Entertainer Shea tells of his day filming for new Netflix drama

* Shea Ferron on stage.

* Shea's picture of members of the John's Boys Choir on the set of the new Netflix drama.

A young entertainer well known to Llangollen audiences has told of his day filming for a forthcoming Netflix TV show. 

Shea Ferron went over to St Helens on Merseyside with fellow members of the award-winning John’s Boys Male Voice Choir from Rhosllanerchrugog last Tuesday to record scenes for Stay Close, a crime drama based on the 2012 Harlan Coben novel of the same title. 

Shea, 18, who lives in Ruabon, said: “Ourselves, along with some friends from the Royal Northern College of Music, were cast in the roles after entering a national search for established male choirs and singers under the age of 25. 

“Aled Phillips, our musical director, was asked to submit a selection of previous pieces we have sung to show producers and directors in charge of casting the roles. 

“They were so impressed with the music they heard that we were asked to sing live on the day. 

“The music was arranged by Aled, who worked with the lead roles throughout to perfect their performances. 

“After arriving in St Helens, the lads were chauffeur-driven to a top secret location at 6am in the morning for costume fittings and makeup, before tucking into a well deserved breakfast  of sausage and bacon sandwiches. 

“We were very enthusiastic about our tight-fitting costumes, none more so than Aled who proudly grew his beard especially for his role. He was, however, told he had to shave it off! 

“The lads spent the previous few days rehearsing the piece, and recording live on set. 

“Audiences and crew were blown away with the quality of the singing, and we had a very enjoyable experience overall. 

Shea added: “There were 10 singers mixed between John’s Boys and the Royal Northern College of Music. It was a really fun day. 

“We had a very early start and a very long day but we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were looked after well by the production team. 

“There’s not a huge lot we are allowed to give away but the experience that we all had was amazing. A huge thank you to Aled Phillips for giving us the opportunity. 

“Keep an eye out in the near future for our acting and musical abilities in Netflix’s Stay Close.”

Shea has been rapidly building up a useful portfolio of acting and singing appearances in the area for a number of years.

He has joined the cast of numerous shows, with Llangollen Operatic Society, its junior section the Young ‘Uns, and the Collen Players music hall group, winning a number of amateur stage awards into the bargain.

There have also been numerous solo performances in St Collen’s Church and his own church in Ruabon.

But Shea has really came into his own during the pandemic when by singing his way through a series of self-arranged open-air gigs to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

Update on yesterday's mountain fire in Rhewl

* The gorse fire at its height yesterday afternoon. Picture: Philip Hatcher-Moore. 

One appliance and one wild fire unit are still in attendance at the mountain fire in Rhewl this morning. 

Firefighters are damping down hotspots on the mountain. 

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 1.13pm yesterday (Tuesday 1^st June) reporting the fire.

Fire crews worked with colleagues from Natural Resources Wales, Denbighshire Wardens from Denbighshire County Council, North Wales Police and the 4 x 4 volunteer group to bring the incident under control. 

A helicopter attended and dropped water on the incident to help extinguish the fire. The fire was under control around 9pm last night.

Approximately 1km square of gorse, undergrowth and forestry was affected and the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental. 

Paul Jenkinson, Senior Operations Manager, said: “Please continue to avoid this area whilst crews are dealing with the incident. We will have a number of vehicles in the area again today and we are asking the public to assist us by staying away from this area until the incident is over. 

“This incident highlights the importance of partnership working with our colleagues from the other agencies to be able to bring it under control quickly and safely. Our crews worked extremely hard on the mountain yesterday in very hot conditions and I would like to thank everyone who assisted with this incident.”

Trading Standards Wales issues census text scam warning

Trading Standards Wales has been made aware of a text message scam in relation to the national Census. 

Recipients are told that there is information missing from their completed Census and asked to click on a link to complete their form or face prosecution. 

By clicking the link they are directed to a site which appears identical to the original online census form, on completing the form and submitting the recipient is asked to pay a £1.25 fee. 

Helen Picton, Chair of Trading Standards Wales, said: “Scam calls and texts to mobile phones are a serious problem, there is no mobile phone equivalent to a landline call blocker to stop them coming through. 

“Some of these messages are very convincing. Remember, that no government agency would send you a notification demanding money via text or via automated telephone message. 

“If a company sends you a link via text message to click on, ignore it. If you are unsure because you have an account with that company, contact them directly and don't use the link provided.” 

There are some things you can do to cut down the numbers of scam calls and texts: 

1. Most mobile phones have settings to block numbers. Search the internet for "blocking numbers on my (brand) mobile more advice on your phone" or there is usually advice on your mobile phone providers website
2. You can register with the Telephone preference service 
3. Report these texts to National cyber security centre – 7726
4. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/suspicious-email-actions
5. Contact Census 2021 Contact Centre by Ringing 0800 141 2021 for England and 0800 169 2021 for Wales.

Wales' contract tracing to be extended into next year

Wales' Test, Trace, Protect service, introduced to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, will be extended to next year.

A further £32m will be invested to extend contact tracing to March 2022.

The latest figures show that almost a year after TTP was launched in Wales, contact tracers have reached 99.7% of the positive cases that were eligible for follow up.

They successfully contacted almost 95% of the close contacts that were eligible for follow up, and provided them with advice, or helped to resolve their cases.

And local authorities have also approved more than 12,500 self-isolation support payments to help people to stay at home and reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in their local communities.

Health and Social Services Minister Eluned Morgan said: "Test, Trace, Protect has been extremely effective at supporting people who have tested positive and their contacts to isolate and providing advice, guidance and support. It is critical to stopping the virus spreading in our communities.

"It’s a year since we set up Test, Trace, Protect from scratch – at what the Auditor General for Wales described as an extraordinary scale and at pace. A great deal of hard work across NHS Wales, local authorities, the voluntary sector and partner organisations has created a highly-effective programme to help us keep Wales safe. Everyone involved can be extremely proud of their efforts.

"I want to thank everyone involved, including Public Health Wales and Digital Health Care Wales. In particular I want to thank the contact tracers and those providing Protect services who have provided much-needed support to people at an extremely difficult time in their lives.

"They have done much more than their title suggests – they have identified vulnerable people and got them extra support, whether that be someone to chat to, a food parcel, or linking in with vital mental health services.

"As we seek to stop the spread of new variants of concern, experienced contact tracers are key to doing this effectively and we are continuing to invest in this work."

Research has suggested that when coronavirus transmission was high before the firebreak last year, TTP reduced the R number from approximately 1.7 to 1.3. Using the more recent R number and improvements to monitoring, its impact may be to reduce R from 1.3 to 0.8.

Contact tracers and advisers working for the TTP service are now undertaking enhanced contact tracing to tackle variants of concern.

They also:

• manage and provide assurance to almost 18,000 travellers from amber list countries who must quarantine and take tests
• take vaccination programme calls from the public, arrange bookings and follow up on those who do not attend
• act as the contact centre for the Welsh Vaccination Certificate Service
• contact large businesses and local employers to encourage them to take up the Welsh Government offer of asymptomatic lateral flow tests, (LFTs)
• contact local business, including licenced premises, hospitality and care homes, to establish correct contact details and establish if any support is needed in relation to COVID-19 measures, regulatory requirements and other public health issues
• support community testing sites.

Firefighters tackle mountain blaze near Llangollen

UPDATED WITH MORE PICTURES ....

* A llanblogger reader has sent in these picture of the fire burning up the mountainside.

* This dramatic picture from another llanblogger reader, photographer 

Philip Hatcher-Moore, 

was taken from Moel y Gaer above Rhewl.

The fire has crossed the peak and was heading down towards the other side. 

* Smoke from the mountain fire is visible from the town.

Firefighters are currently in attendance at a mountain fire near Llangollen. 

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Ruthin, Denbigh and Corwen are currently tackling a blaze in Rhewl, near to Llangollen. 

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/19342195.crews-battle-mountain-fire-near-llangollen/?fbclid=IwAR0e0plbhLCjRHO5_BE_0wm5Re6GueqmP1xCC9c_lL84hN7BBiE3gT8wyjI

In an update, North Wales Fire & Rescue Service say: "Machines from Ruthin, Denbigh, Corwen, Abergele, Johnstown and Wrexham are currently dealing with an event in Rhewl, Llangollen.

"Call received at 1.13 pm this afternoon (1st June)

"Firefighters are currently using curators and pipes at the event which is currently including gorse, undergrowth and forestry.

"Everyone is asked to avoid this area while the crews deal with the event - if you're out walking do not walk through the smoke.

"Fire crews are working with colleagues from Natural Resources Wales to bring the controlled event."

Latest update from the fire service ...

Gorse fire in Rhewl near Llangollen – update 6.00pm

Appliances from Ruthin, Johnstown, Wrexham, Rhyl, Bala and Buckley, narrow access vehicles from Llanrwst, Llangollen and Denbigh, two wild fire vehicles from Abergele and one from Corwen are in attendance at a fire in Rhewl, Llangollen.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 1.13pm today (Tuesday 1st June) reporting the fire.

Firefighters are currently using beaters and hose reels at the incident which currently involves gorse, undergrowth and forestry.

Fire crews are working with colleagues from Natural Resources Wales, Denbighshire Wardens from Denbighshire County Council, North Wales Police and the 4 x 4 volunteer group to bring the incident under control.

A helicopter will be attending the incident shortly and will be carrying water from the Llandegla reservoir to help extinguish the fire.

Please avoid this area whilst crews are dealing with the incident – if you are out walking do not walk through the smoke.

If you can smell smoke please close your windows and doors.

Denbighshire volunteers thanked for helping others

To celebrate Volunteers Week, Denbighshire County Council is thanking residents who help others.

Volunteers’ Week takes place between June 1 and 7 and is a chance to thank the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering.

The council recently created a new virtual online one stop shop to improve support for volunteering opportunities in the county.

Cllr Richard Mainon, Lead Member for Corporate Services and Strategic Direction, said: “Volunteers play a vital role in our communities and that has been especially evident during the coronavirus pandemic. Our volunteers have provided a wide range of support such as befriending those most isolated and providing a friendly voice to chat with.

“I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to support and help other people, you have made a huge contribution to people’s lives.”

The council’s online portal helps promote volunteering opportunities for residents within the council, and offers clear guidance on how to manage, recruit and support volunteers.

Over the past year volunteers recruited through the council have helped in a wide variety of situations including, helping a resident practice speech and language sessions online, helping a citizen to unpack and settle into their new home and clearing the garden of a resident with health issues so they could enjoy watching their young children play safely.

Other support has included helping someone write a poem for their son’s wedding when they were unable to attend due to covid-19 restrictions and confidence building ahead of a first hairdressing appointment after a year.

Cllr Mainon added: “We want everyone in our communities to be able to volunteer if they wish to. We want to make this as easy as possible for everyone.

“Volunteering can bring a sense of purpose, achievement and motivation. It can help someone to develop skills and knowledge, and can give someone the opportunity to meet new people and have a fulfilling social life. It is such an important part in many people’s lives, and we want to support that and provide these opportunities.”

The council’s volunteering opportunities are now advertised online to provide a central point for interested parties and promotion of these opportunities will also be carried out through social media and external organisations including the DVSC.

* To access the new volunteer one stop shop visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/volunteering

Chainbridge owner calls for June 21 re-opening to go ahead as planned

* The Chainbridge Hotel on the River Dee.

The owner of a world-famous Llangollen hotel has made a heartfelt plea for the government to go ahead with lifting all Covid-19 restrictions later this month. 

There has been some doubt about whether this will happen due to a surge in cases due to the Indian variant of coronavirus. 

In a series tweets in the early hours of this morning Seamus O’Keeffe said: “It’s nine years today since we took on the Chainbridge Hotel and the last nine days have been the hardest of that whole period. Operationally, emotionally and physically. 

“Hospitality businesses across the country are operating at full capacity but with one hand tied behind their backs. 

“The restrictions we have to follow slow down service, reduce capacity, make systems more complex and make it all harder to be a success. 

“This impacts the guest, and their enjoyment, which is our most important consideration. They must remove the restrictions as planned on 21st!” 

Taken over by Mr O’Keeffe and his family in 2012, the Chainbridge is an independent, family-owned and run hotel on the River Dee in Llangollen. 

It has 33 rooms, character bars, riverside restaurant, wonderful staff, stunning views.