Tune in at 3pm today to see Town Council's virtual VE Day party

Later today Llangollen Town Council is to stage a virtual celebration of the day the Second World War ended in Europe 75 years ago.

Earlier this year, the council tasked a small group to begin planning for a party to celebrate the milestone anniversary of VE Day.

The aim was to put this on at the town hall and to include a tea dance, music of the era and to generally make merry.

The coronavirus lockdown appeared to put an end to the project - until the group came up with the idea of staging the celebration online instead.

So at 3pm today they will live streaming the big VE Day Stay at Home Party on Facebook for what they hope will be a large social media audience.

The professionally-shot programme, which runs for half an hour, will feature memories of the wartime era recorded via Skype with a group of residents at the local Old Vicarage Care Home, favourite songs from the period such at A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Goodnight Sweetheart sung by local performers and a poignant wreath-laying ceremony by the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion.

Eleri Jones, a local actor and director currently on the trainee directorship at Theatr Clwyd, will perform local poet I D Hooson's The Red Poppy against the backdrop of 75 ceramic poppies placed near the war memorial on Centenary Square.

The programme, which was pre-recorded observing strict social distancing rules, will end with host and well-known local singer Charlie Jones performing Dame Vera Lynn’s iconic We’ll Meet Again.

Deputy town mayor Cllr Issy Richards, who heads the council’s Remembrance Day Working Group which organised the virtual party, said: “When the lockdown began we immediately cancelled our planned party at the town hall but then we decided that a version of the event could be streamed on social media.

“We have been extremely fortunate in having a Llangollen-based professional programme maker as director on the production and also being able to draw on the talents, in terms of organisation and performance, of quite a few people from this area.

“We were also very lucky to have a number of marvellous people still living in our community who remember the war very clearly and who allowed us to record their recollections of the time.”

* To tune into the VE-Day film, go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/220715008050894/?ref=bookmarks

It will also be streamed later on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Parti-Aros-Gartref-Dydd-B-E-Llangollen-V-E-Day-Stay-at-Home-Party-103158784706199/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Castle is lit up to salute frontline workers

Castell Dinas Bran was lit up in blue last night as a salute to NHS and other frontline staff.

The illumination, which could be seen for miles around, was arranged by Scott Cooper at ASG Entertainments and Chris Davies of Eastwood Media helped by Llangollen's Karen Edwards.

The previous evening there had been a similar lit-up message of thanks to the NHS, this time in red, on a nearby section of the Panorama overlooking the town.

ASG posted on Facebook: "Supporting one another in a time of crisis 🌈

"We wanted to do something special here at ASG to show our appreciation & our thanks to all the amazing NHS staff & key-workers who are keeping the country going during this pandemic. 

"So with the support of Denbighshire County Council, North Wales Police, Eastwood Media & the help of some amazing people we have been able to work together to light up the Panorama & surrounding areas in Llangollen whilst adhering to social distancing (with the final monument being lit up this evening)."

Eastwood Media posted: "PLEASE NOTE: this was completely voluntary by all the parties involved & organised by ASG. It was not a scheduled or advertised event due to social distancing guidelines."

* A giant Chinook helicooter overflies the town around 8pm.

At the same time as last night's weekly Clap for Carers a large Chinook helicopter flew low over the town, which many saw as tribute to NHS and key workers from the armed forces who have been working hard in the fight against Covid-19. 

Pictures of the unexpected flyover were posted on Facebook soon after by Adrian Hyde.

Meanwhile, County Councillor Graham Timms sent in this picture of the electronic message on the road sign near Llantysilio and the Horseshoe Falls specially adapted to say thank you to the NHS (see below). 

He said: "The electronic signs in the town, Llantysilio and Llandegla have been changed to display this message from 7.30-8.30 on Thursday evenings." 
 

Elsewhere in north Wales the iconic Rainbow Bridge on the A55 has been lit up to say thank you to the NHS, social care and other key workers. This well-known landmark lived up to its name when it was bathed in rainbow colours alongside a thank you message projected onto the nearby cliffside.  This one-off tribute to staff from the health and care sectors and other key workers who are working tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic, was arranged by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent.

MP calls for Welsh Government support for dairy farmers

Following the announcement of a new UK Government scheme to support dairy farmers in England, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) is calling on the Welsh Labour Government to step up and do the same.

The new UK Government fund will enable eligible dairy farmers in England to access up to £10,000 each to help them overcome the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

With some dairy farmers facing financial difficulties and excess milk, the new UK Government fund will provide support for those most in need. Eligible dairy farmers will be entitled to up to £10,000 each, to cover 70% of their lost income during April and May to ensure they can continue to operate and sustain production capacity without impacts on animal welfare.

Simon Baynes said: “This is great news for dairy farmers in England who have been so badly hit by the Coronavirus outbreak. It’s time now for the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff to step up to the plate and do the same for Welsh dairy farmers, like those in my constituency of Clwyd South, who need financial assistance too.

“Welsh farmers are the backbone of our rural economy and deserve to be supported through this crisis.”

Five things we might be able to do again if lockdown is eased

* People might be able to make greater use of outdoor spaces if circumstances allow the lockdown to be eased.

According to a story this afternoon in the Daily Post online, there are five things people could be allowed to do again if Prime Minister Boris Johnson eases lockdown restrictions from next Monday as expected.

There are:

* Unlimited exercise outside

* Employees could return to their place of work

* You can make use of outdoor spaces

* You could be allowed to visit garden centres

* You could visit high street stores and cemeteries

For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/five-things-you-can-monday-18213583

Business help fund processes almost £65m of applications

Almost £65m of applications have now been processed from the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund, the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates has revealed.

The applications process saw an incredible 9,500 claims submitted in little more than a week. The latest figures show more than 4,000 businesses, charities and social enterprises have already been offered or have accepted financial support from the fund. Welsh Government staff and contractors are continuing to work through the applications to get money to businesses as quickly as possible. Businesses, which have submitted an application will be contacted as soon as possible and do not need to take any action. Due to the high level of demand, the second phase of the Economic Resilience Fund was paused on 27 April to allow Ministers to consider what further support businesses, charities and social enterprises need and when. The Economic Resilience Fund, which is part of the Welsh Government’s £1.7bn support package for business, provides significant financial support in addition to schemes already launched by the UK and Welsh governments. Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister, Ken Skates said: “We know businesses need government support at this incredibly challenging time and they need it quickly. “The Economic Resilience Fund offers vital support for businesses, particularly those micro, small and medium-sized firms which are at the heart of our economy. This support is over and above that which is available to firms in England. “There has been unprecedented demand for this phase of the fund and while it will benefit thousands of firms in Wales, we have been clear it will not reach all. That is why we took the decision to pause the fund and assess the current applications, and reflect on what further support we can provide. “This continues to be an incredibly challenging period for Welsh businesses and the economy as a whole, but I want to be clear that the Welsh Government is committed to doing all that it can within its powers and resources to support firms and help see our economy back to pre-pandemic levels of growth.” Samantha Tilston, of Tilston Training Limited in Llay, Wrexham, said: “This funding has helped ensure there is a little light at the end of the tunnel, which may have just saved us.”

County ramps up "stay at home" message

* Llangollen and the rest of the county aren't ready for visitors yet.

The ‘Stay at Home’ message is being ramped up in Denbighshire ahead of the bank holiday.

The county council is working closely with the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and other key partners to promote the Stay at Home message, to help protect people’s health and well-being, to protect communities and the NHS.

Residents are encouraged to stay in their local neighbourhood for their daily exercise and visitors are asked to stay away, for the time being.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We’ve seen the positive impact that social distancing and adhering to national guidelines is having on the spread of coronavirus and we would like to thank people for their efforts. They are making a real difference.

“On occasions we have seen some people visiting some of our beauty spots and we’ve issued appeals for people to stay away.

“We fully appreciate that the great weather is making it very tempting to visit places such as our scenic countryside or our glorious beaches.  

"Denbighshire will be open for residents and visitors soon, but we’re not quite there and we’re asking people to hang in there and to continue following the national guidelines until further notice."

Memories of wartime evacuation to Llangollen

Preparations for the 75th annversary of VE Day tomorrow (Friday) revived fond memories by Peter Wiseman, from Beckenham in Bromley, of his father's wartime evacuation to Lllangollen which we we share here ...

* Peter Wiseman.

When war broke out in September 1939, my grandmother, Gladys Wiseman, had been employed by Monsanto Chemicals at their London office in Victoria Street since June 1931.  

According to her Service Record (which I still have), she was the Secretary to a Mr. Arnold, having been recommended by Booths’ Agency and was in good health when she commenced her employment at the sum of £4.10.0 per week!  

Her only son Derek (my father) was an 11-year old schoolboy and my grandfather, Albert, was a clerk at the Admiralty in Whitehall.

* Gladys Wiseman at her typewriter at Monsanto and Derek Wiseman during National Service.

The family home was in Howard Road in Penge, South-East London and my father attended the local Catholic Primary School nearby.

At the commencement of hostilities, many children were being evacuated to other, safer parts of the country and, at Monsanto, it was decided to relocate my grandmother to the Ruabon office where she became Assistant to a Mr. R.S.L. Smith. 

My gramdfather, being in a reserved occupation at the Admiralty, remained behind where he subsequently joined the Home Guard and was often to be employed on fire-watching duties on the Admiralty roof.

* Grandfather Albert

It came to pass that Llangollen became the new family home and was to be the start of a lifelong love affair with the pretty little town.  I learned from conversations with my grandmother “When we were at Braddan”, implied that one residence was the house in Princess Street.

* Braddan

My father also told me that they also lived at No.2 Willow Street when they added Sally, an Old English Sheepdog, and a cat named George, to the family home.  Apparently, there was nothing George liked better than to climb on top of Sally sleeping by the fire, curl up and go to sleep!  

Dad spoke very fondly of his time in Llangollen and how he continued his education at school in the town where learning Welsh was compulsory and how he became friends with a girl who would become Mrs. Mary Bithell and their friendship lasted through the years with the exchange of Christmas cards until Dad died in September 2012.

Keen on sports, my father was able to indulge his love of cricket and football during the war and often spoke of a teacher at his school who used to tend the ground of the Llangollen Cricket Club at the then ground by the canal and where the Pavilion now is.  The teacher concerned was a fine cricketer who had played to Minor Counties standard and Dad used to say that the wicket was excellent and it was where he played as a schoolboy.

* Former ground of Llangollen Cricket Club.

During the war, my grandmother (and grandfather on his occasional visits), became friends with Mrs. Margaret Thomas and her husband Richard who owned Dicks & Co., the shoe shop at 31 Castle Street where Chatwins now is.  

Margaret Mason, as she was before her marriage to Richard in 1933, hailed from Lincoln and came to work in Llangollen as a receptionist at the Royal Hotel.  Her marriage to Richard was a happy one until his death in 1957 and her business acumen was of great assistance in running the business which had saddler Harold Roberts and then Dad’s friend Mary Bithell as lifelong employees.

Among some of the stories Dad told me was how he used to watch the German bombers flying over the Eglwyseg Rocks on their way to bomb Liverpool.  He would often witness this whilst on one of his favourite walks, making the steep climb up to Castell Dinas Bran.  

During the summer months, Dad and his friends would play on the rocks and swim in the river and would skim stones across the water.  Dad actually sported a lifelong dent in his forehead caused by a skimming stone that was misdirected!

One of my grandmother’s favourite stories concerned the engine driver who had just left the station, halt his train in order to watch the fisherman on the bank land his salmon! According to her Monsanto Service Record, she and my father returned home at the beginning of 1943 whereupon she resumed working at Victoria Street again until her retirement in 1965.

* Grandmother’s retirement from Monsanto. Peter says he still has and uses 

the stainless steel tea service pictured.

In writing this piece, I have tried to remember some of the things I was told over many years but, suffice to say, in September 1972, I was finally persuaded by my grandparents to holiday with them at Dicks & Co. with Mrs. Thomas.  

Having heard so much about Llangollen, I found that, when I embarked on my first walkabout the morning after we’d arrived in the dark, I knew exactly where I was! I now regard Llangollen as my second home and always look forward to my regular visits.

* 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