Chamber installs life-saving machine in town

* The life-saving machine on the wall of Riverbanc in Bridge Street.

Llangollen Chamber of Trade & Tourism has announced the installation of a public access defibrillator machine in the centre of the town.

Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, the equipment is to be located on the front wall of the newly-refurbished Riverbanc building - the old HSBC bank - in Bridge Street close to Centenary Square.  

This new machine will complement the one available during opening hours in the Tourist Information Centre in Castle Street and another being provided at Gales wine bar in Bridge Street.

Chamber chair David Davies said: “Heart attacks can occur at any time, to anyone, young or older, resident or visitor, however fit, and response within the first few minutes can be a life saver.

“The Chamber is very grateful for the funding of this project to the Friends of Llangollen Health Centre and Safe & Sound Outdoors.

“Come and see how to operate the equipment on Tuesday November 6 at Riverbanc in Bridge Street. Short demonstrations will be given during the day from 10am-2pm.”

Chem spreads around fairy dust in the town centre

* Picture by Barrie Potter.

The Christmas Fairy - alias town crier Chem - was out and about in the town centre this afternoon spreading a little magic dust around and raising cash for this year's Llangollen Christmas Festival, which is on Saturday November 24.

He was ably assisted by the King of the Swingers and Wandering Minstrel Chris Burton who entertained with a selection seasonal songs.

County responds to "no show" buses complaints

* An Arriva No 5 at the bus stop in Parade Street.

* The bus stop in Mill Street where the elderly lady was left waiting in vain for a No 5.

One of the town’s county councillors has secured a response to complaints from local travellers about afternoon “no show” buses in Llangollen.

One elderly lady says she was left waiting at the bus stop in Mill Lane in the bitter cold for over an hour from around 3pm last Friday for a number 5 to Wrexham which never arrived.

She claims one bus went right past without stopping during the time she was there.

The lady said later: “I understand the problem is due to the bus company sending its buses to pick up the children from Ysgol Dinas Bran in mid-afternoon.

“I’d have thought that if their scheduled services have to suffer because of the school contract they should have thought before taking it on.”

Llanblogger asked County Councillor Melvyn Mile to look into the problem and he has received the following response from Peter Daniels, Passenger Transport Manager for Denbighshire County Council:

“There is a gap in the timetable from Llangollen to Wrexham during the afternoon, owing to two of the three vehicles used on service 5 operating at times more suited to Ysgol Dinas Brân. This is deliberate.

“On schooldays, therefore, there is a journey at 1435 and the next at 1535, when there are two running together to cope with demand.

“The 1505 does not operate and it waits till 1535. While this is inconvenient for regular passengers, the service then picks up the half-hourly frequency at 1605.

“What your complainant probably saw was the incoming bus at 1458 which disappeared out of service to the Pavilion for one of the 1535 departures. The 1528 arrival does the same but then comes back to Parade Street.

“Times are changing marginally next week but there is still no benefit to non-school passengers. Arriva cannot serve the school any other way.”

It's A Wonderful Life in Llangollen

New Dot Cinema gets into the festive spirit with two screenings of It's A Wonderful Life, arguably the best-loved Christmas film of all time', on Friday December 14 at Llangollen Town Hall.

Even better, the matinee and evening screenings will be free.

In lieu of a ticket, people are invited to bring a Christmas gift, to be distributed by either Welsh

Women's Aid Wrexham or Mike & Val Connolly's Llangollen Community Christmas Lunch.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946, U) is a classic black and white American Christmas comedy-drama.

James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian

angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers).

Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched and how different life in his town of Bedford Falls would be if he had never been born.

Both shows will be preceded by 1940's swing music and extra special festive fare such as mince pies, hot drinks and a licensed bar. Mulled wine and hot chocolate will be on offer in the evening screening.

The 2.30pm matinee is billed as a 'relaxed screening'. It will have an interval, extra clear signage and low lighting kept on throughout.

The aim is to create a comfortable environment, accessible to all ages, including those with babes-in-arms and those with dementia.

People will be free to walk around, make noise and visit the loo repeatedly (for  example!) during the film.

Easily identifiable, friendly volunteers will be on hand to assist. For more information and to reserve main floor or wheelchair seating, please email hello@newdotcinema.org

If you'd like to make a contribution to the chosen charities, but are wondering what to bring, Welsh Women's Aid Wrexham has suggested unwrapped gifts for women aged 18 and over such as toiletry gift sets and nightwear.

Llangollen Community Christmas Lunch have suggested wrapped Christmas gifts such as festive treats, chocolates or other stocking fillers.

There will also be a collection bucket for those who would prefer to make a cash donation to Welsh Women's Aid Wrexham.

Interesting Film Fact:

It's A Wondeful Life was for many years shown almost repeatedly on television, as the rights holders had failed to complete paperwork to retain copyright. This turned a moderately successful film into an immensely popular one where, for many, watching it together became a Christmas tradition.

* New Dot Cinema Llangollen is a not-for-profit, community cinema run entirely by volunteers. More details can be found at www.newdotcinema.org , on Twitter or Facebook.

Scores queue to register with new Llan dentists

Scores of people have been queueing up outside the new dentists in Chapel Street this morning to register as patients before it opens at 10am.

The practice is now under new management and the surgery has been extensively refurbished.

At 9am around 60 people were in the queue and the first in line had been waiting since 8am.

UPDATE ...

The queue at 9.45am stretched around the corner into Oak Street.

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."