New Oak Street gallery has successful opening

* The newly-opened gallery showcasing work including pictures by owner Karl Young.

The official opening of the new Oak Street Gallery in Llangollen on Saturday evening went very well, according to its owner. 

Karl Young said: "It was a beautiful summer's evening, which helped because the crowd who came to the opening was able to extend out into the street. 

"I want to thank everyone who came and made it a memorable evening."

The opening exhibition, which will run from Wednesday to Sunday until July 27, features a number of pictures by Karl who is an artist himself.

Crowds flock to new Corwen food festival

* A general view of the food festival, with the new station in the background. 

Thanks to glorious weather, the first Corwen food festival brought out the crowds yesterday (Saturday).

Based on the old Pavilion site and organised by Anglesey Events, it included a host of stalls showcasing products from a wide area of North Wales.

George Jones, spokesman for Llangollen Railway whose project to open a new station in the area is rapidly nearing completion and who took these pictures, said: "The station development formed an impressive backdrop and it was generally agreed that at future events the arrival of a steam train would make a dramatic entrance. 

"The potential for the site was clearly demonstrated and for once the town's car park was full - and free.

"The event attracted a variety of stalls featuring craft and heritage sales, as well as traditional and exotic food and drink.

"The group performing in the morning was the Magee Bros, from Holyhead with a mix of Welsh, English and Irish songs."

* The Magee Bros on stage at the festival.

County provides opportunities for work placements

A new work placement scheme is being introduced by Denbighshire County Council to help unemployed people get back to the world of work.

The Work Start scheme will be offering 15 paid work placements, at 16-30 hours a week work for a period of three months.  

There will also be 15 unpaid placements available, lasting six to eight weeks.  

These jobs will be wide-ranging potentially leading to a permanent position for the right candidate and will be available in the council’s main services.

The scheme is part of the Working Denbighshire project, which helps people get into work by providing support and guidance with a range of issues, including: motivation and confidence; one to one advice and guidance; training opportunities; volunteering; CV writing; work experience; interview techniques; applying for jobs; personal finances; caring responsibilities and  anything else that is preventing you getting into education, employment or training 

This scheme is available to existing and new participants of the Working Denbighshire scheme which means you will receive the support necessary to guide you through your placement.

People are encouraged to keep an eye on Denbighshire’s website and social media accounts for details of when the placements become available.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE,  said: “This is a great opportunity for individuals out of work to gain some valuable experience and support that will get them onto a career ladder and improve their prospects of gaining further employment in the future.

“Whilst there is no guarantee of a job with the council, it could be the best stepping stone ever into a brand new career or a change in direction. All placements will be closely monitored, to make sure all individuals taking part maximise the opportunity to gain as much as possible from the experience”.

* To find out more about the programme, contact the team, on 01824  706489. Further details about the Working Denbighshire scheme can be found at: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/workingdenbighshire

Local groups meet to pool ideas at world cafe event

* Above and below: the groups discuss matters of mutual interest during the meeting.  

A range of local groups and organisations were represented at a World Cafe event hosted by Llangollen Town Council's Cittaslow Committee at the Town Hall yesterday (Thursday) evening.

The aim of the meeting was to find ways of them co-operating and sharing ideas which would benefit the town and their own aims.

Along with members of the committee, they split into discussion groups to deal with topics of mutual concern such as marketing and publicity, networking and partnership, funding, training advocacy.

This was a follow-up session to similar, previous meetings organised by Cittaslow.

Vicar plans major celebration of town's patron saint

* The carving of St Collen which will take
 pride of place during the celebration on August 4.

Llangollen vicar Father Lee Taylor is planning a major event in August to celebrate the town's patron saint.

Father Lee has commissioned local artist Christian Lancaster to carve an image of St Collen, whom Llangollen is also named after, and it's the first one ever done of a Welsh saint, he believes.      

The statue will be dedicated and blessed during a service at St John's Church in Abbey Road on Sunday August 4, starting at 10.30am.

The blessing will be followed by a colourful procession through the town up to St Collen's Church for a celebratory mass and refreshments afterwards. 

Father Lee said: "The saint will be carried aloft on a carrier with wreaths of flowers.

"Llangollen Silver Band, a choir and local dignitaries and representatives from the town will join in the procession. It will be an important day for the town."

Saint Collen was a 7th-century monk who is said to have arrived in Llangollen by coracle and founded a church beside the river. 

As there are no other churches in Wales dedicated to St Collen, it is possible that this St Collen may also have connections in both Colan, Cornwall, where Colan Church is dedicated to him, and Langolen in Brittany.

St Collen died on May 21, probably sometime in the early 7th century. He was buried in his chapel. 

For centuries it was known as the 'Old Church' and stood immediately to the west of the present medieval church of St Collen in Llangollen.

Man arrested on suspicion of firearms offences

North Wales Police have just posted on social media ...

Please do not be alarmed if you saw firearms officers in #Llangollen earlier.

A man has been arrested by the canal footpath and is on his way to custody after being arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.

Project aims to knit the wool back into Llan

* Gill Britten, right, and Cath Jones 
at the Gwlangollen spinning wheel.

A new project aims to put the wool back into Llangollen.

Gwlangollen sets out to bring together wool producers and users.

Through the use of traditional craft skills, suitable fleece are processed to produce unique, handmade, soft furnishings and gifts to be sold locally.

The project has achieved this by bringing together fleece producers who are interested in developing the necessary skills to process some of their own fleece, competent crafters who can pass on their skills to others, and volunteers who enjoy learning and making together.

Project spokeswoman Gill Britten said: "Shearing is an animal welfare issue which producers need to comply with. Historically fleece has been sold to the Wool Marketing Board (WMB). 

"In the past, the sale of fleece used to cover the annual farm rent. Today farmers are often receiving less than the cost of shearing and transportation costs to their nearest WMB depot.

"Gwlangollen has a keen awareness of the challenges faced by Welsh hill farmers and small holders, through rural and digital isolation, onerous workloads and often financial hardship." 

She explains that to date the project's research and development has been about:

 The preservation and passing on the heritage craft skills connected with the local woollen industry to the next generation

 Exploring the wider potential of locally produced fleece

 Documenting the history of the woollen industry in Llangollen and its impact on the development of the town

Gill added: "We work closely with Lilly Rose Interiors in Llangollen. Jan markets our goods and ensures they comply with health and safety regulations and quality control. A ready market for our products has already been demonstrated. The project complies with Llangollen Town Council’s Cittaslow principles.

"Our supporters include crafters who are proficient in every aspect of using wool. Most are willing to pass on their skills either on a 1:1 or small group basis.

"Anyone interested, would be most welcome to join a Maker Day drop-in held every Friday from 10am-4pm at Pentredwr Community Centre. 

"Our next free event is our fleece sale and weaving event Saturday June 29, from 1-4pm, at Pentredwr Community Centre.

"It is your opportunity to see weaving demonstrations, or buy some fleece, talk to the producers and crafters. It's also a great networking opportunity and maybe the chance to try something new. Refreshments will be available.

"In order to develop, we are desperate for an affordable workshop, with a small area of outside space somewhere in Llangollen. We are very keen to contribute to the visitor experience of the town. If anyone has a creative suggestion to make, please do contact me on 07871 774651."