Vicar aims to set up music hall branch in Llangollen

* Father Lee Taylor during an old time music hall performance.

Llangollen’s showbiz-loving vicar is aiming to set up a North Wales branch of the British Music Hall Society based in the town.

A big fan of the music hall since he was a youngster, Father Lee Taylor is a keen member of the society and also a frequent performer of the style of sing-along music which was popular around the end of the Victorian era and into the 20^th century.

The vicar of St Collen’s and three other churches in the Valle Crucis Area, Father Lee now wants to set up a new branch based in Llangollen where fellow enthusiasts from right across the region can come together to celebrate their love of vintage songs like Down at the Old Bull and Bush and Champagne Charlie.

He said: “I’m a massive fan of music hall which was where the masses went for a good night out well before the days of TV and radio.

“I’ve been a member of the society for quite a few years and its stated aim is to cherish the entertainment jewels of the past.

“It’s supported by lots of famous people, such as the former Prime Minister Sir John Major, whose father Tom was a music hall and circus performer, the actress Dame Patricia Routledge and Ken Dodd’s widow, Lady Anne.”

Father Lee himself has been known to tread the boards doing comic songs and patter from the great days of music hall, particularly those involving vicars.

“I perform old songs like The Vicar and I Will Be There and, in fact, that’s one of the ones I’ll be doing when I do a guest performance for the local Ladies’ Fellowship in August,” he said.

“On Saturday, September 21 I’ve organised a coach trip from Llangollen to the world-famous City Varieties Theatre in Leeds, known as the home of music hall after years of staging the show, The Good Old Days. We still have a number of places left on coach.

“I’d love to start a North Wales branch of the society which would probably meet monthly in Llangollen. We’d have talks on the music hall, perhaps from experts and maybe people who saw it.

“We’d also show video clips of performances and have sing-alongs which I’d accompany on the piano.

“If we attracted the right kind of talented people we might even organise some music hall performances in local venues like church halls and pubs.”

* If you’re interested in joining a local branch of the British Music Hall Society, or joining the Leeds trip in September, email Father Lee on: frleetaylor@hotmail.co.uk

Kia with a 170mph sting in the tail

* The new Kia Stinger.

Kia Stinger road test by Steve |Rogers

A Kia capable of 170mph. We are having a laugh aren't we?

Nope, the Korean company that has won over the Brits with hatchbacks and crossovers has moved into the fast lane with a sports saloon destined to challenge the sporting hierarchy that is BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar.

Enter the Stinger - what a great name for a grand tourer - the quickest and boldest car ever to come off a Kia production line. New territory it may be but Stinger is no flash in the pan attempt to take on the establishment.

Stinger has been six years in the making and Kia waited until they had the right people in place before finally going for it. The final act was poaching Albert Biermann from BMWs M Sport division to make sure Stinger's engine and chassis were on the money.

The result is pure eye candy. People stand and stare and can't quite take in that this beauty is a Kia and who can blame them when the staple so far has been Ceed hatchback and Sportage crossover.

As a package Stinger is out there on its own stacked with kit making it serious value for money. Most of the standard features would be options on its German rivals. And while the German trio still feel a bit more special Stinger's cabin is a cut above anything we have seen before from Kia.

That's all very well but the real key to Stinger's success will be down to performance and handling. Biermann's task was to engineer a rear wheel drive grand tourer that was sharp and quick but not so brutal that you finished your journey thinking you had just climbed out of a rally car.

To that end he has succeeded. Stinger is as sound as a pound when pushed hard with quick steering and strong dynamics yet the level of comfort is rather better than might be expected. There are the usual electronic settings for different ride modes and even one that tailors everything to the driver's needs. I tried that but couldn't feel any difference.

The ultimate Stinger is powered by a 3.3 litre V6 with two other engine options, a 2-litre diesel or 2-litre petrol which is the subject of this road test. Logic would tell you to go the whole hog and buy the V6 rather than settle for second best yet I was more than satisfied with 'second best'.

The direct injection petrol musters 230bhp and responds more than adequately when asked put to the task through an eight speed automatic box with shifter paddles. Throttle response is swift accelerating Stinger to sixty in around seven seconds and there is enough mid range punch to set the adrenalin flowing.

Where Stinger leaves its rivals standing is on specification. It wants for nothing with a full suite of safety features which are important elements these days, and all the luxury items we crave. So if your wish list includes heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats, sharp 360 degree view monitor, head up display, auto dipping headlights along with navigation and voice control then look no further.

I could only find one minor irritation. The centre mounted touch screen is a bit of a stretch for the driver and would be far better if selections could be made with a rotary controller in the centre console.

Whichever way you look at it Stinger is a wild card entry into the world of sports saloons, here to challenge the sporting hierarchy that is BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar. For a first effort it is a resounding success - BMW would have been over the moon if its first M5 was this good, yet Kia's UK sales hopes are modest at around 1,800 a year.

Badge snobbery counts for a lot when it comes to speed machines so expecting Audi, Merc or BMW loving Brits to swap in their droves isn't going to happen - yet. But happen it will because Stinger can will make it to the premier division, it just needs a bit more time.

Key facts

Stinger GT Line S

35,975

2-litre GDi 242bhp

0-60mph 5.8secs; 145mph

29.4mpg combined

191g/km. 1st year road tax £1,280

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.