-Sunday, March 3-5.

Featuring an intensive timetable of both passenger and mixed traffic trains, a great collection of historic steam locomotives and special attractions taking place along the line, the event has something for all railway enthusiasts and families alike, according the organisers.

The weekend marks the 50th anniversary of two significant events - the last steam-hauled Cambrian Coast Express and 50 years since the last through working from London Paddington to Birkenhead (Woodside).

Work is in hand to make this gala one of the most historically accurate and authentic steam events yet achieved.

Expect to see cameos, displays, recreations and all the appropriate paper ephemera.

In addition to the railway’s home fleet, the gala will feature a number of special visiting steam locomotives – details of which will be announced very soon! 

* Download our FREE Advanced Information booklet (first edition attached) for all the latest news on the gala from:

http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/spring-steam-gala-3rd-march/ 

Merry Christmas from llanblogger!

llanblogger is now taking a short break and will be back just after Christmas.

Meanwhile, we wish all our readers the best of the festive season!

Silver Band's successful Christmas Gala

* The Youth Band on stage.

Llangollen Silver Band held their annual Christmas Gala at the Town Hall recently.

The festive event, now in it's 8th year, featured performances from the Training, Youth and Senior Bands, carols and smaller musical ensembles.

Conductor Trevor Williams also announced the winner of the band's 'Young Player of the Year' award, which this year went to 14-year-old euphonium player, Elizabeth Mwale (pictured right.

Trevor said: "Elizabeth is a talented young musician who has achieved great success this year. She is also one of the first to offer to lend a helping hand with other jobs, such as helping younger players and decorating the band room."

The grand finale of the gala saw the packed audience singing and swaying along to the senior band's renditions of Christmas classics such as 'Merry Christmas Everyone' and 'Jingle Bell Rock'.

Band Spokesman, Robert Stock, said 'Our thanks go out to all players, parents and supporters of the band for attending this event. On behalf of the band I hope you all have a merry Christmas and to see you at one one of our events in the new year.'

Santa's quiz raises £353 for Air Ambulance

* The winning team with Santa.

Santa has thanked everyone who joined him at the Ponsonby for Santa's Magical Christmas Quiz.

The evening raised a staggering £353.83 with a pledge for a further £25 making a grand total of £378.83 raised for North Wales Air Ambulance.

Santa said: "Thanks to Paul and Lisa at the Ponsonby for their hospitality and John for his hard work behind the bar. The food and beer were brilliant.

"The declared winners, after a stewards enquiry, were Anon and On and On. A fantastic evening!"

County gives recycling and refuse advice

With Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year, it happens that recycling and refuse collections in Denbighshire  can take place on the normal day of the week throughout the festive period.

Residents who normally have a collection on a Monday will receive their collections as normal on Monday, 26^th December and Monday, 2^nd January despite these days being Bank Holidays.

Subscribers to the garden waste collection service are reminded that collections will take place over the holiday period.

Full details of collection days are on the calendars which were delivered during October and November or are available on the Council’s website at: -https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/bins-and-recycling/bin-collection-dates.aspx

Recycling parks:  Recycling Park facilities at Denbigh, Rhyl and Ruthin, will be open to the public as normal every day except 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. Winter opening hours are:

DENBIGH and RUTHIN: Mon – Fri 10am - 4pm. Weekend 9am - 4pm.

Recycling – Llangollen and Corwen:  Saturday recycling services at the Highways Depot, Corwen will take place as normal on Saturday 19 December. However, there will be no service at the Pavilion Car Park, Llangollen on Saturday 26 December or at Corwen on Saturday 2 January 2017.

Saturday recycling services will recommence as normal at Corwen on 7 January between 9 - 11am and at Llangollen on 14 January between 9 - 11am.

Commercial recycling and refuse collections:  Businesses services from Denbighshire County Council will follow the same unaltered pattern as the household services .