Do you know any more about this wartime picture?

The group in charge of next Friday’s celebration of the 75^th anniversary of VE Day arranged by Llangollen Town Council has been sent this fantastic old picture showing a scene which it believes is connected to the event.

From the collection of Llangollen Museum, it shows an inter-denominational service at Plas Newydd in 1943, which is all that is known about it.

If you know anything more about the picture, please contact llanblogger@gmail.com

On Friday, May 8^th, as the country does its best amidst the lockdown to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of VE Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe, the Town Council will be marking the occasion in style by staging its own Llangollen Stay at Home Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen.

This is a specially made half-hour film to be streamed live on Facebook with which people can join in without leaving their homes.

The Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen, is to be streamed live on the Llangollen & District Noticeboard Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/220715008050894/ at 3pm on Friday, May 8^th, and also a little later on the new Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen page https://www.facebook.com/Parti-Aros-Gartref-Dydd-B-E-Llangollen-V-E-Day-Stay-at-Home-Party-103158784706199/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Fewer than average Llan businesses apply for Covid-19 grants

* County Councillor Graham Timms.

llanblogger exclusive

Less than three-quarters of eligible Llangollen businesses have so far applied for Welsh Government grants to help them through the coronavirus crisis – lower than the average take-up rate for Denbighshire.

And one of the town’s county councillors is urging them to apply for the cash aid as soon as possible.

Cllr Graham Timms said: “Llangollen has almost 300 businesses that are likely to qualify for a grant of either £10,000 or £25,000.

“However, I’m concerned that some businesses in the town have not applied for this vital support.

“Denbighshire County Council are administering the scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government, but so far only 189 businesses have applied.

“This means that more than 100 who are likely to be eligible have not yet submitted an application.

“Only 65% of Llangollen businesses have applied, a much lower figure than the Denbighshire average of 81%.”

He added: “The small business sector in Llangollen is a vital part of our economy and we need to ensure that they receive all the help that they are entitled to.

“Tourism has been hit very hard by the lockdown, with a devastating effect on all those who work in the sector or benefit by the trade that our visitors bring.

“The closure of shops and the fall in demand for most businesses is putting them under huge financial pressure.

“I urge those who operate from premises that have a rateable value of less than £51,000 who have not yet applied to look carefully at the two grants that are available.

“The application process is by a straightforward online form and payments are usually made within seven to 10 working days.

“There are bound to be some individual problems when dealing with so many applications and I have been kept busy working closely with some local businesses to help resolve some issues. I urge anyone having problems to contact either myself or Cllr Melvyn Mile to help speed things along.”

“I’d like to pay tribute to all the county council staff who have worked so hard at this difficult time to ensure that payments have been made as quickly as possible.

“Most of the staff are home-working at the moment and many have worked evenings, weekends and bank holidays to get the grants paid quickly. Diolchynfawr!”

Grant facts

* Business premises that have a rateable value of £12,000 or less are eligible for a grant of £10,000.

* Those with rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000 and is in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will get £25,000.

* There are an estimated 293 businesses in Llangollen eligible to apply for grants.

Only 189 businesses (65%) have so far applied.

* In the whole Denbighshire there are an estimated 2,836 eligible businesses of which 2,295  (81%) have applied.

* The county council has so far paid out in 1,699 cases which is 74% of those which have applied.

* The council says it will start to do outreach work and signposting to help ensure that as many of those business that it thinks may be eligible have applied.

Call for tourist hotspots to have Covid-free certification

* Tourists may stay away from places like Llangollen 

unless they can be reassured about their safety.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called for the introduction of a new certification to help tourists identify when a company is compliant with hygiene measures necessary to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Since the beginning of the lockdown, hundreds of businesses across Wales have been forced to temporarily close or adapt their working practices to help limit the spread of the pandemic.

Many in Llangollen are affected.

This has hit the tourism industry, and areas which rely on tourism, particularly hard. 

It also poses a distinct risk that when the lockdown ends, and businesses reopen, tourists may stay away unless they can be reassured it is safe to return.

In response, the Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for Visit Wales to bring in their proposed new certification in time for the end of lockdown. 

This would then give companies time to apply and receive their certification before further restrictions are lifted.

Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: “It’s important to remember that when this lockdown ends, Covid-19 is not just going to disappear. We must remain vigilant and start thinking about the future, as we cannot simply go back to the way things were overnight.

“So many businesses in our tourist hotspots will struggle when they re-open, unless visitors and customers have confidence that they are meeting a higher level of hygiene standard than before.

“That’s why we are calling for the introduction of a new ‘Clean & Safe’ certification for businesses, as Portugal has. A clear stamp to give tourists the confidence to return after being told to stay away for so long.

"Not only will this reassure potential visitors, it will also encourage businesses to step up their game and play their part in helping prevent a resurgence of this deadly pandemic.

"Visit Wales does an amazing job in promoting our diverse range of communities to the world. I hope they will adopt our proposal to ensure this appeal is robust and strengthened as we move out of lockdown."

When was this wartime picture of schoolchildren taken?

Next Friday, May 8^th, as the country does its best amidst the lockdown to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of VE Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe, the Town Council will be marking the occasion in style by staging its own Llangollen Stay at Home Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen.

This is a specially made half-hour film to be streamed live on Facebook with which people can join in without leaving their homes.

The group in charge of the party recently put out a call for pictures of the wartime period and as a result received some great historical gems, including this one from the collection at Llangollen Museum.

It shows a large group of schoolchildren celebrating some event during the Second World War. It’s not thought to be VE Day as there’s a Christmas tree in the background.

However, the museum has supplied an incomplete list of names, which is:

First Row (L-R) , Norman Cook, , , Gwyn, , , Francis; Second Row , , , , , , , , , Desmon, , Bronwin, Eira, , , ; Fourth Row the boy with a white hat is George Evans, next to Nora Edwards on his right side, behind her on the right side again, Flo; third row (R-L) Lena, , Nora, , , , , , Michael Davies. Dathliad mewn ysgol, ar ddiwedd y Rhyfel o bosib, Rhes gyntaf (Chwith i'r Dde). Norman Cook, , , Gwyn, , , Francis; Second Row , , , , , , , , , Desmon, , Bronwin, Eira, , , ; Fourth Row the boy with a white hat is George Evans, next to Nora Edwards on his right side, behind her on the right side again, Flo; third row (R-L) Lena, , Nora, , , , , , Michael Davies.

If you know the reason for the picture or can fill in some of the missing names, please contact llanblogger@gmail.com

Llangollen Town Council’s Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen, is to be streamed live on the Llangollen & District Noticeboard Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/220715008050894/ at 3pm on Friday, May 8^th, and also a little later on the new Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen page https://www.facebook.com/Parti-Aros-Gartref-Dydd-B-E-Llangollen-V-E-Day-Stay-at-Home-Party-103158784706199/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Llangollen urged to do Sing for Wales encore

* The loudspeakers used to broadcast across the town. Above, at Pengwern

Llangollen people are once again being encouraged to Sing For Wales at 8pm this coming Monday.

It is a salute to NHS and key workers, people affected by COVID-19, everyone in town missing their family, friends and our busy local life, and also to thank volunteers such as the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group.

The town took part in the nationwide #singforwales/Canu Dros Gymru event when it was staged for the first time on April 13.

This followed an initiative started on March 23 by Sarah Evans, whose Facebook page Sing For Wales now has over 123k followers.

In Llangollen, technical help for the big sing came from Oliver Bentley, Rachel Bentley and James Barber, of ORB Sound and Lighting, together with Peter Hartigan, Sound Sensation Disco.

They played the anthem sung by the Froncysyllte Male Voice choir through loudspeakers from two locations across the town,

Following the rousing performance, which some said could be heard as far away as Abbey Farm, comments on Facebook included "very moving and beautiful”, “well done Llangollen xx”, “heartwarming”.

Another, fromSusan Gibbons, said:" It was a wonderful experience, one to remember for a long time".

For this second Sing for Wales event on Monday the Fron choir version will again be broadcast through loudspeakers.

Llangollen’s deputy town mayor, Cllr Issy Richards, a keen backer of the event, said: “Let's fill the valley with sound again! Sing Gwlad, Gwlad.. or just listen!”

Council to re-start grass cutting

As of Monday (May 4) Denbighshire County Council will be reintroducing grass cutting in open spaces.   

The grass is now in desperate need of cutting, following the recent good weather and leaving it any longer would make it dangerous and impractical to cut, therefore the work needs doing now, says the council.

Undertaking this work will also make it easier for people to partake in their daily exercise, it believes.  

Grass cutting will also take place on roadside verges, to ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists through improved visibility.

The council will also be starting to resume some further aspects of highways maintenance, including gully cleansing and siding works.  

Again, this work will only be done to a limited extent, and only where it is deemed to be essential.

  

Cllr Brian Jones, Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We would like to reassure residents that all work will be carried out by lone workers abiding by social distancing measures at all times, for their own safety and that of the public. 

“We wish to emphasise that maintenance of the highway network and key open spaces is safety-critical work requiring the use of specialist equipment and trained staff and the Council is only planning to undertake work deemed to be essential.”

Denbighshire County Council now manages the vast majority of the county’s highways verges and key open spaces to specific and innovative biodiversity plans with the aim of protecting native local plant and animal species. 

Siding works will initially take place on the A5104 Rhydtalog, the A5104 Crown to Dafarn Dywyrch, the B5429 Pentrecelyn to Llysfasi and the A525 Llysfasi to Llanfair DC.

Town Council to mark VE Day in style next Friday

* What is believed to be the unveiling of the town's Second World War 

memorial in the 1940s.

Next Friday, May 8^th, as the country does its best amidst the lockdown to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of VE Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe, the Town Council will be marking the occasion in style by staging its own Llangollen Stay at Home Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen.

This is a specially made half-hour film to be streamed live on Facebook with which people can join in without leaving their homes.

One of its key features will be a moving ceremony at the town’s World War Two memorial in Centenary Square performed by members of the local branch of the Royal British Legion.

The group in charge of the party recently put out a call for pictures of the wartime period and as a result received some great historical gems, including this one from the collection of former town mayor and town councillor Robert Lube.

It shows a ceremony at the former location of the two memorials off Castle Street before they were transferred to the new Centenary Square.

It is believed to depict the official unveiling of the World War Two memorial, which now bears the names of the 32 local fallen, from beneath a Union Flag in the years which followed peace being declared.

* Llangollen Town Council’s Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen, is to be streamed live on the Llangollen & District Noticeboard Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/220715008050894/ at 3pm on Friday, May 8^th, and also a little later on the new Stay at Home VE Day Party/Parti Aros Gartref Dydd BE Llangollen page https://www.facebook.com/Parti-Aros-Gartref-Dydd-B-E-Llangollen-V-E-Day-Stay-at-Home-Party-103158784706199/?epa=SEARCH_BOX