Poppy volunteers gather for commemorative picture

A large number of the volunteers who lovingly crafted then fixed over 3,000 poppies to the rear wall of Llangollen's Centenary Square to mark the 100th anniversary of the World War One Armistice gathered for a commemorative picture there this morning (Saturday).

It was taken by photographer Alasdair Mackin who runs locally-based Celtic Camera and specialises in everything from family and baby portraits to stag and hen parties.

* For more details, go to: www.celtic-camera.co.uk or info@celtic-camera.co.uk

Free after 3 parking in lead-up to Christmas

* Llangollen's Market Street is amongst those which will be free after 3pm in the run-up to Christmas.

Denbighshire County Council has announced free parking after 3pm every day between November 21^st and December 31^st, to encourage more people to use their high street for shopping in the run up to Christmas and New Year.

This will be available at Llangollen's East Street, Hall Street, Market Street and Mill Street car parks.

In other areas of the county it will be:

Corwen:  Green Lane

Denbigh: Barkers Well Lane,Crown Lane, Factory Ward, Post Office Lane, Vale Street.

Prestatyn: Lower High Street, Post Office, Railway station

Rhuddlan: Parliament Street

Rhyl: Morfa Hall (dsabled bays only), Morley Road, Queen Street, Sky Tower, West Kinmel Street

Ruthin: Crispin Yard, Dog Lane, Market Street, Park Road, Rhos Street, St Peter's Square, Troed y Rhiwl

St Asaph Bowling Green

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, said:  “The Free After Three parking initiative has been established now for a number of years and complements the on-going #LoveLiveLocal campaign to encourage more people to use our high streets for their festive shopping.

"We are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity as a Council again this year and hope that people will see the benefits of using our town centre car parks and will be return visitors."

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “There are a wealth of independent shops and businesses county-wide that offer a wide range of good and services. With our free parking initiative after 3pm, we hope more people will come into our main towns to see what they have to offer. I’m sure they won’t be disappointed."

County joins campaign aimed at boosting winter tourism

* Llangollen Canal is a top tourist attraction. 

Denbighshire has signed up to a campaign to encourage tourism across North Wales during the winter season.

‘Get Wrapped Up’ targets audiences outside of Wales, particularly Manchester, and promotes the array of adventure, food and drink, accommodation and events on offer across North Wales during the winter months.

The campaign is funded by the Welsh Government Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF). 

Conwy County Borough Council lead the project and are joined by Denbighshire County Council, Flintshire and Wrexham (North East Wales), Gwynedd Council, and Isle of Anglesey County Council (IACC), to boost tourism interest all year round, working closely with Visit Wales.

This joined-up approach is one of the first of its kind for the region, with all six local authorities coming together to work on one regional campaign for the benefit of the North Wales economy to help bring new visitors at what can be the most challenging time of the year for the tourism industry. 

It will include radio campaigns, social media promotions, travel and trade opportunities for journalists and a range of resources for businesses to use.

There has already been a positive reaction to the campaign from businesses across the region, with many already supporting the campaign. Businesses large and small across North Wales are being urged to get involved to promote their own products and services to a wider audience this winter.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this project and would encourage as many businesses as possible to get involved in the campaign. Denbighshire has great walks, mountain biking, historic towns, coastal activities, and a variety of events which can all be enjoyed over the winter months.

"Being only an hour away from Manchester and Liverpool, Denbighshire is well positioned as an accessible destination for a relaxing short break in stunning surroundings. Having an all year offer is also key to attracting more people to work in the tourism sector and make a real impact on the economic prosperity of Denbighshire.”

* Follow the campaign for all of the latest events, news and exclusive competitions by searching #DiscoverNorthWales / #DarganfodYGogledd on social media or visit www.northeastwales.wales

Edie set to be a favourite with New Dot audience

* Sheila Hancock stars in Edie to be screened tomorrow by New Dot cinema.

Tickets are selling fast for this Fridays screening of ‘Edie’, a newly released film starring Sheila Hancock, set in the beautiful Scottish mountains.

“Online sales are way-up this month, it looks like we’ll have a really good turnout for this inspiring, feel-good tale of determination,” reports the volunteer-run, pop-up cinema.

Edie is 83 years old. When her controlling husband dies, she realises she has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve an ambition she’d shared with her father - to climb Mount Suilven in Scotland.

She packs an old camping bag, waves goodbye to her disapproving daughter and sets off on

a life-changing adventure.

Llangollen Town Hall will be transformed tomorrow (Friday) into a big-screen cinema with balcony and floor seating, popcorn and a licenced bar.

Tickets for Edie are available at The Llangollen Oggie Shop on Castle Street, online and on the door.

* More details can be found at: www.newdotcinema.org, on Twitter or Facebook.

Charities urged to contact Aldi for free Christmas food

* Ken Skates AM and Susan Elan Jones MP. 

Charities are being urged to contact their local supermarket for a Christmas food donation.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones and AM Ken Skates want to make organisations such as soup kitchens and foodbanks aware of an annual Aldi giveaway which helps local people.

An Aldi spokesman said: “All our UK stores will close from 6pm on Christmas Eve until Thursday December 27 to give our colleagues a well-earned break, so we will be donating unsold fresh food to good causes in the local community. Each of our UK stores will select one charity from their local area.”

Interested parties should contact christmas@aldi.co.uk with their name, charity number (if applicable), a shirt description (eg soup kitchen, foodbank etc), their contact details and, if possible, the postcode of their three nearest Aldi stores.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones said: “It is important to note that only charities who apply via this email address will be eligible. The closing date for applications is Sunday, November 18 and successful applicants will require volunteers and transport to collect the food at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve.”

Ken Skates AM added: “Last year Aldi donated almost 500,000 meals from over 300 participating stores. Hopefully we can help make it even more this year. If you would like any more information, contact Lee Wright on 020 7300 6343 or email lee.wright@bm.com.”

MP threatens government over betting measures

Update:

The maximum bet on fixed-odds betting terminals will be cut from April after the government bowed to pressure.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has vowed that Theresa May’s Government will be the first to be defeated in a Finance Bill vote for 40 years unless it changes its stance on fixed odds betting terminals.

Ms Jones (pictured), who is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, was one of the first MPs to sign a cross-party backbench amendment to the Finance Bill calling for the maximum stake on the gambling machines to be reduced from £100 to £2 from April 2019.

She said: “This is not about having a light flutter. Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are called the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling because they’re highly addictive machines that are causing people to lose up to £16,000 a day. I’ve questioned Government Ministers about this and made it clear we need to act fast.

“Either the Government supports our amendment and we deal with this problem together or we  - a combination of cross-party backbenchers supported by the Labour Party front-bench - will use our votes in Parliament to defeat the Government. Too many people’s lives are being affected and we can’t wait any longer.”

Sion Corn tries hairy river ride to Christmas festival

* Sion Corn embarks on his trip with fellow adventurers aboard the Safe

and Sound Outdoors raft from Horseshoe Falls.

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 Denbighshire tourist 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 raft used for shooting the rapids on the River Dee from the Horseshoe Falls to the centre of town and operated by locally-based SAS – Safe and Sound Outdoors.

Sion Corn jumped aboard for his hair-raising trip along the fast flowing river and after arriving in town just a little while later said: “That was the most exhilarating ride I’ve had since one of my reindeers got at the Christmas sherry!

“It’s a definite possibility for speeding my arrival at the fete but the only trouble was my beard and green cloak ended up soaked.”

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.”