Trip of a lifetime for Dinas Bran's Bethany

* Bethany Pierce is South American bound.

A student from Ysgol Dinas Brân in Llangollen is counting down the months until she can take part in a pioneering visit to Patagonia, arranged by the Urdd.

Bethany Pierce, 17, from Corwen, applied to join the trip and was invited for an assessment at Glan Llyn near Bala.

This involved an interview, group work, a video clip and a team building exercise.

She was then one of only 25 students from across Wales to be invited to attend the trip in October.

Bethany said: “I’m so excited about going, if a little apprehensive as I suffer from homesickness, but this is too good an opportunity to miss and I will conquer the homesickness. 

"My local community have really been supportive as l need to raise £2,500.  

"My Uncle is doing a sponsored weight loss, I have set up a Bonus Ball and lots of cake sales."

She added: "I’d heard about the trip and decided to give it a go. Everyone says this is such a worthwhile project and it will certainly open my eyes to the culture and Welsh language traditions amongst families in Patagonia.

“During the visit I will be attending schools and visiting Welsh communities, getting to know families and getting involved in volunteering. This will be an experience of a lifetime.

“I can’t wait!”

Elizabeth's two big band successes

Elizabeth Mwale, a young euphonium player with Llangollen Silver Band, has successfully auditioned for a position with the National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW).

Elizabeth, 15, (pictured) has also been invited to join the summer course led by Philip Harper, music director and conductor of the world’s number one brass band, the Cory.

During the course Elizabeth will receive tuition from international euphonium soloist and Cory player Glyn Williams.

Following the course, the NYBBW will play a series of concerts across Wales.

One of the guest soloists for the concerts will be former NYBBW player Daniel Thomas who is now
principle euphonium player with the famous Black Dyke Band.

A spokesperson for Llangollen Silver Band said: "Elizabeth will certainly find herself playing alongside and being tutored by some of the world’s finest brass players. We congratulate her on her well-deserved success."

Try Llangollen Country Market for a bargain

* Country Market secretary Joan Sneyd on her own hand-knitted clothing stall.

Llangollen Country Market has opened for business at the start of what it hopes will be another busy trading season.

Nationally, the country market concept goes back to 1919 when they were run by the Women’s Institute (WI).

That is how they were known until about 20 years ago when they took on a more modern and business-like look.

But whatever name they have gone by, the basic principle of the markets has never changed – selling home-made food and crafts of the highest quality at the best prices.

Llangollen Country Market has been trading since 1977, first at the Memorial Hall and later at the Town Hall where it is still based.

Last year it celebrated its 40th anniversary with a fantastic morning attended by the Mayor and Town Crier.

Country Market secretary Joan Sneyd said: “We hold the market every Friday morning in the Town Hall from early March to late December, between 9.45am and 12.45pm, with the exceptions of Good Friday and Eisteddfod week.

“We sell quality locally hand-made, fresh home-grown and hand-crafted goods , including cakes and preserves, in season fruit and veg, plants (indoor and garden) and many types of crafts such as jewellery, children's wear, cards, walking sticks, hand knitted, crocheted and sewn items.

“We offer refreshments to our customers and everything is at very reasonable prices.”

* Craft stalls bulging with bargains.

* A jewellery stall all a-glitter.

* A wide selection of knitted goods on display.

* Some tasty-looking treats on the home-made cake stall.

* A range of home-made jams.

New timings for chamber meetings

At the Annual General Meeting of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism held on Monday 5th March the members agreed that from April 2018 the monthly meetings would now take place on the first Tuesday of the month starting at an earlier time of 6.00pm.

The meetings will continue to be held at the Hand Hotel in Llangollen. It was hoped that these changes would make it easier for more members to attend the monthly meetings.

Eisteddfod gets £25,000 funding boost

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been selected to receive a £25,000 funding boost from the ScottishPower Foundation.

Backing charity initiatives as diverse as wildlife conservation and science-themed education to mental health awareness and theatrical productions, ScottishPower Foundation chose the festival’s Inclusion Project, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

* Music Director of the Llangollen

Eisteddfod Vicky Yannoula.

The project helps promote unity and diversity throughout North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire.

A diverse mix of groups from the local communities will come together and perform on the main stage at the festival in July.

The £1m ScottishPower fund was announced yesterday by Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, Ann McKechin, at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow another of the recipents. 

Each of the 17 charities to receive funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will deliver events, information or campaigns that directly benefit people living in their local communities or regions.

Other projects include a theatre production by the National Theatre of Scotland, a marine conservation initiative by RSPB Scotland and STEM learning programmes by National Museums Scotland and Dumfries House.

Ann McKechin, Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation said: “Applications for this year’s funding blew us away with the incredible and diverse work happening around the UK, and to see the effects of funding in action here today is extremely moving.

"The ScottishPower Foundation is proud to be able to support these projects by helping them to realise their vision of making a positive difference to the lives of people in their communities.”

Music Director of the Llangollen Eisteddfod Vicky Yannoula, said: “Promoting opportunities for all and reducing inequality of opportunities is core to the ethos of the International Eisteddfod.

“Thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation’s continued support and funding the Inclusion Project has been able to continue its good work and enable people from all walks of life to perform on the Eisteddfod stage."

The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 with the aim of making a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK.

It provides funding to registered charities which are involved in the advancement of education, environmental protection, citizenship and community development. The Foundation also supports non-profit organisations working in science, the arts, heritage or culture as well as the prevention of poverty and relief of disability or other disadvantage.

Man airliftted to hospital following A539 collision

The Leader is reporting that a man has been airlifted to hospital following a serious three-vehicle crash on the A539 near Llangollen.

Fire and ambulance services were called to the incident close to the Sun Trevor Inn this afternoon (Monday) while an air ambulance was also in attendance.

The collision has led to disruption to local bus services,

* For the full story see: http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/

MP welcomes GP surgery revamp

An Assembly Member has welcomed confirmation that work to revamp a town’s GP surgery will be completed this year.

Ken Skates vowed before his 2016 re-election he would help deliver increased spending on health and social services in Clwyd South and subsequently secured a promise of investment from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board chief executive Gary Doherty.

A £1.5m project to refurbish and modernise Corwen Family Practice got under way last month and will see extra GP consultation rooms, improved waiting areas and a new dental suite created.

A range of community services will also be based in the new-look building, including health visitors and district nursing.

Mr Skates said: “I was delighted to see work on this welcome refurbishment get under way and I’m sure many of my constituents in Corwen and its surrounding communities will be pleased their surgery is seeing this significant investment.”

Mr Skates was also involved in the campaigns to bring brand new health centres to Chirk and Llangollen.

He said: “After pressing hard for these improvements for Corwen. I recently wrote again to Gary Doherty and he informed me that he anticipates the work to be completed in the autumn.

"I have previously pledged to help deliver increased health spending Clwyd South, so this investment in Corwen is particularly pleasing.”

Some services, including physiotherapy and podiatry, are currently being run from temporary accommodation on-site, while dental services will continue to be provided from the current location while refurbishment progresses.

For the duration of the building work, the pharmacist in Corwen town centre will accept repeat prescriptions, while Corwen Family Practice will accept repeat prescriptions between 8am and 6pm on Monday to Thursday and from 8am until 5pm on Fridays.