Cancer Research UK Christmas quiz winners announced

The organiser has given details of the winners of the latest Cancer Research Christmas quiz.

Judy Smith says: "Very many thanks to everyone who supported Cancer Research UK through the 2020 Christmas Quiz.  

"We are delighted to say that, despite all the difficulties of lockdown, the sum raised was £475.05."

The results were as follows:

= 1^st     Keith and Pat Campbell, Northampton (49 points)

            The Hindle family, Newport, S Wales (49 points)

Rob Shaw, Irby, Wirral (49 points)

            Linda Sutton, Upton, Wirral (49 points) 

Very close behind came Keith Stacey of Newport, Nenia Bletsou and Chris Shaw from Bedford, Jane Schaefer (Ewloe), Amber Arnold (Windermere), Adrian and Catherine Farrel (Llangollen), Gaynor Answer (Milton Keynes), and Jane Hurle (Llangollen).  

Judy added: "Our heartiest congratulations to all those, and to everyone who took part.  Please get in touch with me (smithdinbren@gmail.com) if you would like a copy of the answers

"We hope you enjoyed the quiz and that you will make sure to get a copy of the 2021 edition, which should, as ever, be published on 1^st December."

Businesses must do Covid risk assessment, says government

* First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Businesses in Wales will have to carry out a specific coronavirus risk assessment under new Welsh Government legislation.

These risk assessments will be the starting point for implementing the reasonable measures that are required to be taken to minimise exposure to the coronavirus on premises open to the public and in workplaces.

This involves considering issues such as:

• whether ventilation is adequate
• hygiene
• ensuring physical distancing is taking place
• use of PPE and face coverings.

It will also include considering how employers maximise the number of people who can work from home.

The highly contagious new strain of the virus means we have had to look again at the rules regulating workplaces and premises that remain open to the public.

During his latest weekly press conference the First Minister thanked businesses for all their efforts to ensure their premises are safe places to work and visit.

He said: "Risk assessments must be reviewed and updated regularly, whenever circumstances change and I want to make clear in law this includes whenever the coronavirus Alert levels change in Wales.

"Recording the risk assessment will only be required by those who employ 5 or more people. We are working closely with employers, trade unions, local authorities and the Health and Safety Executive to consider the detail on how to keep work settings safe.

"Ministers have also met this week with key retailers to discuss their vital role during the pandemic. They set out the actions they are taking from providing sanitisers for hands and trolleys on entry; limiting the numbers in store at any one time; and making regular announcements reminding people to keep their distance from others.

"We will strengthen regulations to ensure retailers take these steps so that their premises are as safe as possible for shoppers and their employees alike. Many are already operating high standards and we need to raise the bar for those who could and should improve.

"However we all have a personal responsibility to help make shops as safe as possible. We all need to shop alone if we can, observe the 2m rule, practise good hand hygiene and wear a face covering unless exempt. Any abuse directed at store employees who remind people of their responsibilities will not be tolerated."

St Collen's offered as vaccination centre, says vicar

llanblogger exclusive

* St Collen's, a possible Covid-19 vaccination centre.

St Collen’s Church in Llangollen could become an official Covid-19 vaccination centre. 

Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire has already become part of the massive drive to see millions of people inoculated against the killer bug.

 

And Llangollen vicar Father Lee Taylor says he has volunteered the town’s historic parish church to perform a similar role for the Welsh Government.     

 

By late last week hundreds of people had queued at Lichfield Cathedral to get their coronavirus jab.

 

The centuries-old place of worship has seen field hospital-style facilities along with waiting areas set up inside, including along its central aisle.

 

The Dean of Lichfield said people working there had been "buzzing" to help. 

Although places of worship have been allowed to stay open during the latest lockdown, the cathedral had chosen to close, holding services online. 

The dean said he offered use of the cathedral to the Lichfield Primary Care Network after news of Covid vaccines emerged. 

* People queue outside Lichfield Cathedral for their jabs.

The Very Rev Adrian Dorber told the Press Association setting it up had only taken a couple of days. 

"We've got some really well-drilled volunteers and a really capable staff, who have just kind of gone into 'battle action' and done it," he said. 

Father Lee said the use of the cathedral was a “brilliant idea” and explained: “I’ve told the Welsh Government they can use St Collen’s if need be. I haven’t had a response yet. 

“I made the offer because the church is a large building in the centre of town and is there to serve people in the community.” 

Llanblogger recently revealed how Llangollen Health Centre had become one of the first north Wales GP practices to become a Cvid-19 vaccination centre.

The week before last the centre received and administered 100 doses of the Oxford vaccine. Later its staff received 70 doses and have now administered those too.

Over the next fortnight the centre is due to receive a further 400 doses which it says will be enough to vaccinate all its patients aged 80 and over.

Late last year llanblogger revealed how Father Lee had unveiled plans to upgrade St Collen’s with the aim of making it a hub for a wider range of religious and social use.

His Community Vision proposals include:

* The removal of pews at the front of the nave to allow a raised platform stage to be built for worship and performance events    

* The provision of a folding kitchen to provide refreshments at cafe-style social gatherings

* Repositioning of the font to a more practical location      

* The installation of modern LED lights in the roof to highlight its historic beauty

* Fitting glass doors at entrances to allow the heavy oak front door to be left open to make the building feel more welcoming

* A new chapel for private worship where the current vestry is sited

* Replacing the traditional pipe organ with a digital version

The plans are under discussion and the Diocesan Advisory Committee must approve them before Father Lee makes bids for funding. 

Plas Newydd team unearths historic hidden gem

* The old pumping house uncovered in the Glen at Plas Newydd.

* The pipework is still visible.

A special project at the world-famous home of the Ladies of Llangollen aims to restore a fascinating piece of engineering history.  

The Our Picturesque Landscape project along with site manager Paul Evans are at work in the Glen area within the grounds of Pas Newydd to reinstate the hydraulic ram pump building which originally powered water up to the garden at the back of the historic house. 

The pumping system was installed by General John Yorke of Erddig when he owned Plas Newydd in the 1890s to provide a fresh water supply.

The restoration, which has been funded by Cadwyn Clwyd, is part of a wider volunteer training scheme that has included the restoration of over 50 metres of retaining stone wall, the installation of stepping stones across the Afon Cyflymen as well as pitch-paving to reduce the slipperiness on the summerhouse steps.

* Some of the artefacts uncovered during the excavation. 

Paul Evans said: "The Covid pandemic put a stop to all volunteer involvement and so plans were brought forward to repair the ram building instead. 

"No photos, pictures or illustrations exist revealing what the building originally looked like so the project invited people throughout the area to help with research on social media. 

"As a result, a number of people came forward, all saying that it was shaped like a stone-domed igloo about five feet high with a little window and door. 

"The information provided by the public was a major input to the research needed for the project and enabled the team to plan for the restoration confidently."

Paul added: "The first stages were to dig out the compacted vegetation infill that had built up around and inside the building since the 1960s. 

"As part of this uncovering process, the intact workings were revealed at the bottom, which was a real highlight and means that the original pump which has been kept dry for many years in the garages at Plas Newydd can be returned to its rightful place at some point soon. 

* The 1970s sweet wrappers unearthed.

"It is hoped that one day maybe this form of early green energy can be restored as a working feature.

"The pipework is still evident running from the weir to the ram pump building. It is work in progress but is due to be completed by March 2021."

Paul says the water supply was drawn from the stream via a weir upstream and from there  was fed by gravity via iron pipes, some of which are still surviving, to a hydraulic ram pump which in turn supplied water to the back of the main house via iron pipes. 

This pump was situated in a stone built dome the remains of which can still be seen.

During the current excavation works a number of interesting artefacts have been unearthed such as old bottles, a horseshoe and an old shoe. 

Also uncovered were sweet and crisp wrappers from the 1970s which Paul says Plas Newydd will be able to use for future projects on non-biodegradable waste.

* Also discovered were a horseshoe, a bottle 

screwtop and remains of a shoe.

Healthcare workers "come together as one" on vaccination programme

Wales’s healthcare workforce are coming “together as one” to ensure Wales’ COVID-19 vaccination programme rolls out as quickly as is safe to do, the Health Minister (pictured) has said.

This comes as the first pharmacies in Wales begin to administer COVID-19 vaccines, with a pilot starting in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board today (Friday).

Vaughan Gething said: “We are in the early stages of delivering the largest vaccination programme Wales has ever seen and the sheer scale of what has been achieved so far, and continues to happen, should not be underestimated.

“The roll-out of these vaccines to everyone eligible adult in Wales as quickly as if safe to do so is truly an example, once again, of our inspiring healthcare workforce coming together as one. 

“A mix of vaccination sites and centres have been selected to ensure everyone across the country has equal access to a vaccination. People can be expected to be asked to attend either a mass or community centre, hospital, GP practice, pharmacy or mobile unit.

“Just because there isn’t a type of service near to you, this does not mean any less is happening.

“Safety is of course at the fore of all that our Health Boards and staff do, but we have also worked to ensure our vaccination locations meet the needs of the characteristics of the vaccines and are as conveniently located as possible for the community it will serve.

“Your local pharmacist may not be offering the jab just yet, but they may very well be working all hands-on-deck at your local mass vaccination centre instead.

“Conversely, mass vaccination centres aren’t suitable for every local authority so you may be asked to attend a community or mobile centre.

“We also want people to feel comfortable to be vaccinated and to do this as conveniently as possible too, especially for those most at risk from the harms of coronavirus. This means using GP practices for a lot of our national delivery and they will be a key focus as the roll-out progresses.

“I cannot stress enough; your local health care workforce are doing absolutely everything they can, and to them I am immensely thankful.

“When it is your turn, you will be notified of where to go. Please do not call your GP or health services to request a COVID-19 vaccine and add undue pressure to their workloads.”

Pharmacy settings are being piloted - similar to how care homes were in the initial stages - to establish the quickest, safest way to deliver vaccinations in these specific settings as they are much different and varied compared to GP surgeries and the bigger vaccination centres.

Fferyllfa Llŷn Cyf in Llanbedrog, which falls under the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area, is the first in Wales to offer the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine from a pharmacy setting.

Pharmacist Llyr Hughes of Fferyllwyr Llŷn Cyf said: “We are incredibly proud to be the first pharmacy in Wales to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine and are keen to do all we can to support the Health Board and Welsh Government accelerate the roll out of the programme.

“Our aim is to work together with the Mass Vaccination Centres, GP practices and community pharmacies to deliver the largest vaccination programme the NHS has ever seen.

“Pharmacists play a huge role in vaccinating against flu on a yearly basis and have the skills and expertise to provide the new immunisations.

“I’m looking forward to seeing pharmacies across Wales play a big part in helping to protect our communities as the programme expands.”

Llangollen Health Centre sends out update on coronavirus vaccine situation

Llangollen Health Centre has taken to Facebook this morning (Friday) to give an update on the coronavirus vaccine situation.

It says: "This is the current situation regarding vaccines. All our staff are trained.

"Last week we received and administered 100 doses of the Oxford vaccine. This week we have received 70 doses and by the end of today we will have administered those too.

"Over the next fortnight we are due to receive a further 400 doses which will be enough to vaccinate all our patients aged 80 and over.

"We will be contacting patients by phone as and when the vaccines come in to arrange an appointment.

"As yet GP practices in North Wales have not been contracted to vaccinate further eligible groups and we await instructions from the health board regarding what happens next."

International travellers to Wales will need to provide negative Covid test

Passengers arriving into Wales from all international destinations will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before departing to help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally, Health Minister, Vaughan Gething has confirmed.

From 4am Monday January 18, inbound passengers arriving by boat, plane or train from countries outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) will have to take a test up to 72 hours before departing the country they are in, to help protect against the new strains of coronavirus such as those seen in Brazil, Denmark and South Africa.

The introduction of the measures is in response to the changes seen in the transmission of the virus both in in the UK and across the globe.

Mr Gething says pre-departure testing will provide an additional layer of safety from imported cases of coronavirus on top of the mandatory 10 day quarantine for arrivals, helping identify people who may currently be infectious and preventing them from travelling to Wales.

A negative pre-departure test reduces the risk of someone travelling whilst infectious, acting as another safeguard to prevent imported infections.

Passengers arriving from countries not on the Welsh Government’s Travel Corridor list must continue to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their pre-departure test result, to provide further robust protection from those travelling from high-risk countries.

Prior to departure, passengers will need to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to carriers, as well as their Passenger Locator Form.

The move further bolsters existing protective measures which helped to safely enable international travel last year, with self-isolation for new arrivals and Travel Corridors remaining critical in reducing the risk of imported cases from high-risk countries.

Vaughan Gething said: “We are doing everything we can to slow down the spread of the virus.

“These new measures will help ensure we prevent new strains of the virus developing internationally from being imported into Wales.

“We are already asking passengers returning from high-risk countries to self-isolate for 10 days and these requirements remain in place.

“Added to the requirement to self-isolate, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence - helping us control the virus as we continue to roll-out the vaccine at pace.”

Alert Level 4 lockdown restrictions, which came into force on 18 December 2020, remain in place meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons, including for work.

Travelling for a holiday is not permitted under alert level 4, whether that is in Wales, elsewhere in the UK or overseas.