Legion group head off on Great War pilgrimage

* Llangollen Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, gives an official send-off to Royal British Legion representatives Philip Stroud, the local branch chairman (left) and standard bearer Phil Silverston in Centenary Square. 

Four members of the Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) will be joining their comrades from across Britain for a special ceremony in northern France next week honouring the fallen of the First World War.  

A decade after the end of the war in 1918 the British Legion, as it was then known, organised an expedition for veterans and widows to visit the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres before marching to the Menin Gate in Ypres on August 8th 1928.

Exactly 90 years later, thousands of Legion representatives will recreate the 1928 Battlefields Pilgrimage and visit the same battlefields.

Then, next Wednesday, they will parade their branch standard and a wreath along the same route to the Menin Gate for the One Hundred Days ceremony to commemorate the last 100 days of the war and represent an entire generation that served while defending their country.

Proudly taking their place in the poignant pilgrimage will be Llangollen RBL chairman Philip Stroud along with branch standard bearer Phil Silverston, secretary David Thomas and parade commander Graham Patton.

They will be taking with them the official good wishes of the Town Council and people of Llangollen expressed to them at a gathering in the town’s new Centenary Square yesterday (Tuesday).

Housing the town’s two war memorials, the square was created by the Town Council to mark 100 years since the end of the Great War and was officially opened just a few weeks ago.

The RBL party were given an official send-off by the Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, who presented them with a poppy wreath he had signed on behalf of the whole community.

Philip Stroud, who himself served in the King’s Regiment, said: “The four Llangollen representatives will be journeying over to France this Sunday and will return the following Thursday after the two special events in which we are proud to be taking part.

“It’s good to know that we are taking with us the good wishes of the town.”

The Mayor said: “A lot of people from this area took part in the Great War. There was a big sacrifice and it’s important that people never forget this.

“I wished the RBL group bon voyage on behalf of everyone in Llangollen.”

* To learn more about the two special events in France they are attending, go to: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/community/calendar/remembrance-services-and-events/great-pilgrimage-90/ 

Charity concert news

Stay clear of Horseshoe fire scene, says Ponderosa boss

* Devastation to the ground caused by the fire pictured by Simon Clemence of the Ponderosa Café.

* Fire appliances still on top of the Horseshoe Pass. Picture by Simon Clemence of the Ponderosa Café.

People shouldn't travel up to the Horseshoe Pass area unless absolutely necessary as the mountain is still smouldering after more than a week on fire.

That's the message this morning from Simon Clemence, owner of the world-famous Ponderosa Café at the summit of the pass.

They say on their Facebook page: "The main pass road is still closed. The Old Pass is open however please take care.

"We are open to the emergency services and the public but I would advise people to not travel up the pass unless absolutely necessary.

"There are still fire hotspots and the mountain is still smouldering. The devastation this fire has caused to our beautiful area is heartbreaking but hopefully now we can move forward.

"Can I just take this time to thank all emergency services involved they truly are commendable without their bravery and determination I don’t think the Ponderosa would be standing.

"So from each and everyone of us thank you so very much. Regards Simon and Samantha Clemence."

* The annual Ponderosa Fell Race, due to start from the café tomorrow evening (August 1) has just been cancelled.

Earlier this morning organiser Charles Ashley said on Facebook: "It is with regret to inform you all that this year's race is cancelled.

"Firefighters are still in the area working to put out hotspots etc etc.

"I know this will be a disappointment to you all but I’m sure you’ll understand that this is completely out of our control."

The massive operation to supply the firefighters still around the Horseshoe Pass with refreshments, being co-ordinated by Cat Meade at Wingetts estate agents in Castle Street, Llangollen, continues.

* Meanwhile, Denbighshire County Council has paid tribute to its teams of staff that have been busy supporting North Wales Fire and Rescue Service in dealing with the fires at Llantysilio Mountain.

Teams from the Countryside Service have been have been out assisting firefighting efforts since the first fires started a week and a half ago and teams have been working tirelessly ever since.

They have responded positively to all requests from the Fire and Rescue Service and have provided their own specialist fire fighting equipment to assist the efforts and supported fire fighters in its use.

Teams have also been assisting with cutting fire breaks,  working closely with fire and rescue teams and colleagues from Natural Resources Wales to try and prevent the fire from spreading.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said: “The fire and rescue service has been working tirelessly to deal with the fire at the location and they are to be commended for their actions.

“They have been ably assisted by our countryside teams who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect this area of outstanding natural beauty and reduce the risk of the fire from spreading to nearby properties.

“This is an example of partnership working at its best."

A number of other teams from the Council, including highways and social services have been involved in the response to the fires.

Holiday route saluted at Autumn Steam Gala

* Steam engine No. 46521 during a previous visit to Llangollen Railway.

The important role played by the old Ruabon to Barmouth line in connecting holidaymakers from the North West of England with the Cambrian Coast will be celebrated at Llangollen Railway this October.

2018 is Visit Wales' Year of the Sea (www.visitwales.com/sea) with the theme for October- December being Connected Coasts.

At its forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala, which runs throughout the weekend of October 12-14, Llangollen Railway is marking the occasion by saluting the part played by the Ruabon-Barmouth route – of which the 10-mile heritage line was once a part - in linking the busy industrial areas of Cheshire, Manchester and Liverpool with the holiday resorts of North Wales .

The gala is entitled Along Cambrian Lines 2 and follows on from the railway’s highly popular event on the same theme in April 2016.

Organiser Peter Dickinson, a project engineer at the railway, said: “It will be a three-day feast of steam-hauled nostalgia.

“Our annual Autumn Steam Gala has become an important event on many enthusiasts’ calendars as it offers a varied range of trains running along our picturesque line.

“For nearly 100 years, the railway carried many thousands of holidaymakers over its tracks to seaside resorts right along the coast.

“This October’s gala will be a celebration of these much loved trains heading for the seaside during the 1950s and early 1960s.

“A great line-up of visiting locomotives will be supported by members of the Llangollen Railway's home fleet, recreating many of the authentic sights and sounds of the period.”

Visiting locomotives include BR Ivatt 2MT  No. 46521, courtesy of the Great Central Railway. This former Royal Train engine spent almost its entire working life in Wales and was allocated to Oswestry, Brecon and Machynlleth steam sheds during its career.

No. 46521 was also a regular sight around Barmouth during the 1950s and 1960s, working trains along the Cambrian Coast route and the regular shuttle service up the Mawddach Estuary to Dolgellau. 

Other visitors will be announced over the coming weeks, including the possible return of a local locomotive after a 60-year absence. 

Attractions include:

• Interactive activities for all the family, including Make your own Luggage Labels.
• Display of entries of the railway’s 2018 Steam Trains to the Seaside children's poster competition.
• Intensive timetable over all three days.
• Full line and local services to-ing and fro-ing.
• Demonstration goods and parcel loading at Berwyn station

Along the Llangollen line there are a number of interesting structures built with local stone which was quarried along the River Dee.

A special exhibition telling the story of some of the viaducts, road bridges and station buildings will be running in the Henry Robertson Suite in Llangollen Station throughout the gala.

Passenger timetables will follow in the weeks leading up to the event.

The full working timetable will be available free of charge to holders of travel tickets for the event from the railway’s booking offices at the event while stocks last.

* Event details can be found at: http://llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/autumn-steam-gala-12th-14th-october/ 

Firefighter has her 40th birthday battling the big blaze

The proud mum of one of the firefighters who have been battling to control a mountain fire above Llangollen has spoken of how she had her 40^th birthday on the fire ravaged frontline.

Jayne Dulson went on Facebook to describe how her daughter Clare Dulson (pictured) spent her milestone birthday alongside her colleagues from Chirk fire station trying to contain the flames which were ripping through the moorlands near Llantysilio and the Horseshoe Pass.

And the organiser of the big effort to supply the firefighters with much-needed refreshments, Cat Meade from Wingetts estate agents in Llangollen, said that when the volunteer driver delivering food and drinks to the hard-pressed fire crews found out it was Clare’s birthday they served her with bacon butties plus a cream cake.

Clare is originally from Llangollen but now lives in Chirk.

Her mum Jayne says in her Facebook post, which has rapidly gone viral since appearing yesterday attracting over 1,000 likes: “This is my daughter Clare Dulson and she is one of the many firefighters that have been tackling the mountain fires over the last 11 days.

“I just want everyone to know how amazing she is because not only was she up there pretty much continually from Thursday morning until the early hours of this morning, with her colleagues from Chirk, and there is a chance they may go back, it was her 40th birthday yesterday and she dropped all her plans and chose to keep her crew available to fight the fires.

“They saw her birthday in with her, and out, and I can’t even imagine how tired they all are and therefore she didn’t have a birthday at all, or any celebrations, and while some have put on the here that “That’s what their paid to do anyway”, the hours they have put in are astounding and they are all heroes.

“She spent most of her birthday evening trying to contain some of the most challenging conditions that they have had so far ,and I was worried sick about her, but today she wanted no fuss, and said she would have rather been there than anywhere else, because of her love for the job, and her hometown.

“So, although she will not appreciate my post, I want to say huge thanks to all of the firefighters that have spent so long up there, whilst trying to juggle a day job, families and no sleep, and hope as many people as possible wish my daughter a very happy birthday for yesterday, and show our appreciation for our wonderful firefighters.”

Cat Meade, who has organised an online appeal for the firefighters’ supplies which has so far attracted donations well over £1,200, said: “When we found out that Clare was having her 40^th birthday up there we knew we had to do something a little special for her.

“The money we’d collected meant we could send them all bacon butties but we also gave Clare a nice big cream cake which was donated by a shop in Oswestry.

“We were delighted to help her celebrate her big birthday because she and he colleagues have been doing such a brilliant job up there for us.”       

UPDATE ...

The incident saw the closure of the Horseshoe Pass at the end of last week but North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced this morning that the old section - from Ruthin up to the Ponderosa - has now reopened.

The new section remains closed, a spokesman for the fire and rescue service added.

Two fire appliances remained on site overnight and there are plans to send three crews and an off-road vehicle up to the scene today.

Fire supply team calls for volunteers

* Fire control centre.

* Picture of the fire scene taken earlier this afternoon.

* Food delivery on the road this afternoon.

2.15pm UPDATE ...

Cllr Issy Richards has just returned from taking a consignment of supplies to the crews.

She said: "Fires still smouldering but rain has helped, firefighters still hard at the work."

* A statement just received from Denbighshire County Council says:

“On Friday night, the escalating fire meant that the Council was placed on high alert to take immediate action if necessary.

“The Council’s countryside service teams have been working closely with fire and rescue service colleagues throughout the week and the weekend to tackle the fire.

“Fire crews, assisted by the Council’s countryside service teams have been making good progress in their efforts to distinguish the fire and the rain has certainly assisted the efforts.

“The Council has put arrangements for a rest centre in place, should the need arise. However, in light of the improving situation, the Council has been given permission to stand down its rest centre arrangements. The situation will be closely monitored and we will be informed if the need for a rest centre arises again."

The team taking supplies to the fire crews battling the blaze on the mountainsides near Llangollen say they are now looking for extra help.

Llangollen's deputy mayor, Cllr Issy Richards, who is helping to co-ordinate the delivery efforts, said: "So far there have been a handful of helpers to collect and deliver hot food at 1pm and 7pm to the firefighters at various points.

"We are now looking for extra help, as the situation may be ongoing throughout the week.

"If anyone can help please let us know and we will contact you via Messenger.

"What are needed are two people in a vehicle who can collect hot food from Llangollen and deliver, probably to the Llandegla roundabout."

Please contact the team via the Llangollen Noticeboard page on Facebook.

Firefighters' supplies appeal goes on, says organiser

Ponderosa Cafe

· 11 hrs ·

Good evening everyone,
The Ponderosa has been evacuated due to fire and smoke.
Can I please just take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful emergency services who are currently battling this menace.
...

Regards Simon Clemence.

* Last night's message on Facebook from the Ponderosa Café.

11am update from Ponderosa's Simon Clemence to llanblogger ...

Yes the Cafe was evacuated last night I’m back up here now. Road still closed. Mountain in a terrible state but the cafe and family is ok thank goodness.

The urgent operation to get food and drinks to firefighters battling the blaze on the mountainsides around Llangollen goes on despite overnight rain.

That’s the message from Cat Meade from Wingetts estate agents in Castle Street who has been co-ordinating efforts to get supplies to the hard-pressed crews.

Last night it appears that the Ponderosa Café whose car park had been used as the emergency services command centre for the past few days had to be evacuated.

Its owner Simon Clemence put out a message on Facebook to say: “The Ponderosa has been evacuated due to fire and smoke.

“Can I please just take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful emergency services who are currently battling this menace.”

Late last week Cat at Wingetts set up an online appeal for cash to help pay for supplies for the large number of fire crews who have been drafted in from across North Wales.

Within hours hundreds of pounds had been pledged and the tally this morning (Sunday) stands at £1,200.

However, Cat points out that with average spending on food and drinks running at around £200 a day the money collected so far can’t last much longer if the emergency continues.

She said: “We’re hoping that the rain we’ve had overnight will help damp down the fire but it’s so deep-rooted that we just don’t know.

“We’re therefore planning to keep both the appeal and supply runs going.

“We know they do have a stockpile of supplies up there but what they’ve got is only likely to last for the next 24 hours.

“The public have been fantastic in supporting the appeal but I think now we need a little help from the corporate side of things. I’d like to see larger businesses contributing in some way – not just from this area but right through to Wrexham from where many of the fire crews have been coming.”

She added: “Could you also advise people that the last of the supplies were delivered last night. There was plenty of water but they’ve requested energy drinks like Red Bull, Lucozade and so on.

“Our collection points at Wingetts in Castle Street, from 9am tomorrow, and the leisure centre. Llangollen Leisure Centre opening hours are Sunday 9-1pm and Monday 7.30am-9pm.

“Things must have been pretty bad up there last night as Simon and his family had to be evacuated from the Ponderosa. I just hope they are okay.”

And for those who can't access the online funding, Cat Meade is at Wingetts from Monday onwards for cash donations.

* To donate to Cat’s appeal go to: gf.me/u/j5y9gc

Denbighshire Free Press has just published an update from official sources. It says:

Smoke continues to spread across North Wales as firefighters begin another day of tackling a huge mountainside blaze.

Several fire crews have continued to battle the flames over the weekend, with three appliances and an off-road vehicle at the scene this morning.

A spokesman for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters are currently focusing on tackling hotspots, as well as protecting fire breaks (measures such as trenches used to prevent the blaze from spreading further.)