Free leisure passes up for grabs for ex-service people

Charitable staff at Denbighshire Leisure Services will playing their part in this year’s Poppy Appeal – with a series of free leisure passes up for grabs for ex-service people in a special draw being arranged.

In a new partnership with the Royal British Legion, eleven ex-service people have been chosen to be included in a draw for free month leisure passes.   

The first 10 names chosen will receive monthly passes. 

The lucky eleventh person will receive a leisure pass which will be valid for 11 months. The ex-service people will be able to access free activities for the duration of their pass at any of the council’s leisure locations across the county.

A charity master class will also be taking place at Rhyl Leisure Centre on Thursday, November 1^st between 5.30pm and 8pm. Those taking part will be given a chance to contribute towards this year’s Poppy Appeal.

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with the British Legion on this really important initiative.  

“The council regularly supports the Royal British Legion through attendance at Remembrance Day events and this year, we wanted to do something different  in addition to the parades.   

"This is a very practical way for us to say a big ‘thank you’ to the service people  who have put their lives at risk to protect the country in peace-keeping efforts and conflicts in many parts of the world.

“It is also a great opportunity to promote the role that leisure and fitness have in improving people’s health, well-being and independence."

Choirs tuning up for Pavilion charity concert

A Festival of Male Voice Choirs will be staged in aid of Prostate Cymru at Llangollen Eisteddfod Pavilion on Sunday December 9.

It will feature the newly-formed Biker's Choir of North Wales along with Cor Meibion Conwy, Cor Meibion Dyffryn Ceiriog and soloists.

Event spokesman Mike Gleed said: "We're expecting the concert to be something special and hope to make it an annual event.

"The Biker’s Choir has attracted some excellent voices already and numbers are increasing. We have a fabulous musical director who insists on excellence."

New logo marks Valley Girls WI's fifth birthday

* The new logo.

* From left Gail Ellson, President of Valley Girls WI,

Sarah Meade of Honey Pots gift shop and

Kate Collins, Secretary of Valley Girls WI.

A new logo designed by a local artist has been launched to mark the fifth anniversary of the creation of Llangollen's Valley Girls WI.

The logo depicts a modern-looking woman in the foreground of Castel Dinas Bran and incorporates some of the traditional as well as contemporary features of the WI.

It was designed by Sarah Meade who owns and runs the gift shop Honey Pots in Castle Street and an online business, Sister Sister Biz.

Sarah said: “It’s been lovely to design a logo for The Valley Girls WI in Llangollen.  I’ve known many of the ladies for years and wanted to design a fresh logo that reflected the fun nature of their personalities.

“The design includes evidence of baking and crafting, with cupcakes and knitting needles as well as a bit of glamour with ruby red lips and nails.

"Daffodils have been included as well as some Welsh tapestry, as the Valley Girls are proud of their Welsh heritage and there is of course the ubiquitous jar of jam!”

Valley Girls WI was established in 2013 by a group of thirtysomethings who were keen to cement friendships forged at baby and toddle groups. 

It has evolved and grown with more than 20 regular members, meeting on the first Thursday of every month at the Memorial Hall, Market Street.

The logo will be used on pin badges for the Valley Girls to wear at meetings, as well as at local and national events.

President of Valley Girls WI Gail Ellson said: “We are all absolutely delighted with this new logo. Sarah has expertly captured the essence of the Valley Girls in this beautiful hand drawn logo.

“Valley Girls is going from strength to strength with highlights over the past five years including a kayaking trip over the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, a colourful yarn bomb of the town centre of Llangollen and a fantastic vintage themed charity calendar.

“We’re working on our 2019 programme at the moment, but it will definitely include a session on yoga, a book club, we’ll explore mental health issues and make some hanging 'bra-skets' to add colour to the town!”

* Valley Girls WI meets at the Memorial Hall, Market Street, Llangollen on the first Thursday of each month (unless otherwise stated).  All are welcome, and you can contact the group at valleygirlswi@outlook.com or via Facebook.

Sion Corn starts his trip to Llan Christmas Festival

* Sion Corn takes a test drive in the vintage 1927 Alvis with owner

Roger Williams at the wheel.

Sion Corn has been looking for the fastest way he can get to Llangollen to star in the town’s famous Christmas Festival at the end of November.

The town is famed for celebrating various modes of transport like river, road, canal and steam train.

So the grand old man – he’s known as Santa Claus in English – has been giving them all a try to see which will get him there as quickly as possible so he can spend more time joining in the fun with the thousands of  seasonal merrymakers who are expected to come flocking in to the big event on the afternoon of Saturday November 24.  

First to be given the Sion Corn rapid transport test was a vintage car owned by Llangollen motoring enthusiast Roger Williams.

Sion Corn jumped aboard and after giving the 1927 Alvis his special sack test he pronounced himself well satisfied with the gleaming machine.

He said: “Despite being over 90 years old – which is actually quite a bit younger than me - it’s still very fast and there’s plenty of room for me to jump in and out with my sack.

“It’s a definite possibility for November 24 but I’ve still got a few more kinds of transport to try out before I pick my final ride.”

Kicking off at 1pm with the famous parade which sees Sion Corn being escorted into town over the historic bridge by a colourful cavalcade of entertainers and local groups, the Christmas festival features children’s fairground rides and games, circus acts, a magician, dancing and face painting.

There will also be a chance for youngsters to visit Sion Corn in his glorious grotto and put in their early requests from what they’d like to see him bring them on Christmas morning. 

During the afternoon visitors can look forward to an eclectic mix of musical entertainment from local groups on two outdoor stages and other on-street entertainment.

The fun-packed day rounds off at 5pm with the ceremonial switching on of Llangollen’s legendary Christmas lights and a firework extravaganza. 

Llangollen Christmas Festival is organised by a group of dedicated community volunteers. It costs over £4,000 to stage each year and is self-funding.

The festival aims to provide a free family-orientated event in the safety of the town centre with surplus funds being donated to Wales Air Ambulance and local community groups.

Over the last couple of years the police have estimated that the spectacular event draws over 2,000 people into town during the course of the afternoon.

For the second year the festival has teamed up with Light Up Local Food, a project aimed at promoting Llangollen-based food and drink producers.

Chairman of the festival committee Austin ‘Chem’ Cheminais, who is also the local town crier and a member of the town council, said: “With the help of the community we manage, each year, to raise just about enough to fund the event and give a little to charity.

“Last year’s festival was particularly successful, in spite of the weather, and the feedback from those attending was very positive.

“The ‘market’ feel to the event provided by Light UP Local Food was particularly commented upon and helped to attract visitors from much further afield.

“Once again we’re expecting a bumper crowd to come along and help us to give a great early start to Christmas.”

Illustrator to be museum's guest speaker

John Swogger (pictured), an archaeological illustrator, will be giving a talk on creating history through cartoons and comics tomorrow (Wednesday) at Llangollen Museum. 

He will be using his work on the history of Oswestry which he created in comic form.

Entry is £3 on the door to include tea/coffee. All are welcome.

German students enjoy a museum visit

* A group of German students from Ectarc got into the Welsh spirit of things when they visited Llangollen Museum yesterday.

Give your opinion on your local library

Library customers across Denbighshire are being invited to say what they think of their local library.

A survey, which runs until November 17, asks adult customers why they use the library and to give their opinion on the quality of the services on offer and how they have benefited from them.

The survey can be completed online www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries and there will be help available for customers to use library computers or wifi to complete the survey. Paper copes will also be available.

Libraries in Wales are required to conduct a survey every three years to gather feedback from customers on the range, quality and impact of their services.

The information gathered will be used to  help shape future service development, and to report on the service's performance against the Welsh Public Library Standards Framework 2017-2020 to Welsh Government.