'Delighted' MP becomes Eisteddfod Friends president

* Susan Elan Jones MP with Friends officers at the Pavilion. 

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has expressed her delight at becoming the new president of the Friends of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The organisation has supported the world-renowned Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for over 40 years and raised close to £½ million.

Ms Jones said: “I felt very honoured when the Friends of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod asked me to become their president. I was delighted to accept and have already met with committee members to discuss how I can best support the excellent work they do.

“I volunteered as an Eisteddfod steward when I was a sixth former and since then, the Eisteddfod has always been very special to me. I think we are so lucky to have the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in our area. 

"It's a festival that was dreamt up by visionaries who came together after the Second World War and committed themselves to a world of peace and cultural exchange. 

"I am very pleased to be able to promote the festival, not just in my capacity as the local MP but now also as president of the Friends of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.”

Llangollen marks D-Day 75th anniversary

* The poignant ceremony begins.

* Town councillors and other officials line up on Centenary Square. 

* Father Lee Taylor, vicar of St Collen's, leads the worship.

* James Reardon from Ysgol Dinas Bran sounds Last Post.

* Standard bearers lower their colours in salute.

* Ben Thomas, right, prepares to sound Reveille.

* Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, lays a poppy wreath at the Second World War memorial.

* A wreath is laid by Royal British Legion Llangollen branch chairman Phil Stroud.

* A representative of North Wales Police lays a wreath.

* The wreaths after the ceremony.

* People watch the ceremony from the edge of the square.

Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion held a Remembrance ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the the D-Day landings in Centenary Square this morning (Thursday).

The standards of the branch and the RAFA Club were on parade and the ceremony included the sounding of Last Post and Reveille, the traditional two minutes' silence and the laying of wreaths on the 1939-45 memorial.

A short service was conducted by Father Lee Taylor of St Collen's Church.

Last Post was sounded by 14-year-old James Reardon, a Year 10 student at Ysgol Dinas Bran, while Reveille was sounded by Ben Thomas, 18, a member of Ifton Colliery Band who also plays occasionally with Llangollen Silver Band.

D-Day, on June 6 1944, was when the Allies launched an invasion across the beaches of Normandy to begin the liberation of Europe from the occupation of Nazi Germany.

Former child soldier to appear at the Fringe

* Emmanuel Jal and Nyaruach will appear at the Fringe on July 26.

Llangollen Fringe is to welcome the duo of Emmanuel Jal and Nyaruach and full band for a special concert performance at this year's festival.

From his start in life as a child soldier in the war-torn region of Southern Sudan in the early 1980s, Emmanuel Jal has come through huge personal struggles to become a successful and acclaimed recording artist and peace ambassador.

Emmanuel's sister Nyaruach was also born in South Sudan at a similar time and was separated from the rest of her immediate family, including Jal, at the age of four.

As years went on, and the war intensified, she witnessed her family members killed and was raped. It wasnn't until 2004 that she was finally reunited with Jal in Nairobi.

Emmanuel Jal has collaborated and performed alongside artists such as Lauryn Hill, Peter Gabriel, Nelly Furtado, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Nile Rodgers and Alicia Keys.

Emmanuel has also co-starred with Reese Witherspoon in the Warner Brothers motion picture The Good Lie which tells the story about the journey of four young Sudanese refugees.

NAATH, Emmanuel’s sixth studio album, is a vivacious Afrobeat alongside infectious dance tunes. Jal and Nyaruach's music is often at odds with the image of war and poverty that has blighted South Sudan.

Instead, both artists choose to reflect upon the resilience and rich culture of their identity through their vibrant tones and messaging.

Support on the evening comes from the midlands based reggae band ‘KIOKO’, who have recently been on a UK wide tour with UB40.

Emmanuel and Nyaruach’s performance at Llangollen Fringe Festival will take place on Friday July 26 July. Tickets are on sale now, at £15.

* Festival tickets and dates and times for all concerts and events are available from www.llangollenfringe.co.uk, or by calling the Fringe box office: 0800 1455 779

New art exhibition opens at museum

Llangollen Museum is hosting a new art exhibition which features the work of local artist and woodcarver Dave Abell. 

There is an open launch event tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm.

* Dave Abell sets up his exhibition at Llangollen Museum. 

Examples of the work on show are below.

Corwen platform completion underway

As of last Saturday volunteers from Llangollen Railway were preparing to extend the upside platform wall at the new Corwen station to complete the east end after a further section of track had been laid on the loop line.

The remaining length of platform wall is to be built up using the easi-blocks as the base, with the overhang blocks to follow.

Work is alongside the end of the track - for the moment pending installation of the points.

Railway spokesman George Jones said: "We're getting there but there's still lots to do and continued support is needed to see the project complete as a facility ready to accept trains this summer.

"Donations to the project CCRD remain welcome by Paul Bailey, at 'Dolwen', Bryn Eglwys, Corwen LL21 9LY."

Firefighters tackling fire in Trevor

NORTH WALES Fire and Rescue Service are tackling a fire near Trevor Hall in Llangollen, the Leader online is reporting.

Three appliances, from Wrexham and Llangollen, are currently battling the blaze that is raging just off Trevor Hall Road towards the entrance of the luxurious Trevor Hall country house.

The incident was first reported to the emergency services shortly after 8.30am on Monday, June 3, and is still ongoing.

* See the story at: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/

It's 'Llan or bust' for canal man Phil

* Phil's canal boat Seren.

* Phil Thane at the helm of Seren.

* Phil Thane has plotted the course of his canal journey from Bedfordshire to Llangollen.

A former local town councillor will cast off tomorrow (Tuesday) on a three-week canal boat trip to reach Llangollen in time for next month’s International Eisteddfod.

Phil Thane moved down to Potton in Bedfordshire just over two years ago and has since rebuilt an elderly boat named Seren.

Phil, who is a technical author by trade, is writing a blog on the voyage through the canal system for the Waterways World magazine - and he’s also going to keep llanblogger readers up to date on his progress, which involves 316 miles and 232 locks - each way.