AM calls for veterans' contribution to be honoured

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the National Assembly for Wales to honour the contribution of those who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces.

Leading the Welsh Conservative Debate on Wales’ Armed Forces Communities, Mr Isherwood (pictured) said that “Remembrance could, should and does belong to all of us - whatever our politics, ethnicity or faith”.   

He also spoke of his concern about the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant in Wales, highlighting the "inconsistencies veterans and their families have faced when accessing health care".

Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood raised these concerns when responding to a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services.

He said: “The Armed Forces Covenant states that no-one who has served in the Armed Forces should face disadvantage and, in specific circumstances, can expect special consideration in regard to their NHS Care.

"Despite this, however, veterans and their families have faced inconsistencies when accessing health care in Wales, with the third and charitable sectors often having to deliver the specialist and rehabilitation services.  

“Only Abertawe Bro Morganwg [health board] has a dedicated budget for veterans. In the last three financial years £242,000 has been allocated there, but the six remaining health boards only use core allocations to fund veterans' needs.  

“Only Aneurin Bevan, Cardiff and Vale, Powys and Hywel Dda Health Boards have adopted the Welsh Government 2017 Guidance in full – and, worryingly, Betsi Cadwaladr stated that it was only adhering to Welsh Government guidance published in 2008, three years before the Covenant was published."

He added: “Endorsed by the Armed Forces Community and Armed  Services heads, the review by the Cross Party Group on Armed Forces and Cadets found that in order to uphold the Covenant, the Welsh Government should consider the appointment of an Armed  Forces Commissioner for Wales to improve the accountability of public sector  organisations for the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant."
Mr Isherwood also referred to “Change Step”, a support and peer-mentoring service provided by veterans for veterans seeking help for mental health, loneliness or addiction problems, led by North Wales based Charity CAIS, and the challenges it faces because of its reliance on bid funding.       

Stressing that housing is key to veterans and their families, Mr Isherwood referred to the ambitious self-build project for veterans in  Wrexham, the third residence in North Wales to be managed by Wales Homes for Veterans.

Dental watchdog slams Llan registration queues

* People queue to sign up with the new dentists in Llangollen last week.

The Daily Post reports today that the British Dental Association says long queues to register for an NHS dentists like the ones seen in Llangollen last week shouldn't become the norm.

For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/dont-five-hour-queues-dentists-15377911

Bells will ring out to commemorate loss then peace

Ringing Remembers is the name of the campaign by bell ringers throughout Britain to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. 

In Llangollen, as elsewhere, the bells will be rung half-muffled before the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Sunday, in memory of all those who lost their lives as a result of the war. 

Then at 12.30 the bells will ring out without the muffles to celebrate the peace. 

On the 11th November 1918 bells were rung spontaneously throughout the country as part of a huge outpouring of relief that took place as news of the Armistice spread.

Sion Corn tries the train for a rapid Christmas Festival arrival

* Sion Corn on the footplate of Llangollen

Railway’s steam engine number 3802 as it pulls out of the station. 

Sion Corn has been looking for the fastest way he can reach 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.  

Latest to be given the Sion Corn transport test was a steam train operated by Llangollen Railway and used more usually to provide visitors with memorable trips through the stunning scenery of the Dee Valley from Llangollen all the way to Corwen.

By special permission Sion Corn jumped the footplate and was hauled along on a test journey.

At the end of his short excursion he pronounced himself well satisfied with his trip aboard the gleaming engine number  3802.

He said: “Many people reckon a steam train is the only way to travel and I agree with them.

“There’s nothing like the wind in your beard as your rattling along hauled by a piece of living history.

“It’s a definite possibility for getting me to the fete in plenty of time.”

Thousands of seasonal revellers are expected to come flocking to Llangollen for the Christmas Festival on Saturday November 24.

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 event 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 for 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.”

Railway operates to Dwyrain Corwen East for last time

 * Final departure from Corwen East for locomotive 3802.

* The bilingual station name, the locomotive 3802 with commemorative decoration.

The final train of the 2018 season from Llangollen to Corwen departed last Sunday at 1510 with the locomotive No.3802 bedecked with a special train headboard.

As the last public service train to serve the temporary platform at Dwyrain Corwen East, a commemorative bilingual head board was provided with Welsh flags to mark the end of four years of successful operations to what has been the Phase 1 station of the Corwen extension project.

Fittingly, Number 3802 performed the honours, as it did with the first train on 22 October 2014 - even the same three Welsh flags were re-used and Harry Barber was the same driver. 

This time the train was not topped and tailed with a second locomotive as in 2014 and 3802 alone performed the final propelling move back to Carrog with a select passenger complement of members and others on board to mark the end of an era. 

A fortunate spell of blue sky for the 1540 arrival brightened the occasion when station staff were on hand with others to mark the occasion. 

Their next task will be to start to dismantle the station facilities and prepare for a move to the new terminal station building which is in course of refurbishment alongside the town carpark. 

The next train to Corwen will terminate at the Phase 2 station which is now under construction alongside the town's car park and will provide direct access from and to the town centre from a date to be announced in 2019.

Stationmaster Wayne Ronneback said: "Although provided as a temporary measure in 2014, the platform has been successful in introducing passengers to the western end of the line and has attracted a growing number of passengers to start their journey through the Dee Valley from Corwen.

"This was necessary whilst the project team tackled the immense task of building the Phase 2 station with a loop line to allow the train to terminate and for the locomotive to run round at the island platform in preparation for the return journey. 

"As of a date to be announced in 2019,  visitors will be able to travel from and to the centre of Corwen where the train will stop over for a 20 minute interval. We expect the new arrangements to attract more visitors from a wider segment of the North Wales tourism market to come for the journey on the only standard gauge heritage railway in North Wales.

"For the winter season of Santa Trains and Mince Pie Specials trains will terminate at Carrog."

Centenary Square lit up for the first time

For the first time since it was opened back in July the town's new Centenary Square is lit up this evening.

The square will be at the centre of the Service of Remembrance this Sunday morning marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

The back wall of the square is entirely filled with over 3,000 poppies hand made by an small army of local volunteers.

Museum art exhibition special event

Llangollen Museum will host the launch and prizegiving for its art competition on Wednesday November 7 at 6.30pm.

The museum also has open a Book of  Remembrance to honour those who played a part in the First World War.

The museum's is now on winter opening hours, from 10am-4pm, and continues to be open seven days a week.