Sion Corn slides into Christmas Festival on skis

* Sion Corn heads for the festival on skis via Plas Newydd. 

Siorn Corn – the Welsh Santa Claus – has been checking out the quickest way to reach Llangollen when it stages its annual Christmas Festival on Saturday November 30.

Thousands of seasonal revellers are expected to come flocking to the Denbighshire tourist spot for the big event.

And as Sion Corn will be starring in the traditional parade and wants to make sure he’s there in good time on the day he’s been trying out various modes of travel.

First up was a pair of skis and he reckons they might do the trick.

He said: “It was a bit tough checking them out when there was no snow but I did find a suitable slope in the beautiful surroundings of Plas Newydd, home of the Ladies of Llangollen, which gave me some idea of what it would be like coming in from Lapland on the day.

“The holly berries that have appeared on the trees helped provide a festive atmosphere.”

Over the next few weeks Sion Corn will be trying out a few more ways of getting to Llangollen on time.    

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, food stalls, choirs, craft stalls, circus acts 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 from 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 third 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 thanks to the good 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.” 

Festival organisers have also arranged for free parking throughout the day at local car parks.

llanblogger takes a short break to return later this week

llanblogger is now taking a short break and will be back later in the week

It's the generation game at The Old Vicarage

* Bethan Mascarenhas, at the back near the window, with Welsh Learner of the Year Fiona Collins, centre holding soft toy, with residents, children and their parents at the storytelling session. 

The reigning Welsh Learner of the Year was signed up by the new boss of a Llangollen care home to help strengthen its links with the local community. 

Bethan Mascarenhas took over the Old Vicarage late last year and has since embarked on an ambitious series of initiatives to help keep elderly residents active and feel part of the daily life of the town.

And most of the activities she has in mind are aimed at encouraging them to mix with much younger people.

It’s with this aim in mind that Bethan has started regular storytelling sessions at the home, the first of which was led by Fiona Collins, Welsh Learner of the Year or 2019, and saw mums and toddlers from the area sitting alongside residents to enjoy nursery rhymes, stories and songs in Welsh, all introduced with the help of her collection of cuddly toys from an owl to a fish.

Bethan, whose home is a member of the influential Care Forum Wales organisation and trained at the Wrexham-based Pendine Academy, also plans more inter-generational events such as nursery rhyme and singing sessions.

“The arts and music have been proven to be extremely therapeutic for elderly people living in a care home environment and mixing with very young children is great because both the young and old can enjoy them so much,” she said.

“For the older people it can take them back to the happy times they had when they were young parents.”

Bethan also has in mind enabling her residents to return to their former hobbies and passions and to use any specialist knowledge they might have.

She explained: “One of our men is a keen gardener and wants to involve local children in things like planting bulbs for next spring. We also have former teachers living with us who could help younger children with their reading.

“I’d like to bring in experts to give talks to our residents and local primary school children on subjects such as the Second World War. I know someone who is prepared to bring in uniforms and other memorabilia from the era to help illustrate these sessions.”

Bethan added: “I’m quite advanced with planning for a mother and toddlers group to be based at the Old Vicarage and I think it would also be good to involve these children and their parents along with the residents in things like drama workshops, music therapy and yoga sessions.

“I firmly believe that just because someone is living in a home they do not have to feel isolated.

“I see what I am trying to do at the Old Vicarage as providing continuity of community.

“Thanks to Fiona, the first storytelling session was a big hit with the children, their parents and residents and hopefully will be the first of many like it.”

The Old Vicarage recently received a visit from Older Person's Commissioner for Wales Heléna Herklots who was impressed by what she saw.

Fiona Collins, who hosted the recent storytelling session at the home, won the National Eisteddfod's Welsh Learner of the Year in August.

Known as the woman who makes legends, stories and folklore come alive in her own magical way, the former teacher established a story cafe at the Courtyard Cafe in Llangollen, with a group coming together regularly to share stories, recite poetry or sing.

She began learning Welsh in 1999, when she was living in London.

Fiona, who works in English and Welsh, said her "secret mission" is to teach everyone about Welsh folklore.

* For more details about The Old Vicarage, call: 01978 861866.

* Residents meet some of the children.

* Above and below, Fiona Collins leads a  storytelling session.

Llangollen honours the fallen of two world wars

* Standards are lowered in silent tribute to the fallen.

Hundreds of people packed the centre of Llanbgollen this morning (Sunday) to watch and take part in the town's annual Service of Remembrance around the two war memorials in Centenary Square.

The service was led by the Vicar, Father Lee Taylor, and other local clergy and included the traditional two minutes' silence and the sounding of the Last Post and Reveille by a bugler from Llangollen Silver Band.

Wreaths were laid on the memorials on behalf of a number of local organisations and clubs including the Town Council and the Royal British Legion, who jointly organised the event, as the names of the fallen of two world wars were read out.

The service was followed by a parade through the streets of the town led by the silver band. 

* The service is led by the Vicar, Father Lee Taylor.

* A bugler sounds Last Post.

* Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, lays a wreath on behalf of the council.

* Phil Stroud, chairman of Llangollen Royal British Legion, lays his wreath.

* Llangollen Brownies about to lay their wreath.

* Llangollen Silver Band leads the parade.

* Armed forces veterans and organisations march along Oak Street.

* Above and below, youth organisations join the parade.

* Father Lee Taylor is followed by the standard bearers.

2020 wants your feedback on its parking plans

The 2020 Working Group has sent out a reminder that it is still inviting feedback from the public on its proposals to address the town's parking problems.

Full details of the proposals were given in a story by llanblogger last month. This can be seen at:
https://llanblogger.blogspot.com/2019/10/2020-wants-your-reactions-to-llan.html

See below for how to have your say:

Dementia aware business breakfast planned

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) is hosting the next Dementia Aware Business Breakfast at St Collen's Community Hall, Regent Street, Llangollen, on Wednesday November 27, from 8.30am until 10.30am, in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses.

A DVSC spokesperson said: "Come along and meet other community businesses. You can discuss how to be more inclusive and how small changes can make a big difference to your customers, improve your reputation in the community and even your bottom line.

"The event includes a healthy breakfast and lots of time for networking and community focused conversations."

To confirm your interest in attending this free event, follow this link: bit.ly/DementiaAwareLlangollen, or call Maisie, DVSC's marketing and impact assistant on 01824 702 441.

UPDATE Horseshoe Pass re-opened

UPDATE

The Horseshoe Pass has now re-opened following a temporary closure due to bad weather.

UPDATE.

Just after 11.30am North Wales Police posted on its Facebook page that the Horseshoe Pass was closed due to the snow.

Heavy snow is currently falling across Llangollen, as can be seen in this shot over the roof of St Collen's Church.

The Ponderosa Cafe has put up a picture of the Horseshoe Pass on Facebook together with the message: "The cafe is open at this time however that is subject to change roads are slightly covered so do please take care."